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.
A new study reveals that human frontal cortex development follows a similar trajectory to that of other primates. The research analyzed brain structure and behavioral markers in humans, chimpanzees, mice, and macaques, finding that the three species show consistent patterns of brain maturation.
Researchers identified two distinct types of uncertainty affecting human anticipatory behavior: whether an event will occur and when it will happen. The brain dynamically adjusts its readiness to respond based on separate probability estimates of these two uncertainties, allowing for more accurate predictions in real-time.
Biologists found that plasticisers bisphenol A and bisphenol S disrupt nerve cell communication in fish brains. They warn of similar effects on human brains, highlighting the need for alternative plasticisers.
Using human brain organoid models, researchers demonstrate various viruses cause microcephaly through different mechanisms. ZIKV and HSV-1 infections impair neuroepithelial identity and attenuate Type I interferon responses.
A new study found that modern human-like brains evolved comparatively late in the genus Homo and after their first African dispersal. The research analyzed fossilized skulls to discover that early humans retained primitive brain organization until later innovations allowed for unique behaviors and abilities.
The modern human brain is believed to have originated in Africa around 1.7 million years ago, with significant advancements in brain structure and function occurring during this time frame. The study used CT scans to analyze fossil skulls and compared them to those of great apes and humans.
The film IN SILICO chronicles the ambitious quest to simulate the human brain on supercomputers, exposing controversy and ego in the scientific process. It encourages critical evaluation of brain research and technology, highlighting the need for a more nuanced approach to neuroscience.
A new study reveals the genetic mechanism behind human brain development, identifying a key molecule called ZEB2 that influences brain growth. The research found that human brain organoids grow larger and have more neurons than those from other apes due to a delayed change in cell shape.
Researchers found that certain genes in inflammatory cells called glial cells increased their activity and grew longer appendages after death. This discovery challenges current understanding of post-mortem gene expression and cell activity, which may impact research on disorders like autism, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease.
Scientists have developed a novel technology combining 3-D bioelectronic systems with human neural cultures to study brain development and repair. The device can record electrical activity, manipulate neural activity using light pulses, and perform optogenetic experiments.
A team of RIT researchers is working on developing an artificial intelligence system that can learn over time and play the popular video game Starcraft II. This project has the potential to advance practical solutions such as self-driving cars, service robots, and other real-world applications.
Flat brain organoids grown on 3D-printed scaffolds show intrinsic gyrification, increasing size and surface-to-volume ratio and offering potential for biologically relevant systems. The results overcome shape limitations of previous spherical models, enabling consistent formation of neuroepithelial folding.
Scientists have found a way to reduce energy consumption in deep neural networks, paving the way for more efficient AI hardware. The approach uses simple electrical impulses instead of complex numerical values, maintaining high accuracy.
A new paper warns of the dangers of large language models, which can perpetuate racist ideologies and cause significant environmental degradation. The models' huge computational needs also restrict access to smaller developers, leaving out marginalized communities.
Researchers developed a nanoprinted AI optical circuit that processes information at the speed of light without power consumption. The circuit's neural density is comparable to human brain density, enabling efficient processing of near-infrared inference on CMOS chips.
An artificial neural network called MotionNet has provided new insights into human motion perception, revealing common optical illusions like phi and reverse-phi motion. The system shows that neurons are tuned to the direction of movement, leading to mistakes in perception.
Researchers have grown human stem cell-derived organoids in a lab dish that matured in sync with the timeline of human development, replicating key aspects of normal human development. The study provides a framework for assessing how well in vitro models model in vivo development and function.
A high-resolution 3D chromatin structure map of the macaque fetal brain has been constructed, revealing human-specific chromatin structural changes. These changes include 499 human-specific TADs and 1266 human-specific loops, which are enriched with enhancer-enhancer interactions.
Scientists are developing a 'brain on a chip' technology using human brain stem cells to solve complex problems, aiming to revolutionize machine learning. The Neu-ChiP project has the potential to break through current limitations of processing power and energy consumption.
A team of researchers has identified a functional 'rich club' of brain regions that orchestrate the global workspace, a concept proposed by psychologist Bernard Baars in 1988. The study, published in Nature Human Behavior, used fMRI data from over 1,000 participants to reveal unique brain regions coordinating information from various s...
A recent study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine found that SARS-CoV-2 can directly infect brain cells, leading to devastating consequences such as localized ischemia and cell death. The researchers also discovered that the virus's ability to invade the central nervous system may be related to its neurological symptoms.
Researchers have discovered turbulent-like dynamics in the human brain using fMRI, suggesting a new way to analyze and model whole-brain dynamics. This finding could lead to improved mental health treatments for neuropsychiatric diseases.
Researchers at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg aim to understand brain cognitive potential, variability, and neurobiological processes that prevent full utilization. The goal is to develop interventions improving cognitive performance in healthy individuals and those with hidden disease processes.
Researchers at the Salk Institute have created a computational model of brain activity that simulates how humans adapt to new situations. The model, which incorporates the concept of 'gating' to control information flow, outperforms previous models and mimics human mistakes seen in patients with prefrontal cortex damage. This breakthro...
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a breakthrough optical sensor that can mimic the human eye's ability to perceive changes in its visual field. The sensor uses ultrathin layers of perovskite semiconductors to detect light intensity changes, enabling it to prioritize signals from photoreceptors detecting movement.
Researchers study the role of memristors in neuromorphic computing to mimic biological brain architectures. Memristor devices can memorize current to reduce device size and increase processing speed.
A study by researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center discovered that people's brain activity and organization differ when reimagining common scenarios, leading to distinct neurological signatures. These signatures can help understand and study disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers developed a new electronic chip that brings together imaging, processing, machine learning, and memory in one device powered by light. The prototype achieves brain-like functionality and can be used to enable smarter and smaller autonomous technologies like drones and robotics.
A multidisciplinary team has successfully visualized superficial white matter in living human brains using high-field MRI. The study reveals that this region contains significant amounts of iron, necessary for myelination, which can occur throughout lifespan but is predominant during development.
Researchers review 'multi-state memory' data storage technology that stores more than just 0s and 1s, enabling high-density storage and fast access. The technology has the potential to enhance storage density without scaling down device dimensions.
Researchers used fMRI to compare brain activity in humans and dogs while watching videos of other animals. Dog brains showed no face-specific activation, unlike humans, but did display species preference for viewing a dog over a human.
A recent study published in The Journal of Neuroscience has revealed striking similarities and differences in how dog and human brains process visual information about others. Researchers used fMRI to compare brain activity patterns between twenty dogs and thirty humans, finding both analogous and divergent patterns of species- and fac...
Researchers at the University of Helsinki developed a technique that models visual perception by monitoring human brain signals, allowing computers to generate new information and create images matching users' intentions. The accuracy of this method was 83% in an experiment where participants focused on certain features.
The Human Brain Project is launching a new webinar series called 'Brain Matters', featuring hour-long sessions on different areas of brain research. Expert speakers will share their knowledge on the HBP's scientific achievements and the state-of-the-art infrastructure for brain research, EBRAINS.
Researchers are using multidisciplinary approaches, cutting-edge imaging technologies, and cyber resources to study synaptic weight and its effects on the brain. The team aims to determine what factors shape synaptic structures and function, shedding light on basic understanding of the brain.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute successfully precisely influenced a single area of the brain by inhibiting its rhythm, decreasing functional connectivity and information exchange with other networks. This precise control enables potential therapeutic applications for diseases caused by disturbed brain functions.
Researchers at Tohoku University and the University of Gothenburg developed a novel voltage-controlled spintronic oscillator capable of closely imitating non-linear oscillatory neural networks. The technology allows for strong tuning with negligible energy consumption, enabling efficient training of large neural networks.
A new study reveals that dog brains, like human brains, process speech in a hierarchical manner, with intonation processed at lower stages and word meanings at higher stages. The research used functional MRI to measure brain activity in awake dogs while they listened to praise words and unknown neutral words in different tones.
The EBRAINS human brain atlas is a comprehensive digital map of the cellular architecture, showcasing 250 structurally distinct areas based on analysis of 10 brains. This atlas enables researchers to better understand brain functions and mechanisms of diseases.
A NIH study found consistent sex-based differences in cortical volume across 2,000 brain scans, which correspond with patterns of sex-chromosome gene expression. These findings suggest that genetic mechanisms, including those on the X and Y sex chromosomes, may influence sex differences in brain anatomy.
Lehigh University researchers have developed a new complex material design strategy for potential use in neuromorphic computing, using metallocene intercalation in hafnium disulfide (HfS2). The work demonstrates the effectiveness of functionalizing a 2D material with an organic molecule, achieving high tunability and energy efficiency.
A new pre-clinical study identified genes linked with the development of brain folds in the grey matter of the brain. The research found differences in genetic expression and neuron shape during the folding process, which can lead to cognitive deficits and neurological conditions such as autism and schizophrenia.
Researchers developed a computational model to analyze brain activity in different states of consciousness, from wakefulness to deep sleep. The study found that the brain's functional segregation into systems with distinct activation patterns during cognition.
The Human Brain Project is entering its final phase with a focus on advancing three core scientific areas: brain networks, consciousness, and artificial neural nets. EBRAINS infrastructure will provide researchers with a comprehensive atlas and database, as well as powerful computing and simulation tools.
A study by University of Pennsylvania researchers found that different types of networks share a similar underlying structure that allows them to convey large amounts of information efficiently. The balance between community and heterogeneous structures is key to creating information-rich but easy-to-interpret networks.
Researchers mapped 88,047 individual cells across 33 brain regions in humans, chimpanzees, macaques, and bonobos to identify distinctive brain regions that underwent faster evolution. The study found differences in gene expression between human oligodendrocytes and astrocytes compared to other primates.
Researchers found that human brains replay neural firing patterns experienced while awake during sleep, supporting the idea of memory consolidation. The study used intracortical microelectrode arrays to record neuronal activity in two participants playing a sequence-copying game before and after sleep.
Researchers created 3D brain-region specific spheroids to study complex developmental processes and neuropsychiatric diseases. The spheroids can be connected to form fused structures called brain assembloids, allowing for the investigation of inaccessible developmental processes.
A RIKEN research team developed a new 3D staining technique that can visualize whole organs and bodies. The technique allows for detailed anatomical analysis and whole-organ comparisons between species at the cellular level.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a novel source imaging technology using high-density EEG to map underlying brain networks. This breakthrough can accurately estimate the size and scope of active areas within the brain, as well as interactions between functionally related regions.
A new research project called SpinAge aims to develop a neuromorphic computer system that can mimic the human brain's synapses and neurons, increasing computer performance by up to 100,000 times. The project, coordinated by Aarhus University, seeks to reduce energy consumption in current computing systems by at least a factor of 100.
A new study by Yale University researchers found that genetic variations can trigger functional changes in the brain before birth, during early childhood, and later in life. The study analyzed DNA and RNA data from 176 tissue samples across various developmental stages, revealing age-specific effects of genetic variants on brain function.
A new study published in Science Advances used CT-scanning technology to view fossil skulls of Australopithecus afarensis and shed light on the evolution of brain organization and growth. The research reveals that while Lucy's species had an ape-like brain structure, the brain took longer to reach adult size.
Researchers from NUS Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative create a highly energy-efficient molecular system that achieves optimal digital in-memory computing. The invention enables charge disproportionation or electronic symmetry breaking, overcoming decades-long material systems bottleneck.
An international team of scientists has launched a comprehensive overview of all proteins expressed in the human brain, published in Science. The Brain Atlas resource offers medical researchers an unprecedented resource to deepen their understanding of neurobiology.
Researchers have discovered a neuron-like electrical switching mechanism in solid-state material β'-CuxV2O5, enabling the creation of circuitry that functions like the human brain. The team's findings showcase the potential for neuromorphic computing to improve energy efficiency and address global computing demands.
Researchers measured brain asymmetry in humans and great apes, finding a shared pattern in brain shape and connectivity. Humans exhibited greater variability in brain asymmetry than expected, suggesting increased functional modularization.
Scientists have identified recurring patterns in brain neurons that can be used to explain their behavior and function, paving the way for creating artificial intelligence that mimics the human brain. By understanding these patterns, researchers aim to develop new treatments for neurological disorders and improve current technology.
Researchers developed a quantum reinforcement learning framework to explain human decision-making behaviors, revealing a quantum-like neural mechanism. This breakthrough suggests that the human brain functions similarly to quantum systems, with potential implications for machine learning efficiency.
Dendritic action potentials amplify human brain computational power, enabling single neurons to solve complex problems previously thought to require multi-layer neural networks. The investigation reveals a new class of dendritic calcium action potentials in L2/3 neurons.