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Where 'where it's at' is at in the brain

A new study in rats identifies a region called the postrhinal cortex that links objects to places in the brain, integrating spatial and nonspatial information upstream of the hippocampus. This finding has implications for treating traumatic brain injuries and neuropsychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia and depression.

SourceBrown University·JournalNeuron·DateDec 5, 2012

Neural interaction in periods of silence

Researchers have developed a novel methodology called NET-fMRI to map widespread neural networks activated by local events. The study reveals that short periods of recurrent ripples in the brain are closely associated with reproducible cortical activations and extensive activity suppression in other brain structures.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature·DateNov 21, 2012

Mom's love good for child's brain

Research by child psychiatrists and neuroscientists reveals that children with more nurturing mothers have larger hippocampi, a key structure important for learning and memory. The study provides concrete evidence of the powerful effect of early childhood parenting and nurturing on brain development.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 30, 2012

Why bigger is better when it comes to our brain and memory

A new study published in Neuron found that a larger posterior hippocampus and smaller anterior hippocampus are linked to better recollection ability in healthy adults. The researchers suggest that functional connections between the posterior hippocampus and other brain regions play a key role in enhanced memory consolidation.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateDec 21, 2011

Taxi driver training changes brain structure

A study by Eleanor Maguire found that taxi driver training increases gray matter in the hippocampus, a brain area responsible for memory and spatial navigation. The brain's plasticity allows it to adapt to new tasks, even in adulthood.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateDec 8, 2011

2-dimensional learning

Researchers found that passive viewing of 2D images can lead to sustained changes in nerve cell connections, facilitating the expression of persistent hippocampal long-term depression. This discovery has implications for developing strategies to improve digital learning and reduce apathy towards traditional teaching methods.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalCerebral Cortex·DateSep 26, 2011

Experience puts the personal stamp on a place in memory

Researchers found that rats' place cells behave like new environments when they don't explore, highlighting the importance of direct experience in creating stable episodic memories. This discovery translates to humans, where recalling past experiences relies on autobiographical memory and direct recollection of events.

SourceUniversity of Oregon·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 22, 2011

Hippocampal volume and resilience in posttramatic stress disorder

A new study finds that larger hippocampal volumes are linked to recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), implying that the hippocampus may play a role in reversing damage caused by chronic stress. The research suggests that treatment for PTSD could be viewed as a form of brain restoration, rather than just symptom relief.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateMar 22, 2011

How do we combine faces and voices?

A new study has revealed the brain networks involved in person recognition using both face and voice information. The research found that specific regions of the left angular gyrus and right hippocampus are activated when recognizing people from combined visual and auditory cues.

SourceElsevier·JournalCortex·DateMar 9, 2011

Moderate aerobic exercise in older adults shown to improve memory

A new study led by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found that one year of moderate physical exercise can increase the size of the brain's hippocampus in older adults. The increased hippocampal size is associated with improved spatial memory function. The researchers also discovered a correlation between increased hippoca...

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 31, 2011

Where unconscious memories form

A study published in Neuron found that the perirhinal cortex plays a crucial role in forming unconscious conceptual memories. Researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans to map brain activity while participants performed memory tests, revealing that damage to this area impairs memory formation.

New nerve cells -- even in old age

Researchers discovered that neuronal stem cells exist in the human brain, even in adulthood, and can form new neurons. Physical activity and pathological stimuli like epileptic seizures reactivate dormant stem cells, promoting the formation of new neurons.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateMay 6, 2010

The protein tPA provides protection for nerve cells

The protein tPA provides protection for nerve cells in the hippocampus by preventing death caused by reduced blood flow during stroke. Analysis of tPA's protective process reveals implications for therapeutic strategies to prevent nerve cell death.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateMay 3, 2010

Don't I know you? University of Toronto research sheds light on memorial retrieval

Researchers from the University of Toronto have discovered that the hippocampus is only activated when context cues enable memory recall. This finding sheds light on the mysterious process of retrieving memories, particularly in individuals with damage to the hippocampus, such as those with Alzheimer's or Epilepsy.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 7, 2009

Map of your brain may reveal early mental illness

Researchers aim to create a brain map that can help diagnose early-stage schizophrenia and guide more effective treatment. The study, led by Northwestern University, uses topographical brain maps to compare the structures of individuals with schizophrenia to those without, hoping to identify key differences in brain function.

Male seahorses like big mates

Male seahorses choose partners based on body size to increase reproductive output and bigger offspring, challenging conventional sex roles. A study found choosy males and indiscriminate females, with striking differences in courtship behavior.

SourceSpringer·JournalBehavioral Ecology and Sociobiology·DateJul 7, 2009

Cracking the spatial memory code

Scientists have discovered that the hippocampus works in a structured and predictable way, enabling them to predict where someone is standing within a virtual reality room based on brain activity. The findings offer compelling evidence for mindreading and could potentially decode individual episodic memory traces from human brain imaging.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMar 12, 2009