Articles tagged with Brain
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.
Researchers at Northwestern University developed a new brain-machine interface that directly delivers electrical signals from the brain to muscles, enabling complex movement of a paralyzed hand. The device was tested on monkeys and showed promising results, with potential applications for paralyzed patients.
A new study published in Science Translational Medicine suggests that an anti-inflammatory drug delivered via a nanodevice can improve CP symptoms in animal models. The findings indicate a window of opportunity for postnatal treatment to prevent the condition, with potential implications for future treatments of neurological disorders.
A new study found that repeated blows to the brain can cause measurable changes in memory and thinking after a certain threshold, despite earlier brain volume changes. Athletes with more years of fighting and fights per year performed worse on memory and thinking tests.
Researchers have developed a neuroprosthesis that combines brain-computer interface and functional electrical stimulation to restore complex hand movements in paralyzed monkeys. The device bypasses the spinal cord, allowing intentional, brain-controlled muscle contractions.
A review article from University of Wisconsin-Madison suggests that practices such as physical exercise, meditation, and certain forms of psychological counseling can change the brain for the better, leading to enhanced well-being. These changes can be measured using modern neuroscience tools.
A team studied mice with a mutated form of alpha-synuclein, finding that injected clumps accelerated disease onset and severity. The clumps seemed to hijack brain signals, spreading throughout the brain.
Scientists discovered the Nurr1 gene plays a crucial role in neuron survival associated with synaptic activity. The findings provide insight into the relationship between early synaptic deficits and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease.
Research suggests stress can cause cognitive decline in women with breast cancer, regardless of treatment status. Women with passive coping strategies and high stress levels experience impaired memory and attention. Effective coping strategies are essential to maintaining cognitive function.
The study found that woodpeckers' cranial bones have a higher ultimate strength than larks, thanks to more plate-like spongy bone. This structure helps resist deformation during pecking, reducing stress on the brain. The beaks of both birds exhibit similar ultimate strengths.
A mobile stroke unit (MSU) strategy roughly halves the time from initial call to treatment decision and can increase the number of eligible patients receiving life-saving treatment. The MSU approach breaks reported times for stroke management and substantially reduces delays in diagnosis and therapy.
Research reveals a heightened sensitivity to cheap, high-calorie foods in individuals prone to obesity. Brain imaging studies show that obese individuals exhibit greater brain activation in response to sweet or fatty food cues.
The Metabolomips group has developed a methodology for detecting gunshot residues, which can produce reliable analyses within an hour. They have also created a method to identify antipsychotic drugs in the human brain, with potential applications in forensic analysis and post-mortem diagnostic tests.
Researchers have developed new seizure detection software that significantly reduces false alarms, offering promise for improved epilepsy treatment. The system uses algorithms to detect imminent seizures and has been tested on real-time brain activity recordings from four patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.
Traumatic brain injury is rising among the elderly, particularly those over 70, due to an increase in falls. Older adults are more susceptible to worse outcomes, including bleeding in the brain, chronic diseases, medication use, and reduced brain repair capabilities with age. Early interventions can still yield positive results.
Scientists at Gladstone Institutes discover apoE protein plays distinct roles in young and aging brains, suggesting new research avenues for treating Alzheimer's. Increased ApoE levels can damage brains later in life, challenging current thinking.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have found that fluctuations in brain activity impact cognitive tasks, leading to errors in short-term memory. By understanding how neural variability relates to cognitive functions, the team aims to provide important clues about the neural mechanisms that support cognition.
Computer scientist Hava Siegelmann has developed an adaptable computational system that learns and evolves, using input from the environment in a way much more like our brains do. The Super-Turing model yields exponentially greater repertoire of behaviors than classical computers.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have created a new neural imaging system that allows for more complex maps of brain functions with just one camera and imaging system. This technology uses vertical cavity surface emitting lasers to classify veins and arteries simultaneously.
Research finds astrocytes play a key role in reducing electrical signals, influencing neuron firing and synaptic fidelity. The discovery offers new insights into diseases like epilepsy, schizophrenia, and ADHD.
Research at Georgetown University Medical Center found that adults learning a foreign language can come to use the same brain mechanisms as native speakers, particularly with immersion training. The brain consolidates knowledge of the foreign language over time, similar to other skills like riding a bike or playing a musical instrument.
Regenstrief Institute investigator Noll Campbell has been chosen by the American Geriatrics Society to receive a Merck/American Geriatrics Society New Investigator Award. His clinical research on medication effects on older adults aims to improve care for frail populations.
A phase 2 trial found that ipilimumab improved disease control and long-term survival in patients with advanced melanoma and brain metastases. The treatment was associated with similar immune-related side effects as those reported for patients without brain metastases, suggesting a potential new standard of care for this population.
The Stroke Progress Review Group identified three priorities: developing valid measurements of neuroplasticity, understanding the impact of experience on brain plasticity after stroke, and translating new restorative therapies into practice. Implementing Specialized Programs of Translational Stroke Research in Recovery is a key priority.
The Allen Institute for Brain Science will double its staff to launch three new initiatives tackling fundamental brain questions: information encoding, cellular building blocks, and circuit development. New funding enables expansion and acceleration of global neuroscience research.
A $640,000 grant will fund research collaborations between ASU and Columbia University to expand knowledge about sensory feedback and motor actions involved in hand control. The study aims to understand how the brain stores memory representations of past actions and plans future actions.
The SpikerBox is a low-cost, open-source bioamplifier that allows users to amplify and listen to neurons' electrical activity. This tool has been developed by Backyard Brains to make neuroscience education more accessible.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have created a mouse model that expresses a common genetic variation linked to autism, revealing exaggerated serotonin signaling and social behavior changes. The study suggests that developmental disruptions in serotonin levels may lead to long-lasting brain wiring changes.
A study of a rare neurodegenerative disease has uncovered a mechanism that destabilizes the homeostatic balance of brain cells, leading to fluid accumulation. The discovery identifies a protein GlialCAM as an ion channel subunit regulating chloride ions and potentially paving the way for new treatments.
Researchers found that male fruit flies drink more alcohol after being rejected by females due to a molecular trigger called neuropeptide F. This discovery may help shed light on the brain mechanisms underlying social interaction and addiction in humans.
A new study explains why consumers agonize over minor decisions like toothbrushes and breakfast cereals. People assume difficult decisions are important, leading to increased time and effort spent on them.
A new study reveals a correlation between working memory capacity and mind wandering, suggesting that higher working memory resources may enable off-topic thoughts. Working memory capacity has previously been linked to intelligence measures, and the study suggests it plays a role in everyday planning and decision-making.
Researchers have discovered that Japanese honeybees use a novel defense mechanism when threatened by Asian giant hornets, creating a 'hot defensive bee ball' to cook the hornet. This behavior differs from European honeybees and is associated with increased neural activity in higher brain centers.
A study published in the journal Menopause found that menopause is associated with certain types of memory deficits, particularly those related to working memory and sustaining attention. The study's findings validate women's experiences of 'brain fog' during this phase of life.
Researchers have found that both humans and rats make more accurate decisions when presented with combined multisensory information, suggesting a statistically optimal combination of sensory stimuli. This discovery could provide insights into how the brain processes multisensory information in individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
A new technique published in JoVE uses MRI-guided microbubbles and focused ultrasound to disrupt the blood-brain barrier, potentially opening new treatment avenues for devastating conditions like Alzheimer's and brain cancers. The method is safer than current methods, which can leave large areas of the barrier exposed to toxins.
Christine Petit and Karen Steel's pioneering research on the genetics of hearing and deafness has shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying ear development and function. Their work has led to significant advances in diagnosis, genetic counseling, and therapeutic decisions for patients with inherited forms of deafness.
Scientists investigate stress hormones during pregnancy and their impact on brain aging and disease risk. Exposure to stress hormones, such as glucocorticoids, has been linked to increased stress sensitivity and early aging.
The discovery of a previously unknown root extension in hair cells suggests the brain regulates sound sensitivity and head position. This finding challenges current understanding of how hair cells work, with the striated organelle connecting the rootlets to the cell membrane enabling feedback from the cell to the detectors.
A new review article examines the psychological research on self-control and aggression, finding that depleting self-control can increase aggressive behavior, while strengthening it can reduce it. Practicing self-control through techniques like using the non-dominant hand or improving posture can also improve impulse control.
A study by University of Illinois professor Gene Robinson found that honey bees differ in their desire to perform tasks, with certain individuals more likely to seek adventure. The research suggests that these differences may be due to variability in personalities.
Researchers have developed a new method to predict which patients are at risk of continued brain bleeding after a stroke. Using CT scans, doctors can now identify
Scientists at Salk Institute find that a single injection of cocaine or methamphetamine produces a long-lasting cellular memory trace, which could be the brain's way of resisting powerful psychostimulants. This protective response might be harnessed to treat addiction, according to the study.
A new study by Iowa State University researchers found that watching mean screens can activate aggressive scripts in the brain, leading to increased aggression. The study showed that both physical and relational aggression on screen can prime the brain for aggressive behavior, which has significant implications for today's societal norms.
A major Australian study of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has found up to half of depressed participants experienced substantial improvements after receiving the treatment. The largest randomized controlled trial to date confirms previous reports of significant antidepressant effects, with results showing improved atte...
Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center used fMRI to study brain activity before and after monkeys learned new memory tasks. They found that a small group of neurons specialized in the new task were activated while retaining existing information.
Neuroscientists at UC Berkeley and Portugal's Champalimaud Center have demonstrated that the brain can be trained to perform tasks it normally doesn't, using plasticity to master purely mental tasks. This breakthrough advances work on brain-machine interfaces, potentially leading to prosthetic devices that feel like natural movement.
A study by Rémi Radel found that hungry participants saw food-related words as brighter and were better at identifying them, indicating an early change in visual perception. This suggests the brain can adjust its processing to prioritize information related to needs or desires.
Researchers at UCLA have discovered a novel compound called CLR01 that prevents α-synuclein protein aggregates from forming, stopping their toxicity and even breaking up existing aggregates in the brain. This breakthrough holds promise for slowing or stopping Parkinson's disease progression and may lead to human clinical trials.
A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology found that physiological problems from concussions can last longer than symptoms, even after standard testing subside. MEPs showed delays in response time and smaller size, which continued until day 10, with these changes increasing as symptoms decreased.
A study published in Neurology found that people with lower blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids had lower brain volumes equivalent to about two years of structural brain aging. Omega-3 deficiency was also linked to poorer performance on tests of visual memory and executive function.
Researchers have discovered that toxins released by diseased brain cells trigger a vicious circle of immune system activation, leading to high levels of free radicals that attack healthy nerve cells. The discovery may lead to targeted therapies to slow down these diseases.
A new study from Henry Ford Hospital found a strong correlation between brain dominance and the ear used for cell phone calls. Most left-brain thinkers tend to use their right hand to hold the phone up to their right ear, while most right-brain thinkers use their left hand to hold it in their left ear.
New studies by a Yale team reveal that interfering with the adolescent brain's defensive reaction to cocaine increases sensitivity to the drug. This finding may help explain why risk of drug abuse and addiction peaks during teenage years.
Researchers at the University of Helsinki have developed a new EEG method to monitor brain development in premature infants. The technology has provided valuable insights into how brain tracts are formed and has enabled the detection of previously unexplained brain events, leading to improved treatments and care.
Researchers at Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center develop an oncolytic measles virus to treat disseminated human medulloblastoma. The treatment extended survival by 122% in a model of disseminated brain cancer, with treated animals surviving up to 82 days on average.