Research on how the brain is built and how it governs body and behavior. Covers neural circuits, sleep, sensory systems, brain structure, and the brain-body connection.
A new study published in Science Advances reveals that neuronal precursor cells divide into two independent lineages, producing distinct types of projection neurons. This challenges previous assumptions about the development of neural stem cells and sheds light on how the cerebral cortex arises.
A recent study by Nagoya University researchers found that orexin neurons play a crucial role in regulating motivated behavior. Using novel rat models, they discovered that activity in orexin neurons increases with effort, helping drive motivated behavior.
During REM sleep, the brain processes internal bodily signals more strongly than external auditory stimuli. By calculating an audio-cardio index, researchers found that the brain turns its listening inward, reorganizing sensory information processing as it shifts from wakefulness to sleep.
A new USC study uses AI to generate detailed maps of brain aging, revealing distinct patterns of neurodegeneration in specific regions. The approach sheds light on how local brain age correlates with changes in cognitive function across the lifespan.
A new method for three-dimensional visualization of nanoplastic distribution in the neonatal mouse brain has been established, revealing particle-size-dependent biodistribution patterns. The study found that smaller particles (50 nm) were widely distributed throughout the brain, while larger particles (500 nm) showed weaker accumulation.
Researchers will examine whether online support strengthens brain development linked to emotional and mental health in prematurely born infants. The scalable intervention could transform how families receive support after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit, bringing evidence-based support into the home.
A new grant will support research into how strokes disrupt brain networks controlling the bladder, aiming to identify imaging biomarkers predicting treatment response. Researchers will use advanced brain imaging and non-invasive spinal stimulation to develop a personalized approach for treating bladder problems after stroke.
During early simulated microgravity, cerebral blood flow changes are closely associated with upstream macrovascular hemodynamics in internal carotid and vertebral arteries. The study found that regional cerebral blood flow alterations are independently predicted by vertebral artery hemodynamic parameters.
Researchers identify a specialized lymphatic network in the brain that enables cerebrospinal fluid drainage, which declines with age but can be restored through intranasal VEGF-C delivery. This discovery provides new insights into brain waste clearance and its link to neurodegenerative disorders.
A team of researchers at Kyoto University found that traveling waves in rat brains are linked to information transfer in consciousness, but the amount of transfer entropy is higher during anesthesia than wakefulness. The study suggests that the awake brain selectively regulates information for reliable communication.
New evidence explains why certain parts of the brain are more vulnerable to neurodegenerative diseases. The study suggests that directing therapies to specific protein forms can lead to improved treatment outcomes. Researchers found that subtle differences in protein abundance and complexes assemble determine regional vulnerability.
Researchers found that tau buildup in PSP affects brain networks involved in thinking, including the prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex. The study suggests that symptoms arise from both local tau-related damage and remote disruption of a broader cognitive network.
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine identified a biological process that sheds new light on how memory circuits mature during late adolescence. The study found that memories formed earlier in life become temporarily difficult to retrieve before resurfacing later with less precise detail.
A new study published in Nature Communications finds that a protein called saxiphilin can neutralize the potent neurotoxin saxitoxin, preventing and even reversing paralytic shellfish poisoning. The discovery could have important public health implications as saxitoxin accumulates in shellfish and causes poisoning when consumed.
Researchers discovered the brain's brief 'dual tracking' ability to process two conversations simultaneously, potentially explaining why some individuals excel in busy social situations. This finding may help improve hearing technologies and provide insight into why certain people struggle with multitasking.
Researchers found that brain-computer interface training improved the perception of smaller visuo-motor errors, whereas traditional behavioral training only enhanced detection for larger rotations. The training also showed contributions from brain regions controlling decision-making and visuospatial processing.
Researchers discovered that reducing microglial activity worsened abnormal electrical activity and increased seizure-like events in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Microglia are not just drivers of inflammation but also perform important housekeeping functions to maintain healthy brain activity.
A groundbreaking study published in Science Translational Medicine has successfully restored the sense of touch in individuals with spinal cord injuries using brain-computer interface technology. The study found that electrical pulses delivered to the somatosensory cortex remained stable and localized over a period of up to 10 years, w...
Researchers developed a hybrid technology combining human learning and machine learning in noninvasive BCIs, producing rapid and sustained gains in motor imagery control. The study demonstrates significant scientific and technological advancement in BCIs, establishing a scalable pathway toward robust neural interfaces.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have found a way to intervene early in traumatic brain injuries using a natural, gut-derived chemical that prevents post-traumatic epilepsy from taking root. The treatment reduced brain inflammation, improved memory and mood, protected brain cells, made seizures both rarer and harder to trigger.
A study from Binghamton University found that poor sleep quality is connected to hyperarousal in young people and neurodegenerative patterns among older women. Research analyzed brain scans from over 1,300 participants to see how brain networks connect at rest in those with poor sleep.
The University of Cincinnati launches the Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research (CANDR) to improve dementia prevention and treatment outcomes. CANDR aligns with UC's mission to innovate and engage locally while addressing one of the region's most pressing public health challenges.
The University of California, San Francisco is launching a novel clinical trial to test a combination of therapies for the most common form of Alzheimer's disease. The trial will enroll up to 825 participants and test drugs that target both amyloid and tau proteins, with the goal of slowing disease progression.
A Korean University research team has created a new brain implant that enables precise control of neural activity using temperature, opening possibilities for advanced brain–computer interfaces and treatments for neurological disorders.
Research on ocean acidification's impact on cephalopod brains reveals a 49% reduction in brain volume compared to controls. The greatest reductions were found in visual information-interpretation regions, correlating with significant feeding behavior changes.
A new study finds that human cortical neurons have remarkable computational capabilities, surpassing those of other mammals. The researchers developed a new method to measure the complexity of individual neurons, revealing their sophisticated computing power.
Researchers discovered astrocytes actively preserve long-term memories by regulating Ank2 and BDNF signaling. This finding expands the understanding of how memories are stored in the brain.
Researchers from the University of Osaka found that antagonistic ties play a crucial role in shaping social maps in the brain, which are also reflected in patterns of brain activity. This study sheds light on how our brains organize complex relationships and rivalries.
Researchers identified 17 additional regions of the brain that appear to play a role in language, including parts of the cerebellum and hippocampus. These regions make up about 5 percent of the total volume of the adult brain and contribute to language processing despite being distant from traditional language centers.
Researchers propose a new framework, BOC, inspired by biological nervous systems to build more adaptive intelligent systems. The framework integrates sensing, memory, and computation directly at the hardware level, reducing data movement and latency.
Two studies found that mice take single sniffs to deliberately probe their environment, like humans. Humans process odors rapidly within a single sniff, mirroring rodent-like olfactory brain processing. These findings suggest fundamental biological rules behind smell processing have been preserved through evolution.
Researchers at University of Arizona have found a promising new approach to slow fatal nerve disease ALS by blocking a small part of a key protein. The experimental drug XL20 protects nerve cells and reduces muscle weakness in mice and human nerve cells, representing a potential breakthrough.
A USC interdisciplinary team has identified a promising pathway to turn off brain inflammation before it does its damage, increasing the risk of late-onset Alzheimer's. The Norman and Mary Pattiz Foundation funding will support research on novel drug discovery, early detection, and prevention of Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers identified karyoptosis as a key link between toxic protein accumulation and neuron death in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and frontotemporal dementia. The study found that targeting proteins acting as 'switches' in this pathway may slow or prevent cell death by karyoptosis.
Professor David Engblom of Linköping University has won the Onkel Adam Prize for his groundbreaking research on how inflammation affects brain function and behavior. His work aims to alleviate human suffering by improving treatment and care.
Researchers study blind Mexican cavefish to understand how evolution rewires the brain and shapes behavior. They found that cavefish become more active in light, a response believed to help them avoid predators.
A new commission, launched at the Texas Brain Economy Summit, aims to define, measure, and operationalize brain capital, a concept encompassing both brain health and critical cognitive skills. The initiative seeks to address the gap in economic planning and promote brain health as a driver of economic resilience.
Researchers at Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine have discovered that bilingual brains preserve a shared overall geometric organization despite tuning themselves differently for each language. This 'shared semantic geometry' allows individuals to effortlessly translate thoughts between languages without confusion.
Researchers have found that cats show comparable patterns of brain deterioration as they age, similar to humans. This study, part of the Translating Time project, aims to unlock new insights into human ageing and disease by comparing cat and human brain development.
Researchers developed a gene therapy that restored normal brain activity and improved behavior in mice with Fragile X syndrome by replacing the missing FMRP protein. The treatment administered during early development showed significant improvements in cognitive flexibility, social interactions, and probabilistic reversal learning.
A brain enzyme has been found to build polysialic acid chains on itself, regulating its own activity. The sugar chain acts as a switch, suppressing the enzyme's function when attached. Once removed, the enzyme reactivates outside the cell, offering a new mechanism for regulation and repair.
Research team uncovers driving mechanisms behind population diversity in brain functional connectome. Lifestyle factors and gene expression shape brain functional topography, contradicting biological essentialism.
Researchers have developed a digital brain twin using multimodal data, providing anatomically accurate brain models that can be used in experimental and clinical settings. The models were reconstructed simultaneously with brain anatomy and dynamics from neural data.
Researchers have made major steps toward solving the mystery of how brain aneurysms form by identifying key cell types and genetic pathways involved. The study's findings provide new insights into a clinical paradox: smaller aneurysms can still rupture, and offer opportunities for early intervention to prevent ruptures.
A team from UNIGE has improved a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called temporal interference stimulation, allowing deeper and more targeted stimulation. The breakthrough enables the potential application of this method in treating neurological and psychiatric disorders such as Parkinson's disease and depression without surgery.
Researchers from Florida Atlantic University have identified a key immune pathway that appears to drive damaging inflammation in Huntington disease. Blocking this pathway reduced brain inflammation, protected neurons, and improved movement in a humanized mouse model of the disease.
A new University of Arizona study has found that several common sleep behaviors may be linked to signs of brain aging. Sleeping outside the recommended seven-to-nine-hour range, frequent daytime napping, and sleeplessness were distinctly associated with greater volume of white matter lesions in healthy people.
The FUTURE-D project combines data science with clinical expertise to identify warning signs of depression earlier, enabling more targeted interventions. Researchers will integrate longitudinal cohort data from the MACS and NESDA studies to better understand depressive disorders.
A new study reveals how Philip Morris Companies Inc. used cigarette research and flavor engineering to design Lunchables, a successful ultra-processed food for children. The company's strategy was based on optimizing 'technical synergies' between tobacco and food divisions.
A new research initiative aims to harness the potential of astrocytes, a type of brain cell often overlooked in AI development. By studying how astrocytes process information, researchers hope to create next-generation AI systems that learn faster and adapt more reliably.
A new collection of Frontiers for Young Minds articles reviews breakthrough brain research topics, including artificial intelligence and memory. Young reviewers aged 8-15 collaborated with leading neuroscientists to make complex neuroscience topics accessible to their peers.
Researchers at Nagoya University identified the neural circuit responsible for timing torpor in mammals, which reduces body temperature and metabolism. The discovery provides new insights into how animals regulate energy use.
A study published in Communications Biology found that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) exacerbates chronic pain and drives mirror-image pain after a stroke. The researchers used imaging mass spectrometry to visualize LPA and other molecules, revealing a sequential pathological process that leads to bilateral pain.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a noninvasive method to track the expression of specific genes in living brain tissue, enabling real-time monitoring of gene activity. The tool, called In-vivo Tracking of Active Transcription (INTACT), uses engineered reporter molecules and sensors to detect target mRNA in the bloodstream.
Scientists at Gladstone Institutes create new method to track brain waste exit points, revealing unexpected details on immune cell interaction and disease disruption. The 'nearest exit' model suggests that each brain region has a unique drainage system.
Scientists have created a miniature circuit that mimics the brain and spinal cord connection, showing that previously thought irreversible nerve damage can be reversed. The researchers found that blocking specific genes in mature neurons restored axon regrowth ability.
A clinical trial is underway at Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine to develop advanced neuroprosthetics for individuals with paralysis. The team is working on decoding cortical neural signals to control robotic assistive devices, enabling people with tetraplegia to eat and drink independently.
Researchers at UCLA Health have identified a brain region called the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) that regulates memory integration. The vmPFC acts as a quality control checkpoint, preventing memories from getting mixed up when they are significantly different or far apart in time.
A new Finnish study found that a healthy lipid profile is associated with better cognitive function in adolescents. Higher blood concentrations of markers indicating lipid dysfunction were linked to slower processing speed and poorer performance on tasks requiring fast information processing.
A new approach combines MRI scans and AI tools to measure fluid flow in the brain, shedding light on the glymphatic system’s mechanics. The study reveals two main ways the system washes away particles, with one way moving faster than the other.