Articles tagged with Cerebral Cortex
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.
Researchers found that during rest, the brain rapidly replays compressed versions of previously practiced activities, strengthening memories and improving subsequent practice sessions. This study suggests that wakeful rest plays a crucial role in learning new skills and may be used to facilitate rehabilitation from stroke.
Researchers propose sensory referenced suppression theory, where brain corrects for changes in sensory input to isolate familiar activation. This could have implications for treating memory-impairing diseases like Alzheimer's and developing AI systems that work similarly to human brains.
Research using electroencephalography found that exposure to maternal odors facilitates categorization of face-like objects in infants' brains. This study suggests that the right occipitotemporal cortex plays a key role in this process, potentially indicating an earlier emergence of hemisphere advantages for face recognition.
The study found that the brain processes individual features of an object, such as sounds and actions, and also abstract symbol-like features. The researchers developed a hierarchical model to reflect how conceptual knowledge is represented in the human brain.
Professor Ullsperger and his team aim to understand the neural mechanisms behind cognitive control and decision-making using new methods, including brain stimulation with focused ultrasound. The research may lead to new therapeutic possibilities for psychiatric disorders such as OCD.
A recent study from MIT's Picower Institute reveals that anesthesia, specifically propofol, dramatically changes and controls the dynamics of brain rhythms. This alteration affects the coordination between the thalamus and cortical regions, leading to a slower pace of neural activity.
A new study reveals that human frontal cortex development follows a similar trajectory to that of other primates. The research analyzed brain structure and behavioral markers in humans, chimpanzees, mice, and macaques, finding that the three species show consistent patterns of brain maturation.
Researchers developed a neural implant that monitors brain activity in multiple areas simultaneously. The study reveals two-way communication between the hippocampus and cerebral cortex during learning and memory formation, tied to sharp-wave ripples.
Researchers developed a computational model to simulate cell division and apoptosis in the cerebral cortex, finding that early cell death influences brain structure. The study replicated various brain structures in rats, macaques, and humans.
Artificial neurons help decode cortical signals using a new algorithm that automates feature extraction and interpretation. The neural network architecture is automatically tuned to analyze signals from separate neural populations, providing physiologically meaningful results.
A study published in Nature Neuroscience reveals the discrete thalamocortical circuits underlying chronic pain and depressive symptoms. The researchers found that a specific pathway from the parafascicular thalamic nucleus to the anterior cingulate cortex mediates depression-associated pain sensitization.
Researchers used holographic stimulation and calcium imaging to study the effects of acute pain on neuronal network activity. They found that spontaneous activity and synchronization between neurons increased during pain, and that blocking N-type calcium ion channels helped restore pain thresholds.
Research using fMRI scans reveals that babies under a year old use areas of their frontal cortex to focus attention, previously thought to be immature. This discovery sheds light on the neural origins of attention in infants, potentially informing early childhood education and neurodevelopmental disorder research.
A study found specific brain regions respond differently to emotional stimuli related to loneliness and wisdom. Lonelier individuals showed increased activity in the left superior parietal cortex when presented with angry faces, while wiser individuals displayed enhanced happy emotion-driven activity in the left insula.
A study published in PNAS documents changes associated with prolonged anesthesia in the brains of mice, revealing significant alterations in synaptic architecture. The findings support reports of post-hospital cognitive dysfunction and suggest a physical link between cognitive impairment and prolonged medically induced coma.
Researchers found that cognitive SuperAgers have fewer tau protein tangles in the brain region related to memory, which may contribute to their preserved memory capacity. The study suggests a potential new direction for Alzheimer's disease research and highlights the importance of understanding the cellular mechanisms behind SuperAging.
The study found that cathodal tDCS enhances the acquisition of abstract semantics, while anodal tDCS shows more success in learning concrete concepts. The results suggest that different neural mechanisms are involved in processing abstract and concrete word meanings.
Researchers discovered that face-sensitive neurons in humans reactivate with the same unique pattern when viewing and remembering a face. This finding has significant implications for understanding human facial recognition and processing.
A study published in Science found that the perirhinal cortex accumulates information from multiple senses and sends it back to the rest of the cortex, enabling coordinated learning. Without this connection, animals struggle to retain information, resembling patients with anterograde amnesia like H.M.
Scientists at UTHealth identified the mid-fusiform cortex as the brain's visual dictionary, which processes information and distinguishes between real and made-up words. The study found that this region acts as a bottleneck to reading speed, with temporary disruption causing dyslexia-like symptoms.
Researchers found that dynamic interplay of brain wave frequencies, rather than dedicated circuitry, governs the brain's knack for highlighting surprising and downplaying predictable stimuli. This regulatory system has a key role in predictive coding, which is disrupted in autism spectrum disorders.
A new study from Stony Brook University found that the brain's 'taste map' is not composed of clusters of specialized neurons, but rather a network of overlapping and spatially distributed populations. This challenges the long-held theory of taste coding, which proposed a topographic map in the gustatory cortex for specific tastes.
Research using functional MRI found that brain networks involved in movement planning and execution are activated differently based on the type of movement performed, even when using different body parts. The study suggests that these brain functions emerge from innate constraints in early development.
Researchers found that newborns lack mature brain circuitry for emotionally attaching to visual stimuli. However, connections develop within a few months after birth. The study's findings have important clinical implications for disorders like autism and anxiety.
Researchers have developed a new method that pairs functional mapping in live mice with distinguishing structural information, providing unprecedented insights into the coupling of visual areas in the mouse brain. This technique enables scientists to distinguish borders and contents of regions more precisely, shedding light on how stru...
Researchers from Université de Genève demonstrate a causal relationship between brain oscillations at 30 Hz and phoneme processing essential for reading. Non-invasive brain electrical stimulation improves phonological deficits and reading accuracy in adults with dyslexia, paving the way for targeted non-invasive therapeutic interventions.
A study published in PLOS Biology found that brain stimulation therapy can alleviate sound-processing deficits and improve reading accuracy in adults with dyslexia. The therapy, known as transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), was shown to be particularly effective for individuals with poor reading skills.
A study by Makoto Sato and colleagues from Kanazawa University reveals that a gene called Dscam regulates the repulsion between neurons in fly brains, leading to the formation of columnar structures. This finding supports the radial unit hypothesis, which describes the development of the cerebral cortex in mammals.
A unified classification of diverse cell types in the cerebral cortex has been proposed by a Columbia-led team, which could shed light on how our brains work and potentially lead to treatments for diseases. The new system uses single-cell RNA sequencing and can be updated regularly using algorithms.
A new study reveals that the occipital cortex is essential for guiding involuntary attention to prioritize visual information. Researchers used transcranial magnetic stimulation to disrupt cortical excitability in this region, finding that it eliminates behavioral benefits and costs at attended and unattended locations.
A new study proves that the McKee CTE staging scheme accurately represents the progression of tau pathology in CTE, correlating with clinical dementia and age at death. Researchers found five brain regions with increasing p-tau pathology that conform to CTE stage, age, and years of football play.
A study from MIT neuroscientists suggests that parts of the brain originally evolved for object recognition have been repurposed for reading. In nonhuman primates, the inferotemporal cortex is capable of distinguishing words from nonsense words and picking out specific letters.
Researchers at IIT and Harvard University identified the tricks used by the brain to discriminate and generalize odorous molecules. The study sheds light on how our brain processes information from the sense of smell, revealing a new mechanism for recognizing specific smells.
A team of researchers discovered a new chimera state in brain networks, known as the spatial multi-scaled chimera state. This state is characterized by global triviality but local chimera states, depending on coupling strengths and time-delays. The study found that regions with higher symmetry take the role of relay nodes.
Researchers discovered that neural representations of smell in the cortex reflect chemical similarities between odors, allowing for categorization. The findings also suggest that sensory experiences can rewire these representations.
Researchers have identified a new mechanism implicated in familial hemiplegic migraine type 2, a debilitating condition affecting the central nervous system. The study found that genetic mutations cause malfunction of astrocytes in the cingulate cortex, leading to increased sensitivity to pain triggers and neuronal excitability.
Researchers from DZNE and experts from US institutions study how noise in movement speed perception affects spatial navigation. They found that internal noise, accumulating with age, is the main cause of errors in determining position, leading to age-related orientation problems.
Yale researchers have identified a neural home of the feeling of stress in the brain, revealing a network of connections from the hippocampus to the dorsal lateral frontal cortex. This discovery may help develop targeted therapies for anxiety and other mental health disorders.
Researchers discover Foxg1's role in controlling brain electrical activity, shedding light on rare genetic diseases like Rett Syndrome and West Syndrome. Understanding this mechanism is crucial for developing future therapeutic interventions.
A study by Aarhus University researchers has discovered the function of nerve cells in the eye that sense visual movement. This knowledge is crucial for developing targeted treatments for diseases like dementia and schizophrenia.
A global collaboration has identified over 300 genetic variants influencing cerebral cortex structure and its relationship with psychiatric disorders. The study provides a genetic roadmap for understanding how genes impact brain structure and neurological consequences.
A Korea Brain Research Institute study found that the posterior parietal cortex plays a role in fear renewal in novel contexts. This discovery may lead to the development of new treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and fear-related disorders.
The NCAM2 protein is essential for the formation of structures for cognitive learning and brain development. A deficit in NCAM2 causes incorrect neuron migration, altered morphology, and cytoskeleton changes, leading to neuronal polarization issues.
Researchers will focus on brain regions where place, time and memory occur to understand Alzheimer's disease. The goal is to identify early mechanisms of the disease and develop an early diagnosis.
A study using a cappella recordings revealed that humans have complementary neural systems for speech and music processing. The research found that temporal information is crucial for speech perception, while spectral information is key to music perception. This suggests that hemispheric specialization may be the nervous system's way o...
Researchers at McGill University have discovered at least nine directions of brain-gender variation using a unique dataset and machine learning algorithms. This finding has important consequences for promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in Canada and beyond.
A study published in Neuron found that stimulating the central lateral thalamus with low current and specific frequency can revive monkeys from deep anesthesia. Researchers believe this could lead to new treatments for brain disorders such as coma and spatial neglect.
Researchers discovered that lower circHomer1a levels in the brain's frontal cortex are correlated with schizophrenia symptoms and impaired cognitive flexibility in mice. The study suggests that circular RNAs play a crucial regulatory role in gene expression, potentially serving as biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment targets.
Scientists at U-M identified distinct excitatory neurons in the retrosplenial cortex, which can continuously encode direction-related information over long durations. These low rheobase neurons are ideal for navigation, providing persistent sense of direction that complements other brain signals.
A study by IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca found that a specific region of the right temporo-parietal junction can represent various affective states. The researchers used fMRI data and found smooth transitions in this region, which allows the brain to map emotions in a single patch of cortex.
A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that children with higher BMI tend to have a thinner cerebral cortex, especially in the prefrontal area. This may help explain the correlation between obesity and decreased executive function, such as working memory.