Articles tagged with Brain Structure
A new web-based application called NeuroExpresso provides a comprehensive catalogue of brain cell type data, helping to better define their functions and properties. The tool uses marker genes to estimate cellular composition of mouse and human tissue.
According to University of Illinois psychology professor Aron Barbey, the brain's ability to flexibly transition between network states is crucial for general intelligence. This flexibility involves forming and reforming connections in response to changing needs, supporting both crystallized and fluid intelligence.
A study of prairie vole relationships finds that males who drink alone spend less time with their partner, whereas those who drink together or not at all huddle longer. This suggests that discordant drinking can directly affect prairie voles' relationships.
New brain stimulation techniques offer safer, targeted means to study brain function, improve memory, and treat neurological and psychiatric disorders. These advancements have the potential to reach areas deeper in the brain, deliver customized stimulation, and study diseases in new ways.
Researchers have developed Neuropixels probes, thin silicon devices that record the activity of hundreds of neurons in mice and rats. This technology will allow scientists to understand complex neural networks and potentially lead to new treatments for diseases like depression and Alzheimer's.
Researchers used neurostimulation to activate brain regions associated with face and color processing, inducing illusory faces and rainbows in a patient. The findings suggest functional and anatomical specificity of these brain regions.
A NIH study found that infant cries activate specific brain regions related to movement and speech in mothers worldwide. Consistent behaviors across cultures suggest hard-wired reactions to infant cries.
A new study by Rice University researchers reveals a strong negative correlation between the brain's flexibility and modularity, with highly modular brains showing low flexibility. The study presents a theoretical framework to explain this relationship, suggesting that flexibility and modularity tap into different cognitive processes.
High-modularity brains excel at simple tasks, while low-modularity brains outperform on complex tasks. The study's findings suggest that brain modularity impacts cognitive function and has implications for understanding the brain as a network.
Researchers found that video game genres impact cognitive training, with strategy games offering unique benefits for memory and processing speed. Strategy games were associated with improved white matter connectivity in brain regions related to memory, while action games were linked to a brain region governing mood.
Researchers found that female mice brain structures organize sex and aggressive behavior differently, with separate cell groups controlling each. In contrast, male mice brain circuits overlap in controlling both behaviors, suggesting a fundamental difference in brain organization between sexes.
Researchers have found a subgroup of neurons in mice that drive the critical instinct of thirst, which decreases with increased water consumption. These neurons are connected to other brain regions and play a direct role in regulating thirst drive through goal-directed actions.
Advanced neuroimaging techniques provide a basis for studying circuit-level abnormalities in psychiatric disorders. Recent large-scale research projects, including the Human Connectome Project, have focused on defining and mapping brain functional connections.
A new study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that dancing has a measurable impact on the brain of elderly individuals, reversing age-related decline. Dancing proved more effective than endurance training in improving balance and behavior.
A study by Claire Tang and colleagues reveals that a subset of neurons can detect relative pitch changes, enabling humans to extract meaning from words. The research found distinct neural responses for males and females, with areas tuned to high relative pitch and low pitch respectively.
Researchers found significant microstructural changes in brain structure from early to mid-adulthood, allowing for accurate age estimation. These changes were associated with cognitive decline and disease, but the link to old-age cognitive decline is unclear.
Researchers developed a method to identify brain tissue most likely to generate seizures in people with epilepsy, offering new treatment strategies for drug-resistant cases. By analyzing EEG recordings and mathematical modeling, the team found that targeting specific brain regions could lead to enhanced surgical outcomes.
A new mathematical approach has identified brain regions that contribute most to epilepsy seizures, allowing surgeons to select specific areas for removal. The method has shown promise in reducing the number of seizures experienced by patients, providing a potential breakthrough in epilepsy treatment.
Researchers discovered two previously unknown brain areas involved in face recognition, which integrate visual perception with memory and social knowledge. The brain's response to familiar faces is distinct from visually familiar ones, with a sudden 'aha' moment when recognizing a long-known acquaintance.
Harvard scientists have identified two brain networks that lie side-by-side in the brain and may play key roles in planning, remembering and imagination. These networks are intertwined, with one connected to memory structures while the other isn't, suggesting they originated from similar processes during brain development and evolution.
Researchers found that depression impacts brain activity uniquely in adolescent girls and boys, particularly in regions like the supramarginal gyrus and posterior cingulate. This highlights the need for sex-specific treatment strategies to address depression in adolescents.
A new study found that learning with music significantly develops white matter pathways in the brain, improving motor skill execution. Researchers used musical cues to help volunteers learn a physical task, showing increased structural connectivity between auditory and motor regions.
Researchers found that intranasal insulin improves functional connectivity in brain regions involved in cognitive processes and appetite regulation. The study suggests that insulin in the brain may help regulate eating behavior and facilitate weight loss by suppressing the relationship between adiposity and hunger sensation.
Research has shown that playing video games can change the brain regions responsible for attention and visuospatial skills, making them more efficient. Additionally, studies have found evidence of increased brain activity in reward system regions associated with internet gaming disorder.
A new brain network model suggests that understanding brain connections and structure can help predict how brain function changes after injury. The study identified key white matter pathways and lesions responsible for network disruptions, which could lead to more accurate treatment plans and therapeutic targets.
Researchers at UTMB discovered that the protein Slit is required for maintaining interconnecting pathways in the nervous system. Slit-Robo signaling controls this process, and Mummy enzyme modifies Slit to regulate Robo distribution.
A new study from Newcastle University shows that the exact time of neuron development and its position in the brain are key to forming neural connections. This understanding can lead to better diagnosis and treatment of developmental diseases like schizophrenia, autism, and ADHD.
MIT researchers create temporally interfering (TI) stimulation, a new technique that stimulates neurons in the brain without implants. This method uses low-frequency electrical signals to target specific areas of the brain, offering new possibilities for brain research and potential treatments for conditions like Parkinson's disease.
Researchers mapped brain network changes underlying improved executive function in youth, finding a modular yet globally integrated network structure. This architecture supports specialized processing and reduces interference between brain systems.
Researchers have pinpointed a common protein abnormality, SOD1 fingerprint, in Parkinson's disease brains, suggesting a new target for therapies that improved ALS outcomes. The finding may lead to substantial improvements in motor function and survival time for Parkinson's patients.
Researchers found that chronic pain distorts the intensity of pain perception in other body parts by rewiring circuits in the anterior cingulate cortex. This causes a greater reaction to painful stimuli throughout the body, with far-reaching consequences for mental health and disease treatment.
A recent review by John McGann suggests that humans' ability to detect certain scents is superior to other animals, such as dogs. The study highlights the importance of smell in human communication and mate choice, challenging the long-held notion that humans have an inferior sense of smell.
A new study by UCLA researchers found a strong association between gut microbiota and brain regions involved in processing sensory information from the body. The study also revealed connections between childhood trauma, brain development, and the composition of the gut microbiome.
Researchers found that CA2 maintains inhibition in connected networks, suppressing signaling and preventing hyperexcitability. Without CA2, mice experience epilepsy-like activity and seizures, highlighting the region's role in regulating brain balance.
A NJIT graduate student has won an IBM fellowship to develop computer systems that mimic the human brain's architecture. The goal is to raise computers' learning and inference capabilities while lowering energy consumption.
Researchers at Imperial College London found that applying a low voltage current can bring different areas of the brain in sync, enabling people to perform better on tasks involving working memory. The approach could one day be used to treat conditions such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, and epilepsy.
A new study finds that mice display contagious itching behavior after observing peers, even when watching videos of others scratching. The researchers identified the suprachiasmatic nucleus as a key driver of this phenomenon.
Researchers have discovered a relationship between brain structure and dimensional measures of ADHD symptoms, particularly inattention. The study found reduced gray matter volume in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) was associated with increased symptom severity.
Studies reveal that brain activity in self-related and mentalizing regions combine unconsciously to produce a signal about an article's value, predicting its likelihood of going viral. Brain scans from a small group of people can accurately predict the virality of health articles among real New York Times readers.
A new study from the University of Utah School of Medicine shows that brain cells often activate one copy of a gene over the other's, breaking basic genetic principles. This finding suggests new ways in which genetic mutations might cause brain disorders, including mental illness and intellectual disability.
A new AI-based diagnosis technique uses functional and structural brain imaging to identify affected regions in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's patients. The study, published in International Journal of Neural Systems, shows promising results with high accuracy rates.
Researchers have cataloged 50 distinct cell types in a major appetite center of the brain, including two newly discovered subtypes that play a role in genetic control of obesity. The study provides a comprehensive parts list for this area of the brain, allowing researchers to identify which cells are responsible for specific functions.
Researchers found disruptions in brain network communication affect memory regions in individuals with PTSD, linked to avoidance symptoms. The study suggests treatments targeting enhanced communication may improve PTSD symptoms.
Researchers identified a specific region in the prefrontal brain essential for metamemory decision making in macaques. Inactivation of this region impaired metamemory but not memory itself, offering insights into the neuronal underpinnings of metacognition.
Researchers at MIT used a modified MRI scanner to scan the brains of awake babies while watching movies, finding that brain regions responding to faces and scenes in adults are also active in infants. The study suggests that there may be a stronger biological predisposition for specific cortical regions to end up with specific functions.
A new study reveals that the brain region responsible for face recognition continues to grow in adulthood, contradicting the prevailing view of synaptic pruning as a key factor in brain development. The growth is linked to an increase in cell bodies, dendritic structures, and myelin sheath.
Researchers identified a link between Huntington's disease and dysfunction of the subthalamic nucleus, leading to progressive loss of nerve cells and debilitating symptoms. The study suggests that early problems in the subthalamic nucleus contribute to the development of the disease.
Researchers found that hearing metaphors involving arms or legs activates the left extrastriate body area (EBA) in the brain, which is responsible for visual perception of those body parts. This finding supports the concept of grounded cognition, where comprehension of abstract concepts is built upon concrete experiences.
A neuroscientist is studying the link between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol abuse to identify potential treatments. The researcher hopes to pinpoint brain areas involved in processing fear memories and develop methods to break the cycle of dependency.
A new study found that sleep deprivation in children increases slow-wave activity in posterior brain regions, suggesting these areas may be more susceptible to lack of sleep. The research also discovered a correlation between sleep loss and myelin content, indicating the potential for temporary effects on early brain development.
A study published in PLOS Computational Biology found that as people age, their brain activity becomes less cohesive, with smaller groups of connected regions. This loss of coherence is associated with aging and may be linked to age-related impairments.
A new study published in Biological Psychiatry found that women experiencing depressive symptoms during and after pregnancy are associated with reduced cortical thickness in preschool-age children. This suggests that a mother's mood may impact her child's brain development at critical stages.
A recent study found that redirecting attention to future needs increases self-control, a mechanism previously thought to be solely governed by the prefrontal cortex. The research suggests that the temporo-parietal junction plays a crucial role in both social interactions and self-controlled decision-making.
Researchers found that sleep deprivation in children increases deep sleep in the parietal and occipital lobes, which are involved in spatial perception and processing multi-sensorial input. The level of myelin content in these brain regions is associated with the deep-sleep effect.
Researchers found two brain regions, RSC and OPA, involved in creating panoramic memories. Participants performed better identifying linked images through immersive virtual reality headsets.
Researchers found brain activity patterns varied with brain region and circadian rhythms, affecting performance and psychiatric symptoms. The study sheds light on why shift workers struggle to concentrate and why sleep loss impacts attention.
Scientists at the University of Maryland School Medicine have elucidated details about synaptic transmission, a crucial aspect of brain function. They discovered an unexpected and precise pattern in neurotransmission using single-molecule imaging, revealing the core architectural structure of synapses.
A new study reveals an evolutionary universal brain structure that enables comparisons of cortical networks between species. This common architecture provides insights into brain disorders such as Alzheimer's and schizophrenia.
A study found that individuals with anorexia nervosa who struggle with insight have abnormal brain connectivity in regions involved in error detection and conflict monitoring. This can lead to poor decision-making and a reduced ability to recognize the danger of their behavior, making recovery more challenging.
New studies suggest functional brain scans can help predict recovery and guide treatment for stroke patients. The severity of a person's disability correlates with the extent of disruption to their brain's communication networks, which are not measured by most brain scans.