Articles tagged with Brain
UVA experts Bruce Greyson and Marieta Pehlivanova argue that the NEPTUNE model leaves many unanswered questions about near-death experiences. Despite its sophistication, the model selectively ignores scientific evidence and fails to address key aspects of NDEs.
The German Research Foundation (DFG) has funded a three-year project to investigate epigenetic memory in nerve cells. The goal is to understand how gene expressions are preserved via epigenetic regulation, which plays a key role in learning ability, memory function, and healthy brain development.
Researchers from Kyushu University found that the brain forms new, high-density clusters of synapses on specific segments of dendrites during adolescence, challenging the 'adolescent synaptic pruning' hypothesis. This discovery may offer new hope for understanding the biological basis of schizophrenia and other neurodevelopmental condi...
Research from Karolinska Institutet found that alpha frequency determines body ownership by modulating temporal integration of bodily signals. Faster frequencies led to higher temporal resolution, while slower frequencies caused broader timing differences.
A recent study by researchers at the University of California, Riverside, found that a specific brain region known as the caudate nucleus is strongly linked to physical strength in older adults. The discovery could help detect and prevent frailty before it begins.
The Rice Brain Institute has awarded seed grants to four collaborative projects that unite Rice faculty with clinicians and scientists across the Texas Medical Center. The grants support innovative research in brain science, mental health, and neurological disease.
Dr. Maria Margarita Behrens' work deciphers the molecular signatures defining every human brain cell type, shedding light on neural development and psychiatric disorders. Her single-cell epigenomic atlases will enable researchers to target specific cell types with unprecedented precision.
Researchers demonstrated that 40-Hz auditory stimulation significantly elevates beta-amyloid levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of aged rhesus monkeys, with effects persisting for over five weeks. The study provides evidence supporting 40-Hz stimulation as a non-invasive therapy for Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers developed a unified multimodal framework to analyze joint aging changes in brain function and structure. The study identified two primary aging patterns: synergistic declines in motor control and higher-order cognition, and contradictory adaptations in visual areas.
Researchers tested Spatial Computing theory by examining neural activity and brain wave patterns in animals performing working memory and categorization tasks. The findings support the theory's predictions, including that alpha/beta waves represent task controls and rules, while spiking activity carries sensory information.
Compulsive behaviours are common across many mental health conditions, where people repeat actions despite negative consequences. New research in rats suggests that triggering inflammation in the striatum may shift behaviour toward more deliberate decision-making, rather than habit.
Researchers will investigate how HIV and cancer drugs damage brain cells over time, identifying potential early biomarkers of neurotoxicity. They will use human brain organoids grown in the lab to mimic brain physiology.
A newly discovered neural pathway connects the amygdala with arousal centers in mice, revealing a key mechanism for emotional regulation of sleep-wake cycles. This finding highlights potential therapeutic targets for stress-related insomnia and mood disorders.
Researchers at Tohoku University demonstrated that taste sensitivity can be enhanced through learning in a novel 'sweet taste recall training.' After just three days of training, participants showed significant improvement in taste sensitivity for all five sweet substances, indicating a sharper perception of sweetness. This finding pro...
A recent study found that female participants experienced slightly worse recovery from ischemic stroke compared to male participants. The study analyzed data from 1,046 people who experienced their first stroke and tracked their recovery over three, six, and 12 months. Female participants showed poorer recovery in daily tasks such as e...
Researchers at UVA Health System discover how traumatic brain injury increases Alzheimer's risk and find a potential prevention strategy using a hollowed-out virus to deliver repair supplies. The approach could help limit neurodegeneration and potentially prevent other neurological diseases.
Researchers at Reichman University discovered that the brain re configures large-scale neural networks during speech processing, modulated by semantic content and prosodic structure. This finding highlights the brain's remarkable adaptability and provides a framework for future clinical research on language-related disorders.
Researchers at the University of Plymouth investigate why drugs used to treat other tumours are ineffective against NF2-related schwannoma and meningioma tumours. They explore repurposing clinically tested cancer drugs to target MDR mechanisms, which may lead to effective therapies for patients with these tumours.
Researchers at MIT have identified three clusters of pragmatic skills that are based on the same kinds of inferences and may have similar underlying neural processes. These skills include interpreting social conventions, understanding physical world knowledge, and distinguishing between tones to convey emphasis or emotion.
Researchers conducted two triple-blind human studies using real 5G signals in the 26 GHz band, finding no measurable biological effects on stress responses or brain electrical activity. Cortisol and alpha-amylase levels remained stable across all sampling points, indicating no acute biological changes related to stress.
A UK-based study found that epilepsy can be a primary cause of death in people with intellectual disabilities, with those from ethnic minorities living in the UK being particularly at risk. The research highlights significant disparities in care and service provision, calling for systemic changes to prevent avoidable deaths.
Researchers at Pitt and UPMC Children's Hospital discovered a biomarker of complicated pediatric traumatic brain injury, which may serve as dynamic indicators of post-injury recovery. The study found that children with TBI had a different epigenetic profile compared to those with orthopaedic injuries.
Children who spend a significant amount of time on social media platforms experience a gradual decline in their ability to concentrate. The study found no association between TV watching or video game playing and attention symptoms.
A Mount Sinai study reveals PTSD may accelerate brain aging in World Trade Center responders, with longer exposure duration further amplifying the effect. The study uses deep learning-based brain age models to estimate brain age and provides new evidence for the long-term impact of trauma on neurological health.
A research team at DGIST developed an AI foundation model that can self-learn brain signals and deliver high accuracy with very small amounts of labels. The 'EEG-fNIRS Multimodal Foundation Model' analyzes both EEG and fNIRS signals, overcoming limitations in multimodal AI.
Researchers at USC have identified four distinct layers of specialized cell types in the CA1 region of the mouse hippocampus, a structure vital for memory formation. This discovery changes our understanding of how information is processed in the brain and could explain why certain cells are more vulnerable in diseases like Alzheimer's ...
The EBRAINS Summit 2025 will bring together experts to assess how neuroscience can drive medical progress, digital innovation, and responsible data use. Preliminary results from the EPINOV clinical trial, integrating virtual brain technology for epilepsy surgery planning, will be presented.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered that specific DNA sequences, known as enhancers, are activated after spinal cord injury and instruct cells to respond. This knowledge could lead to more precise treatments targeting the affected cells, revolutionizing the treatment of spinal cord injuries.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a way to make serum markers more sensitive by editing them inside the bloodstream, enabling clearer observation of gene-expression changes in the brain. This approach could lead to more precise diagnostic capabilities using simple blood tests.
A new mouse model has clarified the function of blue light-sensitive protein Opn3, showing its essential physiological roles in regulating body temperature and eye growth. The study also provides a genetic tool for exploring how light influences mammalian health beyond vision.
Researchers at the University of Plymouth have successfully used transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) to change the function of a deep region of the human brain, specifically the nucleus accumbens. This tiny element is triggered by enjoyable experiences and helps us learn behaviours that lead to rewards.
The UBC robotic platform helps scientists understand how the brain keeps us standing by mimicking delays in sensory feedback. By tweaking forces and adding short delays, the robot reveals that our sense of space and time work from the same playbook.
Researchers found that the prefrontal cortex sends customized signals to visual and motor regions, influencing their activity based on arousal levels and movement. The study reveals distinct roles of prefrontal subregions in shaping visual processing, with one region enhancing stimuli detection and another dampening irrelevant stimuli.
A USC study mapped tiny structural differences in white matter among children and young adults with autism, pinpointing patterns that earlier methods would have missed. The findings highlight the importance of developing new methods to better understand brain differences in autism.
Researchers at UCSF found distinctive brain patterns in children with sensory processing disorder, which could help clinicians refine treatments for tantrums and emotional volatility. The study suggests that over-responsive children's brains dial up inward-focused networks to gain self-control.
A new study identifies a brain circuit that can drive repetitive and compulsive behaviors in mice, even when natural rewards are available. The researchers used optogenetics to activate the circuit and induce negative states in mice, leading to prioritization of repetitive behaviors over natural needs.
Researchers from UC San Francisco have identified the superior temporal gyrus brain region responsible for tracking words in a foreign language. The study shows that this region learns to recognize word boundaries through years of experience, enabling fluent speakers to distinguish individual words.
A recent study found that weight loss in midlife can aggravate inflammation in the hypothalamus, a brain region regulating appetite and energy balance. This neuroinflammation persists for several weeks before subsiding, raising concerns about its impact on cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers will study neural mechanisms of visual perceptual learning (VPL) to generalize across the visual field, improving vision rehabilitation and AI systems. The project aims to develop a unified model of visual processing, VPL, and attention.
Researchers have successfully engineered functional brain-like tissue without animal-derived materials, opening doors to more controlled and humane neurological drug testing. The new material functions as a scaffold for donor brain cells and can be used to model traumatic brain injuries or neurological diseases like Alzheimer's.
Researchers found that CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing persists longer and produces more predictable results in non-dividing neurons. They also discovered new DNA repair genes that can be used to control gene editing outcomes, which could lead to safer and more effective therapies for genetic diseases.
Researchers have identified the cells and connections underlying a fish's ability to dynamically change color to match its surroundings. The study found that specialized skin cells called melanophores control the color change, which helps the zebrafish evade predators by lightening its skin over tens of minutes.
According to Miller, brain waves sculpt the flow of information in the cortex, enabling volitional control of thought. The cortex organizes itself through analog computation, leading to consciousness as a unified awareness of thought and experience.
Researchers have summarized recent breakthroughs in theranostic nanomaterials, engineered nanoparticles that can both diagnose and treat TBI. These materials can deliver drugs precisely where damage occurs while monitoring biological changes inside the brain.
A recent study found that multilingual individuals experience slower biobehavioral aging compared to monolinguals. The study analyzed data from 86,149 participants across Europe and showed that multilingualism is associated with a lower risk of accelerated aging.
A nonsurgical approach has been demonstrated to quiet a specific brain circuit in an animal model by delivering engineered gene therapy only to the targeted region. The method uses low-intensity focused ultrasound to open the blood-brain barrier, allowing precise control over brain activity without impacting off-target areas.
Researchers have identified two groups of brain cells in mice that regulate anxiety - a 'gas pedal' that accelerates anxiety and a 'brake pedal' that prevents it. The discovery could lead to the development of new therapies for anxiety disorders by targeting these microglia.
A team of researchers from Rice University and the Houston Methodist Research Institute will study how the brain responds to neural implants. They aim to develop more stable and longer-lasting brain-computer interfaces and neuroprosthetics, which could treat neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and stroke.
Researchers used high-resolution imaging to map brain regions involved in regulating body's energy needs and sensing internal conditions. The study replicated previous findings and expanded upon them, confirming connections between brain areas that help manage the body's needs and sense what's happening inside.
Researchers at MIT developed microscopic, wireless bioelectronics that can identify and travel to specific brain regions without human guidance. These implants provide focused treatment for brain diseases like Alzheimer's and multiple sclerosis by wirelessly powering electrical stimulation in precise areas.
Researchers created a multidimensional molecular map of brain development after birth and its response to inflammation, finding that some developmental programmes can be reactivated during neuroinflammation. This study provides new clues for understanding how myelin is broken down in diseases like MS.
The study identified dozens of genetic regions that influence the size and thickness of the corpus callosum and its subregions. The research team created an AI-powered tool that finds and measures the corpus callosum in brain MRI scans automatically, allowing for unprecedented analysis of brain structure at scale and precision.
Researchers built a comprehensive atlas of the developing human brain, capturing nearly every cell type and their genetic fingerprints. The study provides a precise benchmark for testing new therapies for Parkinson's disease and other neurological conditions.
A new Northwestern University study reveals how a key disease protein, TDP-43, drives overactive nerve cells in ALS and FTD. The findings highlight a promising new drug that can fix this error and restore balance to neurons.
Researchers found that a rotating brain wave helps the cortex recover its computational path after a distraction, improving performance in visual working memory tasks. Longer time intervals between distractions also aid recovery.
Researchers at the University of Surrey have developed a brain-inspired approach to improve artificial neural networks' performance without sacrificing accuracy. The method, called Topographical Sparse Mapping (TSM), rethinks how AI systems are wired by connecting each neuron only to nearby or related ones.
Researchers at UTA are exploring how guided cognitive training can improve brain performance, particularly in navigation and memory. The study found that functional brain changes support behavioral differences, rather than increased brain volume.
Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina have identified a previously unknown hub in the brain's lymphatic drainage system, which helps remove waste from the brain. The study provides evidence of a slow-moving fluid flow through true lymphatic vessels, rather than blood vessels.
A high-resolution growth chart of the mouse brain has been created to study key brain cell types and their changes during development. The atlas reveals a dynamic sequence of brain growth and maturation in response to genetics and external stimuli, with implications for understanding neurodevelopmental disorders.
A new study published in Neurology found that people with high brain pressure disorder are more likely to experience vision problems, especially scotomas and reduced visual acuity. The study identified two mechanisms leading to vision loss and developed an assessment to predict who may develop persistent vision problems.