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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have discovered that brain antibodies may trigger Tourette's syndrome in part by attacking brain nerve cells after a bacterial infection. The study found higher levels of antibodies against proteins in the putamen area of the brain, suggesting a link between infections and Tourette's symptoms.
A new study on the fossilized skull of Mr. Ples, a relative of early humans, throws doubt on previous interpretations of brain evolution. The research suggests that some estimates of brain size in early hominids may be too high and that 3-D digital models can provide accurate measurements.
Henry N. Wagner Jr, a pioneer in nuclear medicine, has been awarded the Cassen Award for his pioneering work on tracking biochemical events within the living body using cyclotron isotopes. His research led to significant discoveries in brain chemistry and addiction, while also informing public health policy on radiation.
Researchers have made significant strides in reducing post-surgical brain deficits by modifying surgical technique and using ultrasound monitors to detect emboli. The team has cut the number of patients experiencing confusion, memory loss, and personality changes after coronary artery bypass surgery.
Researchers have found that a left-handed woman's brain controls reading aloud and speaking with the left side, but writing with the right. This study compares split-brain cases to V.J.'s and suggests that spoken and written language evolved independently.
A Johns Hopkins University undergraduate has located the brain region that processes sounds while people sleep. The frontal lobe responds to both primary and secondary auditory activation, suggesting a role in vigilance functions during sleep.
Researchers found that choline supplementation during pregnancy led to increased memory capability in offspring, as brain circuits were primed to learn and retain new information. This finding has implications for pregnant women and their children, potentially leading to the development of dietary supplements to enhance memory function.
Research at USC highlights how neurodiverse brains interact with their families to develop coping strategies and resilience.
A team of researchers used radiotracer chemicals to study the dopamine system in older adults, finding that dopamine receptors decrease with age. The findings have implications for understanding Parkinson's disease and cognitive decline, suggesting that enhancing dopamine activity could help slow down these effects.
Mathematicians at Ohio State University discovered two new electrochemical activity patterns in brain cells, which may help explain normal sleep changes and nervous system disorders like epilepsy. The research reveals that inhibitory signals can produce smooth waves, contrary to previous assumptions.
A study by researchers at UCSF found that mild electrical stimulation of the brain region responsible for sound processing can quickly bulk up and reform connections, potentially speeding up stroke recovery. This technique may help patients regain lost brain functions such as speech, accurate hearing, and movement.
A study using fMRI technology reveals impaired brain function in individuals with dyslexia when performing phonetic reading tasks. Dyslexic readers showed reduced activity in the angular gyrus and superior temporal gyrus brain regions.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology have rediscovered brain sections of Auguste D., a 51-year-old woman with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. The analysis confirmed the presence of neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques, consistent with today's understanding of the disease.
Scientists have identified a specific area in the human brain that temporarily stores information about spatial locations, solving a decade-long puzzle. The discovery sheds light on how our brains process spatial working memory and its connection to other cognitive abilities.
Research in Behrmann's lab focuses on visual scene interpretation, enabling object recognition and spatial awareness. The brain divides information into form and identity, then synthesizes it for a unified experience.
Researchers at Henry Ford Health System discovered evidence that male brains shrink faster with age than female brains. Brain regions involved in thinking, planning and memory show greater age-related shrinkage in men. The findings may help explain sex differences in age-related brain disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at the Brain Attack Team (BAT) are developing Tele-BAT, a system that enables remote evaluation of stroke patients via video, cellular telephone, and computer technology. This allows for faster diagnosis and treatment, as it can provide valuable information to emergency rooms before patients arrive.
Scientists have identified specific brain regions linked to tinnitus, a condition with no known cause or effective treatment. The study's findings raise hopes for developing treatments and possibly even a cure.
Researchers found a brain region thought to control language is proportionately the same size in humans and chimpanzees, challenging a long-standing theory. The planum temporale, located beneath the parietal cortex, demonstrates similar asymmetry in both species, raising questions about chimp communication.
A study by George Huntley found that sensory deprivation, even from birth, affects the development of brain areas controlling movement. This has significant implications for humans, suggesting early life visual defects may impact both sensory and motor areas.
Researchers will analyze complex human thought processes using brain imaging to discover how the human operating system works. The project aims to develop displays and interfaces that keep information processing requirements within the human range, particularly in high-stress environments.
Neuroscientists at the University at Buffalo have produced an image of the brain's neural activity when monitoring multiple conversations. The study used PET and electrophysiology to identify how resources are allocated, revealing that the brain can complete tasks with focused attention but struggles with divided attention.