Articles tagged with Brain
Scientists have identified a key role for the brain protein TOM-1 in regulating inflammatory responses, which are linked to Alzheimer's disease. By restoring TOM-1 levels, the study found improved pathology and cognitive problems associated with the disease.
Researchers detect non-linguistic experience in brain activity during reading, combining with linguistic information to decode sentence meaning. This breakthrough may guide future efforts in language disorders and artificial intelligence.
The new SCAPE 2.0 system allows for faster and more detailed imaging of living tissues, revealing previously unseen details of biological systems. This technology has the potential to impact various fields such as genetics, cardiology, and neuroscience.
A team of US and Chinese scientists, led by UCI Professors Xiangmin Xu and Rozanne Sandri-Goldin, will develop a new brain mapping tool using genetically engineered herpesviruses. The tool aims to enhance signal outputs and generate variants carrying different functional payloads.
A study shows that intensive physical training can harm brain capacity, particularly cognitive control. Excessive physical activity is linked to reduced activity of the lateral prefrontal cortex, leading to impulsive decision-making and burnout syndrome.
A Regenstrief Institute research scientist is testing a novel mobile app designed to improve care for people with Alzheimer's disease. The study aims to determine if the Brain CareNotes app can manage behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, leading to improved quality of life for patients and caregivers.
Researchers identified a neural circuit in fruit flies that controls perseverance, with dopamine and octopamine neurotransmitters playing a key role. The finding suggests that simple organisms like fruit flies exhibit stamina and perseverance, challenging the idea that these traits are unique to humans.
Researchers at MIT have developed a rapid imaging method to visualize hundreds of synaptic proteins at high resolution. By analyzing protein levels in thousands of neurons, they discovered groups of proteins that tend to associate with each other more often than others, shedding light on synapse subtypes and their functions.
Researchers found that people perceive truthfulness higher in claims following alphabetical order, even when source unknown. This can be exploited by companies to convince consumers of slogans or claims.
Researchers at University of Eastern Finland developed a new approach to improve brain drug delivery by utilizing LAT1. The study showed that prodrugs can be converted into active drugs that utilize LAT1 for cell entry, achieving higher concentrations in target cells.
A new study found that mice's neural activity while performing tasks resembles human-like fidgeting, indicating a possible link between movement and cognition. Researchers must now correct for this overlap to accurately study decision-making processes.
A University of Calgary-led study found that MRI scans can significantly improve the diagnosis of minor strokes and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). In 30% of cases, the MRI scan led to a change in diagnosis. The study's findings suggest that MRI scans are essential for patients with non-traditional symptoms, reducing unnecessary med...
Researchers at UCLA Health have developed an experimental brain implant that restores visual perception in patients who are blind due to injury or disease. The device enhances users' ability to navigate the world by detecting movement and distinguishing light and dark, with the goal of one day restoring a full field of vision.
A study by researchers from MIT and Max Planck Institute found that people living in a remote Bolivian rainforest tend not to perceive similarities between notes played at different registers, unlike Westerners. The brain's ability to detect pitch similarity appears to be acquired through exposure to music in octave-based systems.
UC San Diego will collaborate with Stanford University to create the Neuroelectromagnetic Data Archive and Tools Resource (NEMAR), a brain imaging data archive and tools resource. The project aims to add human neuroelectromagnetic brain imaging, including EEG and MEG, to the OpenNeuro archive.
Researchers found that CBD substantially lessened seizure severity in mice and restored normal brain rhythms in Angelman syndrome models. The study suggests CBD could benefit kids and adults with this serious condition, characterized by intellectual disability and epilepsy.
Researchers developed flexible, gel-free EEG electrodes that can record brain waves on hairy and hairless skin. The new electrodes work without sticky gel, allowing for potential use in brain-computer interfaces to drive cars or move artificial limbs.
Researchers at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown discovered that the brain's circadian clock controls the function of immune cells in the gut, which are crucial for maintaining gut health. Disrupting this clock leads to reduced immune cell numbers, severe inflammation, and increased fat accumulation.
Researchers found atypical brain activity in people with autism when coordinating visual and motor information. This can lead to difficulties with daily activities such as handwriting or playing sports. The study aims to better understand the diverse challenges experienced by individuals with ASD.
Researchers have discovered two short peptides that significantly improved memory and reduced physical changes in the brain of mice with Alzheimer's disease. The treatment uses a process of computer modeling and artificial intelligence to develop an optimized oral version of the drug, which could lead to new treatments for Alzheimer's.
Researchers have found clues to Huntington's disease origins in early brain development, using a new technology that manipulates human embryonic stem cells. The study takes the developmental timeframe back further than previous work, revealing dramatic effects on tissue structures.
Researchers found short-term impairments in brain-to-muscle communication and decreased memory performance after nine-minute boxing sparring sessions. The study suggests that routine impacts in sports like football and other combat sports may pose health risks.
A study found abnormal gut microbiota in veterans with PTSD and cirrhosis is tied to poorer cognitive performance. The research also identified beneficial bacteria like Ruminococcaceae as associated with better performance.
A study by University of Toronto researchers found that metformin promotes brain repair and improves cognitive function in adult female mice, but has no effect on males. The drug works through a sex hormone called estradiol, which enhances neural stem cells' ability to respond to treatment.
A study from Case Western Reserve University found that entrepreneurs who pitch their startup ideas with passion are more likely to entice investors. The researchers used functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to examine the neural responses of investors' brains, revealing a causal relationship between passion and interest. As a ...
Researchers have linked mammalian behavior to its underlying neural code for the first time, shedding light on how a mammal's brain interprets signals from the eyes. This discovery is relevant to all neuroscientists studying perception and has implications for understanding individual 'words' in the brain.
Researchers at UNIGE identified key genes regulating retinal cell differentiation and axon guidance, offering insights into the construction of vision and potential treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. The study's findings have significant implications for regenerative medicine and could lead to new therapies for optic nerve damage.
Researchers at Osaka University developed an oral device that effectively reduces motor and vocal tics in Tourette syndrome patients. The study found that the oral splint improved tic symptoms for both children and adults, with long-lasting effects.
The new guideline offers evidence-based recommendations to improve the standard of care for individuals with Parkinson's disease in Canada. It includes a new section on palliative care, highlighting the need to consider patients' quality of life throughout all phases of the disease.
A University of Michigan study found that a high sugar diet depletes key brain metabolites, affecting behavior and potential connections to depression. The researchers compared fasting and fed fruit flies, discovering rapid changes in brain versus body metabolites.
A study from the University of Washington found that people exposed to multiple languages can identify words in yet another language better than those who live in monolingual environments. This effect was observed even among those with limited proficiency in other languages, suggesting that ambient exposure plays a role in language lea...
Researchers propose mesh electronics as a foundation for brain-machine interfaces, enabling precise targeting of neural communication networks to treat neurological disorders. This technology could lead to improved therapeutic options, such as enhanced prosthetic control and cognitive enhancement.
Researchers at Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience developed a strategy to label and map local inhibitory inputs onto cells. They found that inhibitory inputs may parallel or diverge from target neurons, revealing a diverse palette of inhibition. This discovery suggests complex functional connectivity in the visual cortex.
Researchers at Osaka University used X-ray imaging to visualize Lewy bodies in post-mortem brains and found α-synuclein aggregates with cross-β structure. This discovery supports the idea that Parkinson's disease is a systemic amyloidosis, with implications for diagnosis and treatment.
A study reveals that alternative splicing controls the identity and function of nerve cells, allowing for a complex neuronal network with limited genes. The research team mapped splice variants in different types of neurons, identifying unique repertoires that shape their characteristics.
A team led by Dr. Lim Hyun-Ho identified a new structure and mechanism of a membrane protein that causes epilepsy and muscle problems. The study reveals four different structures in the ion exchange process for a single CLC protein, expanding our understanding of this protein's functions.
Researchers at MIT have designed a robotic thread that can navigate the brain's blood vessels using magnets, aiming to improve endovascular procedures for treating stroke and aneurysms. The thread can be functionalized to deliver drugs or break up blockages with laser light.
UMass Amherst researchers are using fNIRS and ECG to study the coordination of brain and heart activity in 3- to 5-year-olds, aiming to improve learning tools and mental health care for children. The study aims to understand what drives differences in self-regulation tendencies and how this relates to psychopathology.
A multi-site study will assess the safety and efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) paired with exercise therapies to improve upper limb function in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury. The study aims to explore the effects of tDCS on strength, dexterity, and independence.
Salk scientists discover that astrocytes are required for long-term memory formation and consolidation in mice. The study found that disabling astrocytes led to significant deficits in remote memory retention after a few weeks.
A study found that adults carrying a gene associated with higher Alzheimer's risk had difficulty accessing recently acquired knowledge, despite normal cognitive scores. The research used a listening test to assess attention and memory, revealing greater challenges for individuals with the APOE4 gene.
Researchers at Ohio State University have made significant breakthroughs in gene replacement therapy for Niemann-Pick type A disease, demonstrating its safety and therapeutic effects in nonhuman primates and mouse models. The treatment has shown a 'bystander effect', preventing motor and memory impairment and increasing survival rates.
A clinical trial found that mothers who consumed pomegranate juice daily during pregnancy had infants with better brain development and connectivity. The study provides preliminary evidence for the potential neuroprotective effects of polyphenols in at-risk newborns.
A new study on a 20-million-year-old fossil from South America reveals that the brain evolved repeatedly and independently in monkeys, with some early members having more complex brains than previously thought. The research also sheds light on the visual-olfactory trade-off in primate evolution.
A review of adolescent brains across species reveals that impulsiveness is a biological adaptation crucial for brain maturation. The human brain undergoes significant changes during adolescence, including pruning of neural connections and strengthening of white matter tracts, which enables optimal brain function in the adult stage.
A recent study published in PLOS Biology has made significant progress in understanding chronic pain by integrating psychosocial factors and neurobiology. The researchers found two key traits - Pain-trait and Emote-trait - that are associated with back pain characteristics, as well as a link between socioeconomic status and chronic pain.
Researchers at Emory University found that the medial axis of an object, or its skeletal geometry, is a crucial visual tool for object recognition. The study suggests that this inner mechanism may play a more important role than previously thought in recognizing objects quickly.
A UCI-led study found that online brain game exercises can improve cognitive multitasking skills in people aged 70 and above. The research showed that consistent training can retain cognitive youth into old age, making it an increasingly valuable skill in today's information-rich environment.
Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center tested non-invasive electrical stimulation on patients with brain tumors, finding decreased blood flow within tumors while leaving the rest of the brain unchanged. The study suggests that repeated treatments could modify tumor growth and progression.
A team of researchers has created the first comprehensive map of the behavior of Kv channels, a crucial step towards developing improved models for ion channel research. The dataset, known as Channelpedia, provides access to over 9,000 cell recordings and will enable scientists to develop more accurate drug discovery models.
A new study found that predictable parent-child interaction has a positive impact on infant brain development, particularly in regulating emotions and actions. This predictability is linked to better self-control and emotional regulation in children.
Researchers found links between early-life manganese exposure and altered functional connectivity of brain areas supporting cognitive and motor control. This association was observed even before birth and during early childhood.
A new small molecule drug, DYR219, targets the early instigator of Alzheimer's disease by inhibiting DYRK1 kinase. This approach delays amyloid plaque formation and improves cognitive performance in hybrid mice bred to develop AD-like symptoms.
Researchers found that CD2AP gene is involved in synaptic transmission and regulates key regulatory proteins at neuron terminals. Low CD2AP levels significantly correlate with abnormal turnover of synaptic proteins in brain autopsies of individuals with Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at UC Riverside propose a new theory for Alzheimer's disease, pointing to lysosomal storage as the underlying cause. Long-lived proteins like beta-amyloid and tau undergo spontaneous modifications that make them undigestible by lysosomes, leading to cellular damage.
A team of scientists at Bar-Ilan University has developed a new type of ultrafast artificial intelligence algorithm based on the slow dynamics of brain function. This breakthrough outperforms traditional machine learning algorithms in various fields.
Researchers discover beta-amyloid blocks glutamate re-uptake in hyperactive neurons, causing false signals and impairments in signal processing. The soluble form of beta-amyloid dimers are responsible for the toxic effect, providing a new target for early treatment strategies.
A study at Harvard Medical School's Blavatnik Institute has identified molecular aberrations causing heightened touch sensitivity in autism and points to a possible treatment. The research, conducted in mice, shows that an experimental compound mitigated abnormal touch sensitivity while improving body mass and alleviating anxiety.
A new study found a blunted response to stress-induced dopamine signaling in the brains of individuals at high risk for psychosis who regularly use cannabis. The research highlights the need for further investigation into the impact of cannabis on brain neurochemistry, particularly among populations at risk for psychosis.
Researchers at the University of Houston have developed a new brain stimulation technique for PTSD patients, utilizing skin conductance to provide personalized treatment. The approach aims to improve treatment outcomes for individuals with neuropsychiatric disorders, including those with Parkinson's disease and essential tremor.