Articles tagged with Brain
Researchers have gained unprecedented insight into the NMDA receptor, a key player in learning and memory. The new 3D model provides vital clues for developing drugs to combat neurological diseases such as Alzheimer
A potential Alzheimer's drug has been identified that prevents abnormal blood clots in the brain, which contribute to memory loss and cognitive decline. The compound, RU-505, targets amyloid-β's role in forming clots and shows promise in both test tube experiments and mouse models.
Research suggests that short and long sleep durations are associated with lower brain function scores in older adults. Optimizing sleep at an older age may help delay cognitive decline. The study's findings support the importance of 6-8 hours of sleep per night for optimum brain function.
Experts cite five historical misconceptions in brain metastases research, including assuming all histologies are equal and neglecting total tumor burden. A new article calls for 'fresh thinking' and critical analyses to advance treatment.
Researchers are working to diminish and mask bitter tastes in foods due to genetic sensitivity issues. Food additives such as lactisole and phantom aromas can effectively reduce bitterness perception, making food more palatable.
Researchers at University of Maryland School of Medicine will examine the role of kynurenic acid in schizophrenia, a devastating psychiatric disease affecting one percent of people worldwide. The study aims to uncover its potential linchpin role and develop new treatment interventions.
Brain cancer specialists argue that current science is guiding compromising care, emphasizing the need for individualized treatment approaches. They identify five misconceptions that lead to poorer care, including assuming all tumor cell types act similarly and neglecting important biological differences.
Researchers find that Danes and Americans are similarly inclined to support welfare for those who are unlucky, but not lazy. The study reveals a biological and psychological basis for these attitudes, highlighting the role of reciprocal help and stereotypes in shaping public opinion.
Researchers discovered that the prefrontal cortex is responsible for visual stability, filtering out unnecessary information during eye movements. This finding has implications for understanding mental health issues like dyslexia and attention deficit disorders.
A new study found that cardiorespiratory capacity and motor ability are strongly related to academic performance, with motor ability being the most important factor. The study suggests that promoting physical activities that enhance these abilities can improve academic development and reduce the risk of school failure.
A new study by Dr. Andrew Hudson and colleagues provides clues about the brain's processes used to navigate from unconsciousness back to consciousness after anesthesia. The researchers found that the brain activity occurred in discrete clumps, or clusters, and that certain patterns consistently occurred in anesthetized rodents.
Researchers have identified abnormal brain iron levels in children and adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which may help improve diagnosis and treatment. The study suggests that brain iron absorption into the brain is abnormal in ADHD, even when blood iron levels are normal.
Exposure to neuroscientific information diminishes people's support for retributive punishment and perceived moral responsibility. Students who learned about brain processes proposed less severe punishment than their peers, indicating a shift in moral attributions.
Researchers used X-ray crystallography to study how tubulin acetyltransferase (TAT) interacts with microtubules, revealing that TAT only labels stable microtubules. This discovery may help cells distinguish between stable and unstable microtubules, influencing nerve cell health and behavior.
The study, led by Elizabeth M. C. Hillman, reveals the vascular endothelium plays a critical role in regulating blood flow in response to neuronal activity. This finding has far-reaching implications for understanding early brain development, disease, and aging.
A new study published in PeerJ found that fighting off illness rather than the illness itself causes sleep deprivation and affects memory. The research used flies to show that the immune system can cause problems with sleep and memory, even when there is no infection present.
Researchers studied brain activity in a part of the brain involved in thinking about oneself and found that group dynamics can lead individuals to harm others outside their group. This is due to reduced medial prefrontal cortex activation when seeing moral statements, which correlates with increased likelihood of harming opponents.
A new study published in Frontiers in Neurology found that eight-session gist-reasoning training can significantly improve higher-order thinking and other key frontal lobe functions in chronic recovery stages. Participants showed improved abstraction of meanings, executive functions, and memory for facts.
The Lawrence Livermore Laboratory will develop an implantable neural interface to record and stimulate neurons in the brain for treating neuropsychiatric disorders such as PTSD and TBI. The device is part of DARPA's SUBNETS program and aims to provide a revolutionary treatment option for patients suffering from these conditions.
A study found that people with poor cardiovascular health are more likely to experience cognitive decline, including learning and memory problems. Researchers analyzed data from 17,761 individuals aged 45 and older, finding that those with the lowest cardiovascular health scores had impaired cognitive function.
Research reveals how neurons create and integrate with each other, shedding light on neurological diseases like autism. The study identifies Dscam1 protein variations as key to forming complex neural networks.
Researchers have discovered a key gene mutation responsible for impaired mental function in children with intellectual disabilities. TUBB5 is essential for healthy brain development, and mutations can cause problems with normal fetal brain development.
A recent study from the University of California, Davis suggests that random fluctuations in brain activity may contribute to our ability to make choices. The researchers found that patterns of brain activity before a decision can predict the outcome of the decision.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have identified a complex of three proteins that regulate brain function and may lead to improved treatments for epilepsy. The discovery has major implications for understanding neurological disorders such as schizophrenia, autism, and neuropathic pain.
A recent study published in Annals of Neurology reports that healthy human tissue grafted to the brains of patients with Huntington's disease developed signs of the illness, several years after grafting. The study has profound implications on the understanding of the disease and how to treat it.
A study by researchers at Caltech found that chimpanzees consistently outperformed humans in the Inspection Game, a simple contest drawn from game theory. The chimps' rapid learning and near-optimal play suggest excellent short-term memory as a key factor in their success.
A new study challenges prevailing views of empathy's effects on moral judgment, finding that compassion can produce counterintuitive results. More compassionate people tend to oppose utilitarian choices like sacrificing one person to save many or euthanasia, suggesting a stronger sense of the sanctity of human life.
A recent study by CAMH found that pre-menopausal women have higher levels of a brain protein called monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A), linked to depression. MAO-A breaks down brain chemicals that help regulate mood. The study suggests new opportunities for prevention, including dietary supplements and hormone replacement therapy.
A new study published in the Creativity Research Journal found that brain integration, or mind-brain development, is strongly correlated with creativity in product-development engineers. Higher levels of brain integration were associated with greater flexibility and originality in verbal and figural creativity tests.
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that naloxegol increased bowel movements among patients with opioid-induced constipation, providing rapid and sustained relief without compromising pain management. The investigational drug is designed to block opioids from binding to receptors in the gastrointestinal t...
Scientists have identified a compound, 2-PMAP, that reduces amyloid proteins in the brain by over half and may be safe enough to be taken daily. The researchers hope it could be used to ward off Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers found that microRNA-155 is responsible for cleaving epithelial cells, creating microscopic gaps that allow toxins to reach the brain. This discovery helps explain diseases like multiple sclerosis and opens a new path for developing therapies that can penetrate the blood-brain barrier.
Scientists successfully erased and reactivated memories in rats by applying specific frequencies of light and electrical stimuli to the brain. This breakthrough study offers new hope for treating Alzheimer's disease, as it shows promise in strengthening or weakening synaptic connections that are weakened in the condition.
Scientists have confirmed that strengthened connections between neurons, known as long-term potentiation (LTP), underlie memory formation. The study used optogenetics to strengthen and weaken these connections in genetically engineered rats, successfully forming, removing, and reactivating a memory.
Indiana University researchers found that athletes can improve their performance even after being tricked, highlighting the brain's role in regulating exercise intensity. The study involved 14 trained cyclists who rode stationary bikes while being shown fake data, resulting in a 2.1% average improvement over baseline.
Researchers have discovered that asynchronous firing stimulates new branch formation in nerve cells, increasing connectivity despite weakening existing connections. This finding updates Hebb's model and provides new insights into brain development and neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and schizophrenia.
Scientists at TUM successfully demonstrated brain-controlled flight with high precision, exceeding requirements for a flying license test. They achieved this by using electroencephalography to convert brain waves into control commands, allowing pilots to control the plane without touching pedals or controls.
In a study published in Science, researchers found that fruit flies accumulate information before making decisions, suggesting a level of intelligence. The study identified a key gene, FoxP, involved in this process, which may also be linked to human cognitive development and language abilities.
A new study by University of Helsinki researchers found that brain aneurysm rupture risk is not significantly related to the aneurysm's size. Instead, smokers with high blood pressure are more at risk for rupture. The long-term study monitored patients over their entire lifetimes and contradicts previous findings on aneurysm treatment.
Researchers at the University of Southern Denmark have developed a natural sugar polymer that can carry drugs through the nasal wall and release them in the brain, addressing two major challenges in nasal delivery of brain drugs. The breakthrough could lead to more efficient treatment for chronic patients
Researchers demonstrated the ability to train brain patterns associated with empathic feelings using functional brain imaging. Volunteers who received neurofeedback showed improved brain network function related to tenderness and affection, key components of empathy. This finding may lead to new opportunities for investigating neurofee...
A new study reveals that the brain learns to hear by decoding rhythmic bursts of electrical activity from cells in the inner ear. The research suggests that abnormal rhythms may contribute to Central Auditory-Processing Disorders, which affect speech and language development in children.
Researchers found pregnant women exhibit stronger physiological responses to music, particularly in blood pressure, compared to non-pregnant counterparts. Music appears to have a prenatal conditioning effect on the fetus, influencing heart rate and movement patterns.
A recent study by Georgia State University researchers found that brain androgens promote good parenting in male fish. By altering their brain chemistry, scientists discovered that testosterone-like steroids enhance paternal care and protect developing eggs.
A Stanford electrical engineer has invented a way to wirelessly transfer power deep inside the body, paving the way for new 'electroceutical' devices to treat illness or alleviate pain. The technology uses roughly the same power as a cell phone and can safely penetrate deep into the body.
Scientists have developed a new imaging system that reveals neural activity throughout the brains of living animals in 3-D. The technique allows for simultaneous imaging of every neuron in the worm Caenorhabditis elegans and the entire brain of a zebrafish larva, providing a more complete picture of nervous system activity.
Researchers have discovered a new treatment that targets the versatile Sigma-1 receptor, improving motor function and reducing inflammation in mice with Parkinson's-like conditions. The results suggest that early activation of this protein could protect brain cells against dopamine loss and associated neural damage.
Junior Professor Dr. Elisabetta Chicca and colleagues discover that imprecise digital and analog circuits are more efficient than precise ones in building artificial nervous systems. The study, published in Proceedings of the IEEE, reveals a new approach to designing autonomous cognitive systems with minimal power requirements.
Researchers discovered that octopuses' suckers temporarily lose grip on their own skin due to a chemical produced by the skin, preventing them from getting tangled. This mechanism allows for flexible manipulation and may inspire bioinspired robot design.
Deep brain electrode implantation may be a suitable alternative to the traditional WADA test for identifying speech dominance, especially in patients with uncertain side of speech dominance or small children who cannot cooperate. The 'Electric WADA' procedure was successful in four patients without adverse events.
A recent study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that nondirective meditation, such as Acem technique, increases activity in the brain's resting network, which processes thoughts and feelings, while concentrative meditation has less activation in this area.
A University of Pennsylvania researcher discovered that the common selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) citalopram arrested the growth of amyloid beta, a peptide in the brain thought to trigger Alzheimer's development. Citalopram was shown to reduce A-beta concentration and prevent new plaque development in mice and humans.
Duke-NUS researchers identify key player in brain DHA uptake, shedding light on omega-3's crucial role in brain function. The study's findings have implications for improving nutrition and addressing DHA deficiency, particularly in pre-term babies.
A study published in Neuron reveals that Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) plays a critical role in the development of addiction-related behaviors. FMRP is also linked to Autism Spectrum Disorders and controls brain connections during normal development.
Researchers found that a variant of the KLOTHO gene not only has anti-aging effects but also enhances brain function by increasing klotho levels. The improvements occur regardless of age, with beneficial effects observed in aging mice as well as young animals.
Drs. Brian E Chen and Stephanie L Borgland were awarded the CAN Young Investigator Award for their innovative work in neuroscience, with Dr. Chen studying brain wiring encoded in DNA and Dr. Borgland exploring neural mechanisms behind addiction and obesity.
Researchers found that the amounts of certain neuropeptides in bees' brains vary by time and location, mirroring their changing roles. The study suggests that these peptides have functions related to age-related division of labor in honeybees.
Adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction technique (ASIR) lowers estimated radiation doses for pediatric brain CT exams compared to traditional methods. The study found significant reductions in brain and salivary gland doses, but no differences in thyroid gland, skeleton, or eye lens doses.
A study by Royal Holloway University found that pregnant women use the right side of their brain more when processing positive emotions, preparing them to bond with their babies. This increased activity may help new mothers better understand and respond to their baby's emotional expressions.
Researchers found that yawning frequencies vary with ambient temperature, with people yawns more in summer and less in winter. The study suggests that yawning functions as a brain cooling mechanism to maintain optimal brain temperature, improving arousal and mental efficiency.