Articles tagged with Sensory Perception
Researchers at the University of Birmingham have discovered that male fruit flies ignore physical threats as they pursue a female fly, driven by the neurotransmitter dopamine. As courtship advances, dopamine levels increase, blocking sensory pathways and reducing the ability to respond to threats.
A study published in Neuron reveals that neurons are wired to connect seemingly unrelated concepts, enhancing the brain's ability to predict what we see based on past experiences. Visual experience influences the organisation of feedback projections, which store information about the world.
A new study from the University of Copenhagen found that six-year-olds prefer smooth textures in their food, with a preference rate of 76% for lump-free options. Researchers suggest that this aversion may be linked to a protective mechanism against potentially poisonous foods or other dangers as children become more independent.
A case report describes the successful use of thoracic paravertebral blocking to manage severe chronic pain associated with post-herpetic neuralgia. The procedure, involving repeated injections of levobupivacaine and dexamethasone, resulted in significant pain subsidence and reduced medication needs.
A study of 370 patients undergoing elective surgery found that those with higher levels of awareness about anesthesia had better understanding of general and local anesthesia. Patients who underwent surgeries related to eyes, nose, and throat scored higher on the knowledge test due to limited sources of information.
Insects like fruit flies use simple, efficient systems to recognize odors. Researchers found that paired olfactory receptor neurons in fly antennae facilitate computations in the central brain through pre-processing stage.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have found that the cortex can transform unorganized inputs into highly organized patterns of activity, demonstrating self-organization. This process occurs entirely within the cortex itself, indicating that the brain is able to organize its own function during development.
Columbia University neuroscientists have identified brain-cell circuitry in fruit flies that converts raw sensory signals into color perceptions, which could underlie how creatures large and small see wavelengths of light as information-rich hues. The discovery reveals a complex neural mechanism responsible for hue selectivity, allowin...
Research finds Parkinson's disease alters bodily sensations associated with basic emotions, shifting focus from chest to abdominal area. The study highlights the significance of non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease, raising new perspectives for treatment and research.
A new study found that fluctuations in music chord predictions evoke specific bodily sensations, particularly in the heart and abdomen. Researchers also discovered a link between these sensations and feelings of pleasure, which could have applications for using music to improve well-being.
A new study found that music elicits bodily sensations and emotions linked to musical uncertainty and surprise, affecting heart and abdominal sensations.
A study published in Science Advances reveals that emotions are represented in the brain through a distributed network encompassing sensory, prefrontal, and temporal areas. The ventromedial prefrontal cortex emerges as a key locus for storing an abstract representation of emotions.
Researchers found that our brain processes vision in a rhythmic manner, increasing sensitivity during steps and decreasing it. This discovery has implications for understanding human behavior, decision-making, and potential applications in sports science and diagnostics.
A UMass Amherst study found that only three types of fruit snacks meet federal dietary guidelines for high-nutrition: dried fruit, fruit puree, and canned fruit with juice. Dried fruit has the highest nutrient density and fiber content, while gummies have the lowest.
A University of Washington team discovered that nitrate radicals in the air degrade scent chemicals released by wildflowers, making them undetectable to nighttime pollinators. The researchers found that pollution likely has worldwide impacts on pollination, with areas including western North America and Europe most affected.
A new study reveals that music activates the autonomic nervous system, causing shivers down the spine, regardless of culture. The research found that emotional music triggers specific bodily sensations across Western and Asian listeners, suggesting a universal response to music-induced emotions.
A study by Fujita Health University researchers unveiled novel insights into the brain's processing of movement and sensation. The findings suggest that signals from motor cortices do not primarily modulate sensory responses in primary sensory cortices, but rather pathways from secondary somatosensory cortex (S2) and sensory thalamus (...
A Eurac Research study conducted in the terraXcube simulator found that humans can perceive temperature differences as small as 0.92 degrees Celsius. This sensitivity suggests an inherent characteristic of human perception, influencing our thoughts and actions. The study's results have implications for energy sustainability in buildings.
A new mechanism of vestibular neuritis has been discovered, linking it to autoimmunity and the presence of anti-GQ1b antibodies. The study found that these antibodies were associated with bilateral vestibular damage in 33% of patients, and improved upon conversion to negative, suggesting a potential for immunotherapy.
The brain's reaction to unexpected sounds changes as it matures, with different regions developing at different times. The study found that the cerebral cortex takes longer to mature than expected, around the early 20s in human years, and is influenced by experience.
The Digital Media Overuse Scale (dMOS) is a new tool that measures digital media addiction, providing clinically relevant scores across various domains. Researchers found that overuse is typically reported in one or a few domains only, with social media being a significant concern.
Researchers have developed an AI algorithm that uses people's flavor impressions to make accurate predictions of individual wine preferences. The algorithm combines data from wine labels, user reviews, and sensory tastings to provide personalized recommendations.
Researchers discovered bottlenose dolphins' ability to detect weak electric fields, which helps them search for fish hidden in sediment. This newfound sense also enables dolphins to navigate the globe using magnetic maps by sensing the planet's magnetic field at varying speeds.
ASMR clips have been found to induce short-term positive effects on mood and physiology in approximately 25-30% of viewers. EEG studies also show a decrease in delta waves associated with deep sleep, while fMRI studies reveal specific brain areas involved in the ASMR experience.
Researchers developed a non-contact technology that simulates a cold sensation by leveraging human sensitivity to rapid temperature changes. The system uses air flow and light to rapidly switch between cold and warm stimuli, inducing a cold sensation while maintaining skin temperature fluctuations near zero.
A new study finds that experiencing record-breaking heat days increases perceptions that the weather is getting hotter, but has little effect on beliefs in climate change. Record-heat days can drive changes in the general perception that the weather is worsening, regardless of season or media coverage.
Researchers found that different flours foster distinct bacterial communities, contributing to the variation in sourdough aromas and flavors. The study reveals that bakers can influence the aroma of their sourdough by using different flours.
A study published in Nature Human Behaviour has uncovered a neural pathway preferentially involved in pain perception across species. The researchers identified the central role of the medial-dorsal thalamic nucleus in pain perception, which exhibited a more pronounced activation in response to painful stimuli.
A new study resolves a long-standing contradiction in brain function by revealing that familiar stimuli trigger brief neural spikes, known as visually evoked potentials (VEPs), which suppress activity. The findings advance understanding of visual recognition memory, enabling prioritization of attention.
The study reveals that applying cleansers or moisturizers to the skin can alter its state, activating mechanoreceptors and feeding information to the central nervous system. Strong correlations were found between physical stress on the stratum corneum and subjective reports of 'tightness' in surveys of thousands of participants.
Researchers at Aalto University mapped the physical sensations of different types of love, finding a continuum from weaker to stronger loves. The strongest forms of love were felt most widely throughout the body, while others were more localized.
Research finds that skin keratinocytes regulate temperature sensation by controlling the amount of TRPV3 proteins, reducing their activity when bound to TMEM79. This discovery resolves controversy over skin keratinocytes' involvement in temperature detection.
A Nagoya University research team discovered two distinct thermosensory pathways in the brain that transmit temperature information to different areas of the forebrain. Blocking one pathway was found to impair a rat's ability to avoid heat, while blocking another impaired its ability to avoid cold.
Researchers discovered that leaf-cutting ants use the position of their hind legs gripping the leaf edge and head position to guide cutting trajectory. The ants adapt their technique to cut smaller elliptical portions when faced with thick leaves, using a combination of sensory information.
Researchers at City University of Hong Kong developed a novel, wearable, olfaction feedback system with wireless capabilities for virtual reality. The system releases various odours using miniaturized odour generators and has been tested with an average success rate of 93 percent.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute found that ghrelin activates specialized nerve cells in the amygdala, promoting food consumption and conveying hunger feelings. The study uncovers the physiological processes behind feeding behavior, which may lead to novel therapeutic approaches for eating disorders.
This study examined the effects of deferoxamine and ferrostatin-1 on salivary gland dysfunction in ovariectomized rats. The researchers found that these compounds reduced inflammation, fibrosis, and improved salivary gland function, suggesting potential treatments for postmenopausal xerostomia.
A new study reveals that our perception of difficulty in shouting upwind is incorrect. It's not the wind itself that makes it hard, but rather our inability to hear ourselves due to the convective attenuation effect. The study found that sound carries better within the first 100 meters upwind, making it easier for others to hear us.
Researchers from PSI deciphered the structure of an ion channel found in the eye while interacting with calmodulin, a protein that enables cell response to calcium fluctuations. This interaction is believed to be responsible for achieving remarkable sensitivity to dim light.
A study of 1,678 participants found that low benefit expectations, negative experiences, and catastrophizing are associated with COVID-19 vaccination adverse effects. Clinician-patient interactions and public vaccine campaigns may be optimized by contextualizing information about vaccines.
Researchers have created wearable microscopes to produce high-definition, real-time images of mouse spinal cord activity across previously inaccessible regions. This technology enables unprecedented insight into the neural basis of sensations and movement in healthy and disease contexts.
A recent study by Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at TUM found that a pungent ginger compound puts immune cells on heightened alert. The compound, [6]-gingerol, stimulates white blood cells via the TRPV1 receptor, which plays a role in the perception of painful heat stimuli and spiciness.
Researchers from New York Institute of Technology have made significant findings on how the sense of smell is impacted in individuals with autism. The study analyzed a mouse model of autism and found that scent processing was impaired at a later step, after signals were processed at the olfactory bulb input.
Researchers at University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science developed a new electrostatically controlled clutch that enables soft robotic hands to hold 4 pounds, 40 times more than before. The clutch uses a fracture-mechanics-based model to achieve this feat while requiring only 125 volts of electricity.
Researchers at the University Hospital Bonn have discovered a new function of CRISPR/Cas9 gene scissors, which produce small signal molecules that bind to proteins, activating an emergency response. This discovery opens up new possibilities for treating diseases using CRISPR technology.
Researchers studied the body ownership illusion using integrated information theory, discovering a relationship between local and global brain-body processes. This work may help explain altered states of consciousness, such as the blurring of self and non-self, leading to feelings of uneasiness.
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University developed a VR system that enables users to share their visual and sensory experiences on Segways with remote collaborators. The system reduced VR sickness by 54% and improved user experience, promising new possibilities for remote collaboration.
A team of researchers has created a detailed map of the octopus's visual system, classifying different types of neurons in the brain. The study provides clues to the evolution of brains and visual systems more broadly, with potential implications for understanding human brain complexity.
Researchers at Lancaster University found that 3D printed flavor-based cues can stimulate rich sensory accounts and strong emotional connections in older adults, recalling memories from their youth. This technology has potential applications for dementia care, allowing individuals to relive cherished moments through the power of smell.
Researchers in Cell Reports study neuronal responses to bright and dark surfaces, finding that large bright surfaces activate both light-ON and light-OFF neurons, increasing the combined response with surface brightness and size. This challenges the long-standing assumption that only surface edges drive strong cortical responses.
Research in Psychological Science found that super-recognizers process faces by dividing them into parts and storing composite images. They can recognize faces better than others even when only seeing smaller regions at a time.
A new study found that Alzheimer's disease damages a circuit that connects the vision processing centers of each brain hemisphere, leading to disrupted visual memory. The researchers discovered neurons that extend axons across the corpus callosum, which connect the hemispheres, and showed that these cells play a crucial role in synchro...
A recent study published in PAIN found that mindfulness meditation can reduce pain intensity and unpleasantness by separating pain from the sense of self. Participants who practiced mindfulness reported a significant reduction in pain levels after undergoing painful heat stimuli.
A new study from Aarhus University found that patients with distorted sense of smell differ in food preferences and cooking ability compared to control group. Foods like chili, menthol, and rapeseed oil may help increase patient's enjoyment due to enhanced sensory experience.
Researchers have developed a new type of prosthetic using microfluidics-enabled soft robotics that promises to greatly reduce skin ulcerations and pain in patients who have had an amputation between the ankle and knee. The prosthesis uses integrated pneumatic actuators to control fit, reducing volume changes and pressure ulcers.
Researchers at the University of Rochester have discovered a novel neural mechanism involved in causal inference that helps the brain detect object motion during self-motion. This discovery may have applications in designing artificial intelligence devices and developing treatments for brain disorders such as autism and schizophrenia.
Researchers at City University of Hong Kong developed a simple exfoliation method to prepare ultrathin films of small intestine tissues, which exhibit piezoelectricity. The team's findings reveal the hierarchical structure of collagen fibers as the key to generating the piezoelectric effect.
A team of researchers identified a group of interneurons in the spinal cord required for heat sensation and found a signaling pathway that contributes to heat hypersensitivity. Their study may lead to more effective treatment for chronic, pathological pain.
Researchers conducted an online survey of Orgasmic Meditation (OM) practitioners, collecting over 200 responses. The study found that more than 80% of participants viewed OM as similar to meditation, but not sex or fondling. OM sessions involve manual stimulation and aim to induce a meditative state.
A new study published in Bioelectronic Medicine found that high-frequency spinal cord stimulation (HF-SCS) was more effective at improving perceived pain reduction than low-frequency SCS (LF-SCS). HF-SCS also showed less subsequent use of opioids to mitigate pain.