Articles tagged with Prefrontal Cortex
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A team of Oxford University researchers has identified a unique brain area in the ventrolateral frontal cortex that is involved in advanced planning and decision-making processes. This area, which does not have an equivalent in monkeys, is also linked to language processing and 'multi-tasking'.
Researchers have identified a key 'teenage gene' that plays a role in mental health vulnerability, particularly during adolescence. The DCC gene's dysfunction has been linked to behavioral consequences that persist into adulthood.
A Mount Sinai study found that age-related cognitive decline is linked to energy in synapses in the prefrontal cortex. Estrogen treatment restored synaptic health and improved working memory in rhesus monkeys.
The study reveals that inhibition of parvalbumin-expressing prefrontal interneurons triggers fear behaviour, while activation reduces it. The researchers hope their findings will lead to new treatment strategies for posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety disorders.
A team of Stanford neuroscientists and engineers found that a localized region of the prefrontal cortex converges color and motion signals to make two snap judgments: which sensory input is most relevant, and what action to take. This discovery confounds conventional wisdom on decision-making processes.
Researchers found that chronic fluoxetine administration can induce a 'juvenile-like' state in specific neurons of the prefrontal cortex, potentially leading to improved plasticity and neural function. This discovery may revolutionize the prevention and treatment of depressive disorders.
Researchers found that task orientation affects source memory effects in the right prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, while modulating item memory effects in the prefrontal cortex. The study highlights the possibility of the hippocampus contributing to intentional encoding of item-source associations.
Researchers found that alcohol intoxication reduces coupling between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, impairing ability to accurately appraise environment and respond to social signals. This study provides insight into maladaptive behaviors seen in alcohol intoxication, including social disinhibition and aggression.
A new UCSB study published in the Journal of Neuroscience reveals that paying full attention and trying hard can impede performance. The study found that disrupting explicit memory resources, which are associated with conscious thought, can harm implicit memory processes, leading to poorer performance outcomes.
Researchers found a link between spontaneous mutations and impaired neurogenesis in the prefrontal cortex of people with schizophrenia. The study suggests that genetic damage can disrupt brain development and lead to early signs of the illness, such as impaired executive functions.
Researchers at MIT found that blocking activity in the infralimbic cortex prevents rats from learning to run a maze on autopilot. The study suggests a new approach to treating disorders of repetitive behavior by targeting this brain region.
Researchers found that parts of the prefrontal cortex take over when the hippocampus, a key learning and memory center, is disabled. The breakthrough discovery could potentially help develop new treatments for Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and other conditions involving brain damage.
A UC Berkeley study shows how the brain dynamically reallocates resources based on behavioral demands, optimizing performance. When searching for a person or object, various brain regions are activated, including those normally dedicated to abstract thought.
Researchers have discovered that stimulating one part of the brain with laser light can wipe away addictive behavior in rats and turn non-addicted rats into compulsive cocaine seekers. The study suggests a new therapy using transcranial magnetic stimulation could be effective for humans, offering hope for treating cocaine addiction.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania discovered that inhibiting the brain's filter can improve performance in creative tasks. Inhibiting the left prefrontal cortex reduced missed responses and increased correct answers by a second when completing an uncommon-use task.
A new study found that the brain's pattern of blood flow in the prefrontal cortex alters with age during multitasking. Healthy older people had a higher and more sustained increase in oxygenated haemoglobin, indicating increased brain activity. This change is associated with normal aging and may impact dual-task performance.
Researchers at Brown University have made the first direct measurements of cause-and-effect responses between the nonspecific thalamus and the prefrontal cortex. The study reveals that inhibitory neurons respond strongly to thalamic signals, leading to a pattern of excitation in the cortex that sustains attention and arousal over time.
A new brain study suggests that recognizing intentionality is the first step in moral computations, linking emotion to morality. The study found that adults can detect intentional harm within 60 milliseconds, triggering an emotional response.
A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience identified two brain regions involved in making rapid judgments about potential partners. The paracingulate cortex and rostromedial prefrontal cortex are active when people consider physical attractiveness and individual compatibility, respectively.
Researchers found that synchronized electrical signals between two key hubs in the brain's working memory circuit carry information about short-term visual memories. The study uses synchronized oscillations to distinguish between object identity and location, potentially overturning prevailing theory on how visual information is encoded.
A new study from MIT neuroscientists has found that the brain's prefrontal cortex has a small region responsible for controlling which habits are switched on at a given time. The researchers used optogenetics to inhibit this region, allowing them to break and form new habits in rats.
A study found that rats who had intermittent access to alcohol exhibited cognitive impairment similar to established alcoholism after just a few months. The researchers linked this impairment to the activation of a small group of neurons that inhibit executive control functions in the prefrontal cortex.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that stress breaks the neural loops that store and retrieve short-term information, leading to distractions and decreased performance. This discovery sheds light on how stress impairs working memory and may inform new treatment approaches for prefrontal cortex dysfunction.
Researchers identify ventromedial prefrontal cortex as key area controlling belief and doubt, explaining why elderly are more prone to scams. Damage to this region, particularly after age 60, can lead to increased credulity and decreased ability to distinguish misleading information.
Researchers found that global brain connectivity, specifically with the left lateral prefrontal cortex, explains 10% of individual differences in intelligence. The study suggests that this connection enables flexible hub-like function, monitoring and influencing other brain regions to accomplish tasks intelligently.
Scientists have discovered an important clue on how the human brain filters out unimportant visual information and focuses on what's most useful. The study found that the prefrontal cortex is involved in both bottom-up and top-down attention, challenging traditional beliefs about separate areas of the brain controlling these processes.
UTMB professor Volker Neugebauer is conducting a four-year, $1.36 million study on the relationship between pain and brain functions, particularly the amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex. The investigation aims to understand how abnormal pain input affects the brain's emotional response and decision-making processes.
A new study found that long-term treatment with estrogen and MPA increased levels of a protein marker for synapses in the prefrontal cortex of aged rats. This contradicts previous research on human hormone therapy, which linked hormone replacement to an increased risk of stroke and dementia.
A study using brain data predicts which ads will be most effective, contradicting participants' own predictions. The medial prefrontal cortex region was found to predict successful ads, with campaign 'C' boosting phone calls thirty-fold.
Scientists have mapped the physical architecture of intelligence in the brain using a large pool of volunteer participants with brain injuries. The study identified specific brain regions and connections essential for general intelligence, planning, and executive function.
Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center used fMRI to study brain activity before and after monkeys learned new memory tasks. They found that a small group of neurons specialized in the new task were activated while retaining existing information.
A study published in Neuron found that intensive computerized cognitive training exercises can improve complex cognitive functions and social cognition in people with schizophrenia. The training improved the ability to distinguish internal thoughts from reality, coinciding with increased activation in the medial prefrontal cortex.
A study published in the journal Neuron reveals that individuals with strategic decision-making skills, known as 'explorers,' use a specific region of the prefrontal cortex to calculate relative uncertainty. This brain area is not active in non-explorers, suggesting a specialized cognitive process for making uncertain decisions.
Neural recordings reveal brain activity that encodes visual categories in the posterior parietal cortex, outperforming the prefrontal cortex. The study suggests that the parietal cortex is more involved in the categorization process, particularly for spatial and visual tasks.
Jordan Grafman, director of traumatic brain injury research, has received the prestigious Humboldt Research Award for his significant contributions to understanding brain function and behavior. The award recognizes his work on cognitive neuroplasticity and its applications in medicine, rehabilitation, and psychology.
Researchers from the University of Bristol have discovered a chemical compound in the brain that can weaken synaptic connections between neurons. This finding may provide a potential explanation for memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers found decreased connectivity between emotional behavior regions and an increase in connection between the caudate and prefrontal cortex in depressed brains. This disruption may lead to sustained negative thoughts and difficulty updating working memory.
A recent NIH-funded study found that children with autism have more brain cells and heavier brains compared to typically developing children. The researchers suggest that faulty prenatal cell birth or maintenance may be involved in the development of autism.
A study published by Yale University researchers found that when the brain's glucose levels drop, an area responsible for regulating emotions and impulses loses its ability to resist high-calorie food. This response is particularly pronounced in obese individuals, who exhibit a heightened desire for high-calorie foods.
Researchers at University of Bristol found that multiple brain regions work together to form memories, particularly in recognizing faces and names. The study's findings have implications for understanding memory disorders like Alzheimer's disease.
A new study published in Nature shows that the neural networks in the brains of middle-aged and elderly individuals have weaker connections and fire less robustly than in younger ones. However, the research suggests that this condition is reversible with the help of a medication called guanfacine.
A study found that daytime sleepiness is associated with decreased activation in the prefrontal cortex during visual presentations of enticing high-calorie food images. This impairment in brain function may lead to altered eating behavior and potentially contribute to obesity.
Researchers found that genetic variations can predict how persistently people will believe advice, even when it contradicts their experience. The study highlights the role of confirmation bias in decision-making, where people tend to distort experiences to align with pre-existing beliefs.
A multidisciplinary team found that patients with tumors in the right parietal cortex struggled to process categorical spatial information, leading to errors in mental rotation tasks. The left prefrontal cortex was also affected, causing difficulties in setting up specific programs within the brain for task organization.
UCLA researchers found a correlation between nicotine addiction and decreased prefrontal cortex activity in adolescent smokers. The study suggests that smoking can affect brain function, particularly during adolescence when the prefrontal cortex is still developing.
A York University study has pinpointed the part of the brain that suppresses automatic behavior, such as looking away from a facial expression. The research found an increase in signal from the left inferior frontal cortex when participants were confronted with conflicting stimuli.
Researchers found that when damage occurs in the prefrontal cortex, intact areas of the brain can take over lost functions, such as memory, and only activate when needed. This suggests that memory is not stored in one specific region but rather distributed throughout the brain's neural network.
Researchers found that experienced gamers showed increased activity in the prefrontal cortex, a region involved in complex tasks. The study suggests that video games can reorganize brain networks, offering hope for future research into Alzheimer's and other cognitive disorders.
A study published in Science has found that the anterior prefrontal cortex and white matter structure are associated with introspective ability. Researchers used MRI scans to analyze participants' brains and identified a correlation between gray matter volume and self-awareness, which could lead to better treatments for mental illness.
A study by neuroscientists at USC found that volunteers practicing a challenging arm movement with related tasks showed better retention of the skill. The prefrontal cortex was necessary for consolidating the memory, while constant practice focused on a single task did not retain the skill as well.
Researchers at the University of Granada found that patients with right prefrontal cortex damage exhibit deficient temporal preparation and anticipation functions. However, they retain unintentional anticipation and other unaffected functions, which could be harnessed to develop new therapies.
Researchers found that certain 'multitasking' neurons in monkeys' brains are best at making correct identifications in both car and animal categories. This ability to 'multitask' allows the brain to re-utilize neurons for different tasks, potentially leading to a better understanding of disorders like autism and schizophrenia.
Researchers found that the brain's dorsolateral prefrontal cortex plays a key role in rational inference, but not emotions, in 'mindreading'. The study suggests that certain executive functions like cognitive flexibility may be important for processing what someone else is thinking.
The study reveals that brain regions involved in empathy, such as the prefrontal cortex, overlap with those regulating aggression and violence. This suggests that promoting empathy may inhibit violent behavior by stimulating opposing neural circuits.
Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center found a genetic variant causing disrupted communication between brain regions, leading to working memory deficits and increasing the risk of schizophrenia. The study used a mouse model with a 22q11 deletion mutation, which showed impaired neural activity and behavior in cognitive tasks.
Research reveals that brain damage to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex impairs judgment of harmful intent, leading to more lenient moral judgments for attempted harms. The study suggests that patients with VMPC damage primarily evaluate actions based on outcomes rather than intentions.
A new study suggests that emotions are crucial for making moral judgments. Patients with damage to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPC) have difficulty responding emotionally to hypothetical situations and may judge others' actions as morally permissible even if they intended harm.
Older adults remember past experiences positively due to strong brain connections between emotion and memory regions. In contrast, young adults lack these connections, making it harder to recall positive events.
A study from Harvard University suggests that brain activity in the lateral prefrontal cortex is a better indicator of how someone will feel in the days following a fight with their partner. Individuals who show more neural activity in this region are less likely to be upset and may display improved day-to-day mood.
Researchers have extended the fear map to include the prelimbic cortex, revealing its importance in emotional regulation. The study found that mice lacking a critical growth factor in the prelimbic cortex struggle to remember to fear electric shocks, suggesting a potential link to anxiety disorders.