Articles tagged with Brain
The new center aims to connect scientists with teachers to effect meaningful change in student learning outcomes. The CCEN will conduct basic research on how people learn, focusing on brain mechanisms involved in language, science, reading, and math acquisition.
Researchers at Northwestern University propose a new theory that challenges the widely accepted model of long-term memory storage. According to this new theory, memories are stored through a dynamic and meta-stable process, rather than permanent representation in the brain.
By studying how monkeys track a visual target, researchers have gained new insights into the brain's strategies for measuring time. The findings indicate that the brain measures time by assessing the duration of a process and computing the distance an object has moved.
A study found that genes controlling brain development and function evolved significantly faster in the human lineage than in other species. This suggests that strong selective forces favored larger and more complex brains, leading to a dramatic speeding up of evolution.
Researchers found that women experiencing menopause have reduced estrogen sensitivity in their brains, leading to increased hot flashes and night sweats. The study suggests that this insensitivity may contribute to menopause-related symptoms.
Researchers warn of growing ethical challenges in neuroscience as brain imaging technologies become more accessible. Breakthroughs in functional neuroimaging enable the study of cognitive processes, but also raise concerns about corporate profits and personal data privacy.
Scientists have developed a new MRI technique to study brain anatomy in live crayfish, revealing complex anatomical structures and enabling repeated imaging. This breakthrough technology provides a powerful tool for understanding neurobiology of behavior in invertebrates.
A recent study identified lemons and lilac as among the top 10 smells that can predict Alzheimer's Disease. The study analyzed smell identification test results from patients with Alzheimer's disease and healthy elderly subjects, revealing a strong link between the inability to identify specific odors and the development of the disease.
Researchers identified a shortfall of IDE protein in Alzheimer's patients and found a cause-effect relationship between insulin signaling and increased production of IDE. A low-fat diet high in fish and soy was shown to increase production of IDE, suggesting a potential protective effect against Alzheimer's disease.
A team of researchers led by Johns Hopkins University is developing a neuroprosthetic implant that could restore locomotion in patients with spinal cord injuries. The device mimics the signals sent by the brain and stimulates dormant control centers to send movement instructions to muscles.
Researchers Galit Yovel and Nancy Kanwisher found that the FFA extracts configural information about faces, not spatial information on face parts. Their studies also indicated that the FFA is exclusively involved in face recognition.
Researchers design medication that corrects abnormal brain functions in targeted areas, reducing side effects found in existing medications. The new type of drug could be available within five to 10 years and has the potential to improve treatment options for Canadians affected by psychiatric disorders.
Studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) show that individuals with brain deficits can relearn matching visual input with sensory input. This study used fMRI and a cyber glove to demonstrate the effectiveness of remapping motor commands, a crucial step in stroke recovery.
Research suggests that nicotine receptors in the brain play a crucial role in antidepressant medication's effectiveness. The study found that blocking these receptors can accelerate emotional relief, particularly for patients who are suicidal or unresponsive to current treatments.
Jefferson scientists discovered that certain parts of the silver-haired bat rabies virus, specifically its glycoprotein cover, enable it to infect the brain rapidly. The researchers found that this type of rabies is capable of evading the immune system more effectively than other strains, making it a key factor in viral pathogenesis.
A CU-Boulder team found strong evidence that dopamine in the brain helps people implicitly learn to make choices that lead to good outcomes. Dopamine levels can influence how patients with Parkinson's disease make decisions, according to the study.
Researchers at EMBL have discovered that the light-sensitive cells in our eyes, rods and cones, originated from an ancient population of light-sensitive cells located in the brain. These brain cells were later recruited for vision, leading to the evolution of the human eye.
Researchers found that a defect in RGS4 gene may cause schizophrenia-like symptoms, such as difficulty filtering out unimportant sensory information. The study uses mouse brain nerve cell circuitry to better understand the cause of schizophrenia.
Dolphin brains are significantly larger than expected for their body size, with some species having brain sizes comparable to those of modern humans. This study suggests that cetaceans may possess cognitive abilities similar to those of great apes, challenging traditional views of human exceptionalism.
Researchers found that adults with dyslexia who received phonics-based instruction showed significant improvements in reading ability, including gains of 6-23% in text reading and phonetic awareness. The study also revealed changes in brain activity associated with phonetic processing.
Researchers have described the pattern of brain evolution in dolphins for the first time, revealing a significant increase in brain size relative to body size over 47 million years. This change is believed to be linked to changes in social ecology and the emergence of echolocation abilities.
A team of researchers from the University of Arizona used fMRI to investigate how brains recognize faces and retrieve associated names. They found that specific areas, including the medial prefrontal cortex, showed activation during 'feeling-of-knowing' states, suggesting additional processes aid in recalling accurate memories.
Scientists at Vanderbilt University have discovered that low-intensity infrared laser light can spark specific nerves to life, exciting a leg or even individual toes without touching the nerve cells. The technique offers greater precision and accuracy than conventional electrical stimulation.
A study by Jefferson neuroscientists has discovered that lead exposure early in life can significantly hinder the brain's ability to recover from later injuries. The research used rats with specific brain damage and found that those exposed to lead suffered less recovery, suggesting long-term consequences of lead poisoning.
Researchers found that bilateral motor performance improvements were seen in patients with Parkinson's disease, regardless of where the stimulation was applied. The study suggests that unilateral deep brain stimulation could be a more effective and lower-risk treatment option for some patients.
The study found that individuals with a family history of alcoholism were less sensitive to ketamine and exhibited altered NMDA receptor function. This suggests a genetic predisposition to vulnerability to heavy drinking in the presence of environmental and social factors.
A study by Chelsea S. Kidwell and colleagues found that MRI detected acute bleeding not seen on CT scans, improving detection rates for chronic hemorrhage and microbleeds. The results suggest that MRI may be superior to CT as the sole imaging technique for acute stroke diagnosis.
A study by Dr. Jamie Ward reveals that synaesthesia is not about detecting hidden emotions, but rather a brain-created response to stimuli. Researchers found that people with the condition associate words and names with specific colours, including pink for positive emotions and brown for negative ones.
Researchers found two brain areas competing for control over behavior when balancing near-term rewards with long-term goals. Decisions involving immediate rewards activated emotion-related brain systems, while abstract reasoning systems were active in all choices.
Researchers found neural patterns in adult ferrets' visual cortex correlated with images viewed, but not in young ferrets. Adult ferret brains showed 80% processing activity even in darkness, suggesting the basis of comprehending vision may differ in young and old brains.
A new model reveals that calcium control regulates synaptic plasticity, allowing rapid changes and stabilizing synapses without growing indefinitely. This breakthrough sheds light on the fundamental basis of memory, learning, and brain development.
According to the study, the nasal endoscopic approach was successful in treating cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, with 92% of patients experiencing long-term success. The procedure involves using small cameras and monitors to operate with minimal trauma, reducing the risk of complications.
The UCI Brain Imaging Center will utilize advanced fMRI, PET, and DTI imaging techniques to study abnormal brain networks in schizophrenia. The goal is to identify the underlying biology of the disease and develop more effective treatments.
A study by Yale University researchers reveals that lowering a specific lipid in nerve terminals affects neurotransmitter exchange between neurons. The findings have implications for understanding synaptic transmission and potentially developing new treatments for diseases like Down syndrome, cancer, and diabetes.
Deletion of d-catenin leads to severe learning and memory deficits and alterations in synaptic plasticity. The study establishes a causal link between d-catenin deletions and cognitive dysfunction, offering insights into the mechanisms underlying Cri-du-Chat Syndrome and Familial Alzheimer's disease.
A recent study using binocular rivalry demonstrates the importance of feedback in interpreting visual images. The experimenters found that once a walking figure is recognized, it can cause dominance of signals from one eye and suppression of signals from the other.
A study of 13,440 ischemic stroke patients found that serious medical or neurological complications accounted for over half of in-hospital deaths. Pneumonia was the leading cause, followed by increased intracranial pressure, with diabetes and previous stroke also linked to poorer outcomes in men.
A study by Daphne Bavelier and her team found that visual information is less effective at holding seven items in short term memory compared to auditory information. However, a new test design revealed that both sight and sound are equally important for cognitive ability.
Researchers at Medical College of Georgia are using an animal model of cerebral palsy to identify the most effective way to transplant stem cells. They aim to determine whether transplanted stem cells work best when injected directly into the brain along with natural chemicals called chemokines.
Eleven organ transplant recipients were hospitalized with West Nile virus encephalitis, developing neurological damage and some surviving despite significant problems. The study highlights the risk of WNV infection in immunosuppressed individuals receiving long-term immune system-suppressing drugs.
Researchers found that infant rats willingly ingest large amounts of highly concentrated alcohol during their first exposure, resulting in extremely high blood alcohol levels. This contrasts with adult rats and humans, who typically reject or require initiation procedures to consume alcohol.
A recent study by Michigan Medicine reveals that Mexican-Americans are twice as likely to experience a stroke or near-stroke compared to non-Hispanic whites. The disparity holds true across various age groups, including younger populations, with unique genetic predispositions and potential factors contributing to the increased risk.
Saint Louis University researchers discovered that the blood-brain barrier has a transport system for enzymes that is lost with aging. This discovery opens up new possibilities for treating lysosomal storage diseases by targeting the blood-brain barrier's delivery mechanism.
A study by University College London and University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre found that hypnotic suggestion can cause strikingly similar brain activity to physical pain. Volunteers under hypnosis reported feeling pain even though they had not experienced any physical stimulus, suggesting that some pain may begin in the mind.
Researchers at the University of Alberta have discovered that attention plays a significant role in prospective time estimations, with estimates decreasing as task difficulty increases. The study, published in Brain and Cognition, provides insight into how our brains process time when we're engaged or distracted.
Researchers identify molecular pathway in brain that explains why patients with inflammatory diseases develop depression. By understanding this mechanism, scientists hope to help patients avoid depression while benefiting from immune-boosting treatments.
Researchers found that 'early blind' subjects excelled in recognizing changes in pitch, a skill impaired in both sighted and late-blind individuals. This study demonstrates the brain's capacity for reorganization in response to early sensory loss.
A new study found that children can beat most adults on recognition memory tests when using similarity-based induction, whereas adults use category-based induction which hinders their memory accuracy. The study shows that children's high memory accuracy is due to their ability to compare similarities between pictures.
A study suggests that aging HIV patients are at risk of developing dementia due to the accumulation of amyloid beta in their brains. Researchers found a correlation between years of infection and increased amyloid beta levels, suggesting that good clinical control of plasma HIV may not be enough to prevent related pathologies.
A study by McGill scientists identifies a new function for the Runx1 gene in the development of hindbrain visceral motor nerve cells. These cells regulate internal environment stability and vital functions such as blood pressure and heart rate.
Researchers found that sphinx moths can learn to associate specific odors with food, demonstrating a complex learning process. The study's findings have wide-ranging applications, including potential uses in defense industry and law enforcement for detecting biological and chemical weapons.
Researchers have identified a naturally occurring genetic difference controlling brain serotonin production, which may explain psychiatric disorders and influence patient responses to SSRIs. The discovery sets the stage for new insights into the role of the serotonin enzyme and gene in animal behavior and human disorders.
The study examined brain tissue from 17 teenage suicide victims and 17 control subjects without psychiatric illness. Researchers found statistically significant decreases in protein kinase C (PKC) activity in certain brain areas of the suicide victims' brains, suggesting a potential link to therapeutic intervention.
Researchers found that individuals with early AD who participated in a 3-to-4 month cognitive rehabilitation program showed significant improvements in face-name recognition, mental processing speeds, and time-place orientation. The study suggests that people with early AD can be taught techniques to help stay engaged in everyday life.
A new hypothesis from Northwestern University researchers suggests that brain development and puberty could be key factors in learning disorders. The study found that individuals with learning problems develop more slowly than those without, and their brains stop developing around the time of puberty's onset.
A recent study published in Neurosurgery found that administering clot-dissolving medication directly to the site of blockages resulted in a 50% success rate in reducing neurological disability, compared to 39% with IV treatment. The intra-arterial therapy showed better results in re-opening blood vessels and improving stroke outcomes.
Researchers found that students can quickly learn and recognize words in a new language, with brain activity showing rapid changes after just 14 hours of instruction. This contradicts the common notion that learning a second language is difficult and time-consuming.
A breakthrough in brain-machine interface technique uses electrocorticographic (ECoG) activity to record brain surface signals, enabling humans to control computers with their minds. The study achieved high accuracy rates and promises potential applications in prosthetic limb control for individuals with disabilities.
Recent research from MIT found that brain activity does not increase when switching between tasks quickly, indicating that there are no complicated mechanisms for multitasking. Instead, individuals must complete one task before moving on to the next, a finding with implications for our understanding of cognitive processes.
A study published by Temple University researchers debunks the longstanding 'Trojan Horse' model of HIV-caused dementia. They found that a large, late invasion of HIV-infected macrophages into the brain is responsible for the disease, not early latent infection as previously thought.