Articles tagged with Human Brain
The Julich Brain Atlas provides detailed maps of brain cells and receptors, enabling better understanding of brain connectivity and function. The atlas allows for correlation between brain network activity and underlying anatomy, aiding in the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders.
The DiaQNOS project aims to develop quantum sensors for improved brain tumor surgery. Magnetic field sensors will refine neuronavigation, enabling more precise incision paths. Researchers from Mainz University and partners will create a device suitable for use in surgery.
A study published in Current Biology found that children exhibit rapid boosts of GABA during visual training, stabilizing new learning and making it more efficient. This discovery suggests that children may acquire new knowledge and skills faster than adults, with implications for teaching and learning strategies.
A three-year research project led by Aston University aims to prevent epileptic seizures in children. The team will explore how epilepsy becomes established in the brain and test new drugs using living tissue samples.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo found that rats can move their heads in time to music, demonstrating innate beat synchronization. The optimal tempo for nodding along depends on the brain's time constant, similar across species, suggesting a widespread ability among animals to interact with music.
New research presents neurotechnology as a powerful tool for studying the brain and enabling targeted therapies for neurological disorders. Devices like nerve stimulators and brain implants can monitor or modulate neural activity, offering potential treatments for conditions such as paralysis and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Researchers are developing a comprehensive cell atlas for the human brain, which would cover billions of cells and provide a holistic description of its properties. Advanced visualization techniques have been developed to catalog brain regions and cell types, enabling better resolution and accuracy in studying neural circuits.
Research shows COVID-19 can cause long-term changes to brain function through inflammation, affecting mood, concentration, and cognitive abilities in both young and old patients. Millions are potentially affected by this condition, also known as Long COVID.
New research reveals profound effects of pregnancy on maternal brain physiology, mood, and behavior. Maternal mental health conditions like depression and anxiety affect 20% of new mothers in the US, with untreated cases having long-term negative impacts.
Researchers at USC found significant differences in gray matter density between boys and girls with binge eating disorder, suggesting unique brain structures and potentially different treatments. The study underscores the need to include males in future research on eating disorders.
The study highlights the importance of the gut microbiome in metabolic conditions like obesity and neurological diseases such as Parkinson's. Pesticide exposure is also found to disrupt the gut microbiota, leading to brain-gut alterations that can exacerbate these conditions.
Research reveals natural genetic variation impacting brain development contributes to autism's diverse behaviors, with implications for tailored support. The study sheds light on the complex relationships between genetics, brain development, and behavior in individuals with autism.
Researchers found age-related changes in the balance of inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters in the prefrontal cortex during adolescence. This study provides first-ever evidence of plasticity in the frontal cortex during this critical developmental period.
Researchers created a detailed map of the hippocampus's connections to the rest of the brain, finding fewer links with frontal lobes but more with visual networks. This discovery may change how we think about human memory and cognition, potentially shedding light on why some primates excel at certain memory tasks.
A new study by University of Wisconsin-Madison professor Andre Sousa investigates the differences and similarities of cells in the prefrontal cortex between humans and non-human primates. The researchers found five cell types unique to humans and differences in cell abundance across species.
A new study from Aarhus University found that breathing impacts our emotions, attention, and how we process the outside world. Brain rhythms are closely tied to the rhythm of breathing, making us more sensitive to the outside world when breathing in.
A study published in Current Biology found that undetectable very low frequency sound increases dancing at a live concert, with participants moving 12% more when the speakers were on. The researchers speculate that this is due to physical processes affecting the motor system and brain mechanisms involved.
A new study from the University of Ottawa reveals that morning types tend to have superior verbal ability, contrary to previous research suggesting that evening types have an advantage. The study found that accounting for factors like bedtime and age, morning individuals outperformed their evening counterparts in verbal intelligence.
The HUSH complex is involved in normal brain development, neuronal individuality, and connectivity. The complex also regulates repetitive-like gene clusters, including protocadherin gene clusters, which are essential for neuron-to-neuron interactions.
Researchers from UCLA have developed a strategy to identify novel treatments for cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases by exploiting sex differences in the brain. The study provides a roadmap for disentangling the contribution of sex-specific factors, which can yield treatments optimized for each sex.
The Human Brain Project researchers have developed a unique method called 3D Polarised Light Imaging (3D-PLI) to visualize nerve fibers at microscopic resolution. By combining different experimental methods and integrating data into multilevel atlases, the team gained new insights into brain connectivity.
Researchers propose a new network approach to understand brain function, suggesting that connections between brain regions are key to cognitive tasks. This new view also sheds light on individual variability and can be applied to predict symptoms in patients with brain lesions.
Researchers at the University of Calgary found that vaccination against influenza significantly lowers the risk of stroke among adults. The study analyzed health records of over four million Albertans and showed that the risk of stroke was reduced in all age groups, not just those at high risk.
Mount Sinai researchers catalogued thousands of sites in the brain where RNA is modified throughout the human lifespan, increasing with age. This study provides a model depicting how A-to-I editing evolves over a lifetime, shedding light on its role in health and disease.
Dr. Ralph L. Sacco, a top stroke neurologist, has advanced understanding of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases through his research on race-related stroke risk. He is recognized for his work in creating targeted stroke prevention programs.
Researchers at Texas A&M University used functional near-infrared spectroscopy to monitor participant responses during human-robot collaborations. They found that faulty robot actions decreased operator trust and associated it with increased brain activity in the frontal, motor, and visual cortices.
A new funding grant will be used to investigate the effectiveness of 'Fastball EEG' in detecting three major types of dementia, including frontotemporal dementia and Vascular Dementia. The technology has shown high accuracy in picking up small changes in brain waves associated with memory recall.
A large study of over 5,800 tween children found that growing up in a socioeconomically disadvantaged household can have lasting effects on brain development, with different patterns of connections between brain regions observed. Parental education emerged as the most significant factor associated with variations in brain connections.
A new computational model based on fruit fly brain data may help explain how humans process memories and experiences. The model suggests that living organisms, including humans, use a similar '1-2-3-many' count sketch to track encounters with familiar sights and smells.
A study led by Stockholm University researchers discovers a protein that Toxoplasma uses to reprogram the immune system, allowing it to spread efficiently. The parasite infects immune cells and tricks them into thinking they are other types of cells, changing their gene expression and behavior.
Researchers aim to identify electrical activity in brain consolidation and test targeted brain stimulation to strengthen memories. The study could advance understanding of neural mechanisms involved in memory formation, potentially benefiting people with Alzheimer's disease.
A team of Rutgers physicians successfully treated a 5-year-old girl with anti-NMDAR encephalitis, a rare brain disorder, using blood plasma exchanges. The treatment, which involved nearly a dozen exchanges, led to the child's full recovery, highlighting the potential for late-stage treatment.
Researchers found that actors' brain activity suppressed when hearing their own name during performance, indicating potential impact of theatre training on human brain. The study also investigated interpersonal coordination between actors and found specific brain systems involved in social interactions.
Researchers identified a new clinical syndrome, Neuro-Ocular DAGLA-related Syndrome (NODRS), in children with termination variants in the diacylglycerol lipase alpha (DAGLA) gene. The study found that enzymatic activity was preserved despite mis-localization of the truncated protein.
Researchers found that the brain's defense system is activated during selfless helping behavior, contrary to the long-held idea that empathy drives such actions. The study used fMRI scans to measure brain activity in 49 healthy volunteers who were asked to decide whether to help another person avoid discomfort.
A study finds that functional seizures, a type of non-epileptic seizure, are associated with structural changes in the brain, including thinning in the superior temporal cortex and thickness in the left occipital cortex. These differences can be detected using MRI scans.
Researchers at HSE University used transcranial magnetic stimulation to suppress brain activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, leading to test subjects making less rational decisions. The study provides insight into the mechanisms behind gaming addiction and offers a potential new approach to understanding risky choice.
Researchers found that individuals who underwent hemispherectomy surgery at a young age can still recognize differences between pairs of words or faces with remarkable accuracy. The study, published in PNAS, sheds light on brain plasticity and its limitations.
A new theory by UMass Amherst sleep scientist Rebecca Spencer suggests that young children's brain development, not age, determines when and why they stop napping. The hippocampus, a memory area of the brain, plays a critical role in nap transitions.
A new study published in iScience found that humans tend to follow a two-step process when in a crowd, with an initial reflexive imitation followed by a more deliberate strategic decision. The research suggests this influence affects not only social norms but also immediate actions and underlies behaviors such as rioting and mass panic.
A study of nearly 2,000 children found that those who played video games for three hours per day or more performed better on cognitive skills tests involving impulse control and working memory. The researchers observed higher brain activity in regions associated with attention and memory, suggesting that practicing tasks related to imp...
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have made a breakthrough in understanding schizophrenia by analyzing individual brain cells. The study identified specific neurons and networks affected by the disease, suggesting that targeting these areas could lead to new treatment options.
Researchers used transcranial ultrasound stimulation to confirm the anterior prefrontal-putamen circuit's role in stopping inappropriate responses. The circuit involves the right hemisphere's inferior frontal cortex, presupplementary motor area, and subthalamic nucleus.
A University of Exeter graduate has discovered a new, animal-free method to create human neuron-like cells for studying brain development. The breakthrough could lead to better treatments for brain disorders and improve human quality of life.
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin discovered that quantum computation may be used by the human brain, correlating with short-term memory performance and conscious awareness. This finding could enhance our understanding of brain functions and potentially lead to innovative technologies.
A new study by University of Essex researcher Constantina Maltezou-Papastylianou found that older adults are less accurate than younger adults in detecting emotions from speech. This decline is associated with natural changes in the brain as we age, affecting understanding and interpretation of emotional cues.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital identified ganglioside GM2 activator (GM2A) as a protein that may contribute to Alzheimer's disease progression. The protein reduces neuronal firing and induces loss of neurite integrity, suggesting its potential role in AD pathogenesis.
Researchers identified a kinase molecule that directs microglia activity, potentially treating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and MS. The molecule, called spleen tyrosine kinase, targets plaque buildup and debris accumulation in the brain.
A study found that nicotine from a single cigarette reduces estrogen production in women's brains, which may explain their greater resistance to quitting smoking. The effect was observed in the thalamus, part of the limbic system involved in behavioral responses.
A VUB study has mapped the immune system's response to brain infections, revealing that resident macrophages play a key role in defending against pathogens. The researchers found that blood-derived immune cells can eliminate parasites, but may retain 'memory' of past infections, altering their ability to respond to future insults.
Researchers created living brain cells in a dish that can perform goal-directed tasks and adapt to changes, opening doors for new understanding of brain function. The study also raises possibilities for alternative animal testing and biomimetic research.
A Baycrest study found that the gut microbiome plays a role in how diet and exercise affect brain health and dementia risk. Lifestyle interventions like Mediterranean-style diets can improve cognition and promote healthier microbiomes.
A recent study led by Dr. Luis Cuello and Alain J. Labro found that a known Shaker channel mutation differs structurally from its human counterparts, with implications for drug development and ion transport mechanisms. The research reveals a unique conformation of the W434F mutant that is distinct from wild-type channels.
The Keck School of Medicine's Stevens INI has received a nearly $2 million grant to upgrade its storage system, increasing its capacity to handle vast amounts of brain imaging data. This will enable the lab to maximize scientific productivity and fulfill its promise to collaborate with researchers globally.
Researchers found positive correlations between lipoxin A4 and cognitive brain functions, as well as its potential to potentiate the endocannabinoid system. The study suggests that reducing levels of this substance may weaken the body's defenses against neurodegeneration.
A study found that infant brains can reorganize language abilities to the right side of the brain after a stroke in the left hemisphere. Participants showed consistent pattern of language activation on the right hemisphere, regardless of damage extent.
Scientists have developed a new method to study human brain development by growing millimetre-sized three-dimensional tissues called organoids from pluripotent stem cells. The researchers characterized the cells in molecular-genetic terms, creating a kind of map showing the molecular fingerprint of each cell within the organoid.
A new study at the Turku PET Centre discovered that shorter daylight hours increase opioid receptor levels in brown fat of rats. This complements previous findings on day length modulating opioid receptor levels in brain emotional circuits.
A study found impairments in the prefrontal cortex-habenula circuit, critical for regulating executive functions and reward, in people with cocaine or heroin addiction. The circuit's microstructural features were analyzed using diffusion MRI tractography, revealing reduced coherence in white matter fibers.
Researchers have developed brain-like organoids that can be tested experimentally to uncover cellular and molecular causes of autism. The organoids, grown in a dish from human cells, self-organize into layers of cells reminiscent of the cerebral cortex, allowing scientists to study how complex neural structures arise.