Articles tagged with Brain
A TGen team won a $1,000 prize for their research on identifying microRNAs and imaging features associated with lung cancer metastasis to the brain. The study used microRNAs and imaging characteristics from CT and PET scans as biomarkers to predict brain metastases.
Researchers from Harvard and MIT demonstrate a new method to build better artificial visual systems by combining genetic screening techniques with high-performance gaming hardware. The approach enables the analysis of thousands of candidate models in parallel, resulting in significant improvements over traditional methods.
Research by Professor Yasuhiko Minokoshi and Dr. Tetsuya Shiuchi found that meals with sweet taste stimulation activate 'orexin' neurons, reducing blood glucose levels in mice. Pleasant eating habits may prevent hyperglycemia by activating orexin neurons.
Researchers find that the RANK protein and its ligand regulate the body's fever response, helping to fight infection. Female mice lacking RANK in the brain have increased body temperatures compared to males, with a link to sex hormones and reproductive biology.
Scientists identified two new pathways for the breakdown of 4-Hydroxybutyrate (4-HB), a brain chemical used as a date-rape drug. This discovery could lead to the development of new treatments for victims of sexual assault and those with a rare genetic disorder that causes 4-HB accumulation.
The Dana Foundation's new book Neuroeducation: Learning, Arts, and the Brain focuses on the intersection of cognitive neuroscience and education. The book explores ways to integrate arts into learning, citing challenges and potential solutions from education experts.
The ACT study focuses on finding ways to delay or prevent dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. Recent findings highlight the role of vascular disease and controlling high blood pressure in reducing the risk of late-life dementia.
Researchers found a dual-brake mechanism controlling chloride transport, which calms hyperactive fetal neurons after birth. This process may benefit people with epilepsy and neuropathic pain by re-establishing natural inhibition.
Researchers found that normal synaptic activity protects the brain from misfolded proteins associated with Huntington's disease, while excessive extrasynaptic activity enhances their deadly effects. Low doses of Memantine successfully treated Huntington's disease in a mouse model by preserving normal synaptic electrical activity.
A new study published in Psychological Science suggests that the brain's ability to understand shapes is innate and develops without exposure to modern geometric objects. African tribal people and Western college students both showed greater sensitivity to non-accidental properties of objects, indicating a universal sense of geometry.
Researchers found that when people imagine future events, activity in a dopamine-laden part of the brain tracks their estimates of expected pleasure. The study suggests that manipulating dopamine levels can alter people's expectations and choices.
A new study from University College London finds that dopamine plays a significant role in shaping human expectations of pleasure, particularly when considering alternative options. The research suggests that dopamine signals the expected pleasure from future events, guiding decision-making.
Researchers discuss imaging techniques that may contribute to early diagnosis and advancements in treatment for Alzheimer's disease. The study highlights the potential of biomarkers like MRI and PET to identify underlying structural and functional pathology in AD, MCI, and related diseases.
Researchers from Scripps Research Institute found that cycling between sweet and regular food can activate the brain's stress system, generating overeating, anxiety, and withdrawal-like symptoms. The study suggests a vicious circle of compulsive eating and anxiety, where repeated dieting can lead to increased stress levels.
Researchers created a new strain of mice with outstanding hearing as they age, studying the phenomenon known as golden ears. The study offers clues about maintaining good hearing while aging and provides a new tool to explore protective factors that allow some organisms to retain their hearing for their whole lives.
A Stanford study reveals that a gene linked to human longevity impacts the brain's ability to generate new neurons. Researchers found that mice without this gene had fewer neural stem cells and more rapidly churned out nerve cell precursors, leading to brain weight increases.
A recent study published in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that eating quickly can lead to overeating by curbing the release of hormones that signal fullness. Researchers discovered that subjects who took their time consuming a meal had higher concentrations of appetite-regulating hormones,...
A randomized study found that preventative brain radiation for nonsmall cell lung cancer patients decreased the risk of brain metastases by over 50%, but increased short and long-term memory loss. The study also showed no significant difference in overall survival between treated and untreated patients.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that palmitate marks NMDA receptors for activation, strengthening long-term memory circuits. This reversible process offers possibilities for manipulating memory, potentially enhancing or erasing it.
Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have identified a gene called nocte that interferes with the fly's ability to synchronize its body clock using temperature signals. Disabling this gene prevents both synchronization to light-dark cycles and temperature changes.
Dr. Anthony M. Norcia, Ph.D., receives the Walt and Lilly Disney Award for Amblyopia Research from Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) for his pioneering work in visual development, brain imaging, and brainwave recording. The award will support novel research on amblyopic suppression and its mechanism in the human visual cortex.
The first national and evidence-based guidelines for brain metastases have been released in the US, providing a framework for treating patients with brain tumors. The guidelines cover various therapeutic options, evidence-based decision-making, and demographic factors that influence clinical decisions.
Dr. Shelagh Coutts, an Alberta neurologist, is developing a new brain scanning technique using CT scans and angiograms to rapidly diagnose mini-strokes. The technology has the potential to predict which patients are at risk of having a second stroke.
A new study by Uppsala University researchers Elena Jazin and Björn Reinius found that genetic expression in cerebral cortices exhibits sex-based differences, which are thought to be associated with later divergences in brain development. The study suggests that genes on the Y chromosome play a crucial role in these differences.
A new Iowa State University study suggests that frequent video game players have difficulty maintaining focus on tasks requiring longer attention. The research found that brain wave and behavioral measures of proactive attention were significantly diminished in high-volume gamers compared to those who played less frequently.
A Case Western Reserve University engineering professor is developing a miniaturized low-power device to detect how electrical signals and neurotransmitters in the brain work. The device will record 16 channels of chemical and electrical neural activity, measuring neurotransmitters and action potentials in real time.
Researchers found that brains can be trained to consciously see invisible stimuli, which may help people with blindsight gain awareness. The study suggests a potential new line of research and treatments for acquired cortical blindness.
New research reveals how diet affects brain chemistry, influencing behavior and physiological changes related to obesity. Studies show that high-fat diets can lead to addictive-like behaviors, reduced insulin sensitivity, and impaired brain development in offspring.
Researchers use optogentics to explore brain function in normal and pathological conditions. New findings suggest musical training enhances auditory skills and diagnostic treatments for hearing disorders.
ANG1005 demonstrates disease control in over 70% of patients with progressive gliomas and brain metastases, with significant reductions in tumor size observed. The drug successfully crosses the blood-brain barrier without CNS toxicity or immunogenicity.
Researchers uncover positive effects of exercise on Parkinson's disease, depression, and memory. New tools help identify neural similarities between species, shedding light on human-specific faculties and diseases.
Researchers used optogenetics to stimulate 12 cells in fly brains, creating false memories of an unpleasant event. This discovery provides new insights into how simple organisms can form complex cognitive associations.
Researchers discover that activating brain immune cells with IL-6 leads to clearance of amyloid plaques, suggesting a new therapeutic approach for Alzheimer's disease. This breakthrough discovery may lead to a treatment that removes these hallmark disease-causing structures from patients' brains.
Researchers at the Max-Planck Institute for Brain Research found that brain cells can generate nerve impulses while being energy efficient. This discovery challenges previous estimates and has implications for understanding brain metabolism and non-invasive brain imaging techniques.
Researchers at the University of Manchester discovered two types of brain cells with distinct electrical properties that differ significantly between day and night. One type contains a key gene and can survive high levels of excitability, while the other cannot, contradicting accepted theory on how the daily clock works.
A UCF study will interview and observe over 360 native Cantonese speakers with aphasia to create a database of linguistic symptoms and non-verbal behaviors. The research aims to improve assessment methods and treatment guidelines for Chinese speakers worldwide.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have identified a key molecular player in guiding synapse formation in the brain, advancing understanding of brain development and potential approaches to countering brain disorders. The study also pinpoints the biochemical mechanism by which anti-seizure drug gabapentin works.
Researchers found SRS alone reduces learning and memory problems in cancer patients with one to three brain metastases. SRS plus WBRT results in twice the risk of cognitive decline, but no survival benefit.
A new study found that depressive symptoms are associated with increased levels of interleukin-6, an inflammatory protein predicting cardiovascular events. In contrast, levels of interleukin-6 were not related to later increases in depressive symptoms among healthy adults.
A UNC study found that the GSK-3 gene plays a crucial role in regulating the balance between neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation. Deleting this gene led to an overabundance of proliferating stem cells, resulting in fewer mature neurons. This discovery has implications for treating neuropsychiatric disorders.
Patients with brain tumors treated with WBRT plus SRS experience significant decline in learning and memory function compared to those receiving SRS alone. The study concludes that SRS alone combined with close clinical monitoring is the preferred treatment strategy for patients newly diagnosed with one to three brain metastases.
Researchers at the University of Chicago discovered that the brain can latch onto color and assign it to a different object, even when the original object's color is lost. The study used binocular rivalry technique to show how colors bind to objects in the brain.
Researchers found that administering interleukin-6 through a nasal spray improves memory consolidation during late night REM sleep cycles, particularly for emotional and procedural memories. The study involved 17 healthy young men who received either the nasal spray or a placebo fluid after reading an emotional or neutral short story.
Boosting a specific brain wave has been shown to slow down movement in humans. The study used an oscillating electrical current to increase normal beta activity, resulting in faster times and slower movements. This finding could have implications for treating conditions with uncontrolled or slowed movements.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have discovered new evidence on how the brain reacts to fear using computational models, which can analyze neural mechanisms from a systems perspective. The study finds that fear memory is only partially erased by extinction and inhibition is necessary for complete extinction.
Researchers have developed transgenic songbirds to study the molecular secrets of vocal learning and neuronal replacement. The birds, which can be manipulated genetically, will enable scientists to explore these complex processes at the molecular level.
A new study shows that infants as young as five months old have established neural pathways to sense looming danger. As they become more mobile, their ability to process this information improves, with more mature infants able to respond faster.
Researchers at UMass Medical School have discovered that monarch butterflies use their antennae to navigate towards Mexico, contradicting previous assumptions that the brain played a primary role. The study found that removing or blocking the antennae impaired the butterflies' ability to orient themselves correctly.
Studies at the Salk Institute found that attention reduces background activity, increasing neural signal fidelity by a factor of up to four times. This reduction in noise accounts for approximately 80% of the improvement in perceptual discrimination when focusing on sensory stimuli.
Researchers found that stimulation of inner ear balance organs affects brain blood flow in opposition to changes in blood pressure. The study may lead to new treatment options for conditions such as aging-related vestibular loss and orthostatic intolerance.
Researchers found that the brain uses local motion signals to learn global motion, contradicting previous assumptions. The study published in Journal of Vision suggests that local motion processes are more important for task-relevant perceptual learning of global motion than previously thought.
Researchers found that dynamic information is critical to learning to segregate objects from backgrounds. After three patients regained sight, their performance improved over time, with success rates increasing to almost normal when objects were in motion.
A new UT Southwestern study suggests that fat from certain foods makes its way to the brain, causing it to send messages to cells warning them to ignore hunger signals. The researchers found that palmitic acid, a type of saturated fatty acid, is particularly effective at triggering this mechanism.
Scientists found that natalizumab treatment reactsivate dormant JC virus, leading to PML. Measures of the virus in urine increased after 12 months, and blood samples showed presence in 60% of patients at 18 months.
A new University of Toronto research links academic performance to neural signals, with students having larger error-related negativity (ERN) signals scoring better in school. The study suggests that ERN signals can be improved through self-regulation and attention to mistakes.
Researchers discover gecko tails have intricate movement patterns after shedding, including flips up to 3cm in height. The isolated tail serves as a vehicle for studying spinal cord function and nerve-muscle coordination.
Researchers found that elderly individuals have a slower response time when identifying faces, with one component of the brain's reaction being less sensitive to faces. This suggests that age-related decline affects face processing abilities.
The study reveals that a specific protein, srGAP2, plays a crucial role in controlling the migration and branching of neurons during brain development. By manipulating this protein's activity, researchers were able to observe its effects on filopodia formation and neuronal behavior.
A new study has found that nearly three percent of healthy people have an abnormality on a brain MRI scan, raising concerns about the benefits of commercial brain screening. The researchers argue that there is limited medical evidence to support treatment for incidental abnormalities, potentially creating anxiety among patients.
Researchers discovered that the N60 section of the RanBP9 protein increases amyloid beta production in Alzheimer's disease brains. Targeting this fragment may lead to novel strategies to combat Alzheimer's disease.