Articles tagged with Human Brain
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 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 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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Researchers have found that individuals with schizophrenia have significantly lower levels of reelin in their brains, suggesting a potential molecular origin for the condition. The discovery has important implications for treatment and may lead to new therapeutic strategies.
Dr. Bushnell's laboratory uses human brain imaging techniques to study pain, finding four key brain regions involved in the experience. Activity in these regions is linked to emotional responses to pain, suggesting that psychological state can alter its perception.
Researchers at University of Maryland School of Medicine identified zonulin and zot proteins in human brain that regulate the blood-brain barrier. This discovery could lead to new treatments for brain disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and HIV infection.
Aging affects dopamine levels, leading to decreased glucose metabolism and brain activity in regions related to cognition. This finding may help develop interventions for age-related cognitive decline.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins have discovered striking differences in the inferior parietal lobule (IPL) between men and women, which may explain well-known trends such as more men exceling in math and physics. The study found that men have a larger IPL overall and on their left side, while women have a larger right IPL.
Researchers found that chronic alcohol abuse in late adulthood damages Purkinje neurons by reducing message traffic between neurons, but the damage is mostly reversible. The study also suggests a connection between alcohol-induced brain changes and abnormal movements seen in alcoholics, such as unsteady gait and tremors.
For the first time, researchers have produced three-dimensional images of Alzheimer's disease plaques. The milestone was made possible by combining high-resolution magnetic resonance microscopy with powerful computers. The technique allows for non-invasive detection and study of plaque development in human and animal brain tissue.
Researchers at UCSF have identified a new chemical pathway in the brain involved in regulating mood, which may improve treatment for depression. The study found that popular antidepressants like Prozac and Zoloft increase the synthesis of a key neurosteroid, potentially providing a new target for mood-regulating drugs.
Researchers have found that a biochemical storm triggered by traumatic brain injury can continue for at least a month, suggesting the need for extended treatment. This discovery challenges current thinking on treatment windows and highlights the importance of understanding the complex interactions between calpains and brain tissue damage.
Researchers discover that older adults' brains reorganize themselves to recall visual information, bypassing damaged neural circuits. This adaptation allows them to maintain relatively good memory function despite aging, according to a new study published in Current Biology.
Researchers found that adult monkeys have new neurons added to their cerebral cortex, reversing a dogma nearly a century old. This discovery suggests new ways of explaining how the mind accomplishes basic functions, such as problem-solving and learning.
A new study by University of Washington researchers reveals that dyslexic children use significantly more brain area and energy while performing simple language tasks. The findings provide new evidence that dyslexia is a brain-based disorder and shed light on its developmental mechanisms.
A groundbreaking study reveals differences in the human brain's neural architecture compared to apes and monkeys. Researchers found a uniquely human feature in the magnocellular pathway of the primary visual cortex, which may help understand diseases like dyslexia.
Scientists at OHSU have discovered a mechanism in the brain that controls weight, named the adipostat, which acts as a fat thermostat. The discovery could lead to medications that help regulate patient weight and prevent excessive caloric intake.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have discovered that Fragile X syndrome affects dendritic spine development in the brain, leading to impaired protein synthesis and maturation. This process is fundamental to normal brain development and may hold clues to understanding the cause of mental impairment.
Researchers developed a technique to visualize nerve fiber bundles in the living human brain, providing detailed maps of connections between different areas. This study may lead to improvements in brain surgery, diagnosis, and understanding of neurological diseases, such as schizophrenia.
Researchers have correctly predicted dyslexia in 8-year-olds from brain waves just hours after birth, suggesting earlier detection could reduce reading problems. The study suggests selective damage to nerves in the fetal brain may cause dyslexia and that early intervention could be beneficial.
Researchers developed a new imaging technique to identify abnormal blood vessels in the brain, improving diagnosis and treatment of related conditions. The 'high resolution BOLD venography' method revealed detailed information on blood vessel malformations in nine out of ten patients.
A study found that higher education levels are associated with more severe brain shrinkage in older adults, yet this does not lead to significant memory loss or cognitive impairment. The 'reserve hypothesis' suggests that education provides a protective effect against age-related mental decline.
Researchers developed a method to identify high-risk individuals with Parkinson's disease using SPECT brain imaging and beta CIT radiopharmaceutical. They differentiated between Parkinson's patients and controls, as well as relatives of Parkinson's patients, with reduced drug binding.
Researchers captured images of brain activity while students learned an associative task on a computer, revealing a network of brain activation. The study confirms that learning and awareness involve multiple regions acting in concert, contradicting the traditional view of the prefrontal cortex as sole responsible.
Scientists at Brandeis University and Children's Hospital Boston used video games to study the brain's sense of direction in teenagers with severe epilepsy. They found that theta oscillations, a special type of brain wave, play a crucial role in spatial learning and navigation.
Researchers found that the brain region critical for face perception is also active when humans become expert in recognizing novel objects, contradicting the idea of separate brain mechanisms. The study used functional magnetic resonance imaging to test adults on identifying greebles, a class of complex three-dimensional objects.
Scientists at the University of Michigan used spatial illusion to study how the brain processes sound. By analyzing neural activity in cats and humans, researchers found that the auditory systems use similar spectral characteristics to determine sound locations.
Caffeine in coffee can cross the fetal blood-brain barrier, triggering seizures in newborns. Oxygen starvation during delivery also plays a role, as it disrupts normal neuronal function.
Researchers successfully transplanted neural stem cells into mice with severe tremors caused by demyelinating disorders. The transplanted cells matured into oligodendrocytes, producing myelin and covering nearby nerve fibers, resulting in reduced disease symptoms.
HHMI researchers found a molecule called lynx1 in the brain of mice that is similar to a major component of deadly snake toxins. Lynx1 may be involved in pathways linked to memory and muscle function.
Researchers found a functional abnormality in the brain's sound processing region in adults with dyslexia, contributing to difficulties in early speech and language learning. This deficit affects the ability to process rapidly successive sounds, leading to weaknesses in reading skills.
A new study reveals that women have a higher proportion of gray matter to cranial volume than men, while men have more white matter and cerebrospinal fluid. This difference is associated with sex differences in cognitive performance, particularly in spatial tasks.
A study by NIH/NINDS scientists mapped a specific brain region responsible for human multitasking behavior, identifying the fronto-polar prefrontal cortex (FPPC) as the key area. This finding suggests that humans have a unique ability to switch between tasks while maintaining working memory and attentional focus.
Researchers confirm two-mode theory of mathematical thinking, locating it in the brain. Bilingual volunteers show sharp language-dependent lag in exact calculations, but not in estimates. The findings may lead to new teaching methods for children who struggle with numbers.
Researchers found a reciprocal relationship between emotional and cognitive areas of the brain in depressed individuals, with blood flow decreasing in cortical regions and increasing in limbic regions. The study provides new insights into the neural interplay between mood and cognition in depression.