Articles tagged with Brain Structure
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.