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UTHealth Houston establishes the Novel Treatments for Acute Brain Injury Institute focusing research efforts and clinical care on improving the lives of those affected by acute brain injury

The UTHealth Houston Novel Treatments for Acute Brain Injury Institute focuses on improving care for patients with acute brain injuries through research, clinical expertise, education, and community outreach. The institute aims to advance pharmaceutical and device therapies and train the next generation of neurocritical care experts.

Novel accurate approach improves understanding of brain structure in children with ADHD

Researchers developed a new method to correct for variations in brain imaging measurements, reducing bias and increasing the accuracy of studies on ADHD. The traveling-subject method demonstrated reduced measurement bias while maintaining sampling bias, revealing decreased brain volume in critical regions for cognitive functions.

SourceUniversity of Fukui·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·TypeImaging analysis·DateSep 5, 2025

AI can evaluate social situations similar to humans

A new study from the University of Turku found that AI systems can accurately evaluate social features from images and videos, comparable to human evaluations. The researchers compared AI's evaluations with those made by over 2,000 humans, showing that AI's results were consistently accurate.

SourceUniversity of Turku·JournalImaging Neuroscience·TypeImaging analysis·DateSep 5, 2025

Imaging study reveals how tiny brain vessels pulse to regulate blood flow

Scientists have discovered that tiny brain vessels pulse to regulate blood flow through bursts of contraction and relaxation. The research reveals that these bursts originate from the walls of small arteries and spread through the vascular network in short intervals, providing insights into how the brain regulates its blood supply.

Political polar opposites may be more alike than they think

A study published by the American Psychological Association reveals that extreme liberals and conservatives exhibit similar brain responses to political content. The researchers used fMRI scans, skin conductance measures, and eye-tracking to analyze 44 participants with varying political ideologies and levels of extremism.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·TypeImaging analysis·DateAug 28, 2025

Brain-computer interface could decode inner speech in real time

Scientists have successfully decoded inner speech using brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) with an accuracy rate of up to 74%. The BCI system can interpret neural activity related to thought processes, allowing individuals with severe paralysis or motor impairments to communicate more naturally and comfortably.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 14, 2025

Neuronal imaging system shows sensory activity in real time, UT Health San Antonio-led study finds

Researchers create breakthrough imaging system that shows sensory activity in real time, enabling them to distinguish between different sensations. The technique uses a genetically encoded voltage sensor to observe electrical signals from neurons and has major implications for treating chronic pain and sensory disorders.

Neuroanatomy of social dominance

Researchers explored neuroanatomy underlying social dominance in nonhuman primates, focusing on the uncinate fasciculus and its correlation with social dominance measures. The study found a significant correlation between this brain tract and social aggression, supporting human studies linking it to social dominance.

SourceSociety for Neuroscience·JournalJNeurosci·DateJul 21, 2025

How the brain controls its blood volume

Researchers discovered a two-step mechanism where inhibitory neurons release nitric oxide to rapidly dilate blood vessels, followed by slower, localized vasodilation via astrocyte activation. This breakthrough sheds light on how neural signals are translated into blood volume changes in brain imaging.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 21, 2025

Regular opioid use may increase dementia risk

A study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia found that regular opioid use is associated with a 20% increased risk of all-cause dementia and over 70% increased risk of dementia among those taking strong opioids. Regular opioid use was also linked to reduced brain volume, lower fluid intelligence, and higher risk of vascular dementia.

SourceShenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAlzheimer’s & Dementia·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 21, 2025

Adults with autism show similar brain mapping of body parts as typically developing adults

Researchers found that adults with autism perceive visual body information similarly to neurotypical adults, challenging long-standing assumptions about social difficulties in ASD. The study used fMRI to compare brain activity patterns in adults with autism and typically developing adults while viewing images of body parts.

SourceWaseda University·JournalImaging Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 11, 2025

It's never too late to start playing an instrument

Research from Kyoto University found that continuing to play a musical instrument into old age preserves brain function and prevents atrophy in the putamen. Long-term practice showed no decline in verbal working memory performance or gray matter volume, while short-term practice improved memory function for four months.

SourceKyoto University·JournalImaging Neuroscience·TypeImaging analysis·DateJul 4, 2025

Despite recovery from depression, the brain retains sensitivity to negative cues

A new study published in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging found that individuals with remitted depression show increased habenula activity and reduced connectivity between the habenula and dopamine-producing regions, suggesting a heightened sensitivity to negative cues. This suggests that even after recove...

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging·TypeImaging analysis·DateJun 26, 2025

Grip strength gives researchers a new handle on psychosis

A new study explores the connection between grip strength and psychosis, finding that impaired grip strength and well-being share common patterns of brain connectivity. The research provides a unifying brain circuit explanation for psychosis and identifies potential brain targets for new treatments.

SourceIndiana University·JournalAmerican Journal of Psychiatry·TypeObservational study·DateJun 25, 2025

Different brain profiles, same symptoms: New study reveals subtyping patients provides key insights into depression's complexities

A novel study in Biological Psychiatry highlights the layered and complex interactions between clinical symptoms and neurobiological sources of variation in depression. The research found that multiple brain profiles may manifest as the same clinical symptoms, supporting the presence of both one-to-one and many-to-one heterogeneity.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·TypeImaging analysis·DateJun 19, 2025

From puck drop to brain pop

Researchers found that passionate fans show more activity in the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex during offensive faceoff opportunities, indicating emotional involvement and evaluative thinking. The study used functional near-infrared spectroscopy to track brain activity in 20 participants watching a professional European ice hockey game.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalScientific Reports·DateJun 9, 2025

Developing a new analysis method for capturing long-term brain activity in freely moving mice

Researchers have developed CaliAli, an advanced analytical framework that aligns calcium imaging data across multiple sessions, allowing for the continuous tracking of individual neurons. This breakthrough enables long-term brain activity studies and advances understanding of memory formation, retention, and neurological diseases.

USC study reveals link between type 2 diabetes and brain health in older adults from various populations

A new USC-led study found a significant link between type 2 diabetes and cortical thickness in older adults from various populations. The researchers discovered that individuals with T2DM exhibited thinner cortex, particularly in temporal and parietal regions critical for memory and cognitive function.

SourceKeck School of Medicine of USC·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia Diagnosis Assessment & Disease Monitoring·TypeImaging analysis·DateMay 15, 2025

How the brain allows us to infer emotions

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.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNature·DateMay 14, 2025

Knowing your Alzheimer’s risk may ease anxiety but reduce motivation for healthy habits

A study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia found that learning one's Alzheimer's risk can decrease negative emotions like depression and anxiety, but also leads to decreased motivation for maintaining healthy lifestyle changes. Researchers emphasize the importance of personalized disclosure processes to sustain healthy behaviors.

SourceRutgers University·JournalAlzheimer’s & Dementia·TypeSurvey·DateMay 7, 2025

Piecing together the brain puzzle

A new microscopy method, LICONN, developed by ISTA scientists and Google Research, can reconstruct mammalian brain tissue with all synaptic connections between neurons. This technique uses standard light microscopes and hydrogel to achieve high resolution and opens up possibilities for visualizing complex molecular machinery.

SourceInstitute of Science and Technology Austria·JournalNature·TypeImaging analysis·DateMay 7, 2025

The hope for detecting Parkinson’s disease much earlier with a simple brain scan

A team of researchers has shown that it may be possible to diagnose Parkinson's disease years before it becomes untreatable by scanning people's brains with fMRI. The study used ultra-high field experimental MRI scanners and analyzed brain activity in response to sensory impairments such as loss of smell and visual deficits.

SourceChampalimaud Centre for the Unknown·JournalJournal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 7, 2025

Children as young as five can navigate a 'tiny town'

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.

SourceEmory University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 5, 2025