A team of epilepsy specialists has developed a method to forecast the risk of a seizure within 24 hours. The researchers demonstrated that the surge of brain activity indicative of a seizure is preceded by unusual communication among certain brain regions. By examining a mere 90 seconds of these atypical brain signals, the researchers were able to predict the likelihood of a seizure.

A significant discovery by Australian scientists has the potential to improve the effectiveness of drugs currently used to manage cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

A new study reveals that quick learners of motor skills have distinct brain activity patterns. Using brain-monitoring electrodes, they found that visual processing plays a crucial role in learning new movements. Fast learners showed higher activity in brain regions linked to visual information and muscle movement planning. These findings highlight the importance of vision in acquiring motor skills and its implications for older adults.

Exercising our brains with daily habits like naps and memory workouts, instead of relying on smartphones, can reduce the risk of age-related dementia. 

Star-shaped glial cells, so-called astrocytes, are more than just a supporting cell of the brain. They are actively involved in learning processes and interact with nerve cells. Now scientists are using a biophysical model to clarify how astrocytes interact with nerve cells to regulate rapid adaptation to new information. The results of the study have now been published in Communications Biology.

New research shows that inflammation outside the brain, such as that caused by common infections such as colds and urine infections, is linked to the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Recent advances in the study of proteomes (i.e., the entire range of proteins expressed by human cells and tissues) have opened new opportunities for identifying the biological markers of specific diseases or mental disorders. This could in turn inform the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of these medical conditions.

A new experimental cancer drug could ease cognitive difficulties for those with Rett syndrome, a rare autism-linked disorder, by enhancing brain cell functions. 

An MIT study published in Nature provides new evidence for how specific cells and circuits become vulnerable in Alzheimer’s disease, and hones in on other factors that may help some people show resilience to cognitive decline, even amid clear signs of disease pathology.

Neuroscientists have discovered the brain circuitry of placebo effect for pain relief.

A new study demonstrates how the external representation of physiological signals (interoception) can affect our perception of them and teach us how to improve them in order to balance the body in stressful situations, for example. The study was recently published in the journal Scientific Reports.

An interdisciplinary team of scientists has found differences between male and female brain structure in areas associated with decision-making, memory processing and handling emotions.

A new study proposes a novel approach to studying consciousness through behavioural observations and learning curves, highlighting that learning often occurs in sudden leaps, suggesting these “eureka moments” are preceded by conscious cognitive processes.

Finally this week, there is a potential connection between a diagnosis of certain gastrointestinal (GI) syndromes and the formation and rupture of intracranial (brain) aneurysms according to new research.