Articles tagged with Brain
Studies show that humans can learn new sounds while asleep, particularly during REM and N2 sleep phases. However, learned sounds are forgotten in deep sleep (N3) stage, suggesting a mechanism for unloading unnecessary memories. These findings reconcile two theories on sleep's role in memory consolidation.
A team of scientists at UC San Diego has found that lysosomes can travel to distant parts of neurons' dendrites and branch-like areas, playing a key role in remodeling and plasticity. This discovery may provide new insights into the development of neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers have found a close link between early brain developmental events and changes in cognitive function in adulthood. Disruptions to the ability of developing brain cells to form connections were associated with increased fear-related memories.
Houston Methodist researchers have identified a distinct group of circulating tumor cells associated with breast cancer brain metastasis. This finding could lead to the development of more sensitive screening tools and real-time monitoring of disease progression and response to therapy.
A new study proposes that cultural activities, such as language use, affect our ability to collect data, make connections, and infer behavior. The research reveals that the brain's limited working memory can be beneficial in some cognitive tasks, unlike our closest relatives, chimpanzees.
Researchers studied zebrafish to understand how early life affects brain development and behavior in adults, finding that visual environment influences spontaneous brain activity. Dark rearing also reduced the larvae's ability to catch prey, suggesting environmental input impacts brain wiring and behavior.
Researchers found that dopamine-producing neurons directly control the brain's circadian center, regulating eating cycles and metabolism. This discovery may lead to new treatments for jet lag, shift work, and related pathologies.
A team of researchers from UCR developed a ceramic skull implant that allows doctors to deliver therapeutic sound waves into the brain. The material, made of Yttria Stabilized Zirconia, is biocompatible and shatter-resistant, making it ideal for implants.
The NeuroNex Technology Hub aims to create new research capabilities using bioengineering technologies, enabling scientists to manipulate and observe brain circuitry. The center's goals include addressing inequities in access to scientific tools and educating high school students.
A team of researchers will use new methods to analyze and interpret neural data, developing theoretical models to understand the underlying mechanisms. The project aims to improve understanding of brain function, even when only a small fraction of cells are directly observed.
A study published in Multiple Sclerosis Journal shows that resistance training can protect the brain and delay disease progression in people with multiple sclerosis. The research, conducted over six months, found that those who engaged in resistance training had less brain shrinkage and even small brain areas began to grow.
Researchers at Monash University have discovered a brain mechanism that controls the conversion of white fat into brown fat after eating, which could lead to new obesity treatments. The 'switch' is turned off during fasting and on during feeding, promoting weight gain when the switch remains active.
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation recognizes six young researchers for their outstanding work in brain and behavior research, including Jennifer Felger and Ilana Witten. The awards support innovative ideas in neurobiological and psychosocial research to unlock mysteries of mental illness.
A new BACE inhibitor has shown promise in improving brain function and memory performance in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. The study found that the treatment reduced amyloid beta production, restored normal nerve cell function, and improved memory abilities.
Researchers from HSE Centre for Cognition & Decision Making found that training participants using real-time feedback on alpha wave activity significantly increased their ability to control brain state. This new insight may lead to non-pharmacological methods for treating epilepsy, ADHD, and depression.
Zebrafish deficient in vitamin E have impaired behavioral development and increased mortality rates, suggesting a link to human neurological health. Dietary supplementation with vitamin E later in life does not fully resolve these issues.
Researchers identify critical level at which unconscious information becomes conscious, revealing shared underlying mechanisms with simpler decisions. The study offers new hope for understanding the biological foundations of consciousness.
Researchers will combine findings from cellular level studies with results of helmet testing to develop a new standard for assessing head protection and create a prototype helmet that meets this standard
Researchers developed a new, non-invasive method called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to distinguish between Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia. The technique accurately diagnosed the conditions with 90% accuracy in most cases.
A study by EPFL scientists found that schizophrenia patients do not have a disturbed sense of body ownership. The study used the Full-Body Illusion test and showed that patients performed similarly to healthy controls, indicating that their sense of body ownership is unaffected by the disorder.
A high proportion of former NFL players had neuropathological evidence of CTE, with 110 out of 111 players diagnosed. The study also found a link between CTE and previous football participation, with severe pathology more common among professional players.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide and Lund University have discovered brain cells that enable dragonflies to predict the movement of their prey, allowing them to hunt successfully. This knowledge could lead to advances in fields like robot vision and artificial intelligence.
Researchers at UCLA have discovered a link between brain wave frequency and nonverbal IQ in children with autism. The study found that lower peak alpha frequency corresponds to lower non-verbal IQ, suggesting a potential biomarker for detecting autism severity.
Researchers found that rats partially recovered hind limb movement using cycling, semi-load bearing treadmill training, and serotonin treatment without healing the spinal cord break. The body re-routes nerve cell outputs to control muscles and stiffens back muscles to support weight and independent steps.
Childhood dementia, an inherited disorder affecting brain metabolism, shows promise in treating with immunomodulators. Inflammation of the brain is a key feature, and drugs like fingolimod and teriflunomide have shown therapeutic effects in mouse models.
The GSA-developed KAER model provides a four-step process for primary care providers to assess, evaluate, and refer older adults with cognitive impairment. The toolkit offers practical guidance, measurement instruments, and community resources to aid in earlier diagnosis and better care.
Researchers captured three-dimensional snapshots of the AMPA-subtype glutamate receptor in action, shedding light on its role in memory and learning. The study's findings provide new insights into the fundamental process involved in brain function.
Researchers found that brainwaves between conversational partners match each other in a study published in Scientific Reports. This interbrain synchrony may be key to understanding language and social interactions.
A Baycrest study found significant communication improvement gains for patients with post-stroke disorders through telerehabilitation, comparable to those of in-person treatment. However, telerehabilitation patients showed lower confidence in their abilities compared to in-person therapy.
A recent study on California mice found that surges of testosterone before and after aggressive encounters lead to future wins. Winning experiences change the brain's response to testosterone, fueling competitiveness and confidence.
New study finds that human brain cells from individuals with childhood-onset schizophrenia disrupt communication in mice, exhibiting anti-social and anxious behaviors. The researchers suggest that glial cell dysfunction is a primary contributor to the disease.
Researchers found that people with better heart health scores had a higher average brain volume as a percentage of their total head size in middle age. A stronger association was also seen between current smoking and smaller brain volume.
Researchers at NYU conclude that memory is fundamentally structured in the time domain, with a 'temporal hierarchy' of time windows altering brain state. This theory explains how short-term memories can transform into long-term ones.
The NIH grant supports collaboration with German researchers to develop a new reprogramming technology that can replace neurons lost through stroke, traumatic brain injury, and brain diseases. The goal is to restore function and potentially lead to new therapies for neurological injuries and diseases.
Adolescent heavy drinking alters brain structures and function, resulting in reduced cognitive abilities. Research highlights the detrimental effects on memory, attention, language, and socio-emotional processing. The review emphasizes the importance of raising awareness about binge drinking risks and promoting future research.
Researchers discovered a primitive blueprint of organization in primates' brains just days after birth, which gradually fills in with age and experience. The findings have implications for humans, including the potential explanation of aberrations seen in autism-spectrum disorders and the importance of correcting visual deficits at birth.
Researchers found that regularly doing word puzzles like crosswords is linked to better brain function in later life. Participants who engaged with word puzzles performed better on tasks assessing attention, reasoning, and memory.
Researchers found that brief social interactions can alter gene expression for hours, affecting genes related to immunity, hormone regulation, and metabolism. The study reveals the brain's response to social threats, suggesting a potential mechanism for learning and memory.
Researchers at University of California San Diego have identified key brain pathways tied to distinct depressive behaviors. The study found that modifying specific neural connections in mice led to improved behavioral changes, providing insight into the interaction between multiple brain areas in depression.
Researchers have found that inhibiting cell receptors can clear toxic protein buildup, reduce brain inflammation, and improve cognitive performance in animal models of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. The study also suggests that this inhibition may help insulate the brain from circulating inflammatory cells.
Researchers propose a potential connection between carnitine deficiency and mild forms of autism, which disproportionately affect males. They suggest that supplementing infants with carnitine could prevent up to 10-20% of cases of autism.
Researchers used machine learning to track 400,000 fruit flies' behaviors over 225 days and matched specific behaviors to different groups of neurons. The resulting brain-wide atlas offers insight into fly neural circuitry and could inform understanding of human behavior.
Researchers found that exposure to a common visual illusion enhances ability to read fine print by improving visual acuity. Participants who saw clockwise spirals showed improved performance in reading letters at smaller font sizes.
Researchers used mathematical modeling to examine patterns in lung cancer metastases, revealing a preferential pattern for brain spread in patients with EGFR mutations. The findings suggest that Markov modeling could help predict metastatic spread and personalize treatment for non-small cell lung cancer patients.
Researchers analyzed brain activity of 100 healthy Portuguese adults and found that those with better cognitive abilities had more stable and structured brain network states. This study provides new evidence linking brain network dynamics to cognitive performance in later life.
Researchers have developed a hands-free musical instrument that can be controlled by thoughts, allowing people with motor disabilities to play music again. The Encephalophone collects brain signals and converts them into musical notes, providing a new avenue for rehabilitation and empowerment.
Researchers found that female zebra finches need to hear their father's song to develop the ability to distinguish between high-quality and low-quality courtship songs. The study suggests that environmental factors play a crucial role in shaping the developing brain's perception of vocal signals.
Researchers have successfully delivered a gene therapy to the brains of mice with mucopolysaccharidosis type 1, preventing neurologic deficits. The noninvasive intranasal approach shows promise for treating genetic disorders affecting the brain.
Researchers developed FAST - a fast whole-brain imaging system that can visualize individual cells and subcellular structures in the entire brain. This technique allows for faster comparison of multiple brains to gain new insights into brain diseases.
Researchers found that prenatal alcohol exposure alters the brain's reward system, making individuals more susceptible to addiction. The study suggests that endocannibinoids play a critical role in this process, leading to increased sensitivity to drugs of abuse and decreased dopamine neuron function.
Researchers studied decision-making in real-time using mouse trajectories, finding that individuals with low self-control veer closer to unhealthy foods. The study suggests a more dynamical process where both healthy and unhealthy choices compete from the beginning, contradicting dual systems theory.
Salk scientists discovered that mathematical rules governing plant growth are similar to brain cell connections. The team used 3D laser scanning to analyze plant architecture and found a Gaussian branch density function, suggesting universal rules of logic governing branching growth across biological systems.
A new study published in Neuron provides direct experimental evidence for the 'Memory-Synapse Specificity' Hypothesis, linking a specific type of synapse to a particular behavior and memory. The research reveals that synaptic long-term potentiation (LTP) at a specific type of synapse encodes socially acquired olfactory memory.
A new UCL study found that looking away from the sound source while focusing on another one can lead to slower reactions and increased listening effort. The researchers used EEG to monitor brain activity in participants, revealing an increase in oscillatory neural activity when gaze was misaligned with auditory attention.
Researchers at DGIST have successfully measured zebrafish's multi-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) using a non-invasive method. This breakthrough enables precise observation and study on the generation of EEG in specific areas of the brain, with potential applications in developing new drugs for epilepsy syndrome.
A new study published in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience found that hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle have no impact on working memory, cognitive bias, or ability to pay attention. The study followed 68 women across two consecutive menstrual cycles and found no replicable effects of hormones on cognition.
A new study challenges the long-debated 'late equals large' hypothesis, which proposes that brain proportions are shaped by a universal rule related to size. The research found that this hypothesis does not work when considering brain growth in different mammals, including marsupials.
A 'brain training' game developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge improved memory in patients with mild cognitive impairment by 40% through episodic memory tests. The app's engaging gameplay and individualization also boosted motivation and confidence.
Researchers at USC found that stiff brain vessels and decreased blood flow are associated with the build-up of harmful plaque and cognitive decline. The study used patient data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative to explore cerebrovascular resistance, a new way to calculate it, and its link to dementia.
A randomized double-blind study involving 51 participants found a 68% improvement in slowing whole brain atrophy in patients with secondary progressive MS. Lipoic acid also improved walking times and reduced falls compared to placebo.