Research on the structure and workings of the human brain. Covers prenatal brain development, structural changes in disease, gray and white matter, and brain stimulation.
Scientists develop long, precisely patterned molecular threads that enhance brain cell growth and organization. The findings introduce a new way to design highly controlled supramolecular materials with precise physical arrangement, which could inform materials' design for regenerative medicine applications.
A study published in Addiction Neuroscience found that music therapy reduces cravings and alters brain activity in people with substance use disorders. The therapy was shown to improve emotional regulation and reduce negative emotions, providing encouraging evidence for its role in addiction treatment.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have discovered that bullfrogs can generate ketone bodies in their brains, allowing them to continue critical neural functions even when glucose levels are low. This finding could have implications for understanding human brain health and potentially treating neurological disorders.
A new review found that insomnia is associated with a 26% higher risk of stroke and 28% higher odds of hospital admission. The study also linked insomnia to depression, suicidal behaviors, and dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers found that observational neural activity is strongest for human-like effectors and decreases with less human-likeness. The study's findings suggest that an ensemble of neural networks respond to different stimuli, rather than specialized 'mirror neuron' cells.
JMIR Neurotechnology invites submissions on digital health technologies in Parkinson disease, focusing on measurement and intervention. The call for papers aims to address challenges in validation, reproducibility, and clinical integration of these measurements.
A new learning mechanism uses natural variability in neural activity to understand how synapses adapt and improve the learning capabilities of brain-inspired devices. The mechanism, called Spike-based Alignment Learning, solves the weight transport problem and matches the performance of existing approaches without unrealistic assumptions.
Babies born to anaemic mothers have smaller brain volumes, with differences detectable from 12 months old. The study found that anaemia affects brain development, particularly in regions involved in movement, learning, and communication.
Researchers found changes in brain structure, including white matter organization and region size, in people with severe asthma compared to those with well-controlled mild or moderate asthma. Inflammation levels were also linked to white matter changes, suggesting a possible connection between inflammation and brain changes.
Researchers found that healthier superficial white matter is associated with stronger language skills, and that gray matter atrophy measures remain the strongest predictors of cognition. However, the relationship between gray matter and cognitive performance depends on superficial white matter health.
Researchers analyzed EBRAINS-hosted brain data to determine that whole-brain activity patterns predict stimulation outcomes better than local recordings. Targeting specific sensorimotor and visual networks reduces response variability by up to 24%. This study highlights the value of open datasets for enabling large-scale analyses.
Researchers identified subtle brain differences in children at increased risk of schizophrenia, even before symptoms emerge. The study suggests that early screening and personalized intervention strategies can help detect the disorder's progression.
A study published in Nature Communications identified a language-specific brain network that can be detected even when the person is at rest or performing a task unrelated to language. The researchers used data from over 1,900 fMRI scans and found that this network spans the left hemisphere frontal and temporal regions of the brain.
Scientists identified a physical mechanism in the brain that may help explain why progress can grind to a halt: the extracellular matrix loosens and rebuilds after each practice session, gradually stopping once a skill is learned. This dynamic process affects how the brain learns and retains new skills.
A new USC study uses AI to generate detailed maps of brain aging, revealing distinct patterns of neurodegeneration in specific regions. The approach sheds light on how local brain age correlates with changes in cognitive function across the lifespan.
Researchers will examine whether online support strengthens brain development linked to emotional and mental health in prematurely born infants. The scalable intervention could transform how families receive support after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit, bringing evidence-based support into the home.
The Bial Foundation offers funding of up to €60,000 for research on human health in physical and spiritual dimensions. The programme promotes research excellence with a global network of 1,900 researchers.
A new Rutgers study reveals that individuals with psychiatric conditions exhibit reduced brain network dynamics, which can be used to distinguish between patients and healthy individuals. The findings also suggest that dynamic features of brain function may provide a more precise way of understanding mental illness.
Researchers developed a hybrid technology combining human learning and machine learning in noninvasive BCIs, producing rapid and sustained gains in motor imagery control. The study demonstrates significant scientific and technological advancement in BCIs, establishing a scalable pathway toward robust neural interfaces.
Researchers found that brain-computer interface training improved the perception of smaller visuo-motor errors, whereas traditional behavioral training only enhanced detection for larger rotations. The training also showed contributions from brain regions controlling decision-making and visuospatial processing.
A study from Binghamton University found that poor sleep quality is connected to hyperarousal in young people and neurodegenerative patterns among older women. Research analyzed brain scans from over 1,300 participants to see how brain networks connect at rest in those with poor sleep.
Two studies found that mice take single sniffs to deliberately probe their environment, like humans. Humans process odors rapidly within a single sniff, mirroring rodent-like olfactory brain processing. These findings suggest fundamental biological rules behind smell processing have been preserved through evolution.
Researchers from the German Primate Center replicate historical findings by Renate Schweizer on brain convolutions, confirming a connection between deep-lying winding and 'bridge.' The study analyzed structural MRI scans of healthy adults, finding a higher prevalence of 'bridge' in twins.
Researchers at New York University have developed a way to measure and visualize brainwaves of thousands of people during live face-to-face communication, finding that synchrony can be used to guide and improve social interactions. This phenomenon, known as social synchrony, is linked to healthy relationships and learning.
Researchers identified karyoptosis as a key link between toxic protein accumulation and neuron death in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and frontotemporal dementia. The study found that targeting proteins acting as 'switches' in this pathway may slow or prevent cell death by karyoptosis.
A study of 87,577 adults found that average daytime light exposure above 1,000 lux reduced dementia risk by 16%. Longer exposure to bright light was associated with an even greater reduction in risk. Daytime light exposure was stronger predictor of dementia than established risk factors.
A new poll shows nearly all Michiganders age 50 and over value keeping their brains healthy, but less than half know daily habits can reduce dementia risk. Only half practice key brain-protecting habits.
A team of neuroscientists highlights the distinction between intelligence and consciousness, warning against confusing AI systems with human-like emotions and experiences. Decades of research support their argument, citing examples like blindsight, which demonstrates intelligent behavior without conscious experience.
A recent study found that exposure to their own reflection in 4-month-old infants enhanced neural processing of others' facial actions but did not increase facial mimicry. The results suggest that simple experiences like seeing one's own reflection can shape the social brain from an early age.
A pioneering pilot clinical trial showed that spinal cord stimulation improved arm strength by 32% in stroke survivors, with significant reductions in muscle spasticity. The intervention required minimal training time and was safe with no serious adverse events.
A new research initiative aims to harness the potential of astrocytes, a type of brain cell often overlooked in AI development. By studying how astrocytes process information, researchers hope to create next-generation AI systems that learn faster and adapt more reliably.
Researchers developed piezoelectric patch sensors that track finger movements to play rock-paper-scissors, promoting self-motivated healthcare and entertainment. The sensors provide quantifiable data and objective feedback, improving patient outcomes through accessibility, independence, and motivation.
A new framework, criticome, integrates experience until age 25, reframing autism, schizophrenia, depression, and trauma as developmental disorders. The study suggests that screen-saturated childhoods may produce adult dysfunction, highlighting the importance of early experience in brain development.
Scientists have created a miniature circuit that mimics the brain and spinal cord connection, showing that previously thought irreversible nerve damage can be reversed. The researchers found that blocking specific genes in mature neurons restored axon regrowth ability.
A new approach combines MRI scans and AI tools to measure fluid flow in the brain, shedding light on the glymphatic system’s mechanics. The study reveals two main ways the system washes away particles, with one way moving faster than the other.
Research using EEG reveals that caffeine can reduce slow-wave activity and shift brain patterns towards wakefulness, even if sleep duration appears normal. This can lead to a vicious cycle of fatigue and poorer sleep quality, highlighting the need for personalized approaches to caffeine consumption.
A new preclinical study finds that estrogen loss in the extracellular matrix of the hippocampus may contribute to memory decline and increased risk of Alzheimer's disease in postmenopausal women. The study suggests a possible new treatment approach focused on restoring the brain's supportive environment.
A study proposes that sleep disruption may be connected to increased risk of dementia through the brain's waste clearance system. The glymphatic system, active during sleep, helps remove metabolic waste, and its disruption may lead to cognitive decline.
A new study reveals that ALS unfolds through a domino-like sequence of events starting with an early breakdown in motor neurons, followed by a damaging inflammatory response. The findings suggest that targeting these immune signatures could slow down disease progression.
A new study suggests that ultrasound stimulation can bring about functionally meaningful changes in pain perception and brain connectivity. The research found a delayed analgesic effect, with participants reporting reduced pain intensity after 28-55 minutes following TUS application.
Researchers develop tailored revascularization approach for moyamoya disease, improving circulation while minimizing complications. The technique, called STAPC, uses vessel diameter, blood-flow dynamics, and recipient brain arteries to guide surgical decisions.
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.
A three-year longitudinal study of 4,000 adults reveals that proactive engagement and self-agency can measurably improve brain performance across the lifespan. The study's findings challenge the notion that cognitive decline is an inevitable part of aging.
University of Missouri researchers develop organic transistors that process information like biological neural networks, boosting brain-like computing and potentially leading to more energy-efficient artificial intelligence. The approach could lead to significant improvements in tasks such as pattern recognition and decision-making.
Gonçalo Cotovio uses lesion network mapping to identify the circuits responsible for psychiatric symptoms, aiming to develop personalized brain stimulation treatments. His work has produced striking findings in mania and obsessive-compulsive disorder, with ambitions to extend to disordered feeding behavior.
J. Craig Venter's pioneering work in expressed sequence tags revolutionized brain-expressed genes identification, while his synthetic cells paved the way for synthetic biology as a working discipline. His legacy has reshaped our understanding of genomes and their functions.
Genomic Press launches Brain Health, a new peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the science of lifelong brain resilience, featuring research on glial plasticity and recovery from depression. The inaugural issue explores the intersection of fields including cognitive reserve, sleep, aging biology, nutritional psychiatry, and social sciences.
A new study suggests that language and theory of mind, two complex cognitive functions, have distinct origins in the brain in young children. Researchers found separate but related brain regions for these skills, which do not overlap or grow more distinct as the mind matures.
The EBRAINS Roadmap Symposium will bring together the global neuroscience community to shape the EBRAINS 10-Year-Roadmap. A total of 159 submissions from 134 unique contributors across 25 countries have been received, reflecting the momentum of Europe's digital neuroscience landscape.
The Bial Foundation is launching a new call for Grants for Scientific Research 2026/2027 in psychophysiology and parapsychology. The maximum grant amount is €60,000 per project, with applications open until 31 August 2026.
A study published in Biophotonics Discovery uses spectral-focusing coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy to image human white matter microstructure. The method enables automated measurement of axon size and myelin thickness, revealing new insights into brain connectivity and behavior.
Researchers found that a deaf person's brain can reorganize sensory systems through selective deactivation, not just increased activation. The auditory cortex in deaf individuals responds to visual stimuli with organized deactivations, representing visual spatial features.
Researchers at the University of Houston found that distraction disrupts memory consolidation primarily due to demands on central executive processing. To improve short-term memory, focus attention on a task for a few seconds before switching, and avoid multitasking.
Researchers propose a novel brain architecture for efficient processing, integrating parallel cortical and subcortical pathways. This approach may improve decision-making tasks, suggesting current AI models are missing key brain function principles.
A collaboration between the University of Maryland and University of Concepción has discovered a previously unknown communication chain involving astrocytes and tanycytes that controls behavior. The study suggests that targeting the HCAR1 receptor in astrocytes could offer a novel approach to treating eating disorders.
An international study reveals that environmental risk factors, social inequalities, and protective factors interact to accelerate or delay brain aging. The study identifies distinct brain markers associated with structural and functional changes in brain areas critical for memory, emotions, and social behavior.
Scientists have developed a method to track increased movement of brain fluids during sleep without invasive procedures. This allows for the study of how sleep enhances brain cleaning processes.
Using a computational model, neuroscientists at MIT showed how the brain selectively focuses attention on one voice among others in a noisy environment. The model found that amplifying the activity of neural processing units that respond to features of a target voice allows that voice to be boosted to the forefront of attention.
Researchers at USC identified differences in early Alzheimer's disease-related brain changes across racial and ethnic groups, with Black and Hispanic participants showing higher levels of tau in key memory-related regions. The study highlights the need for more inclusive approaches to studying and diagnosing Alzheimer's disease.
A new study identifies a previously unknown brainstem pathway controlling hand and arm movements, revealing a multi-stage pathway integrating signals from the cortex, brainstem, and spinal networks. This finding may lead to new therapies for stroke rehabilitation, providing additional targets for neuromodulation treatments.