Articles tagged with Frontal Lobe
Researchers at Rockefeller University have discovered the neural substrates underlying thought symbols for the first time. The study found that the ventral premotor cortex, a region in the frontal lobe, plays a key role in generating mental representations of actions, enabling compositional generalization and creative thinking.
Research in male sheep fetuses finds that excessive prenatal progesterone exposure alters the SRD5A1 gene, crucial for processing sex hormones in brain development. The study highlights the importance of hormones in fetal development and potential links to adult disease.
Researchers found that patients with both conditions exhibited different neuropsychiatric symptoms, which could inform diagnosis and treatment plans. The study's findings may help clinicians better understand the complex disease course of patients with multiple disorders, including Alzheimer's and frontotemporal lobar degeneration.
A new study published in Science uncovers how the brain prepares and produces facial gestures through a temporally organized hierarchy of neural codes. The research found that multiple brain regions work in parallel, each contributing different timing-based codes to generate coherent facial gestures.
A new Northwestern University study reveals how a key disease protein, TDP-43, drives overactive nerve cells in ALS and FTD. The findings highlight a promising new drug that can fix this error and restore balance to neurons.
A new study from UC San Francisco challenges the traditional view of how the brain strings sounds together to form words and orchestrates the movements to pronounce them. The brain relies on a wider network of neurons across many brain areas, centered in the middle precentral gyrus, to coordinate speech-motor sequencing.
A new study from UC Berkeley reveals that the depth of small grooves on the brain's surface is correlated with increased connectivity between regions involved in reasoning. The researchers found that these tertiary sulci, unique to humans, may help explain individual differences in cognitive performance and serve as diagnostic indicato...
A new technique using focused sound waves and microbubbles has shown great promise in treating debilitating brain lesions called cerebral cavernous malformations. The approach has halted the growth of lesions almost entirely, offering a potential paradigm shift in treatment.
A team of researchers at UCL has identified key brain regions essential for logical thinking and problem-solving. They used lesion-deficit mapping to study patients with brain lesions caused by stroke or tumors and found that damage to the right frontal lobe impaired reasoning skills.
Researchers identified specific non-frontal brain areas involved in speech intent, which can be used to distinguish between language production and perception. This study is a crucial step towards developing a brain-computer interface to treat patients with Broca's aphasia.
Researchers found a high agreement between EEG and fMRI in identifying brain regions activated during language tasks. EEG-guided tDCS improved picture-naming speed in participants, suggesting its potential for innovative therapies.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet found that patients with frontotemporal dementia show reduced brain activity when witnessing pain in others, leading to a lack of empathy. This study aims to increase understanding of this specific dementia disease and its impact on caregivers.
A new study reveals that Agent Orange damages frontal lobe brain tissue in laboratory rats, causing molecular and biochemical abnormalities similar to early-stage Alzheimer's disease. This research has important implications for the long-term brain health of aging veterans and people exposed to biologically similar herbicides.
Researchers at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology have developed a new gene therapy that significantly reduces seizures in mice with focal cortical dysplasia. The treatment, which involves the overexpression of a potassium channel, has shown an average reduction of 87% in seizures without affecting the mouse's memory or behavior.
Research suggests that problems with the brain's ability to 'prune' itself of unnecessary connections may underlie a wide range of mental health disorders that begin during adolescence. Adolescents experiencing mental health problems showed similar patterns of brain activity, which were largely apparent in the frontal lobes.
Researchers at UTHealth Houston identified two brain networks involved in reading, working together to integrate word meanings. The study used electroencephalography recordings from patients with epilepsy to measure neural activity while reading complex sentences.
A study published in Brain found that disconnecting nerve pathways in the brain can lead to improved seizure freedom in patients with frontal lobe epilepsy. The research, involving 47 patients, revealed that cutting these connections resulted in 88% of patients being seizure-free after three years.
Research finds that endocannabinoids protect against addiction in individuals exposed to childhood maltreatment. The 'resilient' group showed increased function of the endocannabinoid system and different brain activity compared to other groups.
A new study has mapped the parts of the brain that support fluid intelligence, a key feature of human cognition. The research found that patients with damage to the right frontal regions performed poorly in tasks requiring problem-solving and reasoning.
Researchers found white matter differences in post-treatment Lyme patients using advanced imaging scans, correlating with cognitive difficulties and immune response. Axonal leakage in white matter was associated with better outcomes but also indicative of changed physiology.
A new study aims to diagnose severe neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and FTD with the help of speech tests. AI can analyze subtle nuances of speech patterns, including pauses, speed, and melodic aspects, to detect early changes.
A study by Nagoya University found that elderly drivers have longer reaction times, slower decision-making, and increased brain activity in areas responsible for inhibition and switching tasks. This suggests a higher cognitive load in situations requiring complex foot responses while driving.
A new study from Tel Aviv University found a promising treatment for long-term COVID-19 symptoms using Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). Patients treated with HBOT showed significant improvement in cognitive function, attention, and executive functions.
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.
Researchers mapped neural networks in marmoset and macaque monkeys to find that multiple areas in the frontal lobe control vocalization, contradicting a long-held view. This discovery could lead to a better understanding of speech disorders such as stuttering and apraxia.
A new study from the University of Eastern Finland found that frontotemporal dementia patients with extrapyramidal symptoms have significant brainstem atrophy and reduced metabolism, facilitating differential diagnostics for FTD. This can help distinguish between FTD and other diseases causing extrapyramidal symptoms.
Research finds that late-onset alcohol abuse may be a presenting symptom of dementia, particularly in patients with frontotemporal dementia. The study identified that up to 7% of patients with frontotemporal dementia started abusing alcohol late in life, and 5% did so as the first symptom of the disease.
Researchers identified Broca's area as a key region for sign language processing, showing an overlap with areas used for spoken language. The study highlights the brain's linguistic specialization and its role in processing abstract information across different forms of language.
Research identifies commonalities in COVID-19 patients' brain activity, highlighting potential long-term effects on older males. Abnormal EEG readings suggest permanent brain damage, prompting the need for comprehensive care including brain imaging.
Researchers found that brain activity increased in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex when participants conversed with someone of a different socioeconomic background. This increase in activity suggests that our brains have developed a system to help us deal with diversity, supporting previous research on frontal lobe systems and ...
A Dartmouth study finds that conscious visual perception of location occurs in the frontal lobes, contradicting previous assumptions about its location. The research used fMRI data and multivariate pattern analysis to investigate where conscious perception emerges and how the brain codes this.
Researchers at NUS used machine learning tools to discover that stable information can be found within the changing neural population code in the frontal lobe. This finding has broader implications for understanding cognitive flexibility and multiple brain regions interacting with each other.
Neuroscientist Hagoort challenges the classical view that language is confined to two major areas in the left half of the brain, instead proposing a multi-brain-network view that incorporates multiple regions and operations, including those shared with other cognitive domains like music and arithmetic.
A recent study using marmosets identified the brain region responsible for anhedonia, a key symptom of depression. The researchers found that over-activity in this region blunts excitement and motivation, but a commonly used antidepressant ketamine blocks these effects, suggesting new treatment possibilities.
Researchers found that Homo naledi's brain had a human-like shape and structure, similar to humans, but smaller in size. The study suggests that the species' behavior may have reflected the shape of its brain more than its size, raising new questions about human evolution and the evolution of brain size.
Researchers found that the right hemisphere equivalent of Broca's area processes musical non-local dependencies, and that this processing is integrated with working memory to determine grammatical rules. The study uses a novel 'genre' of music to tease apart contributions of local and non-local dependencies.
A study found that premature birth impacts brain function in infants, particularly in the frontal lobe, which is crucial for cognitive development. The research used EEG signals to measure functional networks in infant brains, revealing selective effects on cognitive functions.
Research at UC Berkeley found that older adults' slow brainwaves during deep sleep fail to synchronize with speedy electrical bursts, preventing them from effectively consolidating new memories. The aging brain's failure to coordinate these two brain waves is likely due to degradation or atrophy of the medial frontal cortex.
Researchers at the University of Geneva discovered the brain regions used to categorize emotions communicated vocally, highlighting the crucial role of the frontal lobe. The study found that the inferior frontal cortex is activated when categorizing and discriminating emotions from voices.
A CAMH study found that people with early Alzheimer's disease have lower brain plasticity in the frontal lobes, leading to poorer working memory and recall ability. Researchers believe impaired brain plasticity may be a future target for treatment or prevention of dementia.
Researchers at Newcastle University have discovered abnormal changes in the brain's frontal lobe and emotional control mechanism in individuals with misophonia. The study found that trigger sounds evoked increased heart rate and sweating, and that patients had strikingly similar clinical features despite being undiagnosed by current me...
A severely brain-injured woman regained the ability to communicate through eye movements, with researchers capturing the restoration process by measuring brain structure and function. The study suggests that other patients in chronic care facilities may harbor organized brain function, raising questions about diagnosis and treatment.
Researchers discovered a population of previously unrecognized young neurons that migrate in the human brain during the first few months of life. These neurons contribute to inhibitory circuits, balancing excitatory activity, and are associated with the plasticity of the brain observed during postnatal development.
A study published in Molecular Psychiatry identified an enzyme whose production is turned off in nerve cells of the frontal lobe when alcohol dependence develops. This deficiency leads to continued use of alcohol despite adverse consequences. The research team hopes to develop effective medicines for treating alcoholism and contributin...
Researchers found an association between atrial fibrillation and smaller frontal lobe brain volumes in a recent study published in Heart Rhythm. The study examined the relationship between AF and brain volume using MRI, revealing that AF was associated with reduced frontal lobe volumes even after adjusting for other factors.
Researchers captured images of problem-solving in mice using advanced microscopy techniques, revealing rapid rewiring in the frontal brains after learning by trial and error. The study supports critical thinking and active learning approaches in schools and workplaces.
Cognitive neuroscientist Evangelia Chrysikou and her team investigate how transcranial direct current stimulation enhances creative thinking about everyday objects. They will use the technique to assess brain activity in frontal lobes, with hopes of developing a standardized measure of creative potential.
A new study by Avinash Vaidya and Dr. Lesley Fellows at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital found that the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (PFC) is crucial in decision-making, recalling the value of objects not directly in view to keep options open.
Research reveals that people with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) have difficulty judging the severity of crimes and assigning appropriate punishments. This impairment can affect their social skills, such as empathy and rational judgments, leading to poorer prognoses for resuming normal work and family life.
Researchers found that Broca's area is active early in forming sentences and ends its work before a word is spoken, suggesting it plays a key role in organizing the string of sounds that express ideas. The study could benefit the treatment of language impairments due to stroke, epilepsy, and brain injuries.
A new study reveals that Broca's area, traditionally considered the command center for human speech, actually switches off when we speak out loud. This finding has major implications for diagnosing and treating stroke, epilepsy, and brain injuries that result in language impairments.
A new study found an association between poor sleep quality and reduced gray matter volume in the brain's frontal lobe of Gulf War veterans. The study controlled for comorbid psychiatric conditions and found that poorer subjective sleep quality was associated with reduced total cortical and regional frontal lobe gray matter volumes.
Research from Durham University suggests that brain frontal lobes are not disproportionately enlarged relative to other areas in humans and other species. The study found that supposedly 'primitive' areas like the cerebellum played an equally important role in expanding the human brain.
A study published in PLOS ONE reveals that experienced Brazilian mediums show lower brain activity in certain areas during psychography, a form of writing believed to be guided by spirits. The findings suggest an absence of focus, self-awareness, and consciousness during the trance-like state.
A study published in PNAS found that different regions of the frontal lobes are responsible for behavioral control and decision making. The researchers mapped brain lesions in over 300 patients and showed that damage to specific areas can impair reasoning and decision-making abilities.
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.
A study using MRI scans found that sleep deprivation disrupts the higher brain areas responsible for making food choices, rather than basic reward centers. This impairment may explain the link between sleep loss and obesity.
Researchers found that humans can only monitor up to three strategies while making decisions, and creativity is favored over reliable options. The frontal lobe plays a crucial role in this process, with individual differences in performance linked to variations in creative ability.
A study published in the journal Neuron reveals that individuals with strategic decision-making skills, known as 'explorers,' use a specific region of the prefrontal cortex to calculate relative uncertainty. This brain area is not active in non-explorers, suggesting a specialized cognitive process for making uncertain decisions.
A neuroeconomics study from McGill University shows that the brain employs two separate regions and processes in valuing 'stimuli' (goods) versus 'actions'. The findings, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, provide new insights into frontal lobe damage and its effects on decision making.