Possible common thread between many neurodegenerative diseases: Discovery reveals that a protein normally involved in clearing cells of molecular debris can clump into fibrils, potentially hobbling cells
Take a cell-deep tour of a brain afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease, and you will find minuscule clumps of protein that seem suspicious. Ever since the 1980s, when neuroscientists began identifying these protein tangles, researchers have discovered that other brain diseases have their own tangled-protein signatures. “Each of these diseases has a unique protein tangle, or […]
More alcohol, less brain: Association begins with an average of just one drink a day
Even light-to-moderate drinking is associated with harm to the brain, according to a new study. Researchers analyzed data from more than 36,000 adults that found a link between drinking and reduced brain volume that begins at an average consumption level of less than one alcohol unit a day — the equivalent of about half a […]
Attention! Brain scans can tell if you are paying it
Data from brain scans can now answer an age-old question asked by parents and teachers everywhere: Are you paying attention? Using a model of fMRI data collected from 92 individuals performing several types of attention-related tasks, the lab of Yale’s Marvin Chun successfully predicted how well those individuals would perform on the tasks based on […]
Study shows differences between brains of girls, boys with autism
Brain organization differs between boys and girls with autism, according to a new study from the Stanford University School of Medicine. The differences, identified by analyzing hundreds of brain scans with artificial intelligence techniques, were unique to autism and not found in typically developing boys and girls. The research helps explain why autism symptoms differ […]
Amygdala changes in individuals with autism linked to anxiety: Study supports existence of autism-specific types of anxiety
A long-term study involving hundreds of brain scans finds changes in the amygdala linked to the development of anxiety in autistic children. The study by UC Davis MIND Institute researchers also provides evidence of distinct types of anxiety specific to autism. The work was published in Biological Psychiatry. “I believe this is the first study […]
Genetically informed atlases reveal new landscapes in brain structure: Findings identify hundreds of new genomic loci that help explain how the brain is shaped
An international team of scientists has used atlases of the human brain informed by genetics to identify hundreds of genomic loci. Loci is plural for locus, and in genetics indicates the physical location of a gene or variant on a chromosome. The work was led by Chi-Hua Chen, PhD, associate professor in the Department of […]
Untangling mixed (neural) signals: New research shows how ‘polyglot’ neurons encode and decode sensorimotor ‘chatter’
During sensorimotor processing in the brain, neurons are constantly bombarded with information from other neurons. When we use our eyes to interact with our environment, thousands of neurons communicate with each other to make sense of all the information coming in and react to it: If someone throws you a ball, your eyes track the […]
Brain Implant for Adults With Epilepsy Can Help Kids, Too
Title: Brain Implant for Adults With Epilepsy Can Help Kids, TooCategory: Health NewsCreated: 1/24/2022 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 1/25/2022 12:00:00 AM
Where Does Bacterial Meningitis Come From?
Bacterial meningitis is characterized by inflammation around your brain and spinal cord that leads to dangerous — and sometimes deadly — pressure in this area. Bacterial meningitis comes from person-to-person contact with an infected person. Bacterial meningitis is a disease that affects your central nervous system. It’s characterized by inflammation around your brain and spinal […]
Kernel flow: A wearable device for noninvasive optical brain imaging: A new wearable helmet-shaped device monitors brain activity
Recent advances in brain imaging techniques facilitate accurate, high-resolution observations of the brain and its functions. For example, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a widely used noninvasive imaging technique that employs near-infrared light (wavelength >700 nm) to determine the relative concentration of hemoglobin in the brain, via differences in the light absorption patterns of hemoglobin. […]