Articles tagged with Brain
Researchers at RIKEN Brain Science Institute found two brain signals involved in predicting others' decisions, enabling humans to balance expected and observed rewards and choices. The signals, located in distinct prefrontal circuits, strike a balance between the other's values and their own, allowing for accurate predictions.
Consumers exhibit higher creativity and are more likely to buy new products with moderate background noise. This optimal level of noise induces distraction, encouraging abstract thinking and creative solutions.
A University of Iowa study using fMRI images shows the anterior cingulate cortex fires with equal intensity during self-control tasks, while the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex fires less intensely after prior exertion. This depletion can lead to impulsive decisions, making therapies that focus on implementation stages more effective.
Researchers found that world-class performers had higher brain integration scores compared to average controls. They also experienced peak experiences characterized by happiness, inner calm, and a sense of perfection.
Brain injury in children is a complex and unpredictable condition, with no single best approach to predicting outcomes. Advanced imaging tests are often used in adults but have not been studied for use in children. Prevention of injury and tailored approaches are key to improving outcomes.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have found a causal link between unconscious conflicts and conscious anxiety disorder symptoms. The study used subliminal and supraliminal presentations of words related to unconscious conflicts and conscious symptom-related stimuli, revealing an inhibitory effect on brain activity.
A Duke University study found that videogamers are not better at multitasking while driving than non-gamers, contrary to popular belief. The researchers measured the performance of 60 undergraduate students on visual tasks and had them answer Trivial Pursuit questions over a speakerphone while driving.
Researchers found that elevated erythropoietin in the brain improved motivation for higher exercise performance in mice. The study suggests a potential new approach to increasing physical activity, which could benefit people with mental health disorders and other health problems.
Researchers at the University of Zurich found Epo increases oxygen transport in blood shortly after injection, improving exercise performance. The hormone also boosts motivation, which could be useful in treating depression and schizophrenia.
Research published online first in the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery found a link between early menopause and an increased risk of cerebral aneurysms. Women who entered menopause at a younger age were more likely to develop brain aneurysms, while later menopause and hormone replacement therapy reduced the risk.
Researchers confirm improved mood changes in subjects practicing IBMT for a month, accompanied by increased axonal density and myelin formation. The technique may provide a new approach to intervention and prevention of mental disorders.
A University of Utah study found that virgin male moths quickly warm up after smelling female sex attractant, leading to premature takeoff. This behavior may compromise flight power and reduce chances of reaching females. Researchers are studying how odors influence moth behavior, which is critical for understanding insect biology.
Researchers at Harvard University found that mice brains undergo an explosion of neuromuscular branching before birth, with some muscle fibers contacted by up to 10 nerve cells. However, within days, most connections are pruned away, suggesting experience selects which connections to keep.
Researchers at Michigan State University found that anxious girls' brains respond more intensely to mistakes, suggesting a potential link between worrying and brain function. The study may help identify girls prone to anxiety problems.
Researchers discovered a brain pathway regulating renal excretion of sodium and blood pressure control. Gαi2 protein levels change with dietary sodium intake, influencing blood pressure and kidney function.
A new mini-sensor, Chip-scale Atomic Magnetometer (CSAM), has successfully measured the magnetic field of the human brain. The sensor's room temperature operation capability makes it more versatile than conventional cryoelectronics, which are limited to low temperatures.
Researchers found that our brains use valence perception to guide decision-making, influencing our choices and behavior. The study's findings can be used to improve consumer marketing decisions and increase user engagement on online platforms.
Researchers discovered a link between a protein called BAD and glucose metabolism in the brain, finding that modifications to this protein reduced seizure susceptibility. The study suggests that targeting BAD could lead to new treatments for epilepsy.
Research at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre reveals that high-fat diets can cause chemical reactions in the brain similar to illicit drugs, leading to depression. Mice studies show signs of anxiety and depression after a higher-fat diet, with altered brain chemistry and hormone levels.
Researchers at Purdue University are working on a new type of bioactive coating for stents used to treat brain aneurisms, including those caused by head trauma from bomb blasts. The coating is designed to attract magnetized cells to repair blood vessels damaged in trauma, offering a regenerative approach to treating the condition.
Dartmouth researchers have found that exercise has different effects on memory and the brain depending on age, with potential therapeutic benefits for ADHD. The study identified a gene that mediates exercise's impact on mental health, offering new avenues for treatment.
Specialized care from experienced teams reduces the chance of immediate death and disability by 30% for patients with bleeding brain aneurysms. Patients who receive this treatment have better long-term survival and quality of life.
In a phase I clinical trial, dabrafenib successfully shrank tumors in 9 out of 10 patients with brain metastases. The drug also showed activity in other cancer types with the BRAF mutation. Researchers recommend an oral dose of 150 mg twice daily for future trials.
A new study funded by the NIH found that the ApoE4 gene variant damages blood vessels in the brain, leading to increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. The researchers discovered that ApoE4 triggers an inflammatory reaction that weakens the blood-brain barrier, allowing harmful substances to enter the brain.
Researchers at the University of Bristol identified a simple yet crucial neural pathway in Xenopus frog tadpoles that initiates swimming. This discovery sheds light on how locomotion starts and may lead to new treatments for movement disorders like Parkinson's disease.
Researchers have discovered compartmentalized neural activity in nematode neurons, which enables movement and encodes body position. This finding has significant implications for understanding neurological disorders like schizophrenia and developing potential treatments.
A new surgical technique has restored some hand function to a quadriplegic patient with a spinal cord injury, allowing for basic independence. The procedure involves rerouting working nerves in the upper arms and can potentially benefit patients with C6 and C7 spinal cord injuries.
The study used a non-invasive technique to observe and measure changes in the embryo's brain activity, revealing that circuits capable of monitoring surroundings develop early in fetal development. This breakthrough may help understand human brain development and complex learning processes in fetuses and newborns.
A study by Guido Frank and colleagues found that anorexic women's brains are overactive in response to food cues, while obese women's brains are underactive. This suggests a link between brain function and eating behavior in these conditions.
Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University found that mild TBI can cause structural disruption of axons and alter neuronal firing patterns. This discovery advances research on posttraumatic disorders and enables better understanding of long-lasting neurological issues following a head injury.
A Georgetown University Medical Center study found that phenobarbital stunts neuronal growth, leading to cognitive abnormalities in rats. The researchers suggest that anti-epilepsy drugs may not be as benign as thought and could have long-lasting impacts on brain function.
Researchers identified rare mutations in MAGI1 and MAGI2 genes associated with psychiatric disorders. The study suggests that these genes may play a role in brain connections and synaptic development, providing new insights into the causes of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Research at McMaster University found that interactive music classes with parents improve babies' communication skills, such as smiling and waving goodbye. The study also showed that infants' brains respond differently to musical tones in interactive versus passive listening conditions.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital have discovered a potential new weight loss surgery alternative using capsaicin, which significantly reduced visceral abdominal fat and total body fat in lab tests. The procedure, vagotomy or vagal de-afferentation, may offer fewer side effects than traditional bariatric surgeries.
A study published in PLoS ONE found that reading larger font sizes produces emotion effects in event-related potentials that begin earlier and last longer than smaller font sizes. The researchers also found that bigger words elicit stronger emotional brain responses.
Research finds chronic cocaine exposure reduces Rac1 protein expression, driving structural changes and increased sensitivity to cocaine's rewarding effects. This discovery suggests a potential new target for treating cocaine addiction treatment.
Christine Petit and Karen Steel recognized for groundbreaking work on genetic regulation of ear development and functioning, shedding light on inherited forms of deafness. Their research has significant impact on medical practice, including diagnosis, genetic counselling, and therapeutic decisions.
The Science Media Centre, London, has been awarded the 2012 ECNP Media Award for its outstanding contributions to destigmatising brain disorders. The centre's work highlights the connection between scientific research and public awareness, making complex issues more accessible to a wide audience.
Researchers discovered that a negative word can prevent access to a native language system, highlighting the brain's ability to block information from conscious thought. This finding breaks new ground in understanding the interaction between emotion and thought in the brain.
A new study found that people who reported greater purpose in life exhibited better cognition than those with less purpose, even as plaques and tangles accumulated. This suggests that engaging in meaningful activities promotes cognitive health in old age.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed an automated technique to record electrical activity from neurons in the living brain, offering insights into brain cell activities. The robotic system detects cells with 90% accuracy and can determine a cell's shape and genetic profile.
Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have developed a biosynthetic polyphenol that improves cognitive function in mice with Alzheimer's disease. The compound reduces brain neuropathology by preventing abnormal protein accumulation, promoting plasticity and benefits in learning and memory functions.
A new study found that only 41.7% of stroke patients underwent brain imaging within the recommended 25 minutes of their arrival at a hospital, leading to potential delays in treatment. Certain individuals, including those with diabetes or certain cardiac conditions, were less likely to receive timely scans.
The Regenstrief Institute's Aging Brain Care Program is launching a global initiative to provide collaborative dementia care. The program's tools and resources aim to reduce emergency room and hospital visits by up to 45%, improving the quality of care for those with dementia.
Researchers discover that a highly toxic beta-amyloid protein triggers Alzheimer's disease by converting abundant beta-amyloids into a more toxic form. This process involves the interaction of beta-amyloid with tau protein, leading to the formation of toxic tangles in the brain.
Researchers at Hebrew University have identified specific genetic pathways involved in autism, highlighting their potential for early diagnosis and treatment. The study found that different genes tend to be involved in specific brain processes, explaining similarities in behavioral symptoms across individuals.
Dr. Timothy J. Collier received the 2012 Bernard Sanberg Memorial Award for Brain Repair for his work on cellular repair for Parkinson's disease, while Dr. Sean I. Savitz was honored with the Molly and Bernard Sanberg Memorial Award for his contributions to cell-based therapies for ischemic stroke.
A research group led by Giulio Maria Pasinetti has discovered that misfolded tau released by neurons can spread to surrounding cells, promoting the progression of neurodegenerative disorders. A grape-seed extract enriched in polyphenols was also found to prevent cell-to-cell spread of tau pathology.
A new study aims to determine whether intravenous insulin delivery is more effective than standard shots in improving stroke outcomes. Researchers hope to find ways to lower high blood glucose levels quickly and safely after a stroke, which can worsen brain damage.
A study published in Brain Pathology has found that halting the Kallikrein 6 enzyme can slow multiple sclerosis progression in mice. The researchers discovered an antibody that neutralizes the enzyme, which was shown to reduce inflammatory white blood cells and slow demyelination.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have discovered a specific brain circuitry associated with addictive and depressive behaviors. The study found that an imbalance in medium spiny neurons controlling movement also contributes to psychiatric disorders.
Researchers argue that a youthful brain can be maintained through engagement and lifestyle choices, rather than just compensating for age-related decline. Engagement, including social, mental, and physical stimulation, has been shown to promote better cognitive performance in older adults.
Researchers at the University of Toronto found that playing action videogames for 10 hours improves visual attention and changes brain activity. The study used EEG recordings to detect differences in brain waves before and after gameplay.
Researchers found that low Nav1.1 levels disrupt brain cell electrical activity, leading to memory problems and cognitive decline. Restoring Nav1.1 levels improves learning, memory functions, and lifespan in AD-mice.
Researchers at Linköping University have discovered that homing molecules can render toxic prions harmless, decreasing their toxicity and infectibility. This breakthrough could lead to the treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer's, which is caused by amyloid plaque with a similar but slower course.
Researchers found aged mice showed disrupted sleep behavior and weakened brain network activity in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), a brain area responsible for setting sleep-wake cycles. Individual SCN cells also exhibited more severe changes, suggesting a new understanding of aging's effects on the brain.
Scientists discovered that repeated cocaine exposure decreases a crucial brain protein's activity, enhancing reward for cocaine use and stimulating addiction. The study also found that blocking this protein's light-activated form can prevent addiction.
Researchers at RIKEN Brain Science Institute discovered a yeast prion called Mod5 that confers survival advantages by granting cellular resistance to antifungal agents. The study reveals the active role of prion conversion in cellular fitness adaptation, providing new insights into the broader function of prions in living organisms.
A study by Lund University researchers reveals that meat-eating is linked to the timing of weaning in mammals, which may have contributed to human population expansion globally. The study found that carnivorous species, including humans, have shorter breast-feeding periods than herbivores and omnivores.
The NIST mini-sensor successfully measured alpha waves in the brain and signals resulting from hand stimulation, verifying its potential for biomedical applications. It may be useful in magnetoencephalography (MEG), a noninvasive procedure measuring magnetic fields produced by electrical activity in the brain.