Articles tagged with Cerebral Cortex
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A new Northwestern University study tracked the auditory system's response to highly complex auditory-visual stimuli like music and moving images. The research shows that the left auditory cortex specializes in processing precise timing for sounds and applies this ability to encode auditory-visual synchrony, but only in certain situati...
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory identified a class of inhibitory neurons called VIP interneurons, which specifically suppress activation of other inhibitory neurons. These VIP neurons modulate the balance between excitation and inhibition in the cerebral cortex.
Researchers found differences in brain structure between ballet dancers and rowers that enable dancers to suppress signals from the balance organs, allowing them to perform pirouettes without feeling dizzy. This adaptation may help improve treatment for patients with chronic dizziness.
Researchers studied brain activity in volunteers while they expected and received rewards, finding that the auditory cortex was activated during both scenarios. The findings suggest a broader role for the auditory cortex in processing expectations beyond just sound.
Researchers at the DZNE and Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin have discovered a gradient of inhibition within the entorhinal cortex, which may play a crucial role in creating synchronous rhythms and oscillations. This finding has implications for understanding Alzheimer's disease, where the entorhinal cortex is affected early on.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham have discovered a faulty 'switch' between brain regions that may cause psychotic symptoms in people with schizophrenia. The study suggests that detecting this disconnection could help identify patients with the condition, and potentially lead to more effective treatments.
A new study published in Neuron sheds light on the complex processes of brain integration, revealing differences in excitatory and inhibitory cells and superficial and deep layers of the cortex. This breakthrough understanding is essential for designing future strategies to stimulate brain repair and re-create precise circuits.
Researchers discovered the Arl13b gene plays a crucial role in guiding neuron formation and placement during early brain development. The study found mutations in this gene may contribute to brain malformations seen in Joubert syndrome and autism-like features.
Researchers at the University of California, Davis have made a groundbreaking discovery on how visual attention affects brain activity. By measuring signaling through single nerve connections in monkeys, they found that attention increases efficiency and boosts signal strength.
A solitary mutation in the SYNGAP1 gene can destroy critical 'windows' of early brain development, leading to behavioral and intellectual problems. This research sheds light on the early development of neural circuits in the cortex.
The brain develops sensory regions through a combination of genetic and thalamic input. Thalamic input is essential for the differentiation of visual areas, contradicting previous dogma that genetics alone determine cortical architecture.
A team of researchers created a 3D map of blood vessels in the cerebral cortex, revealing unexpected connections that don't align with neural cell organization. The study's findings have implications for functional brain imaging and our understanding of dementia.
A novel nuclear protein called Trnp1 triggers the expansion and folding of the cerebral cortex in mice, supporting tangential expansion and ordered formation of neurons. The findings imply that Trnp1 controls both expansion and folding and serves as a starting point for dissecting cellular and molecular interactions.
A UC Berkeley study shows how the brain dynamically reallocates resources based on behavioral demands, optimizing performance. When searching for a person or object, various brain regions are activated, including those normally dedicated to abstract thought.
Researchers discovered that brain's 'slow waves' start in the cerebral cortex and are initiated by a local cluster of neurons. This finding provides new insights into processes like memory consolidation and learning, and could lead to a better understanding of diseases like Alzheimer's.
Researchers found a consistent pattern of activity across individuals in several brain structures, including those involved in movement planning, memory, and attention. The study suggests that higher-level centers direct subcortical auditory structures to respond preferentially to music.
A recent study at McGill University found that the nucleus accumbens and auditory cortex interact to assign value to music through pattern recognition and prediction. This interaction involves ancient dopaminergic reward circuitry and is essential for our survival and emotional experiences.
Researchers at the University of Chicago discovered that a specific region of the brain can encode both spatial and cognitive signals simultaneously. This finding suggests that multiple functions can be mapped onto a particular brain area, including individual brain cells.
A team of UCSF researchers has uncovered the neurological basis of speech motor control, revealing a hierarchical and cyclical structure that exerts split-second control over articulators in fluent speech. The study has potential implications for developing computer-brain interfaces and treating speech disorders.
Researchers developed an artificial brain system that enables robots to learn and understand new sentences containing a new grammatical structure. This technology has the potential to contribute to understanding linguistic malfunctions in Parkinson's disease and improve robots' ability to acquire language knowledge.
Researchers found that handedness plays a key role in controlling the Vestibular-Ocular Reflex (VOR), a primitive reflex involving eye movement. The study suggests that higher-order brain functions govern this reflex, contradicting previous assumptions of its low-level control.
Researchers propose that mindfulness practitioners gain enhanced control over sensory cortical alpha rhythms, enabling optimal filtering of sensory information and regulation of negative thoughts. This control is linked to the practice of mindful awareness of breath and body sensations.
A new study of Vietnam veterans with combat-related brain injuries reveals significant overlap between general and emotional intelligence. The study found that specific brain regions, including the frontal cortex and parietal cortex, contribute to both general and emotional intelligence.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University discovered that when one brain area is injured, a 'back-up' team of secondary brain areas immediately activates, replacing the unavailable area and its confederates. This allows individuals to continue functioning after key brain areas have been damaged.
Researchers have identified two proteins, Sip1 and Unc5b, crucial for interneuron development and migration to the cerebral cortex. Disruption of these proteins can lead to brain disorders such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's, and schizophrenia.
A team led by Professor Z. Josh Huang has revealed the birth timing and embryonic origin of critical inhibitory brain cells called chandelier cells, tracing their specific paths into the cerebral cortex of mouse brains. This breakthrough sheds light on the genetic programming of brain development and the role of these cells in balancin...
Researchers discovered uncommon features in Einstein's brain, which could explain his exceptional visuospatial and mathematical skills. The study found unusual characteristics in the prefrontal, somatosensory, and motor cortices.
A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience identified two brain regions involved in making rapid judgments about potential partners. The paracingulate cortex and rostromedial prefrontal cortex are active when people consider physical attractiveness and individual compatibility, respectively.
A new study from MIT neuroscientists has found that the brain's prefrontal cortex has a small region responsible for controlling which habits are switched on at a given time. The researchers used optogenetics to inhibit this region, allowing them to break and form new habits in rats.
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego have received a $9.3 million grant from the NIH to develop a three-dimensional map of gene activities in individual cells in the human cortex. Understanding variations between individual cells may be critical to understanding the origins of diseases such as brain disorders.
A recent study published in the Journal of Neuroscience found that the brain's amygdala and auditory cortex interact when processing negative emotions triggered by unpleasant sounds. The study used fMRI to examine how brains responded to a range of sounds, from knife-on-bottle to soothing water flowing.
A three-month intensive language study led to significant brain structure changes in language learners compared to non-language students. The hippocampus and cerebral cortex areas expanded in size, correlating with improved language skills, highlighting the cognitive benefits of language learning.
Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry found that effective signal transmission in the hippocampus requires theta-frequency impulses, generating waves that propagate through the brain. This discovery explains why we are more productive after drinking coffee or experiencing stress.
A new study reveals that strong communication between the left and right hemispheres of the brain predicts math performance. The research suggests a possible route to aiding individuals with dyscalculia by enhancing parietal connectivity.
Researchers identified a group of elderly people with exceptional memories and brains that resemble those of middle-aged individuals. Their cortex thickness and attention region were found to be thicker than normal aging peers, suggesting a greater number of neurons and potentially improved cognitive abilities.
Scientists have discovered an important clue on how the human brain filters out unimportant visual information and focuses on what's most useful. The study found that the prefrontal cortex is involved in both bottom-up and top-down attention, challenging traditional beliefs about separate areas of the brain controlling these processes.
Research funded by NIH shows that deaf people use auditory cortex for touch processing and visual stimuli more than hearing people. The finding suggests that the brain adapts and takes on additional sensory tasks in response to early loss of a sense, such as hearing.
A team of researchers has discovered that a part of the brain, known as the frontopolar cortex, plays a critical role in making short-term predictions about what will happen next. This region helps individuals make decisions in rapidly changing environments by learning from past experiences and anticipating future events.
Neuroscientists at Caltech found that the primary somatosensory cortex processes both physical and emotional aspects of touch, with brain activity reflecting emotional significance even before actual contact. This finding has implications for understanding autism, sexual abuse, and physical trauma.
A team of University of Iowa researchers found that a lack of gamma-protocadherin cell adhesion molecules in the cerebral cortex disrupts neural circuitry formation. This discovery may help understand causes of human developmental disorders like autism, mental retardation, and schizophrenia.
Scientists from UCSF used brain recordings to decode which speaker a subject was listening to, even when multiple voices were present. The study sheds light on the human brain's ability to focus on one voice in noisy environments, with implications for language learning disorders and neuroprosthetic devices.
Long-term meditators have larger amounts of cortical gyrification, indicating improved neural processing and information processing. The study also found a positive correlation between meditation years and insular gyrification, supporting the idea that meditation enhances regional brain structure.
A study of young, non-dependent social drinkers found that the caudate nucleus and frontal cortex regions of the brain show less activation in people who drink more heavily. This association was stronger in women than in men and correlated with their frequency of drinking.
Researchers found that listening to sentences with textural metaphors activates the parietal operculum, a region associated with sensing texture through touch. This suggests that our brains use sensory experiences to understand metaphorical language.
Researchers have discovered that a gene mutation in autistic individuals leads to difficulties in processing auditory cues and paying spatial attention to sound. Treatment with rapamycin blocks hyperconnectivity triggered by PTEN gene loss.
Researchers have rewritten the textbook on the location of the brain's speech processing center, discovering it is located in the left temporal lobe and superior temporal gyrus. The new findings suggest that language originated between monkeys and humans closer than previously thought.
Neural recordings reveal brain activity that encodes visual categories in the posterior parietal cortex, outperforming the prefrontal cortex. The study suggests that the parietal cortex is more involved in the categorization process, particularly for spatial and visual tasks.
Researchers found that specific brain areas underlie perception of different 3D structures, including convex and concave surfaces. Electrical stimulation of these areas influenced monkeys' choices and decision-making times.
A study found that individuals with smaller brain cortex regions are more likely to develop early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. The research identified 21% of those at high risk for cognitive decline, compared to 7% of those at average risk.
A recent study has visualized the path of a sensory stimulus in the brain during fear learning and identified the underlying neuronal circuits. The researchers found that the cortex is essential for processing fear and anxiety, and that disinhibition of the cortical microcircuit facilitates formation of memory.
A new collaborative study from the Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic suggests that multiple sclerosis may progress from the outermost layers of the brain to its deep parts. The researchers found that the cortex is involved early in MS and may even be the initial target of disease.
Recent studies suggest that a 'pitch center' in human auditory cortex may not exist, contradicting decades-old research. The review article discusses the findings, highlighting the need for further investigation to confirm or deny the existence of such an area.
Jones and Moore's model suggests that neurons in the cortex experience beta oscillations when receiving a combination of two input signals at the right time and strength. The researchers aim to prove their hypothesis using optogenetics and expand their computational model to incorporate upstream brain regions.
A study using disease-in-a-dish technology has grown neurons from Timothy Syndrome patients' skin cells, revealing defects in brain wiring and cellular calcium regulation. The findings support the link between the genetic mutation and developmental abnormalities, including reduced corpus callosum size.
A new animal study led by NYU Langone researchers shows that the sense of smell can be improved through training. The study found that rats trained to discriminate between similar odors could develop distinct brain activity patterns, while those not trained lost their ability to distinguish.
A new study from Northwestern Medicine found that the brain uses predictive coding to generate templates of specific smells, setting up a mental expectation before sensing them. This ability provides humans with a behavioral advantage in reacting quickly and accurately to stimuli in their environment.
Researchers identified a brain-circuit defect that triggers absence seizures, the most common form of childhood epilepsy. The study showed defective signaling between the cerebral cortex and thalamus can produce absence seizures in experimental mice.
Research shows people with PTSD struggle to identify specific emotions, such as fear and sadness, from facial cues. The study found that war veterans with PTSD were less able to recognize these emotions compared to healthy subjects.
A case study published in Cortex reveals that severe damage to the hippocampus resulting from lack of oxygen in infancy can hinder episodic memory recall. In contrast, semantic memory remains intact, supporting the theory that different areas of the brain are responsible for distinct types of memory.
Researchers found that age-related changes in attention and Gestalt perception hinder older adults' ability to focus on global patterns. The study provides evidence of correlations between healthy aging and declines in visual perception, offering insights into cognitive domains interacting during aging.