Articles tagged with Brain Structure
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A UCL study found that the habenula, a region that responds to bad experiences, functions abnormally in people with depression. In healthy adults, this region activates when expecting aversive events, but in depressed individuals, it decreases activation. The study suggests the theory on the habenula's role in depression needs rethinking.
A recent study published in eNeuro found that overweight individuals are more prone to choosing unhealthy foods when presented with real options, unlike their lean counterparts. The researchers also discovered an association between impulsivity and consumption of unhealthy foods in overweight participants.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have discovered that the occipital place area (OPA) plays a key role in perceiving boundaries during navigation. By using transcranial magnetic stimulation to disrupt normal processing, the team found that participants made more errors navigating around boundaries but not landmarks.
A new study by neuroscientists at Duke University found that even practiced movements are imperfect due to brain noise, which can affect our responding movements. The research team discovered a correlation between the activity of individual neurons and the size of eye movement delays.
A study of army ants led by Drexel University professor Sean O'Donnell found that certain species regained vision and developed larger brains after moving back to the surface. The ants' brains showed increased investment in visual processing, smell, and overall cognitive function compared to underground-dwelling relatives.
Researchers identified that brain region communication varies depending on the motive driving a specific behavioral choice, allowing them to uncover underlying motives. Motives could not be detected by observing choices or brain activity during decision-making.
Researchers analyzed the oldest known penguin fossil and found no significant changes in brain structure compared to modern penguins. The study suggests that becoming flightless did not directly impact brain anatomy, contradicting previous assumptions.
A study published in Scientific Reports found that birds migrating greater distances have more new neurons in brain regions responsible for navigation and spatial orientation. The research team discovered a trend of increasing new neurons in line with migration distance, with different brain regions affected in two species.
Penn researchers developed algorithms that can predict where a seizure will originate and which groups of neurons it will likely spread to. These predictions could provide a more objective way of identifying surgical targets, improving the success rate of such interventions.
A new brain-scanning study of jazz pianists found that 'happy' and 'sad' music evoke different neural patterns, with greater activation of reward regions during sad improvisations. The researchers suggest that emotion plays a crucial role in creative states, influencing which parts of the brain's creativity network are activated.
A new study found that a brief dissonance-based eating disorder prevention program alters how young women's brains respond to images of thin supermodels. The program reduces pursuit of unrealistic beauty standards and changes brain responsivity to normal-weight women, suggesting a shift in valuation towards healthy weight.
Research found structural differences in brain regions of people with schizophrenia who experience hallucinations compared to those without hallucinations. The paracingulate sulcus, a fold towards the front of the brain, was shorter in individuals prone to hallucinations.
A new study reveals that fitness level impacts brain connectivity in older adults, with more fit individuals showing stronger brain connections. The research suggests that cardiorespiratory fitness has a positive effect on brain health as people age.
Researchers found decreased signaling between brain regions in patients with chronic fatigue, correlating with greater fatigue levels. Abnormal brain connectivity at rest is strongly linked to the severity of symptoms.
A recent meta-analysis published in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews found a weak association between brain size and IQ, with brain structure and integrity appearing more important as a biological foundation of intelligence. The study also highlights the importance of compensatory mechanisms of cognitive functions.
A new study found that higher cardiorespiratory fitness levels are associated with increased brain volume in key brain regions and enhanced executive function performance. The research suggests that exercising can improve brain health and cognitive abilities as we age.
Research found adolescents with ADHD showed differences in brain structure and poor memory performance compared to peers, suggesting ADHD may persist into adulthood. Grey matter deficits in the caudate nucleus region were linked to poorer memory function.
An imaging study found that early adversity during childhood is associated with altered brain structure in late adolescence, including lower gray matter volume in a key brain region. Higher levels of internalizing symptoms, such as depression and anxiety, were also linked to this altered brain development.
By analyzing blood flow patterns, researchers have identified 13 main brain networks that work together and can be used to diagnose neurological disorders like Alzheimer's. The study provides new insights into how the brain organizes itself and sets the stage for early diagnosis and treatment.
A new study published in The FASEB Journal suggests that sialic acid attachment to cell surfaces affects brain structure and function, leading to poor motor skills, hyperactivity, and difficulty in learning. Small changes in sialic acid attachment result in significant neurological problems.
A global study has found that people with recurrent depression have a significantly smaller hippocampus than healthy individuals. The study, involving nearly 9,000 participants, highlights the need for effective treatment at first occurrence, particularly among teenagers and young adults.
Researchers identified 136 genes whose expression is correlated across regions within each network, suggesting a molecular basis for synchronized physiological interactions. These genes encode proteins essential for nerve cell activity and maintenance of voltage differences.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have made a breakthrough in understanding how the brain represents familiar concepts, such as houses and bananas. By teaching people new concepts and monitoring neural activity, they found that these representations occur in the same brain areas for everyone, using a shared 'filing system'.
LCSB researchers analyzed metabolite signatures from hundreds of biomolecules in different brain regions, revealing a specific functional state of nerve cells. The study used an interdisciplinary approach and machine learning to derive metabolic profiles, which may offer new therapeutic opportunities for neurodegenerative diseases.
A recent study by the University of Helsinki found that early exposure to alcohol changes the way genes function in the brains of mice, influencing brain structure. The timing of the exposure corresponds to human gestational weeks 3-6, and similar changes were observed in other tissues of the infant mice.
A recent study published in Brain: A Journal of Neurology has identified a link between smaller brain region volumes and increased likelihood of drug addiction. The research found that individuals who showed brain structural differences when they started using drugs were more likely to experience escalating stimulant use.
A study published in Brain Connectivity reveals that epilepsy disrupts the organization of brain networks and functional efficiency. The researchers found distinct patterns of reorganizational changes in the brains of individuals with epilepsy, including increased or decreased functional connections between brain networks.
A new study finds that people with cocaine addiction display altered patterns of brain activity and communication between regions, particularly in the left caudate. This impairment may lead to increased impulsivity and relapse rates, making it a key target for medication development.
Researchers found a positive association between cardiorespiratory fitness and white matter structural integrity in the brains of older adults. Exercise, particularly walking, was identified as a potentially effective strategy for delaying cognitive decline and improving quality of life.
Research suggests that adolescent brain exposure to alcohol can lead to changes in learning and memory, even after adulthood. The study found hyperactive long-term potentiation in the brains of exposed rats, which may contribute to impaired cognitive functions.
Research found that long-term exposure to fine particle air pollution, particularly at low levels, can cause subtle structural changes in the brain and increase the risk of covert brain infarcts. This association was strongest among older adults and those with relatively healthy brains.
A new study found that long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with smaller brain structure and covert brain infarcts in middle-aged and older adults. Exposure to PM2.5 particles was linked to increased risk of silent strokes and dementia.
Research by University of Michigan Medical School found that brain 'hubs' consistently attract information flow, shedding light on how the brain processes and transfers critical information. This discovery may help better understand principles of information processing in the brain.
Duke University researchers studied monkeys' eyes to understand how the brain processes distractions and predicts focus on goals. They found that changes in pupil size in response to distractors might predict how well the brain focuses on a goal.
Researchers found that self-affirmation increases activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, leading to a steeper decline in sedentary behaviors. The study showed that people who were affirmed before receiving health advice demonstrated higher brain activity and improved behavior change.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University used fMRI scans to analyze brain activity while eight people read a chapter of Harry Potter. The result was the first integrated computational model of reading, identifying which parts of the brain are responsible for parsing sentences and determining word meaning.
Research reveals women have on average 43% more cells than men in the olfactory bulb, suggesting a biological basis for their superior olfactory abilities. This finding may have implications for reproductive behaviors and pair bonding.
A study reveals that female fruit flies use a small number of excitatory neurons and neurotransmitters like acetylcholine to decide whether to accept or reject male courtship. The decision-making process is found to be generated in three brain regions, suggesting a complex circuit involving sensory inputs and neural signaling.
Researchers identified six hub regions as crucial for cognitive function and found that damage to these areas caused widespread cognitive impairments. In contrast, lesions to other locations resulted in significantly less impairment. This study's findings may improve diagnosis and prognosis for brain injury patients.
A study published by the American Academy of Neurology found a link between sleep difficulties and rapid brain volume decline in adults. The research, which included 147 participants aged 20-84, revealed that poor sleep quality was associated with faster declines in brain regions including frontal, temporal, and parietal areas.
Researchers at Northwestern University used Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to improve memory in healthy adults, showing that specific brain regions can be stimulated to enhance learning abilities. The study's findings have potential applications for treating conditions like Alzheimer's disease and traumatic brain injury.
Researchers mapped the circuitry of dyslexia using functional neuroimaging tools, revealing widespread differences in brain connectivity among dyslexic readers. They found decreased connectivity within the visual pathway and between visual and prefrontal regions, as well as increased right-hemisphere connectivity.
Chronic use of codeine-containing cough syrups is associated with brain white matter deficits, particularly in regions involved in impulse control. These changes are linked to increased impulsivity traits and correlate with the duration of CCS use.
People with schizophrenia struggle to convert desires into actions due to brain deficits affecting the caudate region. This impairment prevents them from making choices and behaving accordingly. The study's findings suggest that schizophrenics are 'stuck in neutral', wanting a normal life but unable to take necessary steps.
Researchers aim to improve stroke therapies by studying brain networks linked to movement, particularly hand and arm control. They will use techniques like fMRI and transcranial magnetic stimulation to map brain activity and stimulate specific regions.
Researchers found that somatosensory stimulation decreases the firing of pyramidal cells and increases interneuron activity, suggesting a suppressive effect on neuronal hyperexcitability. This study provides insights into signal processing in the hippocampus and explores potential therapeutic applications for brain disorders.
A new study found that amyloid buildup in one brain region can impair metabolism and activity in a distant, unaffected region. The findings suggest a long-distance effect of amyloid pathology on brain function.
A Rutgers researcher discovered consistent brain patterns in the human brain, regardless of activity level, which could lead to a better understanding of serious mental health conditions. The study's findings suggest that the prefrontal cortex, involved in high-level thinking, may be altered in people with severe mental illness.
The study found that electrical stimulation of the fastigial nucleus can increase Ku70 expression, leading to decreased Bax protein and reduced mitochondrial apoptosis. Injured brain tissue showed co-localization of Ku70 with Bax.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai have created 3-D computer models to map the brain region involved in dystonia, identifying an anatomical target for further study. The models provide information for neurologists and neurosurgeons to consider when planning surgery and making device programming decisions.
A pioneering study aims to quantify eye movements and brain responses in adults with convergence insufficiency (CI) to understand the underlying mechanisms of vision therapy. The research hopes to lead to new therapies improving daily activities, such as reading comfortably for longer periods.
A neuroimaging study reveals reduced hippocampus brain volume in patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and psychotic bipolar disorder compared to healthy volunteers. Hippocampal volumes are associated with psychosis severity and cognitive performance.
Researchers found that females susceptible to MS produce higher levels of the blood vessel receptor protein S1PR2 than males, leading to the inflammation that causes MS. The study's findings have implications for developing new treatments, including a drug that disables S1PR2.
A study found that premature birth between 34-36 weeks' gestation results in differences in brain structure and cognitive skills compared to full-term births. Late preterm children showed more social, behavioral, and academic problems, as well as slower processing speed and difficulties with visuospatial reasoning.
Researchers find the lateral habenula controls sensitivity to the negative effects of drinking alcohol, leading to increased drinking behavior when the region is inactivated. This study provides new insights into addictive behaviors and may help identify individuals at risk of becoming problem drinkers.
A 'stop mechanism' was found to regulate drinking behavior by detecting thirst levels and preventing overdrinking. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, identified brain regions that determine the signals to stop drinking, potentially preventing complications from excessive water intake.
A new study found that estradiol hormone therapy prevented degeneration in key brain regions of postmenopausal women at heightened dementia risk. In contrast, Premarin was far less protective. The study suggests that early intervention with estradiol may help stave off dementia.
Stanford researchers have solved a riddle about the inner workings of the brain, revealing a previously unknown process that helps two brain regions cooperate when joint action is required. The study used a new approach to analyze large numbers of neurons and discovered that different regions of the brain keep results localized or broa...
A new study found that causal brain networks involved in fear regulation, imagery, and affect are also used for cognitive processing of religious beliefs. These basic networks evolved to mediate complex beliefs like those contained in religious practice.
Researchers analyzed 1.6 billion connections within the brain and found highest agreement between structure and information flow in the default mode network, responsible for inward-focused thinking. The study suggests that the structural architecture of the brain ensures automatic switching to something useful when not being used.