Articles tagged with Brain
A study found that rats could identify the rhythmic structure of a song while ignoring changes to the melody. This suggests that the principles of rhythmic organization in music are also present in other animals, including humans. The results indicate that this cognitive ability has very deep evolutionary roots.
A study of fruit fly sensory neurons has identified a 'thermometer' circuit that relays cold temperature information to the brain, inhibiting morning wakefulness. This finding sheds light on why humans struggle to wake up in winter and may have implications for understanding human sleep regulation.
Researchers have identified a 'thermometer' circuit in the fruit fly that relays information about external cold temperature to the brain, inhibiting neurons that promote activity and wakefulness. This discovery helps explain why humans struggle to wake up in the morning during winter.
A UBC scientist has identified a gene called ALK that plays a role in resisting weight gain in humans. The study found that a mutation in the ALK gene is associated with thinner individuals, and that deleting the gene in mice made them resistant to diet-induced obesity.
Jan Kubanek's new procedure uses high-frequency sound waves to alter brain state, treating mental disorders and neurological conditions. The non-invasive treatment shows promise in targeting individual neural circuits for personalized therapy.
A new computer model developed by scientists can accurately predict brain age using different types of brain scan data, including MRI scans and magnetoencephalography tests. This model has the potential to be used clinically to combine various tests and predict patient outcomes such as cognitive decline or depression.
Researchers at MUSC have found a connection between a defective copy of the MEF2C gene and autism behaviors. This rare form of autism is caused by one of two MEF2C genes in each cell being nonfunctioning, leading to issues such as language difficulties, epilepsy, and breathing problems.
Research reveals that early visual experience drives precise alignment of cortical networks to unite inputs from both eyes, enabling unified binocular representation. This process occurs within the first week after eye opening and refines neuron response properties.
Researchers found that the brain filters out external sounds during REM sleep, prioritizing meaningful speech during light sleep. This mechanism enables the brain to protect the dreaming phase, necessary for emotional balance and learning consolidation.
A research team found that PTPδ is crucial for synaptic development and sleep behavior in mice. Genetic deletion of PTPδ leads to disruptions in brain structure, function, and behavior, resulting in hyper-locomotor activity, increased anxiety, and decreased sleep.
A team of researchers at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg has developed a computer-based model to explain chronic tinnitus. The model is based on stochastic resonance, which amplifies white noise in the brain to compensate for hearing loss and increased nerve cell activity.
Researchers used magnetic resonance imaging to detect fetal brain impairments in rhesus macaques exposed to alcohol during pregnancy. The study suggests that early detection of fetal-alcohol syndrome could lead to timely therapy and improved outcomes.
A study found that consuming a single meal rich in saturated fat negatively affects concentration and attention, even when compared to a similar meal made with unsaturated fat. Participants with leaky gut syndrome also showed reduced focus after eating the high-fat meal.
Researchers found that prediction errors can be accessed during final processing stages of perception, contradicting previous theories. This means the brain simultaneously keeps track of past, current, and future image contents, allowing for stability and flexibility in rapid image sequences.
A NTU Singapore study reveals that physically present spouses show higher similarities in brain responses to infant stimuli, suggesting greater emotional attunement. The study suggests that co-parenting couples benefit from spending time together while caring for their children.
Fruit flies' brains learn to ignore prevalent smells and amplify rare ones through a signal filtering process. This understanding may apply to dogs and humans, and could be used to train AI machines.
Scientists from JARA and Heraeus discovered that tiny material variations can significantly impact memristive device behavior. By controlling these differences, they created a method to design artificial synapses with varying excitability, which could lead to more efficient and reliable storage devices.
The human brain balances complexity and accuracy when processing patterns, with errors playing a crucial role in learning and cognition. The new model suggests that the brain constantly strives to represent things in simple terms, with participants showing quicker responses to sequences generated by modular networks.
Researchers discovered that herpes simplex virus (HSV1) targets the STING protein in brain cells to evade the immune response, promoting viral infection. This finding could lead to new antiviral treatments, particularly for immunocompromised patients with severe HSV1 brain infections.
Researchers developed a compound that significantly reduced amyloid plaques, lessened brain inflammation, and diminished molecular markers of Alzheimer's disease. The findings suggest that drugs targeting different regions of amyloid-beta protein fragments and metal ions could improve outcomes for people with Alzheimer's.
A world-first study led by Monash University demonstrates significant benefits to premature babies' heart and brain function when held by parents in skin-to-skin contact. One hour a day of kangaroo care significantly improved blood flow to the brain and cardiac function, compared to measurements done while in the incubator.
Researchers at National University of Singapore discovered a critical protein, MFSD7c, in blood vessel cells that controls brain growth and development. The study found that loss of this protein causes microcephaly and neuronal cell death, highlighting the need for better understanding of essential nutrients required for brain health.
A recent study found that genetic variations in a brain-cleansing water channel affect the depth of non-rapid-eye-movement sleep in humans. The study, published in PLOS Biology, suggests that these variations may influence how the body copes with sleep loss and potentially link to Alzheimer's disease progression.
Researchers have identified biomarkers that can predict children at risk for dyslexia and other reading acquisition disorders, suggesting a strong neural scaffolding in infancy. Studies using MRI imaging show that babies as young as 3 months old have underlying brain characteristics that predict success in reading years later.
A new AI algorithm can predict Alzheimer's disease risk with high accuracy using a combination of brain MRI scans, cognitive impairment tests, and demographic data. The algorithm also provides interpretable visualizations of individual disease risk, leading to more accurate diagnoses.
Researchers found that naked mole-rats require high levels of carbon dioxide to function, unlike other mammals. The genetic mutation in the KCC2 gene leads to impaired brain inhibition, which is compensated by increased carbon dioxide levels.
Scientists have developed nanodevices that capture and trap beta-amyloid peptides, a key component of Alzheimer's plaques. The devices show promise in preventing plaque formation and reducing cell death, with over 90% efficiency compared to control particles.
UMass Amherst scientists used computational techniques to study amyloid fibril growth and brain pathology, revealing that earlier forms of the protein are toxic. The research provides a comprehensive understanding of the process, highlighting the importance of energy landscapes in disease progression.
Researchers discovered a deficiency in S1P, a type of fatty molecule, in schizophrenia patients' brains. Preventing S1P degradation might lead to new treatments for the disorder, which affects one in three patients with ineffective current therapies.
Researchers found that brain activity changes with heartbeat, suppressing certain components associated with consciousness during systole, leading to reduced detection of weak stimuli. Additionally, a large heartbeat-evoked potential indicates focus on internal bodily signals over external environmental cues.
Researchers scanned brain activity from 10 couples using a new simultaneous imaging method, finding motor and sensory areas were activated during physical contact. The study suggests that brain functions become flexibly linked with each other during real-time social interaction.
Researchers found that nicotine exposure during lactation can alter development of the head and face in mice, leading to premature closure of joints that connect sections of the skull. This could result in craniosynostosis, a disorder that requires neurosurgery to correct.
Researchers found that pupil features correlate with cognitive processes involved in mental arithmetic and decision-making. The study used pupil-tracking technology to measure changes in pupil size over time, revealing two distinct influences: a rapid, transient effect and a longer-lasting, sustained influence.
Researchers successfully rebuilt bridge between experimental neuroscience and artificial intelligence learning algorithms by demonstrating a new accelerated brain-inspired learning mechanism. This mechanism outperformed commonly-used machine learning algorithms in handwritten digit recognition tasks with small datasets.
Researchers found that birds and non-avian dinosaurs had similar brain sizes before the mass extinction, but after, some bird families evolved large-brained birds by shrinking body size. Parrots and corvids, including crows, showed exceptional cognitive capacity and rapid brain evolution.
A small but concerning number of former NFL players report receiving clinical diagnoses of CTE, raising concerns of inappropriate diagnosis and overlooking of treatable conditions. Players with sleep apnea, heart disease, and depression are more likely to receive a CTE diagnosis, which could downplay the effects of these conditions.
A new study published in Neurology suggests that combining highly processed meats with starches and snacks like cookies and cakes may raise the risk of dementia. Researchers found that people with dementia were more likely to eat these foods together, while those without dementia had a greater variety of healthier food options.
Researchers have developed organic memristors that could enable ultralow energy computing and brain-inspired electronics. The new generation of organic memristors is made from metal azo complex devices and has shown stability and reproducibility.
Researchers will investigate the role of interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor 1 (nIL-1R1) in neuroinflammation-induced dysfunction and behavioral changes. The study aims to identify vulnerable neurons and elucidate cellular pathways underlying psychopathology.
New research uses virtual reality to increase identification with others by activating brain networks, aiding in treatment of violent offenders. The technology also helps improve understanding and relationships by simulating multi-sensory feedback.
A rodent study found that prior cannabinoid exposure enhances adolescent rats' response to cocaine's stimulatory effects. The researchers observed increased histone acetylation and reduced levels of the enzyme histone deacetylase 6 in the prefrontal cortex.
Researchers at UMass Amherst have developed electronics that mimic the human brain's efficiency in learning by utilizing protein nanowires. The device operates extremely efficiently on low power and can create new connections similar to learning in a real brain.
A Japanese research team has developed a cyclic peptide that enhances blood-brain barrier penetration, allowing for the delivery of macromolecular drugs to the brain. The technology, which uses nanoparticles and liposomes, shows promise in treating central nervous system diseases such as Alzheimer's.
A new study shows that people with high blood pressure and reverse dipping may have small areas in the brain damaged from vascular disease, leading to memory problems. Those with high blood pressure and reverse dipping also had lower scores on a memory test, with average scores of about 33 compared to 40 for those without these conditi...
A new study found that long-duration space travel can cause expansions in the brain's white matter and combined brain and cerebrospinal fluid volumes. The researchers also observed alterations to the pituitary gland, a pea-sized structure at the base of the skull, suggesting elevated intracranial pressure during spaceflight.
A modified form of tubulin traps signaling molecules, reducing brain messaging in people with depression. Tubulin levels may provide a diagnostic marker and target for antidepressant treatment.
Researchers at Columbia University used 3D imaging to study how the nose detects and processes different odors, revealing a complex code that is shaped by interactions within the nose. The study challenges traditional views on how the brain identifies individual components of mixed scents.
A mindfulness-based stress reduction class improved gastrointestinal symptoms and quality of life for adults with irritable bowel syndrome. Acting with awareness was found to be particularly beneficial, possibly by reducing fears and worries.
A team of scientists at Ruhr-University Bochum discovered that distinct serotonergic receptor types control the gain of both streams of information in a separable manner. This finding may facilitate new concepts of diagnosis and therapy for neuronal disorders related to malfunction of the serotonin system.
Researchers found that babies build episodic memory during sleep, enabling them to remember details of their experiences. The study showed that brain activity differs in children who slept versus those who stayed awake, especially when recalling specific events.
Researchers at Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown identified a novel digestive-brain axis that influences food choice and behavior. The study found that post-ingestive signals from the liver through the Vagus Nerve play a crucial role in learning to prefer nutritious foods.
A new family of molecules with high affinity to join imidazoline I2 receptors has been discovered, improving cognitive skills and biomarkers in murine models. The study presents a novel structure-activity relation for these receptors.
A new study reveals that Toxoplasma gondii parasite alters the behavior of microglia, leading to a loss of inhibitory signaling in the brain. This can result in seizures, personality changes, and vision problems, similar to neuropsychiatric disorders.
Researchers argue that psychedelic drugs can have therapeutic benefits for mental health conditions. Brain imaging has shown that psychedelics activate specific receptors in the brain, leading to long-term changes in brain functioning and anatomy.
Researchers at Shinshu University School of Medicine have developed a non-invasive method to predict intracranial pressure (ICP) by measuring the brain's natural resonance frequency (NRF). The NRF is strongly correlated with ICP, allowing for accurate predictions without inserting a catheter or sensor inside the skull.
A new study suggests that the brain uses multiple sources of sensory information, including vision and posture, to control movement. When visual cues are distorted or removed, the intensity of muscle stretch reflexes is reduced.
A new study reveals how Big Dynorphin binds to the ASIC receptor, causing pain signals. The discovery could lead to a new type of painkiller medicine, potentially reducing the risk of opioid-related adverse effects.
Research reveals stress induces structural changes in mice by halting GluA1 protein production, affecting neuron communication. Astrocytes' branch retraction impacts neurotransmitter release and neural function.
Numerical competence in animals affects various aspects of their lives, including hunting, finding food, and attracting mates. Researchers believe that this ability plays a crucial role in an animal's chance of survival.
Researchers at Flinders University have discovered a complex array of sensory nerve endings in the lower colon that can detect sensory stimuli and communicate with the spinal cord. This breakthrough could lead to new medications to treat disorders related to gut-to-brain communication.