Articles tagged with Brain
Researchers found a novel connection between the size of the choroid plexus and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), with nearly one-fifth larger choroid plexus in CRPS patients compared to healthy control subjects. The study suggests that the central nervous system plays an important role in the disease.
Researchers will explore how brain processes a wide range of odors to understand cognitive functions and behavior in humans. The study aims to shed light on the evolution of mammalian brains and their connection to human behavior.
A University of Oxford study reveals people can't accurately identify their toes even when prodded, with errors in toe identification associated with brain damage and conditions like anorexia nervosa.
Researchers at ASU will use honey bees and fruit flies to better understand the physical space of odors and how brains represent them. This study aims to reveal new information about neural representations of odor and their link to brain diseases.
A recent study by Dr. Sylvie Belleville and her team has identified typical patterns of brain progression towards Alzheimer's disease, revealing a complex path characterized by periods of stability followed by accelerated decline. The study suggests that rapid memory decline is a key indicator of risk, allowing for earlier treatment.
Research led by Duke-NUS scientists has linked abnormal behavior of BDNF and DTNBP1 genes to the underlying cause of schizophrenia. By understanding how these genes interact, researchers have identified potential treatments that could rescue signalling balance in the brain, offering new hope for schizophrenia patients.
Trevor Greene, a former Canadian soldier who survived a debilitating brain injury in Afghanistan, has recovered his ability to walk again with the help of a customized exoskeleton. Dr. Ryan D'Arcy's research team discovered that physical functions can be recovered through rehabilitation even six years after an injury.
Researchers at EMBL, Salk Institute, and UC Berkeley measured how ageing affects brain and liver cells in rats. They found that age-related changes in brain cells often involve the loss of molecules helping neurons communicate, while liver cells show changes in metabolic processes.
Researchers found a stress-coping hormone releases a protein fragment called amyloid beta, which clumps together and leads to Alzheimer's disease. The study strengthens the idea of a link between stress and Alzheimer's, providing insight into potential treatment approaches.
Researchers discovered that a stress-coping hormone boosts amyloid beta production, leading to brain degeneration and Alzheimer's disease. The study strengthens the idea of a link between stress and Alzheimer's disease.
A five-neuron circuit in the female cricket brain identifies species-specific chirp rhythms by delaying pulses to match gaps between pulses. This discovery reveals a fundamental neural mechanism for sound processing that could be applied to more complex brains.
Homo naledi, discovered in South Africa, has a unique combination of derived cranial vault and hand morphology. Its age is unknown, but it may represent an intermediate between Australopithecus and Homo erectus.
A new model applying ideas from complex networks has found that some quantum spaces might include hubs with significantly more links than others. Calculations indicate that these spaces are described by well-known quantum statistics, suggesting they could be useful for physicists working on quantum gravity.
Researchers found female mice singing back to male mice during courtship, with voices registering at 35-125 kilohertz. The discovery could lead to advances in understanding autism and social communication in the brain.
Scientists at UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy created macrophages that deliver glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and teach neurons to produce the protein. The treatment has shown promise in reversing Parkinson's disease progression and promoting neuron survival.
A University of Houston researcher is using brain activity tracking to study the connections between art and science, with a goal of improving creativity and understanding human emotion. The project involves artist Jo Ann Fleischhauer and uses advanced headset technology to track brain activity as she creates art.
Scientists have discovered a novel approach to study neural circuits that change behavior, using Caenorhabditis elegans worms. By flipping the sign of a synapse, researchers were able to completely reverse behavior, suggesting that neural wiring is remarkably stable and allows for changes in behavior.
Scientists have successfully reversed an animal's behavior by altering a single synapse in its neural network. This groundbreaking study provides new insights into the stability of neural circuits and their role in controlling behavior.
Researchers at UW's I-LABS study body maps in infant brain, finding they develop early and relate to social connections and imitation. The findings shed light on how infants build sense of self and connect with others.
A recent study suggests that grandmothering played a crucial role in the development of human pair bonds, which distinguish us from other primates. With increasing human longevity, grandmothers helped feed their weaned children, allowing their daughters to have more kids and passing on genes.
Researchers at Imperial College London have developed a new seasickness treatment using a mild electrical current applied to the scalp. The treatment reduces responses in an area of the brain responsible for processing motion signals, helping prevent symptoms of motion sickness. Short-term use is expected to be safe and effective.
The Society for Neuroscience has announced the winners of its fifth annual Brain Awareness Video Contest, featuring nine winning videos that explain complex neuroscience concepts in an engaging way. The contest winners, including Matthew Sugrim and Guillaume Riesen, have received awards and recognition for their innovative videos.
A study published in PLOS Computational Biology suggests that the brain's prioritization of scenic categories may not be as complex as previously thought. Researchers found that people tend to make the easiest distinctions first, rather than following a predetermined hierarchy.
A recent study published in Neuron highlights a novel role for the appoptosin protein in initiating tau aggregation, a key component of brain lesions. Elevated levels of appoptosin increase caspase-mediated tau cleavage, leading to synaptic dysfunction and progressive deterioration of the central nervous system.
A new study has found that the satiety hormone leptin plays a crucial role in the 'runner's high' feeling, with mice running longer distances on a wheel due to reduced leptin signaling. The research also suggests that people with lower fat-adjusted leptin levels may be more inclined to exercise.
Fossil skulls from 35 million year old sediments in Antarctica have shed light on the changes in penguin brains that accompanied their transition to water. The findings indicate that early penguins had many of the adaptations of living forms, while having a few unique traits not seen in modern ones.
A study published in Vision Research found that amblyopia, or 'lazy eye,' alters the brain's visual pathways, making it harder for the brain to adapt to using the weaker eye. The research suggests a potential new approach for treating vision disorders, including adults.
A large NIH clinical trial of 4,000 patients found that omega-3 supplements had no effect on cognitive decline. Researchers tested the combination of omega-3 fatty acids and lutein/zeaxanthin, but saw no benefit in slowing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or dementia.
Researchers discovered that a promising class of cancer drugs can lead to memory loss in mice due to molecular changes in the brain. The findings suggest the potential risks of these therapies and highlight the need for further investigation into their brain effects.
A single molecular event in cells may hold the key to how mammals evolved intelligent brains. Alternative splicing (AS) enables cells to create more than one protein from a single gene, and researchers found that PTBP1 plays a crucial role in regulating AS events that lead to neuron development.
A three-year NSF-funded grant will support research on how brain cells regulate locomotion in zebrafish. The project aims to understand the role of neurotransmitters, particularly GABA, and identify specific receptor types that control movement.
Researchers at Rockefeller University identified a molecular pathway that can dampen amyloid-β production, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. By targeting this pathway, it may be possible to develop drugs to reduce amyloid-β and potentially treat or prevent the disease.
Scientists have developed a brain-computer interface that uses electroencephalogram (EEG) signals to control an exoskeleton. The system allows users to move their limbs by staring at specific LED lights, and has the potential to aid people with motor neuron diseases or spinal cord injuries.
Researchers found that treating astrocyte nucleus with TGF-beta frees p75NTR protein, allowing critical molecules to enter the nucleus and enabling reactive state. This discovery highlights the importance of nuclear pore complex in brain health and raises possibilities for treating neurological disorders.
Researchers found that the brain coordinates vision loss in glaucoma patients, with a 'Jigsaw Effect' where two puzzle pieces fit together. This suggests that the brain optimizes vision in the face of glaucoma's destruction of sight, opening up new areas of research for neuroprotective therapies.
Researchers aim to create temperature-activated proteins that can be controlled by temperature to better understand brain disorders. They plan to identify and engineer proteins with different temperature properties.
A team of Penn State researchers, led by Ping Li, has been awarded a nearly $1 million grant to investigate how readers comprehend science texts. The project aims to capture cognitive and brain representations during and after reading, with implications for STEM education.
Researchers analyzed case systems in over 600 languages, finding that complex constructions tax the brain more than simple ones. The brain activity is stronger for simple cases, leading to simplifications and changes in grammatical structures.
Researchers at Michigan State University developed a targeted brain game that helps people focus and reduces anxiety. The study found that anxious college students who completed the game task showed improved concentration and lessened anxiety after being distracted.
The researchers will investigate how variability in neuronal responses contributes to learning and performance in motor tasks. By understanding this connection, they aim to uncover the fundamental mechanisms underlying neural variability and its role in brain function.
A new study suggests that regular exercise may help reduce disease activity in children with multiple sclerosis. Children who engaged in strenuous physical activity had lower overall volume of lesions in the brain and fewer relapses compared to those who did not.
New research links mGluR5 receptor loss in parvalbumin-positive interneurons to neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and schizophrenia. The study suggests that alteration of these receptors may be a critical step in the formation of some neurodevelopmental disorders, with potential for reversal.
A Dartmouth researcher and his colleagues have discovered a neural signature of negative emotion that accurately predicts how negative a person will feel after viewing unpleasant images. The study, which included a large sample size of general adult population participants, found the brain signature to be highly accurate and specific.
Research reveals a strong link between kidney impairment and decreased blood flow to the brain, increasing the risk of stroke and dementia. Poor kidney function was strongly related to decreased blood flow to the brain, with the strongest association seen in participants with decreased blood flow.
Researchers discovered fundamental differences in brain formation between children with childhood-onset schizophrenia and their siblings, revealing similar delays in brain connectivity that normalize over time. This finding opens up new avenues for developing treatment approaches with fewer side effects.
Researchers found that people over 80 years old take over 10 hours to clear amyloid beta 42 from the brain, leading to rising levels and increased Alzheimer's disease risk. The study suggests age-related changes in brain clearance may drive the disease.
A new study suggests that dietary carbohydrate, particularly in the form of starch, was critical for the accelerated expansion of the human brain over the last million years. The research, led by Dr. Karen Hardy, highlights the importance of cooked starchy foods and higher salivary amylase genes in fueling brain growth.
A new study published in Neurology suggests that people with low scores on a test of executive function may be at higher risk for heart attacks or strokes. The research found that those with lower scores were 85% more likely to experience a heart attack, and had a 51% higher risk of stroke.
Researchers at Rockefeller University have identified a similar process in flies that ignores visual input caused by their own flight turns. This finding can help understand how ongoing behavior influences visual perception and may provide insights into sensory processing disorders such as schizophrenia.
Researchers at the University of Montreal found that how fast and how often drugs are taken contribute to addiction risk. Injection and smoking increase brain levels rapidly, leading to high cravings and compulsive behavior.
Researchers find daily changes in specific brain neurons help regulate biological clocks and aid transitions to different seasons. The study identifies a protein driving these rhythms, Rho1, and highlights its connection to spinocerebellar ataxia.
Researchers developed a non-invasive strategy to deliver electrical stimulation to the spinal cord, enabling paralyzed individuals to move their legs voluntarily. The study shows significant progress towards developing a therapy for wide range of individuals with spinal cord injury.
Scientists discovered that the brain chemical GABA acts as a 'brake' to regulate wakefulness and sleep, leading to hyperactivity in mice without GABA. The study has implications for developing new drugs to promote better sleep and treat conditions like mania and bipolar disorder.
Researchers found that gaze shifting in 10-month-old babies is linked to improved brain responses to new language sounds. The study suggests that social engagement plays a crucial role in early language learning.
Yevgenia Kozorovitskiy, a Northwestern University scientist, has been named a Rita Allen Foundation Scholar to research how fast-acting antidepressants impact the brain's neural circuitry. Her goal is to improve treatment effectiveness for major depressive disorders.
Researchers found that during high suspense moments, the brain narrows visual attention to focus on the story, while less suspenseful moments broaden attention to surroundings. The study discovered an ebb and flow of brain activity in the calcarine sulcus, increasing processing of critical information.
A new Rutgers University study found that a hormone deficiency in the brain can lead to overeating and a preference for high-fat food. Researchers discovered that reducing glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in the central nervous system caused mice to consume more calories and show an increased preference for high-fat foods.
A recent study published in The Journal of Experimental Biology found that boa constrictors rapidly shut down the circulation of their victims. The snakes cut off the blood supply to vital organs, causing cardiac arrest and death within seconds. This discovery sheds new light on the mechanisms of snake constriction.
Researchers at the International School of Advanced Studies (SISSA) found that newborn brains process language using cognitive mechanisms similar to those of adults. They demonstrated that babies are sensitive to the edges of words and can differentiate between sequences with or without edge changes.
A new Dartmouth study reveals that the brain encodes conceptual information in a way that combines object category-specific information with non-specific visual features. The research provides valuable insights into the mind-brain relationship, offering a deeper understanding of how we perceive and organize visual stimuli.