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.
Researchers at the University of Münster discovered glial cells' active role in controlling signal transduction speed and precision. The study found that glial cells form membrane processes between axons, preventing electrical coupling and ensuring accurate neuronal signaling.
Researchers from OHSU have identified astrocytes in zebrafish, a key cell type for brain development and function. This discovery will enable studies on neurodegenerative diseases like autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia.
A study using iPSC technology reveals astrocytes' role in PD pathology, including altered alpha-synuclein production and disrupted calcium homeostasis. The findings suggest LRRK2 and GBA mutant astrocytes contribute to PD progression.
Research at Hiroshima University found that mice offspring of mothers on high omega-6 fat diets show hedonic consumption of hyper-caloric diets, driven by dopamine release in the brain. This imbalance primes offspring for obesity.
Researchers at UC Berkeley found a correlation between poor sleep quality and increased beta-amyloid plaques in the brain, indicating an earlier onset of Alzheimer's disease. Deep non-REM slow-wave sleep has been identified as a potential target for intervention against cognitive decline.
Researchers studied the binding of general anesthetics and benzodiazepines to the GABAA receptor in the brain. They found that both types of drugs can bind to multiple sites on the receptor, with differences between them. This discovery could lead to the development of new, more selective anesthetics with fewer side effects.
A recent MSK study discovered a direct link between inflammation and Alzheimer's disease development, highlighting the role of protein IFITM3 in plaque formation. Researchers found that removing IFITM3 reduced amyloid plaques in a mouse model, suggesting a potential biomarker for early detection.
Researchers at Florida Atlantic University have made significant progress in understanding the role of serotonin in autism. The study found that a specific mutation in the serotonin transporter protein can lead to altered serotonin levels and behavior changes, shedding light on the underlying mechanisms of autism. Further work is neede...
A study by McGill University researchers has identified neural markers related to beat synchronization in musicians' brains, revealing that it takes more than just moving or listening well to keep the beat. The findings suggest that practice can improve one's ability to synchronize and that around 2-3% of the population are 'beat deaf',
Research found that military training attenuates the sense of agency and outcome processing in individuals, especially those in lower ranks. In contrast, senior personnel showed no such effect. The study suggests that hierarchical environments can negatively impact an individual's feeling of responsibility for their actions.
A recent study by researchers from the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research found that older adults living in disadvantaged neighborhoods are two times more likely to experience delirium after surgery. Delirium is a clinical syndrome characterized by acute decline in cognition, which can present as inattention, disorien...
Researchers found that warnings about inaccurate information decreased susceptibility to misinformation. Warnings were effective whether delivered before or after the misinformation, and participants displayed increased brain activity related to the original event.
The Center for BrainHealth's Adolescent Reasoning Initiative has trained over 600 middle and high school teachers to reach 80,000 students, improving executive function skills. The initiative aims to develop problem-solving, reasoning, and innovating abilities in students.
A team of researchers has successfully harnessed the power of the unconscious mind to make profitable decisions. By monitoring nonconscious brain activity, participants were able to learn and improve their choices without being aware of it. This breakthrough suggests that confidence may play a crucial role in guiding behavior.
A new analysis found that cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) incidence has increased three times higher than previously reported in the US. CVT is most common in younger women, but recent findings suggest increases in men and older women, with a notable disparity in Black people compared to other racial and ethnic groups.
A new combination therapy targeting breast cancer tumors in the brain has been shown to reduce tumor size and increase survival in a study with mice. The treatment, which combines vinorelbine and I-BET-762, was found to be effective in curing up to 75% of mice with brain metastases.
A new investigational therapy has shown to prevent the onset of Dravet syndrome symptoms in a mouse model, increasing gene expression up to 100 percent in neurons. The treatment uses an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) that is reversible and non-invasive.
Researchers found SARS-CoV-2 can infect human brain organoids, targeting cortical neurons and NPCs. The study provides evidence for the pathogenesis of neurological complications in COVID-19 patients.
A team of researchers found that two specific gut bacteria establish a metabolic cross-feeding mechanism, enabling them to grow in diets lacking essential nutrients. This interaction also affects the fly's feeding behavior, reproduction, and brain function, making the microbiome more resilient to dietary changes.
Research using fruit flies found that certain stationary patterns trigger the perception of illusory motion. The brain's motion-detecting neurons play a key role in this phenomenon, driven by imbalanced responses to stationary edges.
A study presented at ESC Congress 2020 found that deep chest compressions can improve blood flow to the brain, reducing brain damage and improving survival rates. The study also showed that patients with CPR-related injuries were more likely to have better brain function, highlighting the importance of prompt and effective resuscitation.
Researchers have identified a new form of dementia, LATE disease, which shares symptoms with Alzheimer's but is caused by different brain processes. The study provides criteria to differentiate between frontotemporal dementia and LATE disease, offering hope for future therapy development.
A new study published in the Journal of Neurotrauma found that concussions can cause persistent and common sleep problems, affecting quality of life. The research tracked 378 patients with concussions for one year, revealing that 53% experienced sleep or daytime problems lasting three months or longer.
Researchers at the BioMag Laboratory successfully applied paired associative stimulation therapy to a 47-year-old male with incomplete paraplegia, enabling him to walk independently. The three-month treatment improved his walking distance and leg strength significantly.
Portland State University received $901,000 to study how brains interact with their environment. The team will develop new theories and tools to better understand the brain's control systems.
Researchers successfully trained locusts to detect and differentiate various explosives using their olfactory system. The team also developed a way to read the brain activity of the locusts to pinpoint the direction of odor emission, paving the way for bomb-sniffing cyborg locusts.
Researchers discovered that mitochondria regulate the key event of neural stem cells becoming nerve cells during brain development. The study found that mitochondrial dynamics are important to cell fate choice and that this influence is limited to a specific time window, twice as long in humans compared to mice.
A team of researchers at Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown found that the ovipositor, a temporary tube-like structure protruding from the female's abdomen, stimulates the male to attempt mating. The study reveals a sequence of steps in male-female communication that resolves contradictory reports on courtship and copulation.
A new neurofeedback approach, Decoded Neurofeedback (DecNef), has been explored in a preclinical study to treat chronic pain. The study found that DecNef enhances the brain's natural ability to control pain by boosting the 'endogenous pain control system', which is often dysfunctional in chronic pain patients.
Research from the University of Sussex found that participants who watched TV while performing a demanding task ate more snacks regardless of calorie content. However, those who engaged less in tasks consumed fewer snacks. The study suggests that distracted attention affects satiety cues and eating habits.
A posthoc analysis of COMPASS trial data found that highly pervious clots result in better treatment success after first attempt clot removal using aspiration thrombectomy. In contrast, clots with low perviousness are more resistant to either thrombectomy approach.
In a Phase 3 study, ensartinib demonstrated statistically significant longer progression-free survival compared to crizotinib in ALK+ NSCLC patients. The study found that ensartinib significantly prolonged overall response rate and time-to-treatment-failure rate in brain metastases
Researchers synthesized current evidence on gene regulatory networks and neuronal networks to understand animal behavior. The integration of these networks reveals complex dynamics, including environmental factors and social behavior influencing gene expression changes.
UC Berkeley researchers have identified a unique electrical signature in brain noise that distinguishes REM sleep from wakefulness. This breakthrough could enable the development of new diagnostic tools for sleep disorders and monitor patients under anesthesia during surgery.
A world-first study found altered gut bacteria in people with Huntington's disease, associated with symptoms and disease progression. The research raises the possibility of targeting gut bacteria for future treatment.
Researchers at LSU Health have discovered a crucial mechanism in brain cell communication that can help protect against stroke. They found that DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, promotes the survival and integrity of neuronal cells by regulating key proteins involved in this communication.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and UCSF developed a non-invasive device that stimulates the vagus nerve to improve language learning. Participants showed significant improvements in distinguishing Mandarin tones, with some reaching peak performance twice as quickly as control participants.
Researchers at Michigan State University found that nondeceptive placebos can reduce self-reported emotional distress and brain activity related to emotional events. The study showed a significant reduction in brain markers of emotional distress within just a couple of seconds, suggesting genuine psychobiological effects.
A study found that taking vitamin D and calcium supplements twice daily can reduce the chances of getting vertigo again, especially for those with low vitamin D levels. The study showed a 24% reduction in annual recurrence rate among participants who took supplements.
A new study reveals that 10-month-old babies' brain responses can predict their preference for fast-paced TV shows six months later. The research team found that infants who are driven to explore their surroundings and engage with new sights or sounds tend to enjoy watching fast-paced TV shows.
Research suggests that increasing levels of education may be protective for people with a gene for familial early onset Alzheimer's, delaying the development of amyloid plaques. Participants with less than 10 years of education had twice as many plaques as those with more than 16 years.
A team of researchers at Stanford University has made a breakthrough in developing a wireless brain-computer interface that can accurately control electronic prostheses using thoughts. The new technology uses a tenth of the power required by current wire-enabled systems, making it safer and more natural for patients with paralysis or n...
Research in mice found that a common green apple vape flavor, farnesene, enhances nicotine reward and is also rewarding on its own. Farnesene partially activated nicotinic receptors and increased high-sensitivity receptors, potentially heightening reward and drug-seeking behavior.
International professional societies developed minimum clinical standards for determining brain death in adults and children, aiming to enhance consistency worldwide. The new guidelines address various factors, including neurological assessment and organ donation, to ensure accurate diagnosis and respectful care.
Scientists found that when someone is caught staring, their brain sends a signal that the gaze is not significant, allowing others to ignore it. This study sheds light on how social dynamics shape visual attention and reveals the brain's ability to perceive intentions behind an averted glance.
Researchers have identified a blood test target, phosphorylated tau 217, that correlates with the presence of amyloid plaques in the brain. This protein can be detected in the blood of people who have yet to show signs of forgetfulness or confusion, making it a promising tool for early Alzheimer's diagnosis.
Research published in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry found that women smokers are four times more likely to have unruptured brain aneurysms than non-smokers. High blood pressure further increases the risk, with smokers being seven times more likely to harbour the condition.
The team discovered a technique to compress brain signals, focusing on neural activity spikes called threshold crossing rate or TCR, which requires less data while still being able to predict firing neurons. By listening to a specific feature of neuron data called spiking-band power, the SBP method is highly accurate and takes in one-t...
Researchers developed a novel two-step targeting strategy to selectively deliver therapies to the brain by exploiting the high impermeability of the BBB. This approach allows for specific brain targeting with minimal accumulation in peripheral organs, paving the way for increased clinical translation of nanoparticle-based therapies.
A recent study by Sandra Heldstab and colleagues found that primate species follow fixed neural development patterns when learning fine motor skills. Humans develop their abilities later than other primate species due to the less developed state of our larger brains at birth.
Biomedical engineers at Tufts University created nanoparticles that incorporate neurotransmitters to deliver therapeutic drugs and gene editing proteins across the blood-brain barrier. The innovation could overcome current limitations in delivering therapeutics into the central nervous system.
A randomized controlled trial found that nutritional supplementation for 6 months improved cognitive function and brain health in young children living in low-income countries. The supplement high in antioxidants and essential nutrients had a substantial beneficial effect on working memory and cerebral blood flow.
Researchers found that COVID-19 patients who smoke or vape are more vulnerable to viral and bacterial infections, as well as cerebrovascular-neurological dysfunction. The study suggests that the virus can affect the brain and lead to ischemic strokes in smokers.
A study published in Neurology found that people with normal thinking and memory scores at the start of the study were less likely to develop later problems, even with amyloid plaques. Those with the APOE ε2 gene variant were also more resistant to developing plaques.
Researchers at the University of Trento mapped anxiety types differently in human brain, finding stable traits associated with negative thoughts and transient brain activity linked to state anxiety. The study aims to develop new diagnostic tools and treatments targeting chronic anxiety.
A new study from Brown University finds that both non-REM and REM sleep are essential for visual learning. During non-REM sleep, the brain exhibits increased plasticity, while during REM sleep, the brain undergoes stabilization, leading to improved memory consolidation.
A new study by the University of Bradford reveals that people with early-stage glaucoma see contrast in a similar way to those without it, despite measurable vision loss. This underlines the importance of regular eye checks to detect glaucoma before damage is established.
Researchers at UT Health San Antonio have identified a new class of proteins that protect synapses from destruction. These proteins, called complement inhibitors, may offer a novel therapy for managing Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia.
A small clinical trial found that higher doses of omega-3 supplements may be needed to make a difference in preventing cognitive decline. Participants with the APOE4 gene mutation showed lower increases in brain levels of omega-3s compared to those without it.
A long-term study of Mexican Americans found a significant decline in recurrent strokes, with rates dropping by 64.7% between 2000 and 2013, compared to a 37.4% decrease among non-Hispanic whites.