Articles tagged with Human Brain
Researchers have discovered that marine snails and humans share identical cellular mechanisms for learning and memory, which could lead to breakthroughs in understanding age-related memory loss and developing interventions for people with memory disorders. The study may also shed light on the role of protein synthesis in long-term memory.
Researchers found asymmetries in KNOB and language brain region correspond to right- and left-handedness, challenging previous theory of human-chimpanzee brain differences. The Yerkes National Primate Research Center is a leader in biomedical and behavioral studies involving nonhuman primates.
A recent study by University of Wisconsin-Madison scientists has identified a brain protein called transthyretin that appears to protect brain cells from toxic beta-amyloid, which contributes to Alzheimer's disease. The findings suggest that boosting transthyretin levels in the brain could be a promising approach to treating the disease.
Researchers at University College London found that humans use a strategy similar to barn owls for sound pitches above middle-C, while gerbils adapt to detect low-pitched sounds. The study suggests the brain adopts an efficient strategy to locate sound sources, adapting to different frequencies.
Researchers found that genes critical for learning and memory are reduced in older brains, while those associated with stress and repair mechanisms are elevated. These changes suggest that gene damage may be contributing to age-related cognitive decline.
Researchers at MIT have discovered that the human brain can recognize faces in blurry images when surrounded by contextual clues, such as a body. This finding has significant implications for the development of better machine vision systems and may also shed light on neurological conditions like autism.
A UCLA study finds that FoxP1 and FoxP2 genes shared by humans and songbirds may play a critical role in human speech and speech disorders. The study suggests that understanding these genes could lead to new medications for speech disorders.
Rutgers-Newark has received a powerful computer grant, which will enable researchers to analyze brain activity more efficiently. The new supercomputing cluster allows for faster processing of massive amounts of data generated by human brain scans.
A small region in the frontal lobe is selectively activated when an individual intends to make a particular action. This finding helps explain why individuals with frontal lobe damage often have problems making decisions and act impulsively.
Scientists discovered microscopic differences in minicolumns, a group of brain cells involved in language, between humans and non-human primates. These findings suggest that the human brain is organized differently than its primate counterparts, which may explain the complexity of human communication.
A new study published in the Journal of Behavioral Neuroscience found that extraverts show greater brain reactivity to positive images compared to introverts. The researchers used fMRI to measure brain responses to negative and positive images, and found associations between personality traits and neural activity in response to emotion...
Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center found that the right hemisphere helps people recognize themselves in pictures. The study used morphed images blending a patient's face with famous faces and showed that patients' right brains could recognize their own faces even when anesthetized, but not when only the left brain was ...
A new study by Brookhaven National Laboratory researchers shows that Ritalin significantly increases dopamine levels in the brain, stimulating attention and motivational circuits. This increase in dopamine leads to improved focus and completion of tasks, making it an effective treatment for ADHD.
A Johns Hopkins Children's Center study failed to link autistic children's sensory fixation to brain damage, contradicting long-held theories. The study found that the cerebellum's balance regulation function operates normally in high-functioning autistic children.
A new brain imaging study found the thalamus, a key sensory filter, is smaller than normal in people with schizophrenia from its earliest stages. This may explain why individuals experience confusion during their illness due to impaired information processing and overload in certain brain regions.
A recent study published in Neurology has imaged language areas of the brain during recovery from stroke, providing insights into normal language processes and potential therapy optimizations. Researchers found that areas on the right side of the brain contribute to language recovery after left-side damage.
Researchers from UCSD and Japan have identified a new gene called NUDEL, which plays a critical role in regulating the function of motor-molecules that transport cellular cargo within cells. This discovery sheds light on how neurons in the developing brain become wired and provides insights into neurodegenerative diseases.
A Princeton scientist created a computer model of a mouse brain that can recognize spoken words, challenging conventional views on sensory perception. The model uses sensitive timing of electrical signals to perform calculations, potentially leading to faster and more sophisticated brain functions.
Researchers found a set of neurons in the supplementary eye field that react when an individual realizes they made a mistake, shedding light on self-control and cognitive processes. This discovery has implications for understanding schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and psychopathic behavior.
The University of Washington has established a $35.5 million center for mind, brain and learning to conduct innovative research on early brain and behavioral development. The center, in partnership with Talaris Research Institute, will focus on five major themes: brain plasticity, brain-behavior links, nature-nurture, computer vs. biol...
Researchers found a specific protein, OX2, that controls inflammation in the brain. OX2 deficiency may lead to chronic brain inflammation, associated with Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and AIDS-related dementia.
A study published by Indiana University School of Medicine found that men and women process language in different ways, with men using only the left side of their brain. The research may have implications for understanding how men and women recover from stroke and brain tumors, as well as improving imaging technologies.
Eight-month-old babies demonstrate ability to bind attributes to form a whole object, as seen in the Kanizsa Square test. This skill, previously thought to develop later in childhood, reveals insights into early infant development and cognitive processing.
A study published in Nature reveals that individual neurons in the human medial temporal lobe selectively alter their firing rates depending on the stimulus the subjects imagined. This discovery sheds new light on how the 'mind's eye' works, providing insight into the neural mechanisms underlying visual recall and imagery.
The Yale School of Medicine has launched a new center to study hypoglycemia, led by Dr. Robert Sherwin and Dr. Douglas Rothman. Researchers will use various technologies to investigate the causes and solutions for hypoglycemia, aiming to prevent severe episodes.
Researchers at UC Berkeley found that contract bridge players have increased numbers of immune cells after a game, suggesting a link between brain activity and the immune system. The study suggests that voluntary activities like bridge may help control white blood cell levels to combat disease.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have discovered how the brain prepares to solve problems. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) becomes active when a person is getting ready to perform a task, and its activation is associated with representing and maintaining attentional demands.
Researchers used fMRI scans to identify whether participants were imagining faces or places, achieving an accuracy rate of 85% in some trials. The study has implications for understanding the minds of individuals unable to communicate due to injuries or disorders.
A new obesity treatment program has resulted in sustained weight loss for six years by developing two fundamental internal skills: self-nurturing and effective limit setting. Participants lost an average of 13 pounds in the first 12 weeks and continued to lose weight after treatment ended.
A Yale University study found that premature infants have smaller brains than full-term babies, with significant differences in brain volume and cortical regions. The study's findings suggest a link between prematurity, brain development, and cognitive outcomes.
Researchers found distinct differences in brain activity between responders and non-responders to fluoxetine, with widespread chain of events kicking in across multiple brain regions over time. The study identified critical brain areas that appear to be 'switches' controlling the direction of treatment response.
Research at the University of Michigan found a 30% higher concentration of signaling cells in people with bipolar disorder, which could explain and treat manic depression. The discovery highlights the disorder's genetic and biological roots, offering new avenues for understanding and treatment.
Researchers used fMRI to probe the roots of a longstanding hypothesis in memory research. They found that recalling sensory-specific experiences activates brain regions responsible for processing those experiences. However, they also discovered that high-level perception areas are selectively reactivated during remembering, suggesting ...
University of Maryland researchers successfully created a new brain circuit that takes over damaged vision functions in newborn hamsters. The study suggests that surgically created neural pathways might one day be used to treat brain damage and restore lost functions like vision or hearing.
Research found that prenatal brains metabolize alcohol differently than adult brains, leading to a rapid accumulation of toxic acetaldehyde. The study suggests that drinking alcoholic beverages during pregnancy can be particularly damaging to the fetus, especially the fetal brain.
Researchers found that amygdala activity levels are related to unconscious social evaluation, but not conscious attitudes. The study used fMRI to examine the role of the amygdala in racial evaluation and found a significant link between neural activity and implicit race bias.
Researchers found a dramatic reduction in hypocretin neurons in people with narcolepsy, suggesting a potential link to neurodegenerative processes or autoimmune responses. The study suggests that replacing missing hypocretin cells may reverse symptoms of the disorder, paving the way for new treatment options.
A recent study found that older women with high natural estrogen levels are less likely to suffer cognitive decline. The researchers measured free estrogen and loosely bound forms of the hormone, finding a 70% lower risk of cognitive decline in those with the highest levels.
Researchers have developed a new method to measure alcohol concentrations directly in the human brain using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). This technique allows scientists to study the physical interactions between alcohol and brain membranes, providing insights into the biological basis of alcohol abuse.
Researchers used Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) to track water molecules in the brain, revealing damage to white matter that affects message transmission within neurons. The study links this damage to neurocognitive deficits in detoxified chronic alcoholics.
Researchers have connected lesions on the dorsal pons with multiple cases of musical hallucinations, a rare disorder where patients hear music in their mind. The study describes a quick onset of hallucinations without long-term hearing loss and sheds light on the condition's causes.
A University of Wisconsin-Madison study finds that a breakdown in the brain's regulatory system is linked to impulsive violent behavior, with common neurological threads found in areas controlling negative emotions. The research opens a new avenue for studying and possibly treating violence and aggression.
A recent study has found that long-term Ecstasy use can lead to a significant decrease in serotonin levels in the brain. The research, published by the American Academy of Neurology, reveals that Ecstasy users experience a massive release and depletion of serotonin, which can contribute to behavioral problems such as depression.
A team of neuroscientists, led by University of Chicago neurologist John Milton, partnered with LPGA professionals to investigate how the brain manages complex physical tasks. They used functional MRI to study how professional golfers prepare to swing a club and how their brains acquire new skills.
Researchers pinpointed the time it takes for the human brain to signal fullness and identified areas involved in eating. The study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to record activity changes in neurons, finding a connection between brain activity and traditional biochemical indicators like glucose and insulin levels.
Researchers found that ERT increased blood flow to areas involved in memory formation, such as the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus. The study suggests ERT may lower susceptibility to age-related memory problems and Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins found that using both cocaine and alcohol increases the risk of brain damage. The study showed that cocaine use can lower the amount of alcohol needed to impair cognitive abilities, while heavy drinking impairs executive functions.
University of Wisconsin researchers discover that environmental cues associated with drug use can produce profound molecular changes in brain circuits linked to learning and decision-making. The study suggests that long-term changes may persist in critical areas, particularly in people who self-administered drugs for long periods of time.
This study compares the effects of moderate alcohol consumption (equivalent to three glasses of wine) with that of the benzodiazepine drug Ativan, using PET scans. Researchers found that alcohol induces larger decrements in the basal ganglia and is perceived as more stimulating and reinforcing than Ativan.
Researchers from Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School have made a groundbreaking discovery that existing brain cells can replenish dead counterparts, potentially treating degenerative brain diseases. The study found that nerve cells in the cerebral cortex can be induced to heal themselves through a process called neuronal rep...
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that the human brain employs surprising economies of effort in problem-solving by minimizing mental workload. The study used fMRI scans to identify brain activation patterns for verbal and visual thinking strategies.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have created a stealth-like molecule called BSB that can effectively breach the blood-brain barrier and bind to amyloid plaques, enabling visualization using PET or SPECT imaging. This breakthrough paves the way for the refinement of BSB as a diagnostic tool for Alzheimer...
A novel treatment for dyslexia significantly improves reading skills in children and shows brain changes as they learn. The study's findings suggest that with the right instruction, dyslexic brains can become more efficient at processing language, leading to improved reading abilities.
Volunteers use virtual reality helmet and computer program to take actions like turning on TV or stereo by simply wishing it so, in breakthrough study that may someday enable patients with extreme paralysis to regain control of their surroundings
New antidepressant guidelines suggest both older and newer medications are effective in treating depression. A population-based study found that overweight women are less likely to receive screening for cervical and breast cancer, despite higher mortality rates from these cancers.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University found that neurons in adult monkey brains grow and form new connections in somatosensory areas after amputation or spinal cord injury, suggesting a link to phantom limb syndrome. This discovery may lead to treatment options for phantom limb pain and potentially repair severed spinal cord injuries.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School found a genetic protein that influences the brain's body map, contradicting previous thinking that neural input from the body's periphery shapes it. The discovery raises questions about individual differences in sensory function and potential genetic basis for variations in brain organization.
Recent UI studies found that frequent marijuana users have substantially lower blood flow to certain parts of their brains, indicating altered brain function. However, smoking the illicit drug does not affect brain size or structure, contradicting previous claims.
A University of Colorado study identified deposits of beta amyloid in the brains of wild, aging landlocked salmon, sparking new ideas about human aging and Alzheimer's disease. The study found that while brain regions responsible for memory and navigation were affected, other areas continued to function normally.
Researchers found that the inferior parietal lobule is smaller in people with schizophrenia and 'built backward' from normal patterns in men. This abnormality may account for symptoms of distorted reality in schizophrenic patients.