Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Groundbreaking study shows promise for early detection and intervention in psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia

Researchers have discovered a link between cognitive impairments and brain network organization in individuals at risk of developing psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. This finding suggests an opportunity for early diagnosis and intervention, potentially through non-invasive neuromodulation.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·TypeImaging analysis·DateAug 20, 2024

Pink elephants in the brain?

A study published in Neuron reveals that neurons are wired to connect seemingly unrelated concepts, enhancing the brain's ability to predict what we see based on past experiences. Visual experience influences the organisation of feedback projections, which store information about the world.

SourceChampalimaud Centre for the Unknown·JournalNeuron·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 12, 2024

SNU researchers develop biodegradable electronic tent for non-surgical brain disease diagnosis using a needle

Seoul National University researchers developed a biodegradable electronic tent technology that enables non-invasive brain disease diagnosis using a needle. The device unfolds to cover the entire brain over a large area and naturally decomposes in the body after diagnosis, minimizing side effects.

SourceSeoul National University College of Engineering·JournalNature Electronics·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 11, 2024

The olfactory performance of family dogs was tested by hungarian ethologists The olfactory performance of family dogs was tested by Hungarian ethologists

Researchers from Eötvös Loránd University found temperature and humidity have no impact on dogs' ability to detect scents. However, indoor testing outperformed outdoor environments due to distracting stimuli. Age also plays a role, with 2-3 year old dogs exhibiting superior olfactory performance.

SourceEötvös Loránd University·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 8, 2024

AI boosts the power of EEGs, enabling neurologists to quickly, precisely pinpoint signs of dementia

Researchers at Mayo Clinic used AI to analyze electroencephalogram (EEG) tests, identifying subtle brain wave patterns characteristic of cognitive problems like Alzheimer's disease. This technology has the potential to provide healthcare professionals with a more accessible tool for early diagnosis in communities without easy access to...

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalBrain Communications·DateJul 31, 2024

Size doesn’t matter for mammals with more complex brains, according to new study

A recent study published in Nature Communications found that mammals with more developed brains tend to exhibit smaller sexual size dimorphism (SSD), meaning there is less difference in size between males and females. This suggests that complex brain development may be linked to other traits such as social behavior and mate selection.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateJul 25, 2024

The secret to finding balance: improving interoception

A new Reichman University study demonstrates how external representation of physiological signals can improve internal balance. The researchers created an immersive multisensory environment that mirrors the user's breathing pattern, leading to significant improvements in interoceptive sensibility and flow among users.

SourceReichman University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 24, 2024

Can consciousness exist in a computer simulation?

Wanja Wiese's research focuses on ruling out deception by conscious AI systems and understanding the prerequisites for consciousness in artificial systems. He draws on Karl Friston's free energy principle, suggesting that computers can simulate consciousness but may require additional conditions to replicate conscious experience.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalPhilosophical Studies·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateJul 19, 2024

Researchers identify brain circuits tied to the behavior of schooling fish

Studies in glassfish reveal that vision plays a crucial role in coordinated schooling behavior, with maturity also essential for developing this ability. Researchers discovered that older fish can distinguish between movement patterns of their social partners, allowing them to align their bodies and swim together effectively.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 17, 2024

When the brain speaks, the heart feels it

Activation of the brain's reward system may improve recovery from a heart attack by reducing infarct scarring and improving clinical outcomes. The study found that stimulation of the reward system resulted in favorable modulation of the immune response within the damaged myocardium, leading to an improvement in cardiac performance.

SourceTechnion-Israel Institute of Technology·JournalNature Cardiovascular Research·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 17, 2024

Robert A. Rissman, Ph.D., receives the 2024 Alzheimer Award

Dr. Rissman's research uses plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio to predict brain amyloid PET positivity and identify individuals at risk for Alzheimer's disease. His findings demonstrate the potential of a blood test to screen for amyloid in preclinical AD trials.

SourceIOS Press·JournalJournal of Alzheimer’s Disease·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJul 9, 2024

Specific bacteria in your gut are involved in compulsive eating and obesity

A study published in Gut reveals that specific bacteria in the gut are involved in compulsive eating and obesity, with a beneficial bacterium called Blautia showing protective effects. The research also highlights the role of microRNAs in food addiction and suggests potential new treatments involving beneficial bacteria and dietary sup...

SourceFederation of European Neuroscience Societies·JournalGut·TypeObservational study·DateJun 26, 2024

Standardized protocols help hospitals treat strokes faster, WVU research finds

Researchers found that hospitals that implemented standardized protocols from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association saw significant reductions in stroke treatment times. The protocols, which include specific limits on time between symptom onset and hospital arrival, helped medical teams respond more quickly to ...

SourceWest Virginia University·JournalJournal of Operations Management·DateJun 24, 2024

How can AI cope with changing categories?

Researchers at Bar-Ilan University have discovered a new scaling law that governs how artificial neural networks handle an increasing number of categories for identification. This law reveals how the identification error rate increases with the number of required recognizable objects, impacting AI latency and efficiency.

SourceBar-Ilan University·JournalPhysica A Statistical Mechanics and its Applications·DateJun 20, 2024

Sister hormone of GLP-1 can lead to better weight-loss drugs

Researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding the GIP hormone's role in regulating insulin levels and weight loss. The study, involving over 500,000 individuals, found that inhibiting the GIP receptor may result in weight loss, while activating it without arresting its signal is crucial.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences·JournalNature Metabolism·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 13, 2024

Dopamine linked to mentalising abilities

Researchers at the University of Birmingham discovered a link between dopamine and mentalising abilities in healthy individuals. They found that altering dopamine levels affected participants' ability to accurately attribute mental states, with implications for treating conditions like Parkinson's disease.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 13, 2024

Some honeybees learn tasks better than others, and gene expression patterns in their brains may be associated with this difference in ability

A recent study reveals that some honeybees exhibit superior learning abilities compared to others, which may be attributed to distinct gene expression patterns in their brains. The research explores the behavioral and genetic underpinnings of individual differences in learning performance among Apis mellifera.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJun 12, 2024

Research on the visual rabbit illusion takes a leap forward

Researchers from Kyushu University discovered new conditions for a three-flash illusion, where the brain misperceives the second flash as near the midpoint between the first and third flashes. This phenomenon occurs regardless of the second flash's location, highlighting the complexity of visual perception.

SourceKyushu University·Journali-Perception·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 11, 2024

SNMMI Image of the Year: Ultra-high-resolution PET provides never before seen images of the brain

The NeuroEXPLORER PET scanner offers exceptional brain PET images with ultra-high sensitivity and resolution, showcasing focal uptake in specific brain nuclei. This technology has the potential to spur advances in treating conditions like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and mental illnesses.

SourceSociety of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·JournalJournal of Nuclear Medicine·DateJun 10, 2024

The body’s own lipids affect mental disorders: Can specific inhibitors help?

Research suggests that altered lipid signaling in brain cells contributes to mental disorders, with specific inhibitors showing promise in rebalancing this mechanism. The study found similar changes in both human patients and healthy relatives, as well as mice with genetic disorders, opening up new treatment opportunities.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 6, 2024

Study identifies potential pathway to reducing breast cancer brain metastases

A study led by researchers from the University of Arizona Cancer Center identified a biological mechanism that could lead to more effective treatments for breast cancer that has metastasized to the brain. By targeting the autophagy pathway, the researchers were able to disrupt breast cancer cells' ability to form brain metastases.

SourceUniversity of Arizona Health Sciences·JournalClinical and Translational Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 6, 2024