Articles tagged with Human Brain
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.
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.
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.
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.
Researchers use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study children's brain development and identify language centers. The non-invasive test shows that children as young as 7 years old rely on the left hemisphere for language, similar to adults.
Estrogen therapy has been shown to alter brain activation patterns in postmenopausal women, increasing activation in areas associated with verbal memory and registration, similar to younger adults. The study used fMRI technology to observe changes in brain function while performing memory tasks.
The Emory-led WASID study aims to compare the effectiveness of warfarin and aspirin in preventing stroke and vascular death in patients with intracranial stenosis. The five-year trial will evaluate 806 high-risk patients at 50 sites across North America.
A new study found that individuals with right anterior frontal damage struggle to appreciate written and verbal jokes and funny cartoons. Instead, they prefer silly slapstick humor, which is often illogical and absurd, such as The Three Stooges.
Researchers discovered that children of alcoholics have lower natural opioid activity in the brain, making them more susceptible to addiction. This difference may alter the brain's reward pathway and response to stress, increasing vulnerability to alcoholism.
Researchers found distinct brain activity patterns in introverts and extroverts using PET scans. Introverts exhibit more internal processing, while extroverts show increased sensory processing.
Researchers have found a secondary barrier in the brain that prevents certain drugs from reaching tumors and neurological disorders. The barrier is called the basement membrane and traps stealth agents while allowing others to pass through, highlighting challenges for gene therapy and drug delivery.
Researchers found that changes in the brain characteristic of Alzheimer's disease begin years before clinical symptoms like memory loss. The study used brain tissue from over 60 subjects, including healthy individuals and those with dementia, to identify amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
Research suggests that people with E-4 variant of the apo gene are at high risk for developing Alzheimer's disease and vascular diseases. The study found significant differences in brain volume and white matter abnormalities between those with and without the gene variant, suggesting a link to silent strokes and cognitive decline.
A new 10-point system helps neurologists determine if clot-dissolving therapy is safe and effective for stroke patients. The scale assesses brain damage from front to back, providing more accurate diagnosis and treatment decisions.
Researchers have successfully transplanted laboratory-grown neuronal cells into the brains of seven stroke patients, with some showing small improvements in motor skills and speech. The therapy, developed by scientists at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, aims to restore lost motor skills and has been deemed safe so far.
The center has reduced the number of patients having major strokes during bypass surgery to 1%, and less severe injury to 18%, significantly below national averages. The research aims to make a safe operation even safer by exploring additional ways to avoid brain injury.
Researchers have identified a new area for spatial working memory in the human brain, challenging current theories and revealing expanded frontal cortex development. Functional MRI allowed for real-time observation of neural activity, providing new insights into human brain function and evolution.
Researchers mapped brain regions affected by cocaine and found that addiction is linked to the right side of the brain. The study used a powerful brain-imaging technique to map frontal-lobe regions associated with cocaine's effects in 20 cocaine addicts.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have made a groundbreaking discovery that suggests the brain's development may rely on a DNA cutting and pasting process. The study, led by Fred Alt, found that specific proteins involved in recombination are also crucial during brain development, leading to cell death in mice with genetic mutations.
A new international study has identified that small intracranial aneurysms have a very low probability of rupture if the patient has no history of ruptured aneurysms. Patients with these conditions can live a normal lifestyle with minimal risk while monitoring their aneurysm.
Researchers at The Neurosciences Institute propose a new hypothesis, the dynamic core hypothesis, suggesting that consciousness arises from the synchronized activity of large populations of neurons in the cerebral cortex. This approach aims to explain two fundamental properties of conscious states: integration and differentiation.
A UCSF neurologist argues that children require unique treatments for brain disorders, as their developing brains are not miniature versions of adult brains. Researchers need more information about what goes wrong in childhood neurological disorders to develop targeted therapies.
Neuroscientist Michela Gallagher's research reveals that cognitive decline in old age is not caused by dying brain cells, but rather by the natural aging process. The study used rat models to show that neuron losses are confined to populations of cells with limited memory function.
Researchers found a clear difference in brain activation between boys with ADD and those without, specifically in the striatal region involved in motor control. Ritalin improved impulse control in both groups but had different effects on brain activity in those with and without ADD.
A seven-year UF study of 39 Alachua County students found that brain structure, hand preference, and environment all influence reading skills. Children with unusual brain asymmetry were at greater risk for reading failure, even in environments with high literacy stimulation.
Patients with complete blockage of the carotid artery and hemodynamic failure face a six to seven times higher stroke risk. Oxygen metabolism in the brain is crucial to stroke risk, and available treatments offer little alteration to risk.
This September/October 1998 issue of Public Health Reports explores the intersection of neuroscience and early childhood policy, as well as indoor air quality. Scientific contributions include studies on community-based nutrition campaigns, surveillance of injuries, and mortality due to unintentional injuries in the Netherlands.
Research at Washington University in St. Louis uses fMRI to capture images of specific memories as they are formed within the brain. The study found that increased activity in certain brain structures predicts whether information will be retained or forgotten.
Studies in monkeys reveal a neural mechanism for recognizing and sharing meaning through actions, supporting the idea that human speech evolved from ancient gestural communication. Researchers also found similar brain circuits in humans, linking hand movements to Broca's area.
Researchers suggest that traumatic events in preschool years can significantly affect brain development and function. Extensive corrective experiences have been shown to help repair damaged neural connections over time.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center have successfully transplanted lab-grown brain cells into a patient with paralysis and speech loss after a stroke, marking a significant breakthrough in stroke medicine. The study uses tissue grown in the lab to avoid ethical concerns surrounding fetal tissue use.
A unique gel formulation of diazepam has been found to reduce the severity of acute repetitive seizure episodes in both children and adults. The treatment, administered through a Quick-Dose delivery system, protects patients from seizure recurrence and enables caregivers to administer treatment privately.