Month: June 2024

Weekly Neuroscience Update

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Temporally removed goals activated the left anterior hippocampus and current goals activated the left posterior hippocampus. a Activation maps for the contrasts comparing the remote (distant future + near future + distant past + near past) > current are overlaid in yellow. b Activation maps for the contrasts comparing the current > remote are overlaid in green. c Activation for the temporally removed goals (yellow) and the current goals (green) shown concurrently on the brain. d The same goal, for instance fixing the space helmet, was anatomically dissociated along the longitudinal axis based on whether it was currently relevant, or relevant at a point removed in time. The left hippocampal region of interest (ROI) is displayed in white. Credit: Nature Communications (2024).

How does our brain distinguish between urgent and less urgent goals? Researchers have explored how our brain remembers and adjusts the goals we set for ourselves on a daily basis.

Ever heard just a snippet of a song and instantly known what comes next? Or picked up the rhythm of a chorus after just a few notes? New research has uncovered what happens in our brain when we recognize and predict musical sequences.

A new study provides the first anatomical, functional representation of the ocular surface in the central nervous system.

In a small study, researchers have discovered how a set of genes could cause neurons to die in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The results, published in Nature Aging, provide insight into the root causes of ALS and may lead to new ways to halt disease progression.

New research shows that the brains of sighted and blind people adapt in a similar way when they learn to use sound echoes to understand the world without vision.

People with type 2 diabetes who are treated with GLP-1 agonists, like Ozempic have a decreased risk of developing dementia, according to a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in the journal eClinicalMedicine.

A class of drugs already on the market to lower blood pressure appears to reduce adults’ risk of developing epilepsy, a team of researchers has discovered.

In a recent study, a Yale-led research team described for the first time a rare neurodevelopmental syndrome that begins affecting patients during infancy and typically causes developmental delays, severe seizures, cardiac dysrhythmia, and recurring infection.

Using sound to stimulate certain brain waves has the potential to help those with dementia or cognitive decline sleep better, reveals a new study.

Not all patients with depression respond to medication. Two recently published studies provide additional information on how an alternative treatment, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), could be further enhanced. TMS differs from electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), which is also used to treat depression.

New research provides insights into the brain regions involved in paranoia.

A new study reveals variations of the visual saltation illusion, where rapid light flashes in peripheral vision create perceptual errors. The study shows that our brains misplace the second flash near the midpoint, regardless of its actual position. This finding challenges our understanding of visual processing and questions the reliability of eyewitness testimony. The research opens doors for further studies on visual perception and attention.

Researchers worldwide can now create highly realistic brain cortical organoids—essentially miniature artificial brains with functioning neural networks—thanks to a newly released proprietary protocol.

A new study reveals that a balanced ratio of neural excitation (E) and inhibition (I) is crucial for brain development and cognitive performance. Researchers found that lower E/I ratios in children correlate with better memory and intelligence. This balance is vital for preventing brain disorders and was measured using a novel AI and MRI technique. The findings could inform personalized treatments for mental health conditions.

A new ultra-high-performance brain PET system allows for the direct measurement of brain nuclei as never before seen or quantified.

Tau positron emission tomography (PET) has the best performance as a standalone marker for prediction of progression of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia, according to a study published online in JAMA Neurology.

Murdoch University’s Center for Healthy Aging is identifying new interventions to treat resting tremor in people with Parkinson’s disease.

New research reveals that sildenafil (Viagra) enhances brain blood flow and improves blood vessel function in patients at risk of vascular dementia. This study marks a significant advancement in addressing this condition.

Finally, this week, do our brains process natural voices and deepfake voices differently? Research conducted at the University of Zurich indicates that this is the case.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

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Credit: Nature Structural & Molecular Biology (2024)

By super cooling a molecule on the surface of brain cells down to about minus 180 degrees Celsius—nearly twice as cold as the coldest places in Antarctica—scientists say they have determined how a widely-used epilepsy drug works to dampen the excitability of brain cells and help to control, although not cure, seizures.

Scientists have identified a positive molecular feedback loop which could explain stroke-induced memory loss.

A team of Australia’s leading health researchers has developed a new “dictionary” to better predict outcomes for people who have experienced a moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). The work is published in the Journal of Neurotrauma.

Research to be presented at the SLEEP 2024 annual meeting found that low-dose acetylsalicylic acid, also known as aspirin, can reduce inflammatory responses to sleep restriction.

A new study has found that resilient people exhibit neural activity in the brain regions associated with improved cognition and regulating of emotions, and were more mindful and better at describing their feelings. The same group also exhibited gut microbiome activity linked to a healthy gut, with reduced inflammation and gut barrier.

A blood test can accurately detect the ongoing effects of sport-related concussion and help determine when it’s safe to return to the field, new research has found.

Researchers have developed a method to predict dementia with over 80% accuracy up to nine years before diagnosis. Using fMRI scans, the team analyzed changes in the brain’s default mode network (DMN), which is affected early in Alzheimer’s disease.

Poor olfaction in older adults may predict the development of heart failure according to new research.

A new study finds that adults’ phobias can be correlated with changes in the structure of their brains. What’s more, the neurological differences seen in adults with phobias are more extensive than those observed in people with other forms of anxiety.

Neuroscientists have discovered a special type of human white blood cell that can potentially regrow nerve fibers.

Researchers have identified six depression subtypes through brain imaging and machine learning, revealing tailored treatment options. This breakthrough in precision psychiatry can improve treatment outcomes by matching patients with the most effective therapies based on their brain activity patterns.

Finally this week, scientists have discovered a protein that prunes nerve endings, regulating sensitivity to pain.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

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Reading Pleasure and Pain from the Brain

Functional brain networks that are connected to the affective intensity and valence information. Left: The affective valence information is connected to the limbic and default mode networks, and the affective intensity information is connected to the ventral attention network. Right: The probability that the affective intensity and valence is connected to each of seven functional brain networks. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024).

A team of researchers has revealed how the brain processes emotional information of sustained pain and pleasure.

Scientists have uncovered the inner relay of a molecular switch that protects the brain against the development of Parkinson’s disease. The research provides new potential strategies to develop drugs that may benefit patients with Parkinson’s.

Brain-to-brain technology boosts brain-computer interface performance, a new study demonstrates.

Researchers have identified, for the first time, disease-specific reduction in emotional expressivity in Lewy body dementia by quantifying vocal expression of emotions using deep neural network techniques. This reduction in vocal emotional expressions was associated with cognitive impairment and specific brain region atrophy and could serve as a distinguishing factor for individuals with Lewy body dementia.

A new study finds the timing of brain waves shapes the words we hear.

New research has given a precise picture of young children’s developing brains, using a wearable brain scanner to map electrical brain activity. The work opens up new possibilities for tracking how critical developmental milestones, like walking and talking, are underpinned by changing brain function, and how neurodevelopmental conditions like autism emerge.

A new AI technique can identify seizure types, including rare forms of epilepsy.

A new study reveals that a poor quality diet may lead to brain changes associated with depression and anxiety. Researchers found that unhealthy eating habits reduce grey matter and alter neurotransmitter levels in the brain.

Research sheds new light on the contribution of dopamine to reinforcement learning.

A new study uncovered neural mechanisms used in planning, revealing an interplay between the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. The study shows how the brain imagines future outcomes to guide decisions.

Losing the ability to smell properly—a common sensory deficit as people age—may help predict or even contribute to the development of heart failure, new research suggests.

A new study reveals that the main psychoactive component in cannabis or marijuana disrupts the normal connections and activity of the brain’s prefrontal cortex, a region that is crucial for decision-making and self-control.

Finally this week, people tend to underutilize their visual working memory rather than maxing out its capabilities according to new research.

The Brain’s Role in Forming Our Sense of Self

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This video takes you on an exploration of the human brain’s intricacies, demystifying the puzzle of self-perception and consciousness. It highlights the crucial function of a diminutive brain region called the anterior precuneus (aPCu), and elucidates the distinct brain systems that control our physical and narrative identities.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

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 Credit: Radiological Society of North America

Low-level light therapy appears to affect healing in the brains of people who suffered significant brain injuries, according to a study published in Radiology.

An international team of clinicians and neuroscientists has published a new perspective on the process of neurodegeneration. Their findings review evidence for a mechanism upstream of amyloid including the key neurochemical driving this process.

A new study reveals the brain mechanisms behind speech impairment in Parkinson’s disease.

Researchers designed and implanted a transparent window in the skull of a patient, then used functional ultrasound imaging to collect high-resolution brain imaging data through the window. Their preliminary findings, published in Science Translational Medicine, suggest that this sensitive, non-invasive approach could open new avenues for patient monitoring and clinical research, as well as broader studies of how the brain functions.

New research finds that reports of cognitive decline from patients and their partners are linked to the accumulation of tau tangles, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.

A new study finds a link between a diet high in ultra-processed foods and an increased risk of cognitive impairment and stroke. This association was particularly pronounced among Black participants. While more research is needed, the findings highlight the potential impact of food processing on brain health.

New research has found a distinct relationship between sleep duration, social media usage, and brain activation across brain regions that are key for executive control and reward processing.

For patients with chronic migraine, nerve decompression surgery effectively reduces the number of headache days—the outcome measure preferred by neurologists—along with other measures including the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks, reports a study in the June issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

A new study uncovers a key biological process targeted by SSRIs, suggesting new clinical applications.

Researchers have reported that patients with Parkinson’s disease exhibiting sympathetic denervation in the major salivary glands and the heart tend to have more advanced non-motor symptoms as they age, suggesting that age plays an important role in disease progression.

An international study, published in Nature Communications, may facilitate the creation of new personalized treatments for people diagnosed with schizophrenia. 

A World Health Organization-commissioned systematic review finds that radio wave exposure from mobile phones does not affect learning, memory, attention span and other cognitive functions like coordination.

Researchers have leveraged the power of artificial intelligence analytical models to match a patient’s medical history to the most effective antidepressant, allowing patients to find symptom relief sooner.

A new study finds a strong association between teen cannabis use and a significantly increased risk of developing psychotic disorders. This risk appears to be age-dependent, with adolescents being particularly vulnerable to the effects of cannabis on their developing brains. While further research is needed, these findings raise concerns about early cannabis use and highlight the importance of prevention strategies.

Does sleep clear more toxins from the brain than when we’re awake? The latest research casts doubt on the theory.

A new study finds that urolithin A, a substance found in pomegranates, can improve memory and may help treat Alzheimer’s disease. This natural compound works by removing damaged mitochondria from the brain, similar to the effects of NAD supplements. While dosage is still being determined, this discovery offers promising potential for treating and preventing neurodegenerative diseases.

Finally this week, our willingness to help others is governed by a specific brain region pinpointed by researchers in a study of patients with brain damage to that region.