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 transdisciplinary research team at Göttingen Campus has found a new perspective on the rhythmic processes in the brain. They discovered that adapting interneurons can switch between very slow rhythms and fast rhythms, challenging previous assumptions about their function.
A novel carbon-based biosensor developed at the University of Technology Sydney detects electrical signals sent by the brain, translating them into commands for autonomous robotic systems. The biosensor overcomes three major challenges in graphene-based biosensing: corrosion, durability, and skin-contact resistance.
Researchers found that astrocytes regulate cognitive flexibility by releasing D-serine and glutamate, which integrates synaptic plasticity. Heterosynaptic long-term depression is mediated by astrocytes, critical for memory modification.
A new study by ISGlobal found no association between overall mobile device exposure and sleep disturbances in pre-adolescents, but suggested an effect on sleep when exposure occurs in the evening. The study of over 1,500 children aged 9-12 years old found that those making phone calls in the evening had reduced sleep time.
A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that fetal MRI can detect at least one other abnormality in almost 57% of fetuses with heart defects. Additionally, approximately a quarter of all fetuses had structural brain abnormalities, regardless of the severity of the heart defect.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University successfully treated autism in animal models with medical cannabis oil, improving behavioral and biochemical parameters. The treatment showed significant improvement in compulsive and anxious behaviors, and a decrease in the concentration of the arousing neurotransmitter glutamate.
Researchers at University of Rochester Medical Center found that the brain processes attended and unattended speech differently, converting attended speech into linguistic units for understanding. This study contributes to developing better wearable devices, such as hearing aids.
Researchers have discovered that HIV drugs may be effective in treating low-grade brain tumours, specifically meningioma and acoustic neuroma. High levels of HERV-K proteins were found to stimulate the growth of these tumours, and targeted drugs have been identified to reduce their growth.
A recent study at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences used virtual reality to simulate emotionally engaging situations, allowing researchers to measure brain activity and find a correlation between alpha oscillations and emotional arousal. This discovery has implications for psychological therapy and treatment.
Scientists have discovered a brain protein, CNTNAP2, that quiets overactive brain cells and is at abnormally low levels in children with autism. The protein can be detected in cerebrospinal fluid, making it a potential biomarker for diagnosing autism and treating epilepsy.
Two Canadian-led brain research teams will receive funding to develop and validate new measures of dementia care and outcomes, addressing existing measurement gaps. The projects aim to improve care practices and desired outcomes for individuals with dementia, in collaboration with the Alzheimer's Association and Brain Canada.
Researchers have identified a key protein in the brain that regulates habituation, a mechanism essential for focus and attention. The study found that a decrease in this protein leads to hypersensitivity and symptoms similar to those seen in Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Exposure to nitrogen dioxide and fine particles is associated with increased beta-amyloid protein deposition and neurofilament light in cerebrospinal fluid, indicating a potential risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. The study highlights the importance of reducing exposure to air pollution to mitigate this risk.
Researchers at the University of Bern used brain stimulation to demonstrate that mentalizing with future climate change victims encourages sustainable behavior. The study found that stimulating an area of the brain involved in perspective-taking led to more sustainable decisions, suggesting potential benefits for climate communication.
Researchers found correlations between brain morphology and sensory characteristics in adults with ASD, suggesting structural changes may cause sensory abnormalities. The study aims to improve diagnosis and treatment options for ASD beyond behavioral indicators.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that meditation can affect individuals in distinct ways, with experienced meditators exhibiting different physiological responses. While some practitioners displayed signs of relaxation, others showed mental concentration, highlighting the need for tailored approaches to assisted meditation.
A new study has made an Alzheimer's disease biomarker test available to all Canadians, enabling doctors to accurately diagnose the disease even when mild symptoms are present. The test aims to improve care and support for individuals living with Alzheimer's disease and their families.
Dr. Mario Masellis' international team is receiving $320,198 in funding to examine the interplay between genetic, demographic, and cardiovascular factors on dementia risk. The project aims to improve management and prevention of dementia, ultimately reducing its impact worldwide.
Researchers found that our concept of self becomes increasingly indistinct as we think about ourselves farther in the past or future, affecting decision-making and memory recall. The 'temporal self-compression' effect challenges traditional notions of identity and time perception.
Researchers at the University of Göttingen studied how blocking certain enzymes affects brain adaptability in healthy and diseased mice. In healthy mice, inhibiting these enzymes blocked neuronal plasticity, while in stroke-affected mice, it restored lost plasticity.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research have developed an organic neuromorphic circuit that allows a robot to learn and navigate a maze. The robot uses sensory signals to make decisions, receiving corrective stimuli when it makes wrong turns, and gradually learns to avoid them.
A study by UC Riverside researchers shows that reactivating the Fmr1 gene in young transgenic mice with Fragile X syndrome eliminates symptoms. This breakthrough treatment offers hope for young children living with FXS and suggests targeting early brain development may be effective.
A case study published in Nature Medicine reports a patient experiencing progressive neurological features resembling Parkinson's disease after CAR-T cell therapy, suggesting potential neurotoxicity. The study highlights the importance of monitoring for neurotoxicity in patients receiving BCMA-targeted CAR-T therapies.
Researchers at the University of Bath have optimised a peptide that prevents alpha-synuclein misfolding, a key feature of Parkinson's disease. The new molecule, 4654W(N6A), has shown significant promise in lab experiments and could lead to the development of a disease-modifying treatment.
A team of researchers has recorded electrical signals in the human brain associated with ebbs and flows in OCD symptoms over an extended period. The study could lead to an emerging therapy called deep brain stimulation that adjusts to everyday changes in OCD symptoms, potentially providing more relief and fewer side effects for patients.
A recent study by SISSA and University of Padua shows that occupation influences the course of cognitive decline. Work activity is found to be a protective factor for cognitive reserve, contributing to brain's resistance to damage caused by illness or aging.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have developed a high-tech sleeping bag that may prevent vision problems caused by brain pressure in space. The study found that suctioning fluids from the body can unload brain pressure and prevent progressive flattening of the eyeball, swelling of the optic nerve, and vision impairment.
Research using fNIRS found that young children's ability to appreciate humor varies with age and sex. The study suggests differences in brain activity between boys and girls, as well as developmental stages, when it comes to recognizing humor.
Carlos Ponce is studying the parts of the visual system that analyze shapes, using macaque monkeys as a model. He combines computational models with electrophysiology experiments to understand how neurons process visual information.
A prospective study found that MRI outperformed conventional tests and FDG PET/CT for various staging endpoints in SCLC. Whole-body MRI and FDG PET/MRI were more accurate than FDG PET/CT for assessing local invasion extent.
An experimental drug called NAP has been found effective in treating a broad spectrum of symptoms related to autism, intellectual disability, and Alzheimer's disease. Researchers discovered that NAP normalizes brain function in mice modeling ADNP syndrome, a rare disorder linked to these conditions.
Researchers found that subjects who underwent cataract surgery had a nearly 30% lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who did not. The results persisted for at least a decade after surgery and were associated with lower risk of Alzheimer disease dementia specifically.
A study found that long-term cannabis smokers have increased levels of Actinomyces meyeri in their saliva, which correlates with the length of cannabis use. This bacterium was shown to decrease activity and increase beta-amyloid production in mice, suggesting a link between oral microbiome disruption and brain health.
The study, published in Nature Aging, found that sildenafil reduces the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease by 69% compared to non-users. Sildenafil also shows promise in treating the disease by increasing brain cell growth and decreasing hyperphosphorylation of tau proteins.
A team of researchers at Fudan University has found that the protein NeuroD1 does not induce microglia-to-neuron conversion as previously thought. Instead, it causes microglial cell death. The study suggests that this finding may be due to experimental artifacts and highlights the need for stringent evidence in scientific research.
A recent study published in iScience found that congenitally blind individuals and normal sighted people are equally good at discriminating between sounds. However, those who lost sight later in life had more difficulties with tasks requiring detailed auditory processing, suggesting an adaptation to the new condition.
Researchers found that packaging neurotransmitters into synaptic vesicles is a major source of energy consumption, even when the vesicles are filled and inactive. The process, known as proton efflux, continues to consume energy due to a 'leaky' energy threshold set by evolution.
Researchers found that gut microbiome changes can reduce b-amyloid deposits in male mice, indicating a potential target for preventing and treating dementia. Daily fecal matter transplants restored the pre-antibiotic microbiome, suggesting microglia memory plays a role.
A study by Weill Cornell Medicine scientists found that blocking a signaling pathway in brain immune cells can protect against Alzheimer's disease features in a preclinical model. The results suggest a new strategy to block the development of the disease or slow its progression.
Researchers recorded and modeled electrical activity of circadian clock neurons in the four-striped grass mouse, revealing a unique day/night rhythm in firing rate. The study highlights notable differences from nocturnal animals and may help adapt clock neuron function to diurnal species' biological demands.
A new theory suggests that stuttering is caused by anomalies in the brain's initiation circuit, which chooses a word to speak. This circuit is separate from the muscle-coordinating circuit, and its impairment leads to stuttering. Researchers believe this could lead to targeted treatments for stuttering with fewer side effects.
A new study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine showed that a fast-tracked stroke drug, 3K3A-APC, protected mice from injury to the brain's white matter, a leading cause of dementia. The drug may also be effective in slowing down progression of cognitive impairment.
Researchers at HSE University have created a new, standardized test battery to diagnose language disorders in people with brain damage. The test, the first of its kind in Russia, has been validated through large-scale data collection and uses modern neurolinguistic models.
Researchers have discovered four distinct patterns of brain network disruption that reflect the underlying disease process in motor neuron disease (MND). These patterns are predictive of how the disease progresses and can be identified using electroencephalography (EEG), which may lead to more effective treatments.
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have successfully combined a memory function with a calculation function in the same component, enabling more efficient technologies like mobile phones and self-driving cars. The discovery opens the way for brain-like computers that can perform tasks effectively and energy efficiently.
Researchers found that people with brain buildup but no dementia had normal tau protein, while those who developed plaques or tangles also had a different-handed form of tau. This suggests that a slowdown in autophagy, the process of clearing spent proteins, may be underlying cause of Alzheimer's disease.
The human brain contains trillions of contact points, requiring massive computational resources. Researchers outline the need for exascale computing power to tackle brain complexity.
Researchers found two prion gene variants in Père David's deer that may reduce susceptibility to CWD. The genetic variants were surprising given the population's small founder size and conserved prion protein gene. Studies are needed to confirm whether these variants provide protection against CWD.
Researchers from the University of Würzburg discovered that monarch butterflies process sun information as a compass during migration, but only when flying actively. The butterfly's brain represents the heading direction relative to the sun in a similar way to a compass.
A new 'image analysis pipeline' called TDAExplore gives scientists rapid insight into how cells are changed by disease, using a combination of microscopy, topology, and artificial intelligence. This approach can provide objective information on cell changes, such as the movement of proteins like actin, even with limited training data.
A long-term study has revealed that drinking higher amounts of coffee may make you less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. The study found an association between coffee and several important markers related to Alzheimer’s disease, including executive function and amyloid protein accumulation in the brain.
Researchers used a machine-learning algorithm to identify differences in how the brain responds to various chemicals, including salt and benzaldehyde. The study provides insight into how brains process information and may help understand sensory processing disorders.
A new study provides preliminary data for a human clinical trial of a treatment that targets the root cause of Alexander disease. The treatment has shown promising results in halting the progression of the disease and even reversing some symptoms in rat models, which better represent the human condition.
A new study led by scientists at Mount Sinai highlights the role of rare genomic differences in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) risk. The research found that about 10% of the risk for OCD is attributed to rare genomic variations, which were not seen in previous studies.
Researchers suppressed cortical excitability to resolve self-interest vs. prosocial motivations in favor of cooperation, particularly in dictator games. In generosity games, no effect was observed. The study suggests the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex plays a key role in resolving conflicts between self-interest and prosociality.
A recent UTSW study found that Hispanic ischemic stroke patients receive lower-quality thrombectomies than their white counterparts, with similar outcomes observed between Black and white patients. This disparity highlights the need for targeted interventions to improve access to high-quality stroke treatment for underserved populations.
Researchers developed metrics to quantify information in animal responses to reward feedback, showing that animals exhibit undermatching behavior. The new metrics provide a way to predict this deviation from the matching law, offering insights into adaptive behavior and decision-making.
A study published by Sanford Burnham Prebys found unappreciated changes in brain cell types involving hundreds of thousands of never-before-seen RNAs in individuals with Down syndrome. This breakthrough provides new avenues for understanding both Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have identified a new target for rapid antidepressant drugs using ketamine's role in synaptic effects. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for approximately half of patients whose current antidepressants are ineffective, significantly reducing the risk of suicide.
Researchers at Rice University are creating a 3D-printed smart helmet with embedded sensors to protect soldiers' brains against kinetic or directed-energy effects. The program aims to modernize standard-issue military helmets by incorporating advances in materials, image processing, artificial intelligence, and energy storage.