Articles tagged with Brain
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center discovered that fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) reduces preference for sweets and alcohol in mammals by affecting the brain's reward pathway. FGF21 levels are associated with environmental stress, such as extreme dietary changes or cold temperature exposure.
Researchers develop algorithm to quantify brain map continuity, finding pathological processing reflected by discontinuity rather than signal reduction. This discovery may serve as biomarker for neurological pathologies and enable early detection of Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at the University of Zurich found that a handful of positive experiences with strangers can increase empathy by triggering a learning effect in the brain. This leads to stronger empathic brain responses towards out-group members, driving more compassionate behavior.
A study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh found that the circadian rhythm of gene activity changes with aging, leading to altered sleep and cognitive patterns. The team identified core genes that make up the molecular clock in the prefrontal cortex, which may explain some age-related alterations in brain function.
Researchers from Monash University have developed a new image modulation technique called SWIFT to study how the brain categorizes objects. The study found that SWIFT can stimulate specific neural activity patterns in the brain, enabling greater understanding of human visual processing and its potential applications.
A new study found that pre-adolescent children who have sustained sports-related concussions have impaired brain function two years following the injury. The research suggests that childhood concussions may have a lasting impact on cognitive performance, with potential lifelong academic and vocational consequences.
Researchers have discovered molecules that act as cellular identification tags on neurons in the fruit fly Drosophila, guiding the development of the neuromuscular and visual systems. The finding validates a theory proposed by Roger Sperry in the 1950s and provides insight into brain development.
The study reveals that glutamate triggers calcium release to stabilize GABAA receptors, maintaining proper excitatory-inhibitory balance. This finding has implications for understanding disorders related to imbalance, such as epilepsy and autism.
Researchers found that individuals with autism have lower levels of GABA, a key inhibitory neurotransmitter, which suggests a breakdown in the signaling pathway. This breakthrough could lead to early intervention efforts through visual screening tests for younger children.
Researchers have discovered a direct link between autism symptoms and reduced action of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. The study suggests that increasing brain concentrations of GABA may have potential as an autism treatment.
Dr. Leon Iasemidis, a renowned expert in nonlinear dynamics and biomedical engineering, has been named a National Academy of Inventors Fellow for his outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life and economic development. He is recognized for his research in seizure prediction and control of epilepsy, with ...
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet identified a gene variant linked to psychotic symptoms and cognitive impairment in people with bipolar disorder. The study found that the gene variant affects levels of specific proteins in the brain, which may lead to new targeted drug development.
Seniors struggle to process multisensory information, affecting tasks like driving and balance. Training methods, such as video games or brain stimulation, may help improve perceptions of time in older adults.
Researchers analyzed neuronal avalanches in the human brain during perceptual tasks, discovering a high degree of similarity in temporal and spatial distribution. The study provides an analytic 'biometric' technique to link MEG-generated data to specific individuals.
Researchers found that treatment with transference-focused psychotherapy was associated with increased activation in cognitive control areas and decreased activation in emotional reactivity areas, suggesting potential symptom improvement in BPD. The study suggests that talk therapy may impact neural functioning.
Research reveals LSD reduces connectivity within brain networks, disrupting synchronization of neural firing patterns. This change affects the underlying thought and behavior processes in humans.
Results of a phase 1b clinical trial show ONT-380 achieves at least stable disease in 58% of patients with metastatic HER2+ breast cancer, including 11 partial responses and one complete response in patients with brain metastases.
Researchers at UCLA found that people struggle to accurately identify the source of sights and sounds, despite relying on our senses for perception. The study suggests that the brain makes tradeoffs between precision and error tolerance, with benefits for tasks performed in high-acuity areas but limitations in outer areas.
Researchers found support for Chomsky's decades-old theory that we possess an 'internal grammar' to comprehend nonsensical phrases. The study used magnetoencephalography and electrocorticography to isolate brain activity while subjects listened to linguistically manipulated sequences.
Researchers have developed personal monitoring devices that can track seizure activity in the home environment, providing advance warning before seizures strike. These devices use biometric recording technology and can operate for seven days on a single charge, revolutionizing epilepsy therapy.
A new article published in Acta Paediatrica stresses the importance of direct interactions with family members for infants' cognitive and language development. The research suggests that screen-based activities like iPads or DVDs may actually hinder language skills, leading to potential delays.
Four studies explore the interplay between epilepsy and aging, revealing unexpected consequences on the brain. Researchers found that uncontrolled epilepsy can lead to accelerated brain aging, while others discovered a link between traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic epilepsy in the elderly population.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a technique that allows them to read the mind of a fly by lighting up active conversations between neurons during behaviors or sensory experiences. This can provide valuable insights into the computational processes underlying human brain function.
The San Bernardino shooting is a rare example of a hybrid mass killing involving multiple shooters and a female perpetrator. Experts warn that such incidents are becoming increasingly common due to societal factors like lack of compassion and empathy.
Researchers found that stimulating brain receptors for ghrelin, a hormone that increases appetite, increases food-related behaviors such as gathering and consuming food. Blocking ghrelin receptors in the brain prevents these behaviors, suggesting a crucial role of brain receptors in regulating food intake.
Breast cancer patients treated with anthracycline-based chemotherapy experienced lower verbal memory and default mode brain network connectivity compared to non-chemotherapy groups. Cognitive dysfunction was also elevated in both treatment groups, highlighting the need for further research into chemotherapy-related neurotoxic effects.
A study at Thomas Jefferson University has successfully increased the production of GM1 ganglioside in mice with Parkinson's disease. The researchers used an enzyme to convert naturally occurring ganglioside molecules into GM1, providing neuronal protection similar to direct GM1 injection.
A study found that prolonged hypobaria from air evacuation worsened long-term cognitive outcomes in rats with TBI. Researchers suggest approaches to limit negative effects, including delaying transport or increasing cabin pressurization.
A study of over 2,400 participants found that higher levels of NT-proBNP, a heart failure marker, were associated with microstructural changes in the brain and reduced brain volume. This suggests an early link between heart disease and brain health.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have observed direct evidence of synaptic plasticity in the fruit fly brain while flies learn. The team found a dramatic reduction in synaptic strength upon subsequent presentations of the test odor, indicating a decrease in its attractiveness.
A new study by Uppsala University researchers found that posttraumatic stress disorder is caused by an imbalance between two neurochemical signalling systems: serotonin and substance P. The severity of symptoms depends on the degree of imbalance, not just one system.
Prof Elizabeth Hillman has received a $1.83 million NIH BRAIN Initiative grant to further develop SCAPE, a high-speed 3D microscope that images neurons in large brain volumes. This breakthrough technique surpasses previous speed barriers, enabling scientists to study neural activity and circuit function.
A new study using MRI reveals that elite free divers experience cardiovascular changes during apnea, including a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure. Despite these changes, the divers' heart function recovers quickly upon breathing again.
Researchers at Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard have engineered changes to the CRISPR-Cas9 system, significantly cutting down on 'off-target' editing errors. The newly-engineered enzyme, eSpCas9, will be useful for genome editing applications requiring high specificity.
The November-December issue of the Hastings Center Report explores the ethics of neural devices, including deep brain stimulation and brain-computer interfaces. The issue also examines the use of e-cigarettes in health care organizations, where controversy surrounds their safety and effectiveness.
A study of 70 individual twins and 130 healthy control twins found that reduced white matter integrity shares common genes with schizophrenia risk. The findings suggest a genetic overlap between structural brain connections and schizophrenia, highlighting potential new avenues for diagnosis and treatment.
Flies use their halteres to navigate challenging situations, including flying and climbing. The study found that some species rely on the organs to sense their movement in space and maintain visual focus.
Inner ear cells in newborn rodents practice processing sounds through a self-stimulation process involving chloride ion channels. This process helps establish and refine connections between the ear and brain, enabling proper hearing from an early age.
Scientists discovered that visual crowding hinders our ability to make sense of what we see, particularly in cluttered scenes. They developed a new method to quantify crowding and found that brain processing limits peripheral vision due to degraded resolution and confusion between object details.
Researchers induced different head shapes in flatworms by manipulating electrical synapses, shedding light on the role of bioelectrical networks in evolution. The findings could improve understanding of birth defects and regeneration.
Researchers from the University of Zurich have confirmed the existence of a concentration gradient of lactate between astrocytes and neurons in the intact mouse brain. The study provides new evidence for an exchange of lactate between different brain cells, supporting a 20-year-old hypothesis on brain energy metabolism.
Researchers at Duke University have created a technique for monitoring neurons in action with a time resolution of about 0.2 milliseconds, allowing for the first holistic view of neural activity in mammalian brains. This breakthrough enables scientists to study how brain activity translates into specific thoughts and behaviors.
Researchers discovered that IR25a plays a key role in entraining fruit fly brains to small changes in temperature. The study found that when temperature fluctuations were large, flies lacking IR25a could adapt, but when they were small, the flies struggled to synchronize their circadian clocks.
Research identifies 'connector hubs' as the brain's 'champions of coordination,' allowing distinct networks to interact effectively and process more information during complex tasks. The findings have implications for understanding neurological disorders like schizophrenia and Alzheimer's.
Researchers have investigated high-frequency repetitive sensory stimulation as a therapeutic approach for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) patients. The study showed significant improvement in tactile performance after stimulation, with individual patients reporting substantial pain relief.
Researchers at the University of Georgia have developed a technique to measure an individual's visual processing speed, which can predict executive cognitive functioning. The study used a simple test of visual flicker to evaluate brain function quality, and found that older adults had slower visual processing speeds.
A Dartmouth study shows that the brain processes motion differently for animate and inanimate objects, interacting between two visual pathways. This discovery has potential applications in improving motion recognition algorithms for public security systems and treating motion blindness and object agnosia.
MIT neuroscientists have discovered a new way that the brain strengthens connections between neurons. The presynaptic neuron plays a crucial role in this process, releasing neurotransmitters to stimulate growth of new connections and enhancing synaptic function.
The new Brain Safety Lab will develop potential brain safety solutions, test prototypes and deploy them in real-world clinical settings. The lab will focus on addressing medications with anticholinergic effects and preventing repeated episodes of hypoglycemia in older adults with diabetes.
Researchers demonstrate that words can activate a part of space, enhancing reality in the mind. Mental simulation is shown to be similar to real perception by the brain, with potential applications in neuropsychology for people with impaired spatial perception.
Researchers found human brains exhibit greater adaptability to environments and cultures due to higher plasticity, whereas chimpanzees' brain organization is more genetically determined. This study provides insight into human evolution and potential susceptibility to neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers discovered human brains exhibit greater plasticity and adaptability than chimpanzee brains. Human brain organization is less influenced by genetics compared to chimpanzees, suggesting a strong role for environmental factors in shaping the human cerebral structure.
A study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found significant increases in functional connectivity in localized brain networks when subjects viewed art they considered aesthetically pleasing. The research team collected data from over 400 people, including men and women of different ages, using EEG headsets.
Researchers found that injecting viruses carrying gene codes into the brain's ventricles can slow down Batten disease progression. The treatment improved symptoms and reduced damage caused by the disease in dogs with a similar disorder.
A cognitive model of artificial neurons has learned to communicate through dialogue with a human interlocutor, demonstrating the ability to express a wide range of capabilities in human language processing. The ANNABELL model uses synaptic plasticity and neural gating mechanisms to learn and adapt to new information.
Researchers found that individuals with faster alpha oscillations can perceive two flashes of light in 25 milliseconds, whereas those with slower frequencies require a 45-millisecond delay. This suggests that finer resolution in visual perception is linked to faster brain waves.
Researchers at WashU Medicine have created flexible, implantable devices that can activate and potentially block pain signals in the body before they reach the brain. The devices contain microLED lights that can stimulate specific nerve cells to alleviate pain.
New York University researchers discovered a neural match for the complexity of visual activity, explaining how brains extract information from images. The study found that diverse neural groups transmit more information when responding to real-world images.
A new study suggests that the brain's immune system can be harnessed to clear amyloid plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Microglia, native brain cells, play a key role in this process, and manipulating their activation may accelerate plaque removal.
Researchers found that lipid ceramide enables motile cilia in algae and brains to function properly. In brains, ceramide helps keep cerebrospinal fluid moving by regulating GSK3 enzyme activity.