Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Pediatric outpatient non-contrast brain MRI: A cost analysis at three U.S. hospitals

A new study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology found significant cost savings by eliminating sedation during pediatric brain MRI examinations. The analysis calculated costs for sedated, nonsedated, and limited MRI exams at three US hospitals, revealing that labor costs were the largest expense category.

SourceAmerican Roentgen Ray Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Roentgenology·TypeImaging analysis·DateDec 21, 2022

New support for a serotonin deficit in depression

Researchers found reduced serotonin release capacity in individuals with depression, suggesting a blunted serotonin system. The study used novel imaging techniques to measure serotonin levels in the brain, providing crucial insights into the pathology of depression.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 15, 2022

Researchers map deep brain stimulation target for Alzheimer's disease

A recent study suggests that stimulating the intersection of two particular brain networks correlated with better patient outcomes than stimulating nearby sites for patients with Alzheimer's disease. Cognitive improvement was associated with DBS to the direct interface between the fornix and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalNature Communications·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 14, 2022

Blinding eye disease strongly associated with serious forms of cardiovascular disease

A new study from Mount Sinai Hospital finds a strong association between age-related macular degeneration and severe forms of heart disease, including heart failure, heart attacks, and stroke. The study highlights the importance of increased screening for eye disorders to diagnose undetected heart disease.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalBMJ Open Ophthalmology·TypeImaging analysis·DateNov 17, 2022

Charting the human brain with new tools

Researchers are developing a comprehensive cell atlas for the human brain, which would cover billions of cells and provide a holistic description of its properties. Advanced visualization techniques have been developed to catalog brain regions and cell types, enabling better resolution and accuracy in studying neural circuits.

Mapping the path from smell to perception

Scientists have created an extensive new map of the brain's olfactory circuits, revealing a complex system that processes different aspects of odor information. The map suggests the existence of parallel neural circuits dedicated to assessing smell identity, pleasantness, and origin, offering new insights into olfactory processing.

Interdisciplinary researchers receive $2M to develop next-generation 3D ultrasound imaging device

Interdisciplinary researchers at the Beckman Institute have received a four-year, $2M award from the National Institutes of Health to develop a device that can instantly enable real-time 3D ultrasound imaging. The device, named FASTER, is designed to improve high-quality medical imaging accessibility in diverse communities.

A one-stop-shop for brain imaging

A team from McGill University has created a database called neuromaps, which combines over 40 existing brain maps to help scientists find correlations between patterns across different brain regions. The tool provides standardized space to view and compare each map, improving reproducibility of results.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNature Methods·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 6, 2022

Human cocaine and heroin addiction is found tied to impairments in specific brain circuit initially implicated in animals

A study found impairments in the prefrontal cortex-habenula circuit, critical for regulating executive functions and reward, in people with cocaine or heroin addiction. The circuit's microstructural features were analyzed using diffusion MRI tractography, revealing reduced coherence in white matter fibers.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalNeuron·TypeObservational study·DateOct 6, 2022

Petting dogs engages the social brain, according to neuroimaging

Researchers found that petting real dogs activates the prefrontal cortex more than stuffed animals, with increased brain activity each time interaction occurs. This effect persists after the dog is gone, suggesting a long-lasting impact of social bonding.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 5, 2022

Novel analysis shows the experience of reward increases connectivity between the default mode network and other brain regions

Researchers found that experiencing reward enhances connectivity between the default mode network (DMN) and the ventral striatum. This effect was specific to the DMN and correlated with personality characteristics related to openness. The study used data from the Human Connectome Project, a database of healthy participants.

SourceKessler Foundation·JournalNeuroImage·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 16, 2022

September issues of American Psychiatric Association journals cover combining molecular and neuroimaging measures, the promise of digital mental health and more

The September issues of American Psychiatric Association journals focus on combining molecular and neuroimaging measures to understand psychopathology and inform new treatment development. Featured research includes studies on early childhood psychotic experiences and schizophrenia imaging signatures.

SourceAmerican Psychiatric Association·JournalAmerican Journal of Psychiatry·DateSep 2, 2022

SPIE journal Neurophotonics publishes comprehensive status report on optical imaging methods for brain science

The report explores diffuse optical imaging methods applicable to noninvasive human studies, including near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS). It introduces state-of-the-art technologies and software, exploring their impact on neuroscience and clinical applications.

Researchers visualize α-synuclein pathology in living patients with a neurodegenerative disorder

Researchers have successfully visualized α-synuclein aggregates in the brains of patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) using a new positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agent. The agent, 18F-SPAL-T-06, shows high specificity and potential for MSA diagnosis.

SourceThe National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology·JournalMovement Disorders·TypeImaging analysis·DateAug 30, 2022

3D imaging helps to better understand the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers used novel 3D imaging technology to study a human brainstem nucleus and found intriguing complexity and previously undescribed cellular forms of tau pathology. The study reveals dendritic atrophy as an early sign of tau-bearing neuron degeneration, potentially contributing to symptoms like sleep disturbances and anxiety.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalActa Neuropathologica·TypeImaging analysis·DateAug 30, 2022

Quantum light clarifies bioimaging

Researchers at Texas A&M University created a device that harnesses quantum fluctuations to enhance spectroscopy results in Brillouin microscopy, increasing image clarity and accuracy. The new source significantly improves the signal-to-noise ratio, allowing for better visualization of biological structures and properties.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalOptica·DateAug 20, 2022

Opening the black box of late neurodevelopment

A team of scientists has created the first detailed map of embryonic movements in C. elegans, showing a slow-wave twitch phase before hatching that depends on neuronal activity. The study used innovative imaging techniques and computational tools to track the embryo's movements, revealing new insights into neurodevelopment.

SourceMarine Biological Laboratory·JournaleLife·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 19, 2022

New method enables long-lasting imaging of rapid brain activity in individual cells deep in the cortex

Scientists at Baylor College of Medicine have developed a new sensor that allows neuroscientists to image brain activity without missing signals, for an extended time and deeper in the brain than previously possible. The sensor uses genetically-encoded voltage indicators to capture fast brain signals while identifying specific cell types.

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalCell·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 18, 2022

Seeing through someone else's eyes: Proposing objective criteria to examine subjective experiences

Ben-Gurion University researchers Dr. Moti Salti and Dr. Dafna Bergerbest propose a framework to objectively compare subjective experiences and reveal their neuronal basis. They focus on numerosity as a field where objective criteria can be established, aiming to map individual transfer-functions at both behavioral and neuronal levels.

SourceBen-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalPerspectives on Psychological Science·DateAug 3, 2022

Brain imaging reveals how mindfulness program boosts pain regulation

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Center for Healthy Minds found that mindfulness training alters specific pathways in the brain related to pain regulation. Participants who completed an eight-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course showed a reduction in pain-related brain activity, suggesting a potential new ...

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalAmerican Journal of Psychiatry·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 28, 2022