Articles tagged with Brain
Alfonso Apicella, a UTSA biologist, is exploring the corpus callosum's role in auditory signals and its connection to neurological disorders like schizophrenia and autism. His research aims to better understand how brain hemispheres communicate and potentially develop new treatments.
A seven-year study using a supercomputer has revealed the secrets of brain electrical signals and protein switches activated by binding molecules. The findings aim to develop safer and more effective anaesthetics, as well as treatments for various neural conditions such as epilepsy, anxiety, and chronic pain.
Researchers blocked S1P breakdown, leading to learning and memory problems in mice. Autophagy pathway also impaired, resulting in accumulation of Alzheimer's proteins in the brains.
Researchers discovered two brain proteins with unique functions in the development of dementia, leading to potential new treatments. The study used Drosophila fruit flies to examine the effects of these proteins on nerve cell survival and activation, revealing one form is linked to poor movement and another to greater neurodegeneration.
Researchers develop a cost-effective method to produce Aβ42 peptide, a key player in Alzheimer's disease, using isotope labeling and FPLC. This approach simplifies NMR-based structural studies of the peptide, paving the way for deeper understanding of AD.
Researchers at Rockefeller University have identified a brain network exclusively dedicated to analyzing social interactions in rhesus macaques. This network may represent an evolutionary precursor to the neural circuitry that supports theory of mind in humans, potentially blurring the lines between human and primate cognition.
Scientists developed an automated approach to track neurons in the brain of freely crawling worms, enabling researchers to correlate neural activity with specific movements and behaviors. The new algorithm, dubbed Neuron Registration Vector Encoding, improves upon previous methods by assigning a unique identity to each neuron it detects.
Positive trends in creating open and reproducible environments are underway, with more researchers sharing data and software. Technology is also improving, with new web-based management tools and data depositories being developed.
Researchers at University of Guelph have found a hormonal imbalance in the brain causes breathlessness in heart failure patients. Using existing hormone-suppressing drugs, they were able to effectively treat this condition and improve patients' quality of life.
Researchers have developed a laboratory model for Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome, a rare psychomotor disease that affects brain development. The study uses induced pluripotent stem cell technology to replicate the patient's blood-brain barrier, providing new insights into the disease and potential therapies.
A study by Karolinska Institutet measures how tau deposits spread through the brain over time, revealing individual variations in size and speed of spread. Large amounts of tau can be linked to episodic memory impairment, improving understanding of Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers found that humans prefer internal visual information generated by the brain to external images from the real world. This bias was observed in a study where participants chose between identical visual objects one generated internally and another externally displayed.
A University at Buffalo study found that nonprescription use of Ritalin, a central nervous system stimulant, is associated with changes in brain chemistry linked to risk-taking behavior, sleep disruption, and weight loss. The study highlights the potential long-range risks of using Ritalin as a study enhancer.
The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus has received a $47.8 million gift to establish the Marcus Institute for Brain Health and build a network of mental health clinics across the US. The Cohen Veterans Network will partner with CU Anschutz to provide free, low-cost care to veterans and their families.
A study published in Scientific Reports reveals that diagnosing diseases and prescribing treatments engage the same brain system involved in everyday identification tasks. This finding may lead to new approaches to reduce medical errors by decreasing attentional focus during diagnosis.
Researchers found that Rh7 functions as a light sensor governing daily day-and-night activity cycles in fruit flies. The discovery expands the roles of light sensors, which were originally discovered over 100 years ago.
Researchers identified brain cells in fruit flies responsible for regulating protein levels, promoting a single-minded focus on eating protein when starved. The study's findings may have implications for addressing the obesity epidemic by understanding how protein intake affects caloric intake.
Researchers have identified a seventh rhodopsin, Rh7, expressed in the brain of fruit flies where it regulates circadian rhythms and daily activity patterns. The discovery sheds light on the role of light-sensitive opsins in setting circadian rhythms and has potential implications for understanding degenerative retinal disorders.
Joseph Paton, a neuroscientist at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, has been awarded a $650,000 grant to further study how the brain processes time. His work aims to understand how internal signals are converted into action, enabling animals to interact with their environment in a more informed and calculated manner.
Scientists have published groundbreaking scans of newborn babies' brains, enabling researchers to study brain development and wiring. The Developing Human Connectome Project will uncover how the brain develops during pregnancy and after birth, helping understand conditions like autism and pregnancy-related issues.
Researchers found that Acheulian tools required integration of visual working memory, auditory information, and complex action-planning - similar brain areas activated in modern piano playing. This suggests that language may not have played a crucial role in the evolution of early stone tool production.
Research on fruit flies reveals that those lacking the Fragile X protein have less inhibition among their neurons, resulting in impaired information processing and increased anxiety. This finding provides valuable insights into human brain diseases and may lead to new treatments for Fragile X syndrome.
A new group language intervention has been developed to help individuals with primary progressive aphasia (PPA) maintain their communication abilities. The 10-week intervention includes working on language activities and learning communication strategies, resulting in improved or unchanged communication assessments for patients.
The University of Texas at Arlington won the 2017 Brain Bowl competition, showcasing expertise in neurophysiology, neuroanatomy, and behavioral neuroscience. The team's victory reflects UTA's leadership in neuroscience research.
A recent study from Harvard Medical School revealed the surprising role of omega-3 fatty acids in maintaining the blood-brain barrier's impermeable nature. By suppressing transcytosis, these essential fatty acids inhibit the formation of caveolae, a type of vesicle that facilitates molecule transport across cells.
Researchers at Columbia University have obtained detailed images of AMPA receptor interactions with regulatory proteins, revealing the structural changes that occur during desensitization. This knowledge may aid in designing targeted therapies for conditions like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, epilepsy, and schizophrenia.
Researchers found that brain glucose levels play a crucial role in 'hitting the wall,' and training can help preserve glucose as an energy source for the brain. A small molecule drug also stimulated PPARδ, increasing fat oxidation and preventing hypoglycemia in mice.
A recent study by UPV/EHU-University of the Basque Country suggests that high-intensity interval training can cause a significant decline in brain oxygenation among elite athletes, particularly Kenyans. This finding has implications for understanding human performance and endurance.
Scientists at the University of Queensland have identified a new type of lymphatic brain cell in zebrafish that surrounds the brain and clears damaging cellular waste. This discovery provides insight into how the brain forms and functions, potentially leading to new treatments for neurological diseases like stroke and dementia.
Researchers found that a specific gene enables the even distribution of serotonin in the brain, but its absence leads to tangled neuronal branches and signs of depression. This discovery offers new avenues for studying psychiatric disorders associated with serotonin imbalance.
A new research from the National Institutes of Health found that pairing antidepressant amitriptyline with central nervous system drugs enhances drug delivery to the brain. Amitriptyline temporarily inhibits the blood-brain barrier, allowing drugs to enter the brain.
Researchers discover that mental practice of Wu Qin Xi has the same effect on EEG brain activity as physical training, increasing theta and alpha waves in beneficial ways. This finding provides hope for individuals who cannot perform physical Qigong due to mobility issues or other constraints.
Brain-to-brain synchrony was more pronounced in students who were more engaged during class, reflecting their liking for the teacher and peers. This phenomenon may support synchronized behavior in human interactions, such as conversations or group activities.
A team of neuroscientists found that synchronization of brainwaves among students reflects how much they like the class and each other. The study, published in Current Biology, used portable EEG technology to record brain activity during a semester-long classroom observation.
Oscar Alcoreza, a Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine student, has been awarded a highly competitive HHMI fellowship to devote a year to in-depth biomedical research in epilepsy. The fellowship will enable him to investigate the transition from a healthy to an epileptic brain and explore potential interventions.
Researchers at UT Dallas are investigating a technique to accelerate language learning by stimulating the vagus nerve during specific tasks. The goal is to improve the brain's natural ability to learn and potentially benefit individuals with learning impairments or conditions such as autism.
Researchers at UF will investigate how electrical stimulation can strengthen neuronal connections in the brain, with potential applications for military analysts and civilians alike.
A UTA Ph.D. student is awarded a grant to investigate how eyes and brains evolved in response to predation, exploring the relationship between eye size and survival rates in Caribbean killifish populations.
Researchers warn that hospital policies to restrict patient mobility may worsen health outcomes, citing increased risk of falls and medical adverse events. Promoting mobility with supervised walks and trained staff could help prevent these issues.
The ASPM protein collaborates with katanin to regulate cell division and specialization into nerve cells, crucial for healthy brain development. A study published in Nature Cell Biology provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying microcephaly.
Researchers discovered that capsaicin in chili peppers and anandamide in marijuana interact with the same receptor in the stomach, calming the immune system and reducing inflammation. The study holds promise for new therapies for diabetes and colitis, as well as understanding the relationship between the gut, brain, and immune system.
Researchers discovered that early diagnosis and alternative dietary therapies can significantly improve patient outcomes for patients with Glucose Transporter Type 1 Deficiency. The study's results, published in JAMA Neurology, highlight the importance of addressing this disease through a comprehensive approach.
Combining aerobic and resistance exercises can significantly enhance the brain power of older adults. The analysis showed that exercise improves cognitive abilities, with aerobic exercise enhancing global cognition and resistance training having a pronounced effect on executive function, memory, and working memory.
A study led by Dr. Juan Pascual found that a modified Atkins diet can help reduce seizures and improve patients' long-term health. Clinical trials testing an edible oil derived from castor beans may also improve cognitive abilities in patients with Glut1 deficiency.
Researchers found that walking significantly increases blood flow to the brain, comparable to running, but less dramatic than cycling. The study uses non-invasive ultrasound to measure internal carotid artery blood velocity waves and arterial diameters.
Researchers found that NDP1, a signaling molecule made from DHA, triggers the production of a protective protein against toxic free radicals and injury in the brain and retina. The discovery may contribute to possible therapeutic interventions for retinal degenerations and ischemic stroke.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have shown that electrical stimulation delivered when memory is predicted to fail can improve memory function. The study found that stimulating the brain during periods of poor function significantly improves memory, likening it to restoring normal traffic flow.
Researchers found that increased familiarity with a foreign accent leads to better sentence processing and trains the acoustic system to process accented speech. Listeners who correctly identified the accent responded similarly to grammar and vocabulary errors in both native and foreign-accented sentences.
A new study published in PLOS Medicine suggests that stimulating the brain through leadership roles at work or staying in education can help people stay mentally healthy in later life. Engaging in activities that challenge the brain and build cognitive reserve can make it more resilient to illnesses such as dementia.
A recent study by the University of Sussex has discovered evidence for a 'higher' state of consciousness in individuals under the influence of psychedelic drugs. The researchers used brain imaging technology to measure neural signal diversity, finding a sustained increase compared to normal waking states.
A Dartmouth-led study refutes the theory that behavior under uncertainty is optimal, finding that synapses can self-adjust learning rates using metaplasticity. The brain adjusts learning according to the uncertainty about reward in a given environment.
A recent review explores why animals favor one side of the brain, highlighting perceptual specialization, motor specialization, and parallel processing. The research also sheds light on environmental influences and genetic aspects of asymmetrical development, potentially providing insight into brain conditions in humans.
A new study by Harvard University researchers suggests that people tend to view immoral actions as impossible, leading them to make more moral decisions. When given time for reflection, participants rate one-quarter of immoral actions as impossible, but with less time, they call half of them impossible.
The BRAIN Center will focus on developing and testing neurotechnologies for a wide range of diseases and injuries, with the potential to save $400 billion in future costs. Researchers from ASU and UH, along with industry partners, will work together to speed technologies to market.
A new study from Florida State University researchers finds no significant impact of brain games on overall cognitive abilities. The team tested whether improving working memory would translate to better performance in other tasks, but found no far transfer effect.
A new treatment strategy has been discovered for neuroinflammation related to severe type of stroke, involving the blockade of a protein called TSPO. Etifoxine, a TSPO ligand, reduced inflammation and brain edema in animal models of intracerebral hemorrhage.
A comprehensive neuropsychological study of retired professional hockey players found they reported cognitive and psychosocial challenges, despite performing well on objective tests. The study suggests a link between concussion history and executive functioning, and genetic factors may play a role in psychiatric symptoms.
Researchers at Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown identify apterous neurons as key indicators of female receptivity in fruit flies. The discovery links a female's walking speed to her willingness to mate, with silencing these neurons reducing her receptivity.
Midlife vascular risk factors, such as obesity and high blood pressure, are associated with increased levels of brain amyloid in later life, supporting a role for vascular disease in Alzheimer's development. The study used PET scans to examine the relationship between midlife vascular risk factors and brain amyloid deposition.
A new study reveals significant variations in peripheral vision among individuals, impacting tasks like reading and recognizing objects. Researchers propose that these differences originate early in visual development and are influenced by genetics and environment.