Articles tagged with Cerebral Cortex
Comprehensive exploration of living organisms, biological systems, and life processes across all scales from molecules to ecosystems. Encompasses cutting-edge research in biology, genetics, molecular biology, ecology, biochemistry, microbiology, botany, zoology, evolutionary biology, genomics, and biotechnology. Investigates cellular mechanisms, organism development, genetic inheritance, biodiversity conservation, metabolic processes, protein synthesis, DNA sequencing, CRISPR gene editing, stem cell research, and the fundamental principles governing all forms of life on Earth.
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Comprehensive investigation of human society, behavior, relationships, and social structures through systematic research and analysis. Encompasses psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, political science, linguistics, education, demography, communications, and social research methodologies. Examines human cognition, social interactions, cultural phenomena, economic systems, political institutions, language and communication, educational processes, population dynamics, and the complex social, cultural, economic, and political forces shaping human societies, communities, and civilizations throughout history and across the contemporary world.
Fundamental study of the non-living natural world, matter, energy, and physical phenomena governing the universe. Encompasses physics, chemistry, earth sciences, atmospheric sciences, oceanography, materials science, and the investigation of physical laws, chemical reactions, geological processes, climate systems, and planetary dynamics. Explores everything from subatomic particles and quantum mechanics to planetary systems and cosmic phenomena, including energy transformations, molecular interactions, elemental properties, weather patterns, tectonic activity, and the fundamental forces and principles underlying the physical nature of reality.
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Study of abstract structures, patterns, quantities, relationships, and logical reasoning through pure and applied mathematical disciplines. Encompasses algebra, calculus, geometry, topology, number theory, analysis, discrete mathematics, mathematical logic, set theory, probability, statistics, and computational mathematics. Investigates mathematical structures, theorems, proofs, algorithms, functions, equations, and the rigorous logical frameworks underlying quantitative reasoning. Provides the foundational language and tools for all scientific fields, enabling precise description of natural phenomena, modeling of complex systems, and the development of technologies across physics, engineering, computer science, economics, and all quantitative sciences.
Researchers found that dogs with anxiety have altered brain connectivity, particularly between the amygdala and hippocampus. The study used fMRI to characterize abnormal neural networks in anxious dogs, providing insight into anxiety disorders in both animals and humans.
Researchers from UNIGE observed that negative emotions modify the brains of older adults excessively and over time, particularly in the posterior cingulate cortex and amygdala. This could be prevented with better emotional management, such as meditation, which could limit neurodegeneration.
Researchers discovered that ketamine increases background noise, impairing the function of thalamo-cortical neurons and affecting sensory perception. This finding may contribute to a better understanding of psychosis in schizophrenia.
Researchers found that remote fear memories are permanently stored in connections between memory neurons in the prefrontal cortex. The study suggests that a dysregulation of fear memory consolidation can lead to chronic maladaptive fear in PTSD, affecting about 6% of the population.
A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers suggests that the brain's ability to focus on individual sounds amidst ambient noise declines with age, leading to a 'fuzzy' sound stage. The team trained old mice to filter out background sound, showing promise for treating age-related hearing loss.
Researchers investigated neuronal response to excessive iron accumulation associated with age-related neurodegenerative diseases. They identified two genes, CLU and HERPUD1, that responded to aging-related iron accumulation, highlighting potential preventative strategies.
A new study reveals ketamine dramatically changes neuronal activity patterns in the cerebral cortex, turning off active neurons and turning on silent ones. This switch in brain activity may impact our understanding of ketamine's antidepressant effects and future research in neuropsychiatry.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo found that rats can move their heads in time to music, demonstrating innate beat synchronization. The optimal tempo for nodding along depends on the brain's time constant, similar across species, suggesting a widespread ability among animals to interact with music.
Researchers found age-related changes in the balance of inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters in the prefrontal cortex during adolescence. This study provides first-ever evidence of plasticity in the frontal cortex during this critical developmental period.
Scientists have created an extensive new map of the brain's olfactory circuits, revealing a complex system that processes different aspects of odor information. The map suggests the existence of parallel neural circuits dedicated to assessing smell identity, pleasantness, and origin, offering new insights into olfactory processing.
A new theory by UMass Amherst sleep scientist Rebecca Spencer suggests that young children's brain development, not age, determines when and why they stop napping. The hippocampus, a memory area of the brain, plays a critical role in nap transitions.
Researchers created a 3D electrode array that maps the locations and activity of up to 1 million potential synaptic links in living brains. The system uses recordings of millisecond-scale evolution of electrical pulses in tens of thousands of neurons, allowing for dense and accurate mapping of brain circuits.
Conscious perception of sound generates specific neuronal assemblies in the brain, differing from spontaneous brain activity. Under anesthesia, similar assemblies are present but lack sound-specificity, highlighting the importance of cortical creativity in sensory processing.
Scientists discovered a novel neural mechanism that accompanies unconsciousness, masking sensory inputs with spontaneous activity. The auditory cortex's response to sounds is indistinguishable from its own internal activity under anesthesia.
A recent study from the Paris Brain Institute has identified a region of the brain where the decision to procrastinate is made: the anterior cingulate cortex. The researchers developed an algorithm to predict participants' tendency to procrastinate, suggesting that procrastination is related to the impact of deadlines on task evaluation.
Researchers at UB University have identified a new model for reelin protein action in cerebral cortex development. The study found that cooperation and specific expression of the key protein contribute to correct cognitive skills, with dysfunction linked to neurodevelopmental pathologies such as autism and schizophrenia.
A team of scientists generated a molecular atlas of the Australian bearded dragon's brain, comparing it to mouse data. The findings suggest that both reptilian and mammalian brains evolved clade-specific neuron types from a common ancestral set, challenging popular views on brain evolution.
A new study from the University of East Anglia found that brain regions responding to touch also respond to specific sounds associated with touching objects. This connection may help process sensory information more efficiently and has implications for mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, autism, or anxiety.
Scientists at Baylor College of Medicine have developed a new sensor that allows neuroscientists to image brain activity without missing signals, for an extended time and deeper in the brain than previously possible. The sensor uses genetically-encoded voltage indicators to capture fast brain signals while identifying specific cell types.
Researchers used magnetoencephalography to study age-related changes in gamma-band oscillations in the auditory cortex of typically developing children. The results showed that power increased with age and cortical localization changed, indicating an age-related shift in the balance between excitation and inhibition.
Scientists have identified two areas of the auditory cortex specialized to recognize human voice sounds without linguistic meaning. These regions help react to sound cues allowing people to identify characteristics of the person speaking, such as gender, age, and height. This discovery sheds light on neurological disorders affecting vo...
Researchers discovered that communication between two brain regions, parietal cortex and premotor cortex, is co-dependent on instantaneous timescales to represent and maintain working memory. This finding challenges previous understanding of working memory representation in the brain.
A unique study of brain activity found that sound during sleep prompts a robust response from the brain, except in one key area where alpha-beta waves are attenuated. The findings could help understand how information is processed by the brain in unconscious states.
Researchers found that despite a powerful brain response to sound during sleep, the level of alpha-beta waves associated with attention and expectation is significantly reduced. This means the brain can analyze auditory input but fails to focus on it, resulting in no conscious awareness.
Researchers identify AgRP neurons as key players in regulating food intake by releasing endogenous lysophospholipids, which stimulate cerebral cortex activity. Administering autotaxin inhibitors can significantly reduce excessive food intake and obesity in animal models.
Research published in JNeurosci found that Gulf War veterans with chronic pain have changes in brain structure involved in pain processing, including larger frontal cortex areas and smaller insular cortices. These structural differences may contribute to the development of effective treatments for Gulf War Illness.
A HKUST research team developed a microscope combining 3PM with adaptive optics, achieving high-resolution imaging of neuronal structures in mouse cortices up to 750µm below the skull. This technology holds great potential to advance in-vivo imaging techniques and facilitate study of living brain.
Researchers found that the brain's gestalt cortex helps people make sense of ambiguous information and dismiss alternative interpretations. This phenomenon, called naive realism, leads to irrational confidence in one's own understanding of the world.
Scientists used fMRI to detect burst-suppression events in anesthetized animals and found its spatial distribution varies between primates and rodents. This phenomenon is linked to the brain's sensory areas, with certain regions showing resistance to anesthesia-induced suppression.
A recent study published in Neuron reveals that general anesthesia induces synchronized activity in layer 5 pyramidal neurons, leading to the loss of consciousness. This finding has significant implications for the development of better anesthetic drugs and improved surgical outcomes.
A new sensor technology allows for real-time monitoring of lactate levels in the brain, providing insights into energy metabolism and potential applications in cancer detection. The sensors corrected for hemodynamic artifacts using MRI-informed corrections enable accurate cell-specific lactate level recordings.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai discovered how the brain uses a group of neurons in the frontal lobe to monitor performance, enabling humans to learn from mistakes and develop specific skills. This mechanism allows for flexibility in learning new tasks and adjusting focus based on conflict or difficulty encountered.
New research suggests the brain uses multiple strategies to process smells, employing both snapshot-like and evolving ensemble approaches. The study provides new tools for scientists to quantify and interpret brain activity patterns.
Researchers found that stimulating a specific area of the auditory cortex improved speech perception in an epilepsy patient, allowing them to decipher spoken sentences with clarity. The study used invasive brain stimulation to enhance speech detection over background noise.
A study published in PLOS Biology found that despite the functional importance of connections between far-reaching brain regions, the actual number of these connections is low. Researchers estimated 2.5 billion long-range axons in the cerebral cortex, but found that only a small percentage directly connected key functional areas.
Researchers discovered a population of neurons in the auditory cortex that responds specifically to singing, but not speech or instrumental music. The study uses electrocorticography (ECoG) recordings to gain higher-resolution data, revealing fine-grained segregation of function within the auditory cortex.
Researchers found that the primary somatosensory cortex, traditionally thought to be a basic sensory center, plays a deeper role in decision-making and facilitates flexible behavior with experience. The study suggests an expanded role for this brain area in adaptive strategies.
Researchers identified the dorsal precentral gyrus as a critical region in controlling speech, enabling individuals to adapt to feedback errors. This finding may lead to targeted treatments for conditions like stuttering and Parkinson's disease.
Researchers used 3D mini-brain models to study the effects of three autism risk genes on neural formation and development. The study found that despite unique molecular mechanisms, the genes converged on affecting specific types of neurons, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for autism treatment.
Women with GAD exhibit abnormal interoception, perceiving intense heartbeats and lower neural activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. The study suggests a causal link between cardiovascular sensitivity and frontal cortex insensitivity, contributing to anxiety symptoms.
Researchers identified MIR3607 as a key regulator of the human cerebral cortex's large size, found in primates and carnivores but not mice. The microRNA promotes neural stem cell proliferation and expansion, contributing to brain evolution.
A research team at UNIGE and HUG has identified signals produced by the brain when people speak to themselves, offering a breakthrough in treating speech disorders. The study found that low frequencies and coupling between certain frequencies contain essential information for decoding imagined speech.
A new study by researchers from Eötvös Loránd University found that dog brains can differentiate between two languages, with distinct activity patterns in primary and secondary auditory cortices. The study used brain imaging to compare dogs' responses to speech and non-speech stimuli in Spanish and Hungarian.
A new study found that white matter structural tracts are relatively stable throughout typical development, but show increased instability in children with psychosis spectrum symptoms. The integrity of these tracts was lower in children with psychosis and associated with cognitive function.
Research found the female genital field's location varies among women and is thicker with more frequent sex. The somatosensory cortex devotes space to detecting touch, and the region's structure alters in relation to use.
Researchers at Salk Institute discovered that neurons deep in the brain's cortex process information from borders first, then send clues back to upstream areas. This supports the importance of the 'feedback' pathway for deciphering borders.
Researchers found that dopamine stimulates female songbirds' preference for certain songs, affecting mating choice and memory. By manipulating dopamine levels, the team demonstrated lasting changes in song preferences, advancing our understanding of auditory perception.
A study from Boston Children's Hospital found that inadequate sleep can jeopardize brain organization in early adolescence, leading to deficits in cognitive processes such as attention, reward, and memory. The research identified racial disparities in the impact of sleep on brain networks, with non-white participants experiencing dispr...
Researchers have identified thousands of novel brain-expressed gene isoforms, revealing a complex web of protein production in the brain. The study suggests that genes expressed in the brain may produce far more proteins than previously thought, with potential implications for diseases such as Alzheimer's and schizophrenia.
A study led by Georgia State University researchers found that increased salt intake can lead to a decrease in blood flow to the hypothalamus, a key region for regulating body functions. This 'inverse neurovascular coupling' mechanism may play a role in hypertension and could have implications for developing new treatments.
A study published in Nature Communications identifies a specific form of autism caused by an excessive number of synapses in the cerebral cortex, potentially guiding the development of future treatments. The research found that inhibiting mTOR protein activity can restore synaptic function and connectivity.
Recent Mason bioengineering research appears as cover articles in Nature, discussing cell census and atlas of the motor cortex. The studies aim to develop technologies for investigating neural circuits and understanding brain diseases.
A first-in-human study at Cleveland Clinic found that targeting the dentate nucleus with deep brain stimulation was safe and feasible for promoting post-stroke rehabilitation, enabling significant functional improvement in upper extremity hemiparesis. The study's adaptive design allowed for extended treatment duration if patients conti...
Researchers analyzed genetic expression profiles of developing brain cells, finding that early tissue holds a pre-set map that develops into the cerebral cortex's characteristic topography. A new method for predicting cell fate has also been established, using chromatin structure to determine lineage before gene expression is possible.
A study by Anglia Ruskin University found that weaker internal connections between the brain and organs are linked to negative body image. Adults with less efficient brains at detecting internal messages are more likely to experience body shame and weight preoccupation.
A study found that transcranial stimulation can increase the benefits of aerobic exercise and improve gait in Parkinson's patients. The treatment uses a weak current delivered by electrodes placed over specific brain regions, activating the pre-frontal cortex.
Researchers found that auditory and speech processing occur in parallel, with areas of the STG responding as fast as the primary auditory cortex when sentences were played. This challenges the traditional hierarchy model of speech processing and may offer new insights into conditions like dyslexia.
Researchers at Max Planck Florida Institute have identified IgSF11 as a key molecule mediating layer-specific synaptic targeting in cortical Chandelier Cells. This discovery reveals that IgSF11 confers specificity through homophilic interaction, enabling the precise connection of inhibitory interneurons with target neurons.
A team of neuroscientists at the Beckman Institute discovered a new neuronal circuit that selects sensory information relayed to the auditory cortex. The study reveals a 'non-linear response' mechanism, allowing humans to focus on specific sensory inputs.
Researchers identified the ATP1A3 gene as critical to many cell biological processes, enabling electrical currents to flow into or out of cells and driving essential brain functions. The study found that this gene plays a key role in early brain development, particularly in the prefrontal cortex and subplate layer.