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Hands-free tech adds realistic sense of touch in extended reality

A new 'multisensory pseudo-haptic' technology delivers believable tactile experiences in virtual environments by combining visual feedback from a VR headset with tactile sensations from a mechanical wristbracelet. This innovation keeps hands free, enabling long-term wear and more realistic user experiences.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Intelligent Systems·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 22, 2023

Tracking the happiness hormone

A team of scientists has created an implantable microsensor that can measure serotonin levels in the brain in real-time without deactivation. This breakthrough could improve diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses. The sensor uses galvanic redox potentiometry to detect serotonin concentrations over a broad range.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 13, 2023

Mushrooms magnify memory by boosting nerve growth

Researchers from The University of Queensland have identified new active compounds in Hericium erinaceus that promote neuron projections, extending and connecting to other neurons. This discovery could lead to treatments and protection against neurodegenerative cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalJournal of Neurochemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 9, 2023

New dual-phase imaging protocol reduces costs and radiation exposure for cognitively impaired patients

A novel nuclear medicine imaging protocol, dual-phase amyloid PET, can assess both amyloid deposition and neurodegeneration with a single tracer injection, cutting costs and radiation exposure. The protocol was shown to be comparable in distinguishing patients with neurodegenerative diseases from controls.

SourceSociety of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·JournalJournal of Nuclear Medicine·DateFeb 8, 2023

10 leading stroke scientists to receive American Stroke Association honors, including the Ralph L. Sacco Outstanding Stroke Research Mentor Award

The American Heart Association is recognizing 10 leading stroke scientists who have made significant contributions to the field of stroke research. Among them, Dr. Cheryl Bushnell will be honored with the Ralph L. Sacco Outstanding Stroke Research Mentor Award for her exceptional mentorship and research in women's issues related to str...

What is clinically meaningful to slow Alzheimer’s progression?

The work group reframed what is clinically meaningful to slow Alzheimer's disease progression, including the need for combination therapies and realistic expectations of benefits and risks. Slowing brain deterioration by four to six months in early stages may preserve function, leading to meaningful outcomes for patients and families.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia·DateFeb 7, 2023

Study offers neurological explanation for how brains bias partisans against new information

A recent study published in Science Advances found that individuals with similar ideologies have more similar neural fingerprints of political words and process new information in a polarized way. The researchers used a range of methods, including fMRI and representation similarity analysis, to explore how the brains of people who iden...

SourceBrown University·JournalScience Advances·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 1, 2023

Is brain learning weaker than artificial Intelligence?

Researchers at Bar-Ilan University have developed a new type of artificial neural network that outperforms traditional deep learning architectures. By using tree architecture with single routes to output units, they achieve better classification success rates, paving the way for efficient and biologically-inspired AI hardware.

SourceBar-Ilan University·JournalScientific Reports·DateJan 30, 2023

Ben-Gurion University researcher and international colleagues hot on the trail of a key component of aging

Researchers found that SIRT6 maintains mitochondrial function through transcription regulation of mitochondrial genes. Without SIRT6, mitochondrial gene expression is down-regulated, leading to increased ROS production and impaired ATP generation, similar to changes observed in aging and neurodegenerative diseases.

SourceBen-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalCell Death and Disease·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 23, 2023

All in the mind – decoding brainwaves to identify the music we are listening to

Researchers at the University of Essex have developed a new technique that uses non-invasive brain wave monitoring to accurately identify the music someone is listening to. The method has been successfully tested on a dataset of simple piano music and shows promise for decoding language signals from the brain in the future.

SourceUniversity of Essex·JournalScientific Reports·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 19, 2023

New fluorescent dye can light up the brain

Researchers at Rice University have developed a new fluorescent dye that can cross the blood-brain barrier, allowing for noninvasive brain imaging and differentiation between healthy tissue and tumor cells. The dye's long-lasting fluorescence enables stable imaging over extended periods.

SourceRice University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 17, 2023

Clever birds need caring parents

A comparative study of over 1,000 bird species found that parental care is the key factor influencing brain size. The researchers concluded that parental energy input, via egg size and active feeding after hatching, drives brain growth. This finding has implications for understanding differences in brain size across various animal groups.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeLiterature review·DateJan 17, 2023

Clinical trial results indicate low rate of adverse events associated with implanted brain computer interface

A new clinical trial report reveals that brain-computer interface implants are associated with a low rate of adverse events, similar to those experienced by patients with other chronic medical conditions. The study, which followed 14 participants for an average of 872 days, found no serious adverse events or device removals.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalNeurology·TypeObservational study·DateJan 13, 2023

A novel, powerful tool to unveil the communication between gut microbes and the brain

A novel laboratory protocol enables researchers to investigate connections between gut microbes and the brain, shedding light on how microbes influence the central nervous system. The tool allows for comprehensive evaluation of metabolites produced by microbes, providing insights into their role in health and disease.

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalNature Protocols·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 13, 2023

HRT could ward off Alzheimer’s among at-risk women

A new study suggests that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) could help prevent Alzheimer's disease in women who are carriers of the APOE4 gene. The research found that HRT use is associated with improved memory and larger brain volumes among at-risk women. Early introduction of HRT during perimenopause may be particularly beneficial.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalAlzheimer s Research & Therapy·TypeObservational study·DateJan 13, 2023

How your mood affects the way you process language

A study by the University of Arizona found that when participants were in a negative mood, they were more careful and analytical, scrutinizing what was stated in a text. In contrast, a happy mood led to a less analytical state, with participants relying on default world knowledge.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalFrontiers in Communication·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 13, 2023