Articles tagged with Brain
A new approach identifies concept alterations associated with suicidal ideation and behavior, using machine-learning algorithms to assess neural representation of specific concepts. The study accurately identified 91% of participants with suicidal tendencies, and 94% of those who had attempted suicide.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute discover that female flies become more receptive to courting males when they smell their favorite food. The study found that vinegar odor boosts the perception of a male sex pheromone, increasing the likelihood of mating.
A two-week high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program reduced glucose metabolism in all areas of the brain in physically inactive individuals with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. HIIT improved whole-body insulin sensitivity, and moderate exercise also showed similar benefits.
Researchers developed software using machine learning to analyze EEG signals from preterm infants, providing an estimate of brain functional maturity. The method is more precise than current methods and enables automatic monitoring of premature infant brain development.
A study by Johns Hopkins University found that pictures of junk food are almost twice as distracting as healthy food images, even when people are focused on a task. The researchers tested this theory with participants who ate candy before completing a computer task.
A recent study published in Psychonomic Bulletin & Review found that calorie-dense foods are more distracting than low-calorie foods or everyday objects, even if they are not related to food. The researchers used a distraction paradigm to test how participants' thoughts and cognition relate to their eating habits.
Researchers found impaired mitochondrial metabolism and increased glycolysis in LOAD cells, indicating failing mitochondria. The study suggests that bioenergetics changes may contribute to the risk and pathophysiology of late-onset Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at Northeastern University's Center for Complex Network Research have identified fundamental rules for how the brain controls movement in nematode worms. The study provides unprecedented detail on how individual neurons control specific types of locomotion, paving the way for future research into human brain function and ne...
A Lithuanian professor has been awarded the Paper of the Year by The Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) for his groundbreaking research on severe traumatic brain injury. The study found that longer durations of cerebrovascular autoregulation impairment events significantly correlate with worse patient outcomes.
Researchers have found that young hockey players who suffered concussions may still exhibit white matter changes in the brain months after being cleared to return to play. Advanced MRI techniques revealed prolonged abnormalities in terms of brain structure and function, suggesting potential long-term consequences.
A preclinical study suggests a novel mechanism for treating pain without the addictive side effects of current opioid medications. The use of positive allosteric modulators enhances the effect of pain-relief chemicals naturally produced by the body, providing stronger and longer-lasting pain relief.
Stellenbosch University researchers found individuals with PTSD had lower levels of specific bacteria, which may contribute to immune dysregulation and inflammation. The study suggests that gut microbiome changes could be an early response to childhood trauma, increasing the risk of developing PTSD later in life.
The NIH BRAIN Initiative has launched a major effort to discover and catalog the brain's diverse cell types. The BICCN will generate knowledge that is prerequisite to solving the mysteries of brain disorders such as schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, and autism spectrum disorder.
Researchers will count and catalog cell types in mouse brain using single-cell transcriptomics, aiming to build a comprehensive atlas of cell types that can be applied to the human brain.
Research reveals sleepwalkers have improved automation in movement control compared to non-sleepwalkers. They maintain speed and accuracy during tasks requiring conscious attention, indicating potential daytime markers for sleepwalking diagnosis.
A new Yale study reveals decreased brain glucose levels in individuals with obesity and type 2 diabetes compared to lean individuals. This finding might explain the underlying mechanisms of disordered eating behavior and an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease among obese and diabetic individuals. The researchers suggest that impaired...
Researchers found that LRRK2 gene mutations cause age-dependent dopaminergic neuron degeneration and impair the autophagy-lysosomal pathway in mice. The study suggests an essential role of LRRK in DA neuron survival and regulation of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway in the aging brain.
The University of Minnesota Medical School's Center for Magnetic Resonance Research has received a NIH R01 grant to investigate the underlying trajectory of brain chemistry in healthy aging and Alzheimer's disease. The project aims to identify abnormal metabolic pathways in Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers identified 'speed neurons' and 'direction neurons' in the bee brain that work together to create a memory for navigation. This ability is crucial for bees, as they rely on it to return to their hive after foraging trips.
Researchers discovered two sets of neural signals control diaphragm movement, one in the brain and one in the spinal cord. They used a drug to activate this alternative pathway, restoring breath-like movements in rodents.
Scientists at Wake Forest Baptist will use a $9.2 million grant to develop new molecularly targeted drugs and drug delivery systems for aggressive brain cancer glioblastoma. The goal is to directly attack tumor mass and cells in surrounding areas, increasing therapeutic efficacy.
Researchers at McLean Hospital discovered a unique brain training program that improves cognitive skills in individuals with bipolar disorder. The study found significant improvements in cognitive performance, memory, and visual learning, with sustained benefits six months after treatment.
A study published in JNeurosci found that chronic exposure to THC may alter inhibitory function in GABA neurons, increasing dopamine levels and promoting addictive qualities. This discovery could lead to a new target for treating cannabis use disorder.
A study published in Brain Stimulation found that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can improve endurance performance by decreasing perceived effort. The research, conducted at the University of Kent, used a placebo-controlled study to test the effects of tDCS on cycling time to task failure.
Researchers found that abnormalities in the brain's blood-brain barrier may play a critical role in schizophrenia development. This discovery could lead to novel treatment strategies targeting abnormal brain blood vessels, complementing existing treatments.
Researchers have identified a gene that may provide potential therapy for cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs), a condition characterized by enlarged and irregular blood vessels in the central nervous system. The study suggests using angiogenesis inhibitors, such as TSP1, to treat or prevent CCMs.
Researchers have identified changes in molecular signaling related to neural plasticity, inflammation and neurodegeneration triggered by the psychedelic substance 5-MeO-DMT. This study suggests that classic psychedelics may induce neuroplasticity and exert antidepressant effects.
A Swedish registry study found that dementia patients with stroke can receive thrombolysis treatment without increased risk of brain haemorrhage or death. However, those over 80 may experience worse functional outcomes and be more likely to be discharged to nursing homes.
Scientists at Columbia's Zuckerman Institute found that the brain recalls larger concepts first when recalling information, then reconstructs details, reversing the traditional encoding and decoding process. This study sheds light on phenomena like eyewitness testimony and stereotyping.
A University of Queensland team has made a breakthrough in understanding the vestibular system, which controls balance and movement. Using optical tweezers, they were able to activate the vestibular system without the animal moving, allowing for the study of neural circuits in the brain that mediate vestibular perception.
Scientists discovered a network of neurons in bees' brains that integrates direction and distance changes, enabling them to return home. A detailed computer model was developed based on this research, which could lead to new algorithms for autonomous robots.
Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have identified a Zika virus mutation that contains a sugar in its protein envelope, which may help the virus enter the brain. This discovery could explain why the virus became more lethal during outbreaks in the Caribbean and South America.
Boston University School of Medicine researcher Hugo J. Aparicio is studying the associations between novel vascular biomarkers and cognitive dysfunction in a community-based study. The goal is to identify potential biomarkers for aging-related dementia, which could lead to earlier detection and treatment.
Researchers will investigate how individual differences in stress response affect escalation of alcohol drinking after traumatic stress, with potential treatments for vulnerable populations. The study aims to identify neurobiological targets for treating alcohol abuse in PTSD patients.
A study by NC State University researchers reveals that brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), a neurotransmitter involved in itching sensations, plays no role in pain transmission. This finding could lead to the development of specific drugs or therapies to block pain signals closer to their source.
The NeuBtracker microscope allows for the simultaneous observation of neuronal activity and behavioral responses in zebrafish. This enables researchers to test the effects of substances on both brain activity and behavior, opening up new avenues for drug discovery and metabolic research.
Researchers found that bilingual brains rely more on native language processes when learning a new language, but learn it faster. This study supports the hypothesis that early bilingualism is beneficial for language learners in later life.
The University of Minnesota Medical School's Center for Magnetic Resonance Research has been awarded a $3.5 million NIH grant to develop new, efficient, and safe stimulation paradigms for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). The project aims to improve treatment quality for patients with disabling neurological symptoms by increasing the preci...
A study by University of Maryland School Medicine researchers found that elevated kynurenine levels disrupt sleep, leading to cognitive impairments in schizophrenia. The discovery could lead to new treatments targeting kynurenine's role in the disease.
A team of scientists at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has identified a specific subset of neurons that respond to sodium deficiency, triggering an appetite for sodium. The researchers mapped the brain circuitry underlying this behavior and found that it is tightly regulated by hormones such as aldosterone and angiotensin II.
A computational study models the strength of basal ganglia connections between healthy and Parkinsonian brains, revealing a broad overlap in neural connection strengths. The research could lead to customized therapies specific to individual patterns of neural degeneration.
Researchers have identified a novel compound called HT-0411 that enhances long-term memory in animals, leveraging CREB activation and monoamine oxidase B inhibition. The study suggests potential for pharmaceutical enhancements of human memory.
Research found disconnections in brain areas involved in attention and visual processing may contribute to visual hallucinations in individuals with Parkinson's disease. The study used fMRI to examine connectivity between brain areas, showing decreased synchronization in patients with visual hallucinations.
Researchers have discovered a possible biomarker, CCL11, that may allow CTE to be diagnosed in living individuals. The study found elevated CCL11 levels in the brains of former football players with CTE compared to non-athletes and those with Alzheimer's disease. This discovery could lead to targeted treatments for CTE sufferers.
A new study suggests that enhancing breathing via the brain may limit respiratory muscle dysfunction in Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients. Researchers found that the brain compensates for respiratory muscle weakness by increasing diaphragm activation in mice with dystrophin deficiency.
A recent study suggests that large brain size is an adaptation for handling frequent environmental change, allowing birds to colonize seasonal habitats. Contrary to the cognitive buffer hypothesis, the study found no evidence that big brains evolved exclusively in variable environments.
Researchers overturn widely-held idea that visual attention is guided by saliency, instead finding meaning plays a key role. A new map of meaning in images reveals areas with higher meaning attract more attention than those with high contrast or brightness.
The research team discovered a neural signal in the brain's ACC that detects unexpected outcomes, offering clues to the cellular origin of feedback negativity. This finding has significant implications for our ability to detect situations where we can learn more effectively.
Mice exposed to scents before and shortly after birth show increased responses in specific neurons to various odors. The study demonstrates how early experience shapes the brain's processing of smell, with mice exposed to scented diets displaying heightened mitral cell responses to all presented odors.
Researchers have identified a shared neural mechanism for building confidence across multiple senses, including vision, audition, and touch. The study's findings support the supramodality hypothesis, suggesting that confidence estimates share a common format in the brain.
A new analysis of a Neandertal child's skeleton suggests that Neandertals may have experienced an extended period of brain growth compared to modern humans. The study found that the 7-year-old Neandertal had a brain size similar to that of an adult, challenging previous theories on brain development.
A study on a Neanderthal child's fossil remains found that both species regulate their growth differently to adapt energy consumption. The child's brain growth was slower than expected, while its body grew at a similar rate to modern humans.
Junzhou Huang will explore combining topology and machine learning to analyze brain image data, which is complex, multiscale, and heterogeneous. The goal is to predict the outcome of future data more accurately.
Researchers found eight mutations associated with autism in the TRIO gene, which can lead to weaker or stronger connections between brain cells. Weaker connections may hinder information storage and processing, while stronger connections cause trouble communicating between brain cells.
Children with ADHD exhibit excessive movement only when engaging their executive functions, particularly working memory. Research shows that tasks requiring complex cognitive processing, such as math lessons, trigger fidgeting and restlessness in kids with ADHD, while more passive activities like watching movies do not.
Researchers developed a multivariate method for predicting behavioral response to a stimulus using information about the phase of preceding neuronal oscillations. The study found that reaction speed depends on the phase of low-frequency neuronal oscillations preceding the stimulus.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have found a significant reduction in alcohol drinking behavior by mice that had been given a drug blocking a specific response from the immune system in the brain, highlighting the importance of the brain's immune system in driving desire to drink alcohol.
Researchers aim to accurately interpret functional magnetic resonance images (fMRI) of the brain, enabling better understanding of neural responses. By developing a computational tool, they hope to analyze fMRI data with finer resolution and gain insights into neural behavior.
A Michigan State University study found that expressive writing helps chronically anxious individuals perform stressful tasks more efficiently by freeing up brain resources. By writing about their thoughts and feelings, participants used fewer cognitive resources, leading to improved task accuracy and reaction times.
Researchers aim to restore walking and lower extremity sensation using brain-computer interface device. The project involves decoding brain signals, generating artificial sensation, and developing miniaturized electronics for fully implantable devices.