Articles tagged with Brain
The project will investigate the genetic and environmental risk factors that contribute to autism, with a focus on prenatal development and early childhood. By analyzing brain development and behavior in infants at high genetic risk, researchers aim to identify potential indicators of autism and improve early diagnosis.
Researchers discovered that the locust brain encodes turbulent plumes of odor molecules using surprisingly little neural machinery. The findings suggest a new theory on how animals smell, proposing that individual neurons preserve almost full information about precise temporal dynamics of odors.
Researchers discovered that post-traumatic stress disorder impacts stroke patients' recovery and ability to resume normal life, even with minor brain damage. Early testing using simple questionnaires could lead to significant improvements in subarachnoid hemorrhage patient outcomes.
Researchers have identified a key molecular mechanism regulating brain's ability to compensate for sleep deprivation. Adenosine receptors help restore normal working memory and attention skills during rebound sleep.
A new study found that Transcendental Meditation practice buffers college students against intense stresses, improving Brain Integration Scale scores, electrodermal habituation, and sleepiness. Students who practiced TM showed increased frontal coherence, reduced sympathetic reactivity, and improved emotional balance.
A study found that mental fatigue impairs physical performance in humans, causing participants to exhaust more quickly. The researchers speculate that perception of effort occurs in the brain and may be linked to dopamine levels.
A new study suggests that genetic risk factors for brain aneurysms do not accumulate earlier in the second generation, contrary to previous research. The study found that aneurysm ruptures occur slightly later in life in the second generation.
A study by ISU researcher Yeon-Kyun Shin found that statins can reduce brain function by depriving the brain of cholesterol, a vital component for efficient brain function. This affects neurotransmitter release, data-processing, and memory functions.
Recent experiments using brain waves have shown that our brains rapidly draw upon a wide range of information to understand unfolding sentences. Key findings include the rapid classification of speakers based on their voice and social stereotypes.
Researchers have identified a way for the brain to compensate for problems with neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, opening up new treatment options for addiction, depression, Parkinson's disease, and schizophrenia. The discovery was made using fruit flies with a genetic mutation that disrupted monoamine neurotransmitter rel...
Research links fast food establishments to increased stroke risk in neighborhoods, with a 1% relative risk for each restaurant. The study suggests targeting areas with high fast-food presence for prevention programs.
Researchers found that fly nerve cells can respond to movement in a wider field of vision due to connections with neighboring cells, allowing for more efficient processing of visual information. This challenges the traditional view of single-cell functionality and suggests a more complex network-based approach.
Researchers used computer artificial intelligence to create new types of pictures and test people's brain performance in visual search experiments. They found that the human brain uses a single mechanism to find targets in pictures, with difficulty levels varying from easy to hard.
Researchers found that monkeys, babies, and college kids share a common pre-verbal number sense, which is essential for basic arithmetic. This cognitive skill is thought to be an abstract domain of cognition that develops early in life.
Human ancestors' large brains required high-energy diets, while modern humans consume more calories and nutrients. The imbalance between energy intake and expenditure contributes to obesity worldwide.
A large-scale study found that computerized brain exercises can significantly improve memory and lead to faster thinking in older adults. Participants who used the Brain Fitness Program for 40 hours over eight weeks showed a 131% improvement in response time and scored as well as those ten years younger on memory and attention tests.
Pragmatically licensed statements, which sound natural and informative, don't hinder the brain's understanding of negative statements. In contrast, pragmatically unlicensed statements elicit similar ERPs to true words, suggesting negation is not more challenging when useful.
Recent studies suggest that humans use multiple senses for speech perception, including lip-reading, teeth movements, and facial features. The McGurk Effect demonstrates the integration of visual and auditory information, showing how our brains blend these senses together to process speech.
A new study reveals that exercise can help reduce cigarette cravings by changing the way the brain processes information. Researchers used fMRI scans to investigate how physical activity affects brain activity among smokers, finding a significant reduction in cravings after exercise.
A computer-based training program improved brain processing speed and accuracy, leading to double the improvement in certain aspects of memory compared to a control group. The study suggests that aging adults may be able to make better-informed decisions about ways to improve memory by focusing on improving brain processing speed.
Scientists at Whitehead Institute and MIT's Picower Institute have successfully treated a mouse model of Rett syndrome with daily injections of an active fragment of IGF-1, significantly reducing movement and respiratory irregularities. The treatment promotes nerve cell maturation and increases brain levels of IGF-1.
The Autism Consortium has published a groundbreaking study defining the mechanism behind Rett syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder primarily affecting girls and a leading cause of autism. The research discovered that targeting the IGF1 signaling axis could be a promising therapeutic strategy for treating or reversing Rett Syndrome.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory found that two genes cause autism-like symptoms in mice, suggesting multiple genetic risk factors influence autistic symptoms' severity. The study may lead to drugs targeting signaling mechanisms between the two genes and a diagnostic target or biomarker.
A molecule that promotes brain development may serve as a possible treatment for Rett syndrome, reversing some of its symptoms in mice. Researchers found that injecting the molecule into mice with faulty brain cells helped them develop normally and reduced symptoms.
A new study confirms that young teenagers think less about the future than adults, but it's not because they're impulsive. Research suggests that immaturity in brain systems governing sensation seeking, rather than self-control, contributes to this phenomenon.
A study in mice identified Toll-like receptor 7 as a critical molecule in detecting West Nile virus and recruiting immune cells to clear the infection. The research suggests that drug therapies targeting this signaling pathway could enhance the immune response and promote clearance of the deadly virus.
Canadian researchers and clinicians emphasize the need for increased investment in science and technology to remain competitive globally. The federal budget's reduction of $147.9 million to research councils and programs is seen as a threat to Canada's long-term economic survival.
A UBC study finds that red improves attention to detail, while blue enhances creative thinking. Red also influences consumer receptivity, favoring detailed product information over evocative messaging.
Researchers found that extra copies of the LIS1 gene can cause problems, including smaller brains and developmental abnormalities. Studies in mice and human patients revealed a link between the duplicated gene and brain diseases such as schizophrenia and autism.
Researchers have discovered that brain activity remains active even when the eyes are closed, with slow fluctuations dominating during rest. The study's findings could lead to advanced diagnostic techniques and a better understanding of brain function.
Researchers at Harvard University have mapped the neural circuitry of the nose, revealing a seemingly random patchwork of receptors for different scents. Despite striking differences between smells like coffee and peppermint, cells processing similar odors are found in precisely the same location on the olfactory bulb.
A study published in The Journal of Neuroscience found that a mother's enriched environment during her youth can significantly impact her child's learning disorder severity. This effect, known as transgenerational inheritance, was observed even when the offspring were raised by non-enriched foster mothers.
Researchers designed nerve networks with varying widths to mimic brain connections, creating logic gates and biological clocks. They discovered a threshold thickness for axon development, allowing for the growth of around 100 axons, essential for signal transmission.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found that a natural brain chemical called orexin works by increasing the body's sensitivity to leptin, leading to reduced weight gain. Increased orexin levels in mice also boosted metabolism and resulted in greater weight loss when administered with leptin.
Researchers found that former athletes who experienced concussion during their early sporting life showed a decline in attention, memory, and motor function compared to those with no concussion. The study's findings suggest long-term effects of concussion on mental and physical processes.
A study by Vanderbilt University researchers found a surprising link between brain iron levels and serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in neuropsychiatric conditions. The team identified multiple trait differences affected by the SERT GK/ER variation, including traits associated with alcohol consumption and brain dopamine signaling.
Scientists at the University of Utah identified a worm gene crucial for damaged nerve cells to regenerate and showed that over-activating it can speed up nerve regeneration. The study's findings offer hope for new treatments for nerves injured by trauma or disease.
Honeybees can learn to recognise human faces even when seen from different viewpoints due to their ability to interpolate or image average previously learnt views. The study suggests that bee brains have evolved clever mechanisms for problem solving which may help develop improved models for AI face recognition systems.
Research reveals that a competition between the two sides of the brain causes it to become asymmetrical. A protein known as Fgf8 acts as a magnet to attract nerve cells to one side, while another protein Nodal teams up with it to trigger asymmetric development.
Researchers found that rats exposed to alcohol during pregnancy are more attracted to the smell of liquor during puberty, and this effect persists into adolescence. Fetal ethanol exposure also changes how the odor and flavor of ethanol are perceived, making it more attractive to others.
A study by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers has identified a protein that regulates hormone release in the brain, with implications for women's reproductive health. The protein, Syt IV, tunes the release of hormones oxytocin and vasopressin, which control reproductive functions and fluid balance.
Research by Kristin R. Ratliff and Nora S. Newcombe found that human adults rely on both geometric and feature cues for reorientation, with a preference depending on the environment and past experiences. The study used experiments with different room sizes and landmarks to investigate this phenomenon.
A recent study published in Neurobiology of Aging found that being physically fit significantly improves blood flow to the brain, leading to enhanced cognitive abilities. The research, conducted by Marc Poulin and his team, involved comparing two groups of women aged 65, one who was active and the other who was inactive.
Rockefeller University scientists have discovered a new family of ionotropic glutamate receptors in the fly nose, which explains how cells in coeloconic sensilla detect odors. The finding fills a missing piece in the organizational logic of the insect olfactory system and raises questions about their evolutionary origin.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have discovered that genetic predisposition and initial seizures can set the stage for later onset of epilepsy. The study used animal models to analyze seizure behavior and identified a genetic component that protects against long-lasting brain changes after initial seizures.
Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine have discovered that the protein alpha-synuclein interferes with the cell's recycling of MEF2D, leading to cell death. The study suggests that targeting MEF2D could be a potential way to regulate brain cells' response to toxic stresses.
A new study reveals that smokers with a family history of brain aneurysm are significantly more likely to suffer a stroke. The research found that current smokers were six times more likely to experience a stroke, and quitting smoking could reduce this risk by over half.
A team of Johns Hopkins neuroscientists has discovered a new type of light sensor in the eye that detects light and communicates with the brain. These melanopsin-containing cells are insensitive to light, but their signal is large enough to influence the brain when activated by multiple photons.
A new study suggests that brain starvation as we age can lead to the production of amyloid plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Regular exercise, managing cholesterol and hypertension, and improving blood flow to the brain may help prevent or treat the disease.
Researchers identified impaired energy metabolism as a key factor in the initiation of amyloid beta plaques in Alzheimer's disease. This discovery provides new insights into the pathogenesis of AD and highlights the potential for developing new preventative and therapeutic approaches.
Researchers at the University of Rochester found that humans make optimal decisions when their unconscious brain processes information. A test revealed that people's brains subconsciously gather data and reach a confidence threshold before reporting a decision to the conscious mind.
SUNY Downstate researchers discovered that the PKMzeta molecule stores complex memories while leaving other brain functions intact. This finding suggests that targeting specific debilitating memories with PKMzeta erasure could be effective in treating conditions like depression, anxiety, and addictions.
Carbon nanotubes form extremely tight contacts with neuronal cell membranes, creating shortcuts between neurons for enhanced excitability. This breakthrough has the potential to treat traumatic brain injuries, Parkinson's disease, and severe depression by bypassing faulty brain wiring.
Five Brown University faculty, including neuroscientist David Berson and brain scientist John Donoghue, have been elected as fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. They were recognized for their contributions to various fields, including visual neuroscience, marine ecology, and cell biology.
The Partition Decoupling Method (PDM) is a new mathematical tool that can unscramble the underlying structure of time-dependent, interrelated complex data. The researchers applied it to the equities market, revealing both known structures and patterns as well as new ones.
A new study found six genes linked to body mass index and obesity, with five impacting brain function. The discovery sheds light on how some people may be genetically wired to overeat, challenging societal views of obesity as a moral failing.
A Tufts University study found that women on low-carb diets performed poorly on memory-based tasks compared to those on reduced-calorie diets with carbohydrates. Cognitive skills returned to normal when carbohydrates were reintroduced.
A new study found that a third of people with brain abnormalities similar to MS developed the disease within five years. Researchers monitored participants to determine whether they developed symptoms, and 30% had developed MS by average age 5.4 years.
Researchers at UC San Diego are creating a new imaging process, MoBI, to study human brain and body dynamics during natural activities. This technology combines EEG recordings with motion capture, allowing scientists to explore distributed brain dynamics supporting human behavior.
A Canadian scientist has made a significant breakthrough in treating intellectual disabilities by manipulating the genes of fruit flies. The research found that disrupting a specific gene called FMR1 leads to long-term memory loss, and that a class of drugs can help restore memories.