Articles tagged with Neurophysiology
Researchers found that a small section of intact corpus callosum is enough to sustain full integration of the two brain halves, contrary to previous assumptions. The discovery has implications for epilepsy surgery and brain injury recovery.
Researchers discovered that pancreatic tumors form pseudosynapses, exploiting the body's nervous system to drive tumor growth. Calcium waves triggered by glutamate binding promote metastasis and cancer progression.
Researchers found that sleep-deprived individuals experience attentional failures coinciding with a flushing of CSF from the brain. During these lapses, physiological changes occur, including a flux of CSF out and then back in. The study suggests that the brain attempts to compensate for lost cleansing by initiating pulses of CSF flow.
A new study reveals how prenatal alcohol exposure impairs key brain cells and circuits, leading to cognitive inflexibility and increased risk of compulsive alcohol use. Researchers identified a specific brain cell affected by early alcohol exposure, providing a clear target for developing more effective treatments of FASD.
Researchers at the University of Tsukuba identified a peptide hormone called Capa that regulates calcium levels in fruit flies. The study found that Capa is secreted by specific neurons and acts on organs similar to vertebrate kidneys to mobilize calcium from stored reserves.
A new study using next-generation imaging technology discovered that when the brain is falling asleep, it shows a coordinated shift in activity. Areas involved in thinking, memory, and daydreaming quiet down and use less energy during NREM sleep.
A study of 80 couples found that child- and marriage-related stressors affect self-regulation, particularly in fathers. Lower heart rate variability was associated with more difficult child behavior, with marital stress amplifying this effect.
A new virtual reality training task has been developed to help stroke survivors living with visuospatial neglect, a disabling condition affecting attention and awareness of one side of space. The VR task incorporates interactive exercises and audiovisual cues to engage patients and support rehabilitation.
Researchers have discovered that deep sleep plays a crucial role in controlling cerebrospinal fluid dynamics, which is essential for clearing waste from the brain. During slow-wave sleep, changes in cerebrospinal fluid signals are time-locked to slow brain waves and other neural events.
A new study reveals that astrocytes, a type of glial cell, are responsible for stabilizing memories through repeated engagement. The researchers found that Fos activity in astrocytes only occurs during recall, and that these cells can be activated to produce stable memories.
Scientists at RIKEN Center for Brain Science found that fruit flies use separate circuits to compute pleasant and unpleasant odors, challenging the idea that 'good' is the opposite of 'bad'. The discovery may contribute to a better understanding of human brain's flavor appreciation mechanisms.
Salk scientists pinpoint gracile nucleus as brain area responsible for differentiating between painful and non-painful touch, with dysfunction leading to chronic pain. Altered neuronal activity in the dorsal column nuclei drives mechanical allodynia, causing the brain to misinterpret innocuous light touch as painful.
Researchers discovered that proprioceptive nerve cells for sensing leg motion are deactivated during active movement in fruit flies. This selective suppression may enable the insect to quickly respond to sudden external events. The study advances basic scientific knowledge of sensory feedback and its application to clinical treatments
A new review from the University of Victoria suggests that psilocybin and 5-MeO-DMT may help treat concussions and traumatic brain injuries by increasing neuroplasticity and reducing inflammation. The compounds have shown promise in treating depression, anxiety, and other conditions in clinical research.
A new clinical trial found that feeding blueberries to infants as their first solid food can reduce allergy symptoms and support long-term health. The study suggests early introduction of blueberries may improve infants' immune systems and gut health.
Research uncovers how glutamate regulates pediatric brain tumor growth, suggesting novel approaches to treating these cancers. Inhibiting glutamate receptors has been shown to reduce human pediatric brain tumor growth in mice.
A study published in JACC Advances suggests that a regular sleep schedule can reduce the risk of clinical events in adults with heart failure. The research found that even moderately irregular sleep doubles the risk of another clinical event within six months.
Despite long-held assumptions, a new study reveals that the brain's somatosensory cortex holds a stable 'body map' even after limb loss. The findings have significant implications for treating phantom limb pain and restoring sensation in prosthetic limbs via brain-computer interfaces.
A team of researchers from Okayama University has identified SNAP25 as a key component in the transmission of sour taste signals and the long-term survival of type III taste cells. The study found that mice deficient in SNAP25 had impaired responses to sour-tasting substances, highlighting the importance of this protein in maintaining ...
Researchers at the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel discovered that differences in nerve signal speed and distance are actively balanced within the human eye to support a unified visual experience. This mechanism helps align signal arrival times to just a few milliseconds, contributing to synchronization.
Researchers developed an antibody transport vehicle targeting the transferrin receptor to improve anti-amyloid antibody delivery to the brain. The approach preserves key immune functions while offering a safer strategy for treating Alzheimer's disease, reducing side effects and increasing treatment efficacy.
Researchers found measurable changes in brain signals responsible for motor control and movement after 12 dynamic cycling sessions. The study suggests long-term exercise programs could have wider restorative effects on the brain signals of Parkinson's Disease patients.
The largest neuroscience event will convene in San Diego from November 15-19, featuring over 10,000 presentations on various topics. Registered journalists will gain access to cutting-edge research, expert interviews, and press-only events.
A new UT Arlington study explores how sleep deprivation affects police performance and suggests tailored sleep interventions may help. Officers reported getting seven hours or less of sleep per night due to shift work, job pressure, and emotional fatigue.
Researchers found that astrocytes maintain optimal levels of GABA to enable neural groups to process visual information efficiently. Knocking out Gat3 in mice impaired neuron coordination and reduced ensemble activity, highlighting the importance of astrocytic regulation.
Researchers analyzed rare intracranial EEG data to identify unique computational methods for refining brain cortex mapping. The study offers new insights into early detection of neurodegenerative and sleep disorders, improving diagnosis and prevention of neurological diseases.
The brain segments and organizes events into experiences by placing unique bookmarks on them, allowing us to revisit and learn from our lives. The lateral entorhinal cortex creates a signal that constantly drifts in a pattern never repeating itself, marking the beginning and end of an experience.
Researchers have successfully controlled a dexterous robotic hand using noninvasive EEG-based Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) for individual finger movements. The study demonstrates real-time brain decoding and motor imagery control, paving the way for potential applications beyond basic communication to intricate motor control.
The study identifies the brain circuit controlling associations between stimuli and allows for indirect associations. The amygdala plays a crucial role in linking olfactory and taste stimuli.
A Waseda University research team developed a method to measure thermal insulation of bedding systems, considering individual body parts. The study found that relying solely on whole-body insulation is not enough and revealed the importance of optimizing sleep environments for better quality.
Researchers have identified a specific group of neurons in the brain responsible for suppressing binge drinking behavior. The discovery may lead to new therapeutic targets for treating alcohol dependency and related health challenges.
Researchers identified reelin as a marker for cocaine-activated medium spiny neurons in the nucleus accumbens, which controls drug-related behavior. Knocking down reelin expression impaired excitability of these neurons and abolished cocaine-induced behavioral changes.
Researchers have discovered that blow flies can detect forces with high sensitivity, not only magnitude but also rate of change, which is crucial for balance and locomotion. The study's findings have promising implications for the design of next-generation walking robots.
A recent study found that caffeine increases brain signal complexity and enhances criticality during sleep, with effects more pronounced in young adults. This can lead to a state where the brain is neither fully awake nor relaxed, potentially interfering with restful recovery.
A new wearable device tracks the brain's glymphatic system, a waste-removal and nutrient-delivery system. The study found that this system is active in both deep and REM sleep, as well as when waking up, and accelerates with longer sleep duration.
A systematic review of 10 studies found no evidence that mouth taping helps treat sleep-disordered breathing or obstructive sleep apnea. However, mouth taping may be associated with some improvement in mild obstructive sleep apnea severity in a subset of patients.
Researchers discovered Asian elephants have significantly heavier brains, weighing 5,300 grams on average, compared to 4,400 grams in African elephants. Elephant brains grow almost as much as human brains after birth, with a threefold increase in weight by adulthood.
Ion channels can 'remember' previous signals, leading to changes in the receiving neuron that last for hours or days. This collective memory can accumulate over time, reducing communication between neurons and contributing to lifelong learning.
Researchers found that Marfan syndrome increases vulnerability to brain damage from reduced oxygen supply and raises the risk of subsequent neurological disorders. The study highlights the importance of recognizing and managing neurological risks in Marfan patients to prevent complications.
A new technique using focused sound waves and microbubbles has shown great promise in treating debilitating brain lesions called cerebral cavernous malformations. The approach has halted the growth of lesions almost entirely, offering a potential paradigm shift in treatment.
Researchers have identified the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) as the basis of emotional inference in animals and humans. In a study published in Nature, Xiaowei Gu and Joshua Johansen found that rats can learn inferred emotions by associating a neutral stimulus with an unpleasant experience.
A study at Emory University revealed that five-year-olds have the brain system that supports map-based navigation, challenging the assumption that this cognitive ability develops until age 12. Children can recognize landmarks and navigate through a virtual town with remarkable accuracy.
Researchers developed a live brainstem imaging method to study the nucleus tractus solitarii's role in emotion regulation and body-brain interactions. The D-PSCAN technique enabled high-resolution visualization of NTS neural activity in response to vagus nerve stimulation and gut hormone cholecystokinin, shedding light on potential the...
A recent study by the International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine found that a gamified sleep-tracking mobile application improved sleep parameters, including total sleep time and sleep latency, among participants. The study also showed that these improvements correlated with reduced body mass index (BMI) in some users.
A dopamine-producing brain circuit controls hedonic eating by promoting continued consumption of palatable food. Semaglutide temporarily suppresses this circuit, but weight loss reverses the effect. Targeted inhibition of dopamine neurons counteracts semaglutide's appetite-suppressing effects.
The University of Rhode Island will host the international XV Progress in Motor Control Conference from June 30 to July 2, featuring over 30 invited speakers from around the world. The conference will focus on theoretical advances in motor control, motor learning and neural plasticity, motor disorders and rehabilitation.
The Open Brain Institute launches a groundbreaking platform to simulate and study digital brains, empowering researchers to explore brain complexity and diseases. With its virtual neuroscience laboratories, the OBI enables global collaboration and access to cutting-edge virtual labs.
Researchers discovered that as birds age, their song gene networks change dramatically, with hub genes driving activity of other genes. This finding could lead to earlier diagnoses and better treatments for Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.
A study published in Annals of Neurology found that severe early-life adversity accelerates brain aging and amplifies neurodegenerative processes in women. Researchers analyzed biomarkers, brain scans, and cognitive tests to determine the link between childhood trauma and later dementia risk.
Researchers have uncovered a neural mechanism in mice that enables them to override instinctive fear responses, which may contribute to inappropriate or excessive fear responses. Targeting these circuits could offer new therapeutic avenues for treating fear-related disorders.
Researchers used EEG to map brain activity in response to hot and cold temperatures, finding that both invoke similar activity patterns in overlapping brain regions. The study could lead to more objective methods for evaluating thermal comfort and reducing health risks due to ambiguous subjective evaluations.
The Advanced Research + Invention Agency has awarded $84.2 million to Rice researchers to explore and unlock new methods for interfacing with the human brain at the circuit level. The project involves developing a distributed network of minimally invasive implants to stimulate neural circuits with cell-type precision.
Research by Anqi Wei and colleagues found that neural circuits in mice are sex-specific, influencing socio-sexual preferences. Under survival stress, female mice switch to preferring males due to altered neuronal firing patterns.
A clinical trial showed that an antibody blocking Nogo-A protein improves motor function in patients with incomplete spinal cord injuries. The treatment led to significant improvements in voluntary muscle activation and everyday life functional independence. Further studies are needed to confirm the findings.
Research uncovers crucial coupling mechanism between neuronal activity and mitochondrial function in aging mice, revealing potential pathway to combat age-related cognitive decline. Enhancing this mechanism improves cognition in aged mice, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target.
Researchers investigated neural mechanisms of stress-induced cardiovascular responses by activating lateral habenula in rats. Activation caused changes in blood pressure and heart rate, which were suppressed by pharmacological blockade of dopamine neurotransmission.
Studies have shown that the lateral habenula regulates stress-related respiratory responses via the monoaminergic system, which includes dopaminergic and serotoninergic pathways. Researchers found that electrical stimulation of the LHb mimicked a stress state in rats, significantly increasing respiratory frequency.
Researchers found that desert ants rely on the polarity of the geomagnetic field to navigate during learning walks, contradicting previous findings in other insects. The team manipulated magnetic fields and observed the ants' behavior, concluding that a compass-like navigation system is useful for short-distance navigation.
A team of researchers has created the first complete map of the brain's circadian clock in the fly Drosophila, revealing at least 240 neurons involved in regulating daily rhythms. This detailed mapping provides a foundation for exploring circadian dysregulation linked to health conditions such as sleep disorders and metabolic diseases.
Researchers propose a new model for understanding how information is transmitted in the brain by describing a unique axon morphology that changes size and modulates action potential speed