Articles tagged with Neuroimaging
Researchers have discovered the importance of white matter in the human brain using a new tool called Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI). This breakthrough has the potential to reveal the role of white matter connections in various neurological conditions. The findings may also raise ethical concerns about how this information is used.
A comprehensive study published in Cell reveals that inhibitory responses are widespread among odor receptors, and most receptors are inhibited by at least one odor. The research also shows that individual receptors range along a continuum from narrowly tuned to broadly tuned to odorants.
A team of University of Wisconsin-Madison scientists reports that the brain can be rewired in anticipation of sensory input to respond in prescribed ways. By manipulating expectancy, the brain code for tastes is activated less when a cue suggests a lesser taste, and the perception of the taste matches the prediction.
A Mayo Clinic study discovered a relationship between vertebroplasty and the development of new fractures, with patients' risk for new fractures in adjacent vertebrae being 4.62 times higher than nonadjacent vertebral fractures. The researchers recommend patients considering vertebroplasty be aware of potential long-term risks.
A gradient of Wnt3 counterbalances EphrinB1-EphB signaling to establish a carefully controlled pattern of nerve connections required for conveying spatial information from the eye to the brain. This balance is necessary for topographic mapping, which allows positional information to be smoothly transferred to the brain.
The interactive 3D atlas provides highly accurate anatomical templates for researchers to map metabolically active brain regions and genetic expressions. The database contains 20 segmented structures from 10 adult male mice, including variability across the strain.
A new guidance system automates electrode placement in DBS surgery, reducing operating times by up to 80% and improving patient outcomes. The system uses a 3D brain atlas to predict target locations, allowing neurosurgeons to hit the mark on their first try.
A combination of brain scanning with a new imaging agent and cerebrospinal fluid analysis has shown promise in predicting Alzheimer's disease. Researchers found low CSF levels of amyloid beta 42 in patients with cognitive impairments, but also detected positive results in cognitively normal subjects.
Researchers found that AIDS selectively attacks the brain's motor, language and judgment centers, but leaves other areas intact. Brain scans revealed specific patterns of tissue damage correlated with physical and mental symptoms, including impaired motor coordination and slowed reflexes.
Researchers have created a handheld device that uses two-photon microendoscopy to image individual cells in living subjects, enabling insights into cellular behavior and its impact on organisms. The technique has been successfully demonstrated using live mice, providing detailed images of blood vessels in the hippocampus.
A new study by UCLA researchers reveals that heart-failure patients suffer from both physical and mental injuries, with brain damage impacting their ability to exercise. The findings emphasize the need for cardiologists to recognize this connection and develop therapies to prevent brain injury and boost brain function.
A study by Dr. Linda Tang found that radiology residents can reliably interpret head CT scans for initial triaging of acute stroke patients, achieving a 97% agreement rate with attending physicians. The results have affected hospital protocol and require certification prior to taking call.
Researchers used brain imaging to map abnormalities in living patients with Williams syndrome, showing exceptional language skills. The findings shed light on the genetic control of human cortex development and help predict the syndrome's progression.
Dr. Brenda Milner, a renowned cognitive neuroscientist, has been awarded the 2005 Gairdner Award for her pioneering work on brain function and memory systems. Her research with patient HM has significantly advanced our understanding of episodic and procedural memory.
Researchers found that young owls can quickly pick up new skills and retain them into adulthood, with new connections forming between neurons. This suggests that childhood experiences play a crucial role in shaping the brain's ability to adapt and learn throughout life.
The initiative will enroll 800 people across five years, including normal elderly, diagnosed AD patients, and mild cognitive disorder individuals. Researchers aim to develop a standard imaging method for clinical trials, improve imaging methods, and validate imaging data.
The study aims to develop new treatments and monitor their effectiveness by tracking cognitive changes associated with MCI and AD. Researchers will use neuroimaging, biological, and clinical information from over 800 participants to identify critical biomarkers that respond to treatments.
A recent imaging study at Carnegie Mellon University has discovered persistent sex-based differences in brain structures of mice entering adulthood, as revealed by high-resolution magnetic resonance microscopy. The findings provide a more accurate representation of how circulating hormones affect brain development compared to human ima...
A study found that SMASH imaging decreases examination time by more than eight minutes per knee examination, leading to better patient tolerance and image quality. This technique is expected to impact other areas of musculoskeletal imaging with the right coil.
Researchers mapped rat brain activity, finding that cells in sensory borders share information from multiple senses. The discovery may explain how individuals adapt to sensory loss and improve their remaining senses.
Researchers found that four out of six patients treated with stents and tPA experienced permanent improvement in neurologic symptoms, while two critically ill patients died due to large clots. The study suggests a combined treatment approach may offer superior results for most patients with acute vertebrobasilar ischemic strokes.
Researchers analyzed data from 18 states and found that high-volume hospitals for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH) cases have significantly lower mortality rates. The study suggests that centralizing treatment in these high volume centers may improve patient survival.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University discovered that the brain's cortical map processes touch sensations based on perceived locations, not actual physical positions. This finding challenges long-held theories about the nature of the 'map' in the brain and sheds light on how the brain processes sensory information.
A new study found that a drug can temporarily improve tactile acuity by reorganizing brain activity, offering potential treatments for learning disabilities and chronic pain. The treatment involves finger stimulation with a drug, which boosts the number of neurons involved in processing tactile information.
A new SPECT collimator pair increases sensitivity, particularly in central brain structures, while maintaining spatial resolution. The best combination of fan-beam and cone-beam collimation has been found to greatly improve dual-head SPECT images.
Researchers used MRI to assess brain function while participants experienced heat stimuli. People who reported higher pain levels showed increased activation in key brain areas, such as the primary somatosensory cortex and anterior cingulate cortex. This confirms the importance of self-reports in guiding pain treatment.
Dr. Nora D. Volkow, the first woman to lead NIDA, has made significant contributions to understanding addiction through imaging studies. Her extensive publication record and awards recognize her as a leading expert in the field of drug addiction research.
The McGill University MNI de Grandpré Communications Centre has won the top prize in the International Room Competition, recognized for its innovative design and cutting-edge technology. The Centre's advanced features include multimedia presentations, videoconferencing, and state-of-the-art presentation equipment.
A study of 716 consecutive emergency head CT examinations found general radiologists and neuroradiologists were in agreement on 95% of studies. The study suggests that general radiologists can accurately interpret emergency CT scans with high accuracy rates, similar to neuroradiologists.
A new study suggests that early levodopa treatment may slow the rate of progression in Parkinson's disease. Levodopa treatment showed improved outcomes in patients with early Parkinson's disease compared to placebo.
Researchers used PET scans to predict treatment response in OCD and depression patients, finding distinct brain activity patterns associated with improvement. The study demonstrates the potential of functional brain imaging to tailor psychiatric care, with implications for accelerating treatment discovery.
A new brain atlas developed by neuroscientist David Van Essen aims to improve our understanding of the brain's structure and function. The atlas provides a comprehensive map of the brain's cortical and cerebellar regions, which are essential for thought, learning, emotion, perception, sensation, and movement.
Research by Stanford's Eric Knudsen shows that barn owl's brain mapping can be altered by early life experiences, leading to a persistent effect on visual and auditory navigation. Young owls wearing lenses that shift their visual world can develop a new mental map, but adult owls without this experience cannot form a new map.
A study using MRI found that procedural learning and declarative learning activate the same neural networks, despite requiring different levels of awareness. The brain's prefrontal cortex, inferior parietal cortex, and putamen were active in both cases, suggesting a shared underlying network.
Researchers have created detailed maps of the brain's cerebral and cerebellar cortex, which will help physicians understand brain damage and guide neurosurgeons. The maps will be freely available online, revolutionizing the field of neuroscience.
A nationwide brain imaging network will share data from patients with schizophrenia to expand understanding of the disease and develop new treatments. The project, led by Steven G. Potkin, aims to create a comprehensive database of brain images and advance research in brain disorders.
Researchers at Stanford University broke the learning process down into smaller steps for adult owls, allowing them to adjust their mental maps more accurately. This method showed promise in overcoming the age-related decline in learning abilities, with implications for treating brain injuries and improving physical therapy outcomes.
Brain scans reveal abnormal brain structure and function at an early stage, suggesting a powerful predictor of future illness. This finding may enable treatment to prevent distressing symptoms like hallucinations from developing.
The Dynamic Brain Atlas project utilizes Grid technology to create customized brain atlases from hundreds of images. This allows radiologists to identify subtle brain abnormalities and improve diagnoses for psychiatric conditions and dementias.
A new study by UCLA researchers has created images showing how an individual's genes affect their brain structure and intelligence. The findings, published in Nature Neuroscience, reveal that genetic differences can significantly impact brain regions controlling language and reading skills.
The Biomedical Informatics Research Network (BIRN) will share digital magnetic resonance images and advanced 3-D microscope images using high-bandwidth networking technologies. Researchers can study linkages between animal models of human diseases and data from patients suffering with these diseases.
A new tool allows early prediction of patient's stroke outcome by combining magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scan, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, and time from symptoms to scan. The study found that patients with small lesion volumes were five times more likely to recover than those with larger volumes.
The new Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DT-MRI) technology provides detailed maps of brain networks and allows for diagnosis of medical conditions like stroke, as well as assessment of neurological disorders. DT-MRI also holds promise for imaging skeletal muscles, heart, and circulatory system.
Researchers at the University at Buffalo's Toshiba Stroke Research Center have developed a prototype camera that can turn blurred X-ray images of brain stents into clear images, allowing for more accurate diagnoses and treatments. This technology enables viewing of even the tiniest blood vessels in the circulation system.
Researchers at Penn develop groundbreaking new brain tracer Trodat to evaluate brain function in normal and disease states. The imaging agent, derived from tropane, follows the flow of dopamine in the brain and can be used as a diagnostic tool for imaging dopamine transporters.
A new study by Johns Hopkins Medicine found that intravenous doses of cocaine increase dopamine availability in the human brain, boosting activity two to three times over baseline levels. The discovery may advance efforts to understand and treat addiction by blocking euphoric effects of drugs.
A team of researchers from Bowman Gray School of Medicine used sonography to analyze the anatomy of healthy subjects and define normal spinal and paraspinal structures. The study aims to improve the interpretation of sonographic images in patients with back pain.
Researchers from Germany used a prototype magnetic sensor workstation to reconstruct transcranial ultrasound in 3D, significantly improving the identification of intracranial arteries and accuracy of follow-up measurements. The new technology also enables easier comparison of relationships among brain arteries.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati create a sensor that can monitor medical imaging agents as they travel through the body and accumulate in various tissues. The probes, made from carbon fibers coated with polymer, detect changes in imaging agents and could lead to better heart health monitoring.