Articles tagged with Human Brain
A research group has uncovered a potential mechanism linking maternal inflammation to delayed neurodevelopment in infants. CD11c-positive microglia, crucial for myelination, play a key role in this process.
A new study published in Radiology found that higher blast exposure correlated with changes in brain function and structure, even when standard MRI exams appeared normal. The researchers discovered weaker connectivity in key areas and more severe symptoms such as memory problems and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The latest APA journal issues explore treatment and risk factors for schizophrenia, as well as medical mistrust and bias. Research also examines the management of borderline personality disorder, including good psychiatric practice and its effectiveness.
A new study found that children exposed to higher levels of air pollution have weaker connections between key brain regions, potentially disrupting normal brain network development. The associations persist throughout adolescence, suggesting persistent disruptions in brain function.
A research team has uncovered a fundamental brain circuit that distinguishes between direct and vicarious fear, with the locus coeruleus playing a crucial role in processing fear. The study reveals a lateralized LC-NAergic system that separates personal from socially learned fear, shedding light on empathy and social learning.
A new study from USC Dornsife's Brain and Creativity Institute found that nostalgic music engages the brain's default mode network linked to memory and self-reflection, as well as its reward circuitry. This discovery could support emotional well-being and cognitive function in individuals with memory impairments.
A recent study demonstrates gene therapy's potential to restore motor capacity in an ultra-rare disease, Megalencephalic Leukoencephalopathy with Subcortical Cysts (MLC), even after symptom onset. The treatment restored normal protein activity, normalizing physiological brain alterations and reversing motor impairments in treated mice.
Researchers at UCalgary have discovered a protein called CD2AP that may hold the key to reducing Alzheimer's disease risk. Levels of this protein are lower in patients with AD, and its absence affects memory function, particularly in males. The study suggests a sex-dependent link between vascular system health and brain function.
Researchers have created tiny robotic tools that can grip, pull and cut tissue in the brain using external magnetic fields. The tools, which are only a few millimetres in diameter, were tested on a phantom brain and found to make precise cuts with an average width of 0.3-0.4 millimetres.
Researchers develop a powerful model to study TDP-43 pathology, which accumulates in the cytoplasm and depletes from the nucleus, leading to neuronal death. The 'seeded' protein aggregates recapitulate key features of ALS and frontotemporal dementia.
Researchers found that women have significantly more sensitive hearing than men, with an average difference of two decibels across all populations studied. Environmental factors such as living in forests or high altitudes also affect hearing sensitivity, with forest-dwellers having the highest and altitude residents having the lowest.
Researchers used a large language model to analyze clinical reports of autism patients and found that repetitive behaviors and special interests are most indicative of an autism diagnosis. The study aims to improve diagnostic guidelines by reducing the focus on social factors.
A study published in Biological Psychiatry identified the Shisa7 gene as a key driver of heroin addiction. The research team used machine learning to analyze brain tissue from human opioid users and found that modulating this gene's expression influenced heroin-seeking behavior and cognitive flexibility.
Researchers created an atlas of the brain's mitochondria, revealing that younger brain regions have more specialized mitochondria for efficient energy production. The study provides a new perspective on the role of energy in brain health and may lead to new approaches for treating neurological and psychiatric disorders.
A study found that consuming sucralose alters brain activity related to hunger and increases appetite, especially in people with obesity. The sugar substitute changes how the hypothalamus communicates with other brain regions, including those involved in motivation, potentially leading to cravings and eating behavior changes.
Researchers discovered that D1 and D2 neurons in the brain work together to process appetitive and aversive stimuli, with D2 neurons playing a key role in extinguishing negative associations. This understanding can help develop new treatments for anxiety and post-traumatic stress.
Researchers found significant differences in brain connectivity between children with autism and typically developing children, particularly in the left hemisphere. The study identified specific white matter tracts linked to core ASD symptoms, providing new insights into how structural differences relate to behavior.
A new open-source model of brain metabolism has shown how altering key chemicals can restore aged cells to their youthful activity and resilience. The detailed simulation provides a glimpse into the impact of aging on brain metabolism and highlights potential drug targets.
Adults with ADHD have higher levels of brain iron and neurofilaments, associated with increased risk of dementia. The study provides first evidence for a neurological mechanism possibly involved in the link between ADHD and dementia.
A new approach to AI developed by Texas A&M University engineers mimics the human brain's neural processes, integrating learning and memory in a single system. This 'Super-Turing AI' has the potential to revolutionize the industry by reducing energy consumption and environmental impact.
A team of researchers from Bonn and Tübingen investigated the brain's ability to retain a sequence of events in memory using implanted electrodes. They found that the traditional theory was contradicted by their data, but an alternative mechanism emerged through AI simulations.
A study confirms plasma p-tau217 as a blood-based biomarker for early Alzheimer's detection in Asian populations. Higher levels correlate with faster cognitive decline, suggesting its potential role as both diagnostic and predictor tool.
A new study found that children with ADHD have a notable increase in functional connectivity while playing a virtual reality game, providing new insight into the condition. The results suggest that psychological testing for ADHD should be conducted in situations where symptoms are triggered.
Groundbreaking research from the University of South Australia shows that any form of exercise can significantly boost brain function and memory across children, adults, and older adults. Regular exercise improves general cognition, memory, and executive function in both healthy individuals and those with clinical conditions.
Researchers from Syracuse University found potential benefits of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on attention and fatigue in post-stroke patients, but results were mixed. Participants who received real tDCS showed decreased fatigue, while actual treatment did not improve attention tests.
A team of researchers has identified a common brain network that generalized seizures hijack, which is located in the region where deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrodes are placed. This finding could help explain why DBS is effective in alleviating generalized seizures and potentially improve treatment outcomes.
Researchers found that perceiving prices significantly different from expectations triggers a strong N400 signal in the brain, engaging regions involved in evaluating rewards and learning. This suggests that consumers' perceptions of value are part of automatic cognitive mechanisms activated long before conscious decision-making.
Researchers at WVU have discovered a way to fine-tune zinc activity to improve messaging in the brain, with potential applications for treating conditions such as autism, schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. The study identified new compounds that can selectively change synaptic connections by modulating zinc levels.
A new study found that parakeet brains generate patterns seen in humans as they speak, suggesting a similar connection between higher brain activity and sound production. This discovery may help develop new treatments for speech disorders affecting millions of Americans.
A new Concordia-developed app, iSurgARy, uses augmented reality to guide catheter insertion into the brain, improving ventriculostomy safety and accuracy. The app provides spatial awareness of patient anatomy, allowing surgeons to better aim at their target points.
Researchers at UCL identified key brain regions involved in remembering words, finding shrinkage in the front and side of the brain linked to difficulty recalling words. Detailed MRI scans showed a dispersion network for creating and storing word memories, crucial for understanding epilepsy conditions.
A University of Cincinnati study found that machine learning models can aid clinicians in treating patients with spreading depolarizations (SDs), a condition that can cause significant brain damage. The algorithm was able to identify SD events with high sensitivity and specificity, detecting many events not identified by human scoring.
Researchers have identified distinct protein degradation patterns in key brain regions for individuals who witnessed trauma, differing from those who experienced it firsthand. Sex-specific differences also emerge, with implications for targeted treatments and a better understanding of PTSD development.
A new study by UCLA Health has discovered a drug that fully reproduces the effects of physical stroke rehabilitation in model mice. The drug, DDL-920, excites parvalbumin neurons, leading to significant recovery in movement control after stroke.
A new study by MIT researchers finds that constructed languages such as Esperanto and Klingon elicit similar responses in the brain's language-processing network, suggesting that meaning is a key feature of language. This discovery helps define some of the key properties of language and narrows down the question of what a language is.
A review of research on childhood adversity sheds light on its long-term consequences on brain development and introduces innovative methods for tackling mental health issues. Emerging factors like societal inequality and pollution are gaining recognition as potential contributors to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Researchers compared cortical organization between humans and macaques, as well as humans and chimpanzees, to identify distinctively human neuroanatomical features. Unique prefrontal cortex organization and connections between brain regions associated with emotional regulation, social cognition, and language processing were found.
Virginia Tech researchers Pamela VandeVord and Gunnar Brolinson received a $2.17 million grant to investigate cranial osteopathic manual manipulation as a potential treatment for traumatic brain injury symptoms, particularly headaches. The noninvasive technique aims to enhance brain fluid motion and balance the autonomic nervous system.
Researchers identify how a balance of innate structure and flexible learning produces our remarkably organized visual brains. They found that regions in the ventral temporal cortex have distinct cellular organization and white matter connections from birth.
A new stem cell therapy trial at UTHealth Houston aims to reduce neuroinflammation in patients with presymptomatic Alzheimer's disease. The study, which is sponsored by Weston Brain Institute, will enroll 12 patients and use PET imaging to determine whether stem cells reduce brain inflammation before symptoms develop.
Researchers have created a new open-source tool to optimize the placement of visual brain implants on a large scale. The tool, developed by the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, uses data from participants with intact vision to predict optimal implant locations and minimize safety risks.
Researchers developed a portable system using AI to spot cognitive impairment by measuring subtle differences in motor function. The device accurately identified 83% of participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), offering potential for early intervention and improved outcomes.
The PREMSTEM Conference will present cutting-edge research on neonatal brain repair, focusing on human mesenchymal stem cells as a potential therapy for preterm birth-related brain injury. Associate Professor Atul Malhotra's keynote address will highlight successes and lessons learned from his ongoing stem cell-based therapy trials.
Researchers have discovered a new diterpene-based drug that facilitates the repopulation of mature functional neurons in brain regions damaged by traumatic injuries. The study found that these new cells are integrated into neural circuits and develop functional characteristics similar to those eliminated by the injury.
Research from the University of Florida found that mutations in the Syngap1 gene can lead to disrupted perceptual learning in mice, affecting their ability to interpret touch-based information. This study provides possible answers for understanding autism, intellectual disability, and other conditions with sensory processing issues.
The American Heart Association emphasizes the importance of brain health, citing a growing burden of dementia and neurological conditions worldwide. By adopting healthy behaviors and addressing modifiable risk factors, individuals can improve their cognitive function and reduce the risk of age-related decline.
A new study reports that Raman spectroscopy, a noninvasive technique, can distinguish between abnormal FCD type II tissue and healthy brain cells with remarkable accuracy. This method could provide real-time guidance for surgeons to more accurately identify and remove affected tissue during surgery.
A study by Dr. Keum Sehoon's team identified key neural ensembles in the anterior cingulate cortex that encode empathic freezing, a behavioral response to witnessing distress in others. The researchers found that observing another's pain triggers activation in the ACC as if the observer were experiencing pain themselves.
A University of Illinois Chicago study reveals that intranasal herpes infection can cause severe neurobehavioral symptoms, including anxiety and cognitive issues. The research suggests that the virus exploits a cellular enzyme to produce behavioral symptoms, emphasizing the need for prevention and treatment.
Research finds that certain viral antibodies and genetic risk factors can increase MS risk, with elevated antibody levels combined with a specific gene variant associated with strong increased risk. The study also identifies potential biomarkers for early diagnosis.
A recent study published in Molecular Psychiatry suggests that poor sleep quality among older adults disrupts the brain's glymphatic system, leading to memory decline. The research team found that deactivation of the restorative glymphatic system negatively impacts normal brain function and cognitive health.
Researchers used advanced technology to analyze over 100 hours of brain activity during real-life discussions. The study found that the brain processes language in a sequence, from thinking about words to forming sounds and vice versa.
A new Cochrane review has found evidence that music-based therapy may benefit people living with dementia, particularly by improving symptoms of depression. The review suggests that music therapy probably improves depressive symptoms and may improve overall behavioural problems by the end of treatment.
A new Northwestern University study found that enhancing the brain's immune cells can clear Alzheimer's plaques and restore a healthier brain environment in immunized patient brains. The findings could reshape the future of Alzheimer's treatments by shifting the focus from removing plaques to harnessing the brain's natural defenses.
Researchers have discovered that the developing brain can reorganize its sensory maps in response to the absence of sensory stimuli from birth. The study found that the thalamic region adapts a genetic profile similar to that of the affected area, enabling cortical reorganization and functional changes.
The Center for BrainHealth has assembled a seasoned team, including retired Navy Admiral William McRaven's match gift commitment, to expand its Optimal BrainHealth for Warfighters program. The program aims to improve cognitive capacity in the military and leverage brain health tools to prevent or mitigate health issues.
A study of over 2,200 children found that high ambient temperatures are associated with lower connectivity in key brain networks, potentially impacting processes such as attention and memory. The association was strongest on the day before a brain scan and decreased on subsequent days.
A study led by Dr. Rodrigo Quian Quiroga has confirmed that individual neurons represent concepts learned in any context, enabling abstract relationships and human intelligence. This finding contradicts previous research on animals, where memories were thought to be stored in different groups of neurons.
A new brain-mapping technique identified memory-related brain cells vulnerable to protein buildup, a key factor in Alzheimer's disease. The study found that certain cell types in the hippocampus and cortex were more affected by tau buildup.
Researchers at UC San Francisco have enabled a paralyzed man to control a robotic arm through a device that relays signals from his brain to a computer. The device, known as a brain-computer interface (BCI), worked for a record 7 months without needing to be adjusted.