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.
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Study of the practice, culture, infrastructure, and social dimensions of science itself. Addresses how science is conducted, organized, communicated, and integrated into society. Encompasses research funding mechanisms, scientific publishing systems, peer review processes, academic ethics, science policy, research institutions, scientific collaboration networks, science education, career development, research programs, scientific methods, science communication, and the sociology of scientific discovery. Examines the human, institutional, and cultural aspects of scientific enterprise, knowledge production, and the translation of research into societal benefit.
Comprehensive study of the universe beyond Earth, encompassing celestial objects, cosmic phenomena, and space exploration. Includes astronomy, astrophysics, planetary science, cosmology, space physics, astrobiology, and space technology. Investigates stars, galaxies, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, black holes, nebulae, exoplanets, dark matter, dark energy, cosmic microwave background, stellar evolution, planetary formation, space weather, solar system dynamics, the search for extraterrestrial life, and humanity's efforts to explore, understand, and unlock the mysteries of the cosmos through observation, theory, and space missions.
Comprehensive examination of tools, techniques, methodologies, and approaches used across scientific disciplines to conduct research, collect data, and analyze results. Encompasses experimental procedures, analytical methods, measurement techniques, instrumentation, imaging technologies, spectroscopic methods, laboratory protocols, observational studies, statistical analysis, computational methods, data visualization, quality control, and methodological innovations. Addresses the practical techniques and theoretical frameworks enabling scientists to investigate phenomena, test hypotheses, gather evidence, ensure reproducibility, and generate reliable knowledge through systematic, rigorous investigation across all areas of scientific inquiry.
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 used laminar fMRI to investigate brain activation at different layers during word reading, revealing top-down projections from language areas to deep layers. This breakthrough finding expands cognitive neuroimaging knowledge of brain networks.
Researchers suggest a structural connection between 'content circuits' in the cortex and 'switchboard circuits' that allocate awareness, mediated by L5p neurons. Studies demonstrate interaction between state and contents of consciousness in these cells.
A study with 24 participants aged 18-30 used fMRI scans to map brain areas involved in reading written words in two artificial alphabets. The results showed a hierarchy of brain regions, with posterior regions encoding letter position within words and left mid-to-anterior regions processing phonological and semantic information.
A Dartmouth study reveals that the rat brain uses center-bearing, center-distance cells, and head-direction cells to process spatial information and provide a sense of direction. The postrhinal cortex is thought to be responsible for this process, similar to the human parahippocampal cortex.
Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center found that stimulating the cingulate cortex worsened memory recall in epilepsy patients. However, deep brain stimulation also modified hippocampal brain waves and demonstrated a direct role for the cingulate cortex in memory encoding.
A study published in Neurology found that having a bigger waistline and high BMI in the 60s is associated with greater signs of brain aging. The study suggests that obesity accelerates brain aging, which can increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease by at least a decade.
A study published by the American Academy of Neurology found that having a higher BMI and bigger waistline in the 60s is associated with greater signs of brain aging. This can lead to accelerated brain thinning, which is tied to an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.
The study found that the lateral intraparietal area (LIP) of the posterior parietal cortex is directly involved in guiding decisions about visual patterns. The researchers used a computer game to test the monkeys' ability to make decisions based on visual stimuli.
Researchers found that brains process ingroup faces as more unique, while outgroup faces are viewed as repeated instances of the same social category. This early perception may contribute to racial stereotyping and bias, with studies suggesting it begins in brain's face-selective cortex.
Researchers found three distinct brain circuits involved in making good and bad decisions, with the third circuit storing memories of past choices. The study may help explain addiction and inform novel treatments for substance abuse.
A study using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) revealed that humans are more sensitive to pitch than macaque monkeys. The human brain's auditory cortex is more responsive when comparing tonal sounds to equivalent noisy sounds, suggesting that speech and music may have shaped the basic organization of the human brain.
A VA-led study found that veterans and service members with combat-related mild traumatic brain injuries have higher levels of abnormally fast brain waves in regions critical for consciousness. This discovery may help target brain-stimulation therapies for cognitive deficits associated with TBI.
Researchers found that piriform cortex stimulation triggers synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus, leading to enhanced memory formation. The study provides a theoretical basis for understanding the special role of olfaction in memory formation and retrieval.
Scientists at RIKEN Center for Brain Science found that impaired communication between the cortex and striatum can trigger absence epilepsy. Absence seizures, characterized by brief periods of lost consciousness, are associated with spike-wave discharges recorded on electrocorticograms.
Researchers found that blind individuals have narrower neural tuning in the auditory cortex, allowing them to extract more information from sound. Additionally, the brain's hMT+ region is recruited to track moving objects in space using sound.
Researchers identified the posterior tail of the dorsal striatum as a critical region for integrating sound and reward signals. The study found that signals from two parallel pathways are combined to guide behavior towards the best reward, with enhanced integration in the posterior striatum.
A novel microscopy technique, developed by Rockefeller scientists, integrates approaches to build a more cohesive picture of the brain. It captures cellular activity across large volumes of neural tissue, allowing researchers to generate a picture of rapid cellular activity across multiple layers of brain tissue.
Researchers have discovered that two brain regions guide navigation in familiar and new environments. The hippocampus plays a role in tracking distance in new environments, while the retrosplenial cortex takes over when navigating well-known places. This finding helps explain why Alzheimer's patients experience severe disorientation.
Neuroscientists discover vibrations perceived as noise pollution similar to sound processing; Pacinian corpuscles identified as key receptor. Researchers propose ancient sensory channel as potential precursor of hearing system.
Researchers identify dysfunctional neuronal connections in OCD patients' brains, particularly affecting the orbitofrontal cortex and primary sensory cortices. This study's findings suggest a deficient inhibitory interneuron system, contributing to the disorder's symptoms.
Research demonstrates somatosensory cortex, responsible for touch, also participates in reward learning. The findings suggest that learning and memory may permeate the brain, challenging conventional wisdom on brain function.
New research reveals that neurons in the brain's somatosensory cortex respond differently to various features of a surface, creating a high-dimensional representation of texture. This complex neural landscape allows for the rich sensation of texture, enabling us to distinguish between subtle differences.
Researchers found that more efficient neural codes in humans and monkeys resulted in reduced robustness, potentially contributing to disorders like ADHD, anxiety, and depression. The study supports the 'washing machine' theory of brain evolution, suggesting a trade-off between efficiency and error resistance.
Researchers found a new network of brain regions involved in temporal memory, which stores information about when events happen. This discovery may further understanding of age-related dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
A Vanderbilt University team has deciphered the circuitry of the medial frontal cortex, allowing for more efficient diagnoses of mental illnesses. The findings could also guide medications to target specific receptors in the cerebral cortex for better effectiveness.
New research reveals structural changes in lower and higher brain structures in individuals with dyslexia, including reduced connectivity between the thalamus and auditory cortex. This study broadens our understanding of dyslexia, a common learning disability, to include alterations in brain structure.
Researchers decipher how brain's cortex processes sensory information and optimizes synaptic connections through feedback systems. This study sheds light on the mechanisms of perceptual learning and its potential applications in computerized learning systems and artificial intelligence.
A study found that auditory stimulation affects responses to tactile stimulation in mice and rats, highlighting the interconnectedness of senses. The findings suggest that the barrel cortex, which processes touch, also treats auditory stimuli separately, leading to enhanced detection of prey or predators in nocturnal animals.
Research at Ruhr-University Bochum shows that blindness disrupts brain's organisation and memory ability in mice. After vision loss, other senses like touch, hearing, and smell become more sensitive over time.
A recent study found that the cerebellum plays a crucial role in cognitive functions, including short-term memory. The research team discovered that activity in the cerebellum during periods of stillness was linked to memory activity in both the frontal cortex and other parts of the brain.
Researchers discovered robust long-range patterns of correlated spontaneous activity in immature ferrets, contradicting expectations. These early activity patterns served as a template for the development of mature distributed networks, suggesting that 'local connections build a network activity scaffold'.
Researchers discover cerebellum's involvement in higher-order cognition, including attention, thinking, planning, and decision-making. The cerebellum was found to be responsible for quality control over thoughts and actions, with 80% of its networks devoted to these functions.
Researchers at UNIGE found that the brain struggles to counter its natural inclination towards minimizing effort when faced with physical activity. The study, published in Neuropsychologia, suggests that our ancestors' need to conserve resources for survival has become obsolete in modern societies.
Researchers found that individuals with higher dispositional mindfulness exhibited greater deactivation of the posterior cingulate cortex and less activation in the default mode network. This led to reduced pain reports. The study suggests a neural basis for why some people may feel less pain than others.
Researchers discovered that endothelial cells instruct neurons on their correct positioning in the cerebral cortex through laminin secretion. This finding highlights the importance of neurovascular communication in brain development and may hold key to treating dementia and mental illness.
Research reveals that the randomness of the piriform cortex is critical to distinguishing between similar odors, with each neuron connected to nearly every single odor receptor. This system encodes complex information and makes it robust to noise.
Researchers mapped brain activity in response to letters and words in specific brain regions, finding distinct representations for letter-forms and word-forms. The study sheds light on the neural basis of reading in the human brain.
Researchers found that brain anatomy is highly individualized, reflecting a combination of genetic and non-genetic influences. Over 90% accurate identification was achieved using MRI scans of nearly 200 healthy individuals.
A new study tracked how the brain processes visual information from simple sensory inputs to meaningful categories, finding a continuum of activity across multiple cortical regions. The research challenges classic beliefs about separate regions playing distinct roles, suggesting a more integrated network of functional similarities.
Researchers find subplate neurons don't die but become part of the adult cerebral cortex, influencing brain disorders. They identify a connection between subplate neurons and certain brain conditions and outline innovative stem cell techniques for treatment.
Researchers have discovered that neurons use the duration of silence between electrical pulses to encode information. This breakthrough, known as Neural Self-Information Theory, suggests that groups of neurons work together to enable real-time thinking and action despite ongoing variability in their responses.
Neuroscientists from Caltech have discovered neurons in the human brain that respond when targets are spotted, revealing insights into how we perform visual searches. The study found two distinct populations of neurons in the medial temporal lobe, one recognizing objects based on appearance and another focusing on goal-directed relevance.
Researchers have discovered a previously overlooked connection between neurons in two distinct areas of the mammalian brain that control the sense of touch. In mice, layer 4 neurons in the S2 region extended their axons beyond their local area to reach neurons in the S1 region, suggesting a link between movement and sensation.
A study found that intelligence is linked to fewer dendrites in the cerebral cortex, allowing for efficient neuronal connections. The research used a neuroimaging technique and IQ tests to confirm the results, shedding light on conflicting findings in previous studies.
Researchers developed a mathematical model showing that two brains can agree on new odors if both have experienced similar overlaps in scents. The model resolves long-held paradoxes about the brain's smell center and highlights an underlying elegance to the olfactory system.
Researchers at UC Berkeley are developing a technology to read and write neural activity, enabling them to stimulate specific sets of neurons to simulate sensory experiences. The goal is to replace lost sensations after peripheral nerve damage or control prosthetic limbs, with potential applications in treating neurological disorders.
Researchers trained a deep neural network to perform two auditory tasks, including speech and music identification. The model accurately replicated human performance and provided evidence for the hierarchical organization of the auditory cortex.
A study using electroencephalography found that brain activity in the precuneus region of the parietal cortex plays a crucial role in detecting changes in natural sounds. Participants who were exposed to a longer sound stimulus reacted faster and identified changes more accurately.
Research found distinct changes in brain structures and concurrent symptoms that differed between men and women with sleep apnea. Women showed more regions of the superior frontal lobe thinning than men or control groups, linked to enhanced cognitive deficits.
A team from the University of Liège has discovered a new crosstalk between the migrating inhibitory interneurons and the stem cells that generate the excitatory neurons. This control regulates the production of excitatory neurons, leading to cortical malformation previously associated with autism in mice.
Researchers investigated how the brain constructs the world by integrating sensory signals from multiple modalities. They found that the posterior parietal cortex plays a crucial role in merging signals to form meaningful representations of objects and memories.
A new study found that preterm babies experience delays in auditory brain development, which are associated with speech and language impairments at age 2. The researchers used diffusion neuroimaging to track the development of the primary and nonprimary auditory cortex in the brains of preterm infants.
A brain imaging study found that preterm infants with developmental disturbances in the Heschl's gyrus, a part of the brain involved in speech and language, exhibit reduced expressive language ability. The study suggests that preterm birth may impact language development due to altered auditory cortex maturation.
UCLA researchers have developed a map of gene regulation in human neurogenesis, identifying factors that govern brain growth and set the stage for brain disorders. The study reveals key genes involved in neurogenesis and their roles in human cognition.
Researchers found that altering the clothing worn by actresses affected empathic responses, with reduced feelings towards objectified women and reduced brain activity in empathy-related areas. The study suggests a link between objectification and diminished emotional understanding.
Researchers found that transcranial alternating current stimulation at 20 Hz increased voluntary risky decision-making, suggesting a link between reward processing and beta oscillatory activity. This discovery provides insights into the neurobiological mechanisms of risky decision-making.
Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum investigate the brain area responsible for storing odours as long-term memories. They found that the piriform cortex is involved, but only works in interaction with other areas, and requires instruction from the orbitofrontal cortex to establish long-term memory.
Research at Kanazawa University identifies FGF signaling as essential for gyri formation in the cerebral cortex, enabling large-scale neuron development and brain functions. The study uses a ferret model to analyze genome-level interactions, revealing the importance of FGF signaling in gyrus formation.
Researchers successfully used microstimulation to elicit movements in monkeys by associating specific areas of the premotor cortex with particular actions. This breakthrough could lead to the development of brain/computer interfaces that bypass damaged brain areas, benefiting individuals with stroke or neurological disorders.
Researchers found that pigeons process space and time in ways similar to humans and other primates, using a common neural coding mechanism. This suggests that abstract concepts are not processed separately and that lower-order animal species can exhibit high-level decision-making abilities.