Articles tagged with Brainstem
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A team of researchers has identified a network within the brain that may play a role in maintaining human consciousness. The study, published in Neurology, found that two areas in the cortex were significantly connected to the brainstem region involved in arousal and awareness.
Researchers discover that a mutation in the RyR2 gene, which regulates intracellular calcium, can trigger blackouts of the brainstem, increasing the risk of sudden unexpected death in people with epilepsy. This finding may help explain why some individuals with epilepsy are at higher risk for SUDEP.
Scientists at Karolinska Institutet have discovered a new brainstem model that shows how the brain controls breathing in response to changes in oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. The study found that when exposed to decreased oxygen or increased carbon dioxide, the brain releases PGE2 to regulate breathing.
Researchers at Drexel University have discovered that the pre-Bötzinger complex in the brainstem generates the breathing rhythm through mixed-mode oscillations. This finding challenges previous theories and may impact how scientists research and clinicians treat respiratory disorders.
Researchers detected frequency-following responses coming from the auditory cortex, in addition to known sub-cortical generators, using magnetoencephalography (MEG) technology. This discovery will inform further research into neuroplasticity and its potential to improve auditory processing.
Researchers identified two tiny clusters of neurons responsible for transforming normal breaths into sighs. Sighing is vital to lung function and helps preserve lung function, but frequent sighing can be debilitating.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes uncover a neural circuit that controls walking and find a new target for treating Parkinson's disease. Dopamine depletion disrupts movement by miscommunicating between the basal ganglia and thalamus, leading to an imbalance between go and stop pathways.
Researchers studied gustatory computations in zebrafish brainstem circuits, revealing that taste categories are represented by dissimilar responses and generate different behaviors. The study proposed a central role for encoding category, concentration, and mixtures of taste in these circuits.
A team of scientists identified a population of 'stop cells' in the brainstem that enable mice to halt their locomotion. These cells depress neuronal networks involved in generating locomotor rhythm, allowing animals to make graceful stops. The findings may provide insights into how locomotion is affected in diseases like Parkinson's.
Researchers have detailed two surgical approaches for auditory brainstem implantation, including a translabyrinthine and retrosigmoid approach, to minimize damage to the brainstem and improve speech recognition. The procedures aim to restore hearing in patients with NF2 and other causes of retrocochlear deafness.
Researchers found a specific type of neuron in the parafacial zone responsible for deep sleep, allowing unprecedented control over brain function. The discovery may lead to new medications for treating sleep disorders and developing safer anesthetics.
A study published in Neural Regeneration Research reports on a patient with subarachnoid hemorrhage who showed an unusual neural connection between the injured cingulum and brainstem cholinergic nuclei. The authors used diffusion tensor tractography to investigate this phenomenon.
A study published in Neural Regeneration Research found an unusual neural connection between the injured cingulum and brainstem cholinergic nuclei in a patient with subarachnoid hemorrhage. This phenomenon was detected using diffusion tensor tractography, revealing a novel pathway for neural communication.
Research finds that people with stroke-related brainstem injuries have a significantly higher risk of developing sleep apnea. Among the 355 study participants, 84% with brainstem injury had sleep apnea compared to 59% without brainstem involvement.
A study by Boston Children's Hospital reveals that brainstem abnormalities are present in infants who die suddenly and unexpectedly, regardless of their sleep environment. The researchers found that these abnormalities impair breathing, heart rate, and temperature control during sleep, making the babies vulnerable to sudden death.
Artificial neural networks (ANNs) improve patient survival prediction in advanced brain cancers, with a pooled voting method correctly predicting risk of death within one year in 84% of patients. A new proposal calls for medical professionals and specialty societies to play an increased role in evaluating 'off-label' uses of medications.
Researchers used optogenetics to map the neural mechanisms underlying motivation, revealing multiple switches that control behavioral patterns. They identified key regions in the brain stem and prefrontal cortex involved in motivation, shedding light on the causes of depression and psychomotor retardation.
Researchers discovered that brain stem cells monitor chemical communication between nearby neurons to determine when to remain dormant or create new cells. The findings may reveal how the brain reacts to its environment and how antidepressants work, increasing brain cell numbers in animals.
Researchers at OHSU have discovered a critical link between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and Rett syndrome, a neurological disorder affecting one in 10,000 baby girls. The study found that mutant neurons in the brainstem fail to produce BDNF, leading to breathing difficulties and other symptoms.
Researchers have discovered that Michelangelo's depiction of God in the Sistine Chapel ceiling contains unusual features resembling a brainstem, with implications for our understanding of the artist's anatomy knowledge. The findings suggest another hidden anatomical detail in the painting, potentially related to the spinal cord.
Researchers identified a previously unknown brainstem pathway in vertebrates, which stimulates neural activity and locomotion. This finding suggests new research directions for treating Parkinson's disease, particularly targeting the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
A new study finds that infants who die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) have lower levels of serotonin in their brainstem compared to those who die from other causes. This deficiency may impair the function of brainstem circuits, putting babies at risk for sudden death during sleep.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have created a genetically modified mouse that can walk when exposed to blue light. The study provides insight into the neural control of locomotion and has potential implications for treating spinal cord injuries.
Children with dyslexia have trouble distinguishing speech from noise due to a deficit in the brain's ability to focus on predictable voice pitch. This mechanism is crucial for segregating sound streams and excluding background noise, a common symptom of dyslexia.
Researchers at the University of Kentucky have identified a visible response to head trauma called the 'fencing response,' which can indicate damage to brainstem regions. This finding has immediate value for coaches and trainers, as it provides an objective cue to assess whether an athlete should return to play after a blow to the head.
A new Northwestern University study found that a child's brain has trouble differentiating key sounds in noisy classrooms, leading to reading difficulties. The research suggests that auditory training and reducing background noise can help improve reading skills in poor readers.
Researchers have developed a mouse model of SIDS, showing that an imbalance of serotonin in the brainstem is sufficient to cause sudden death. The study suggests that a congenital serotonin defect could play a critical role in SIDS.
Researchers from Princeton University have developed a new experimental technique to study brainstem activity in humans, tracking changes in blood flow associated with dopamine levels. The findings provide critical insights into the role of brain chemicals in neuropsychiatric disorders such as addiction and Parkinson's disease.
A study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology found that electroacupuncture at PC6 can decrease the frequency of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation (TLESR) induced by gastric distention in cats. The effect appears to act at the brain stem, mediated through nitric oxide (NO), CCK-A, and mu-opioid receptors.
A Northwestern University study finds that music training improves the brain's multi-sensory processing, leading to enhanced verbal communication skills. The research suggests that musical training could help children develop literacy skills and combat literacy disorders.
Research finds that music training fine-tunes brainstem's sensitivity to speech sounds, benefiting learning activities, and potentially improving sound encoding skills. The study suggests a dynamic relationship between the brainstem and neocortex, allowing basic sensory circuitry to be malleable.
Researchers found that SIDS infants had more neurons manufacturing and using serotonin than control infants, but fewer serotonin receptors, suggesting an abnormal level of serotonin. This study provides the strongest evidence to date for a specific brain area controlling breathing and heart rate abnormalities in SIDS.
Scientists have discovered a subset of learning disabilities resulting from a dysfunction in the brainstem's encoding of basic sounds of speech. BioMAP, a simple neurophysiological test, can identify children with sound processing disorders and improve their speech discrimination skills through auditory training.
Researchers discovered a link between brain activity and abnormal heart rhythms during stressful events, particularly in people with pre-existing heart disease. The study suggests that uneven brain signals can disrupt heart function, leading to potentially fatal arrhythmias.