Articles tagged with Brain Structure
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center discovered that a gene variant associated with mental illness enlarges the pulvinar, a brain region handling negative emotions. The study found individuals carrying two copies of the SERT-s gene had larger pulvinars containing more nerve cells.
A region of the human brain believed to be critical to intellectual abilities functions much like a digital computer, according to CU-Boulder Professor Randall O'Reilly. The prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia operate by turning electrical signals into binary states and flexibly manipulating them, similar to digital computers.
Research found that alcohol-dependent individuals with comorbid personality disorders, particularly antisocial and borderline PDs, exhibit impaired decision-making abilities. This study highlights the importance of neurocognitive mechanisms in understanding alcohol-use disorders.
Researchers found a brain region that also responds to objects like cars, animals, and sculptures, challenging current face perception theories. The discovery suggests the need for a new model of how the brain recognizes faces and objects.
Researchers at Université de Montréal discover that mystical experiences are mediated by several brain regions, contradicting theories of a specific 'God spot'. Fifteen cloistered nuns underwent fMRI scans while reliving mystical experiences, revealing a dozen active brain regions.
A team of researchers at the California Institute of Technology has identified a specific region in the brain responsible for processing risk and reward, known as the 'gambling circuitry'. This discovery could help understand abnormal risk-taking behavior in disorders such as addiction and bipolar disorder.
Researchers identified three brain regions - dorsal anterior cingulate and left and right frontal operculum - as core components in creating task sets. These regions help determine which brain areas contribute to a cognitive task and when they play a part, according to the study published in Neuron.
Researchers found sex differences in brain regions responsible for pain transmission, with males and females responding differently to pain stimuli. Persistent pain activates this pathway more strongly in males than females, highlighting the need for tailored pain treatments.
A recent study published in the Public Library of Science Biology found that brain region IPS is activated when both four-year-olds and adults perceive numerical quantities. The researchers used fMRI to image blood flow in brain regions reflecting activity, revealing a similar neural basis for basic math skills in children and adults.
Researchers used fMRI to study how consumers judge brands versus people, finding that similar brain processes are not used. The study highlights the importance of understanding the differences between brand personality and human-like qualities when building brand images.
Studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) found that the visual cortex uses a specific region known to detect motion of other people, but also engages areas responding to static human form. This clarifies the emerging picture of how the brain makes sense of other individuals' appearances and actions.
A study by Dartmouth researchers found significant brain changes after age 18, indicating that human maturity may set in later than traditionally thought. The study tracked brain development in college freshmen and compared them to older students.
A new study published in Neurobiology of Aging reveals that a computer analysis of the EEG can accurately predict healthy individuals in their 60s and 70s who will develop dementia over the next 7-10 years. The test was found to be almost 95% accurate in identifying those at risk of cognitive decline.
A study found that expectations about pain can significantly affect its intensity. Participants who expected lower levels of pain reported a 28% decrease in pain ratings compared to those who expected higher levels. This suggests that the brain plays a crucial role in shaping the perception of pain.
A new brain scan study found that smokers who experience intense cravings exhibit heightened sensitivity to smoking-related images. The researchers suggest that these findings may lead to the development of diagnostic tests and personalized quitting methods for smokers.
Researchers at UC San Diego found that damage to a specific brain area, the angular gyrus, affects patients' ability to comprehend metaphors. The study suggests that this region plays a crucial role in processing conceptual metaphors and cross-modal abstractions.
Subjects rated odors more pleasant when labeled with positive words like 'cheddar cheese', whereas unpleasant labels had the opposite effect. The study also found that brain regions processing odors were activated by word labels, highlighting high-level cognitive inputs' impact on sensory perception.
Researchers have identified potential brain structures responsible for face recognition in individuals with congenital prosopagnosia. Preliminary findings suggest a genetic basis for the condition, which can have socially debilitating consequences if left undetected.
Researchers used a custom-made LCD screen to monitor hundreds of neurons in the zebra fish's brain as they matured in real time. They discovered that young neurons fire only in response to one type of movement, sparking new insights into image recognition and synaptic formation.
Researchers found that young owls can quickly pick up new skills and retain them into adulthood, with new connections forming between neurons. This suggests that childhood experiences play a crucial role in shaping the brain's ability to adapt and learn throughout life.
A recent study found that Coke preference is influenced by brand knowledge and activates specific brain regions, including the hippocampus. This discovery highlights the role of cultural messages in shaping taste perception and has important implications for understanding obesity and other health issues related to sugared colas.
A 73-year-old woman lost all dreaming and most brain functions following a stroke, but regained some dreaming function over time. Researchers found that the damaged area of her brain was involved in visual processing and emotions.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have made a breakthrough in understanding the cause of holoprosencephaly, a birth defect that affects brain development. By blocking a key protein's action at varying developmental stages, they found that it can influence facial features but leave the brain intact.
Researchers found that leptin changes the wiring of the brain by controlling synapses, regulating feeding behavior. The hormone induces visible changes in synaptic connections and recordable changes in electrical activity of specific brain cells.
Researchers found FoxP2 gene expressed in brain regions critical for song learning, similar to human brain. The study suggests that variations in the FoxP2 gene may have contributed to the development of language in humans.
A UCL study found that empathy for pain involves the affective but not sensory components of pain, and is triggered by the perception of a loved one's pain. The researchers discovered specific brain regions are activated when observing another person in pain, highlighting the emotional representation of internal bodily states.
A UCL study found that both maternal and romantic love activate specific brain regions involved in the reward system, while reducing activity in systems for negative judgments. The research also showed similar mechanisms of love in animals and humans, linking them to oxytocin and vasopressin.
A recent brain-imaging study has identified specific areas of abnormal structure and function in the brains of children with ADHD, including reduced prefrontal cortex size and increased grey matter in regions controlling impulse control. The findings may help inform the development of new therapeutic agents for treating ADHD.
Researchers used fMRI to compare brain activity in children, adolescents and adults while reading simple words aloud, revealing differences in brain function across the lifespan. The study suggests that brain function during language tasks changes with development, potentially shedding light on language disorders.
A new study conducted in the UK shows that forgiveness is a complex process in the brain, involving multiple cognitive components. The research found that different parts of the brain are activated when making moral judgments, empathizing with someone, and ultimately judging forgivability.
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, have developed a new technique using ultrafast lasers to obtain high-quality images of brain tissue. This technique enables scientists to automate and modernize histology, mapping neurotransmitter production and normal cell function.
A new study at Stanford University found that dyslexic children's brains begin to function more normally after participating in an eight-week training program. The program helped participants better understand rapidly changing sounds, leading to improved reading scores and brain activity.
A UCLA study used fMRI to scan brains while participants learned to associate names with faces, revealing areas of high activity during encoding and retrieval. The findings show that different parts of the hippocampus contribute to memory formation and retrieval in distinct ways.
Researchers found dramatic gray matter loss in the brains of men with sleep apnea, primarily in regions controlling speech production, movement, and emotion. The severity of brain damage correlated directly with disorder severity, suggesting that early brain wiring abnormalities may contribute to sleep apnea onset.
Researchers at UC Berkeley have found that the adult brain has more capabilities to change than previously thought. By exposing non-detectors to a specific odor, they showed that both nostrils can learn to detect it, suggesting a central component in the brain is involved in olfactory learning.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory found that visual stimulation causes neurons to sprout new branches, a process that requires increased activity of certain proteins and decreased activity of others. The study provides insights into how visual stimulation guides the development of normal brain architecture.
Researchers discovered the brain region responsible for pattern perception, which helps humans recognize danger but also leads to superstitions. The prefrontal cortex processes information about the environment, preparing the organism to change behavior in response to patterns.
A new study has found a significant association between activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and individual differences in mood. The researchers used brain imaging techniques to record brain activity in 89 individuals, who were asked about their experiences with unpleasant moods.
A new study by UCLA researchers has created images showing how an individual's genes affect their brain structure and intelligence. The findings, published in Nature Neuroscience, reveal that genetic differences can significantly impact brain regions controlling language and reading skills.
Scientists at UCLA and NIMH detected a spreading wave of gray matter loss in schizophrenic patients, which engulfed the brain over five years, leading to worse symptoms. The study's findings may aid early detection and treatment, as well as inform future medication development.
Researchers used gene transfer to increase vasopressin receptor density in the ventral pallidum of prairie voles, leading to increased pair bonding. The study shows that higher levels of vasopressin receptor expression are associated with more affiliative behavior and stronger pair bonds.
A recent study by Cornell University neurobiologists found that female birds prefer males with the most elaborate courtship songs, which are associated with larger brain structures and improved learning abilities. This choice is thought to be driven by sexual selection, where females aim to pass on desirable traits to their offspring.
Researchers found that older adults can compensate for cognitive decline by using unique brain areas, including the hippocampus, to support performance. This suggests that aging brains are more resilient than thought, with exciting implications for memory rehabilitation.
A study by NIH/NINDS scientists mapped a specific brain region responsible for human multitasking behavior, identifying the fronto-polar prefrontal cortex (FPPC) as the key area. This finding suggests that humans have a unique ability to switch between tasks while maintaining working memory and attentional focus.
Researchers found distinct patterns of gene expression linking cognitive control regions to stress control regions in laboratory animals. The study suggests that the brain controls stress responses through inhibition, rather than excitation, and may lead to the development of future stress intervention strategies.
The University of Maryland Medical Center has successfully implanted a new device that can regulate a dangerously rapid heartbeat automatically and internally. The Metrix System TM delivers a small electrical shock to the heart, making it a more comfortable alternative to external shocks.
A team of researchers from Oregon Health & Science University has identified three gene regions in mice that are linked to an increased risk of physical dependence on alcohol. The study's findings could lead to a better understanding of alcoholism and the development of new treatments.