Articles tagged with Cerebellum
A study by San Diego State University scientists found that children with autism have overdeveloped connections between the cerebral cortex and cerebellum, affecting brain function. This early development leads to muscle in on brain real estate for higher cognitive functions.
Researchers at the University of Missouri discovered that the cerebellum plays a critical role in controlling robotic grasping tools. By monitoring brain activity with fMRI, they found that participants' brains adapted quickly to associate new movements with grasping actions.
Researchers at the University of Iowa have discovered previously unrecognized differences in the brains of patients with bipolar disorder using a novel MRI imaging approach. The study found elevated signal in cerebral white matter and cerebellar region of patients, suggesting abnormal cell metabolism may play a role in the disorder.
Researchers identified a possible therapy to treat NF1 by reversing anatomical defects in the cerebellum with an ERK pathway inhibitor. This approach may reverse some aspects of the disease despite embryonic gene loss.
A new study reveals the cerebellum expanded up to six times faster than expected in human and ape evolution, shifting focus from the neocortex. The findings suggest technical intelligence was equally important as social intelligence in human cognitive evolution.
Researchers at Lund University have discovered a new learning mechanism in individual nerve cells, which enables the brain to time its reactions and control complex processes like blinking and intelligible speech. This discovery has significant implications for rehabilitation following stroke, autism, ADHD, and language problems.
Researchers suggest that an injury to the cerebellum during early life may disrupt brain development, leading to cognitive and behavioral symptoms associated with autism. The theory proposes that the cerebellum plays a crucial role in processing sensory information and organizing internal processes.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have identified a group of proteins that program common type of brain nerve cell to connect with another type of nerve cell. This finding is an important step forward in understanding the causes of intellectual disability and autism by learning how developing brain is built.
The discovery of the Snf2h gene's role in cerebellum development highlights its importance in balance, fine motor control, and complex physical movements. Without this gene, the cerebellum becomes smaller, leading to compromised balance and refined movements.
Neurologists investigate the significance of the vestibular system in directing gaze, finding that patients with vestibular or cerebellar dysfunction have difficulty controlling eye movements. The study suggests that rehabilitation training based on active head movements can enhance gaze shift control and learning to find endpoints.
A recent meta-analysis of 20 years of neuroscience research reveals significant sex differences in brain structure, with males on average having larger total brain volumes and higher tissue densities in certain regions. Females, on the other hand, have higher density in the left frontal pole and larger volumes in other areas.
Researchers found changes in infarction core and remote regions after MCAO using ADC values, indicating the presence of diaschisis in the cerebellum. This study suggests that ADC values can be used to detect early cerebral infarction.
Researchers identified a compound that bolsters learning and memory in mice with a Down syndrome-like condition, enabling their cerebellum to grow normally. Further research is needed to understand the treatment's effects on learning and memory.
McGill researchers have identified a cluster of cells in the brain that react to unexpected motion, enabling us to maintain our balance. This finding has significant implications for understanding the neural basis of motion sickness.
Researchers have identified a new subtype of ataxia, SCA37, which has been found in multiple families across Spain. This discovery opens the door for personalized therapies and diagnostic tools, allowing patients to receive treatment before symptoms appear.
A study published in Brain and Language found that the anatomy of certain brain areas in infants can predict their language abilities at 1 year old. Infants with greater gray and white matter in the cerebellum and hippocampus showed improved language skills.
Researchers found that brain volume recovery can occur within the first two weeks of abstinence, but at different rates for various brain regions. This study suggests that a minimum of two-week recovery program is necessary to help recovering addicts overcome addiction and achieve abstinence.
A study by Imperial College London found that white matter structure in karate experts' brains correlates with their punching ability. The research suggests fine-tuning of neural connections in the cerebellum enables black belts to coordinate movements accurately.
Researchers found that just one week of speech therapy can help reduce stuttering by reorganizing the brain. The therapy involved repeating words and reading visually presented words, leading to improved scores on stuttering tests.
Researchers found that deleting a single gene in the cerebellum of mice caused autistic-like behavior, but administering an immunosuppressant drug prevented these symptoms. The study suggests a molecular component for autism development and may lead to better understanding of the condition.
Researchers found that non-invasive cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) increases the rate of walking adaptation and decreases it with cathode stimulation. The study suggests that tDCS can selectively be used to aid people relearning how to walk following a stroke or brain injury.
A new study reveals that short-track speed skaters' brains undergo significant structural adaptations in response to training, particularly in the right hemisphere of the cerebellum. This results in enhanced balance and coordination abilities, essential for high-speed cornering and passing on ice.
Researchers identified KCa3.1 ion channel in Purkinje cells, allowing them to filter sensory input and coordinate body movements. This discovery fills a gap in understanding how neurons process information.
Researchers found a decrease in GABA receptor concentration in ET patients' cerebellums, which may affect motor coordination and movement control. The study opens doors to new research avenues and potential treatments for the condition.
A devastating 'founder effect' genetic disorder has been identified as causing defects in mitochondrial energy production in cerebellar neurons. This leads to the development of a debilitating neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive damage and coordination problems, ultimately resulting in significant disability.
The cerebellum contributes to creating a cognitive map of the environment through altering chemical communication between its neurons. Inactivation of this ability impairs navigation, as seen in transgenic mice lacking long-term depression in cerebellar neurons.
Researchers found reduced levels of SP4 protein in the brains of patients with bipolar disorder, which may contribute to altered patterns of nerve cells and cellular structure. Normalization of SP4 levels could be a relevant pharmacological strategy for treating mood disorders.
A new UCSF-led study reveals that premature infants exposed to steroids after birth have 10% smaller cerebellar volumes, associated with impaired brain growth and motor development. The findings challenge the American Academy of Pediatrics' policy statement on low-dose glucocorticoids.
A Tel Aviv University researcher successfully implanted a robotic cerebellum into a rodent's skull, restoring its movement capacity. The 'robo-cerebellum' enables communication between the brain and body by receiving and transmitting sensory information from the brain stem.
Researchers are developing targeted treatments for serious disabilities like autism and schizophrenia by studying gene regulation networks in the cerebellum. The goal is to identify key genes involved in brain development and develop new drugs and cognitive therapies.
A new study suggests that grey matter volume in the cerebellum predicts cognitive ability, particularly in older adults. The study found a stronger relationship between brain volume in the cerebellum and general intelligence in men compared to women.
Researchers have identified a protein that corrects errors in the brain's neuronal connections during development. Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) helps eliminate incorrect connections, establishing proper specificity in the cerebellum and potentially contributing to neurological disorders like autism.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have found evidence that the basal ganglia and cerebellum are linked together to form an integrated functional network. This discovery has important implications for understanding Parkinson's disease and dystonia, and may lead to new treatment approaches.
A study with sheep found that blocking acid-sensitive potassium channels prevents damage to the fetal cerebellum, which is vulnerable to injury from alcohol. The researchers also found that a drug called doxapram can block these channels, preventing damage and reducing the number of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum.
A genetic mutation in the VLDLR gene is implicated in quadrupedal locomotion in four families affected by Unertan syndrome. Despite shared DNA regions across chromosomes, distinct genes are responsible for the condition in each family.
A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine reveals a subset of adult brain cells that can exhibit dynamic behavior, including elongation and morphing, unlike traditional adult axons. This discovery opens up new avenues for understanding neural recovery following stroke or other brain trauma.
Scientists identified a molecular switch that causes differentiation of neurons in the cerebellum, a part of the brain controlling movement. The discovery provides new insights into brain formation mechanisms and potential therapeutic applications for rare diseases like cerebellar ataxias.
Researchers have made new discoveries about cerebellar functioning in rats, shedding light on how the brain controls movements. The study found that specific modules of the cerebellum regulate reflex functions during walking and adapt to situations.
Researchers have identified an enzyme called puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase (PSA) that snips apart abnormal protein tangles in the brain, potentially providing a protective mechanism against neurodegeneration. Higher levels of PSA gene expression were found in cerebellum regions resistant to neurodegeneration.
Researchers have successfully treated Down syndrome in mice by restoring nerve growth in the cerebellum, a key brain region affected by the condition. The treatment, which stimulates the Hedgehog pathway, restored normal cell division rates and numbers in granule cell precursors.
Research at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that robotic treadmill training increases activity in the brain responsible for muscle movement and motor learning after 12 weeks. The study suggests that rehabilitation strategies can be designed to engage critical areas of the brain necessary for walking.
A study by Catherine Limperopoulos, PhD, found that the cerebellum grows rapidly late in gestation and is tightly interconnected with the cerebral hemispheres. Premature babies with cerebellar damage experience significant developmental delays, including motor problems, functional limitations, and global developmental delays.
Scientists identify ZIC1 and ZIC4 genes linked to Dandy-Walker, a condition affecting the cerebellum. The discovery may lead to prenatal diagnosis and better understanding of autism.
Scientists have successfully measured the activity of a single granule cell in an intact brain using patch-clamping technique, confirming predictions made over 30 years ago by David Marr. This breakthrough could lead to better understanding and treatment of movement disorders like ataxia and dysmetria.
Researchers have found significant decreases in growth hormone and prolactin gene expression in the cerebellum of aged mice, suggesting a possible link between these hormones and age-related declines in motor control and balance. Further study is needed to understand the role of genetic pathways in aging.
Researchers found decreases in genes producing growth hormone and prolactin, key to development and immune system function, in aged mice compared to young mice. This suggests specific genetic changes in the cerebellum area of the brain may contribute to loss of motor control and balance with age.
A study found that chronic alcoholism can cause damage to both the prefrontal cortex and cerebellum, leading to deficits in executive functioning and balance. The research suggests that lesions in the frontocerebellar circuitry may compound their effects on these functions.
A study by Purdue professor Howard Zelaznik and colleagues suggests that stroke victims may retain some motor skills thought to be lost to cerebellar damage. The research found that patients with cerebellum damage struggled with tasks requiring a start-stop nature, but retained ability in continuous rhythmic motions.
Chronic alcoholism damages the cerebellum and frontal lobes, leading to motor deficits that persist even after long-term abstinence. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) reveals that alcoholics' brains compensate for damage by recruiting new brain regions to perform simple tasks.
Researchers examined two groups of children ages five to 10 years with prenatal alcohol exposure and found impaired ability to perceive and utilize temporal information. Alcohol-exposed children demonstrated slower and less efficient responses, particularly those with lower IQs.
Infant rats exposed to alcohol developed new synapses in their cerebellum, improving learning skills and compensating for damage. This discovery offers hope for therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation for children affected by prenatal alcohol exposure.
A study by Johns Hopkins scientists has found that up to 80% of patients with degenerative brain diseases such as Huntington's disease also suffer from depression, impaired thinking, and changes in personality. The researchers believe that many symptoms can be eased with treatment, improving the quality of life for these patients.
Researchers found that learning new motor skills does not occur in the cerebellum, but rather in other parts of the brain. The cerebellum does influence changes in performance, however.
New research reveals that brain activity associated with performing motor skills is separate from the process of learning those skills. The study, conducted by Dr. James Ashe and colleagues, used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect brain activity in the cerebellum during performance of learned motor skills.