Weekly Neuroscience Update

February 23, 2024Leave a comment

Melodic pitch, pitch-change, and expectation modulate STG activity during music listening. (A) Three melodic features visualized for an example melody. (B) Electrodes across all participants (N = 8) plotted on a common brain. Color indicates the peak evoked high-frequency activity (HFA) averaged across all musical phrases. (C) Responses at three example electrodes demonstrating distinct tuning to pitch. Credit: *Science Advances* (2024)

Researchers have developed a precise map of what is happening in the cerebral cortex when someone hears a melody.

Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery, identifying a rare lipid as a crucial factor in ferroptosis, a unique form of cell death. The findings provide new detail on how cells die during ferroptosis and could improve understanding of how to stop ferroptosis in contexts where it is harmfully occurring– in neurodegenerative diseases, for example– or induce it in contexts where it could be useful, such as using it to kill dangerous cancer cells.

Our brains are “programmed” to learn more from people we like – and less from those we dislike. This has been shown by researchers in cognitive neuroscience in a series of experiments.

An intensive meditation-based intervention (iMI) significantly improves positive symptoms, particularly refractory hallucinations and delusions, in male patients with schizophrenia, according to a new study.

Indigenous people may be more likely to have a stroke than non-Indigenous people, according to a systematic review that looked at populations around the world.

A new study highlights the critical link between sleep, circadian rhythms, and psychiatric disorders, suggesting that disturbances in sleep and internal body clocks can trigger or exacerbate mental health issues. The research underscores the prevalence of sleep-circadian disturbances across all psychiatric disorders, pointing to the need for holistic treatments that address these factors.

For individuals with post-COVID-19 condition, cognitive symptoms are common, according to a study published online Feb. 14 in JAMA Network Open.

Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence model that accurately determines the sex of individuals based on brain scans, with over 90% success. This breakthrough supports the theory that significant sex differences in brain organization exist, challenging long-standing controversies.

A new population-based study reveals the roles of maternal and fetal genes in the growth of a baby’s cerebral cortex.

A new study explains how dopamine influences movement sequences, offering hope for Parkinson’s disease (PD) therapies. Researchers observed that dopamine not only motivates movement but also controls the length and lateralization of actions, with different neurons activating for movement initiation and reward reception.

New research sheds light on what goes on inside people’s heads as they make decisions to obtain information about the future.

Moderate/severe and penetrating traumatic brain injury (TBI) are associated with an increased risk for subsequent development of brain cancer, according to a study published online Feb. 15 in JAMA Network Open.

For the first time, researchers have mapped out the proteins implicated in the early stages of motor neuron disease (MND).

In a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience, scientists demonstrated the effectiveness of using low-intensity focused ultrasound to modulate the activity in a critical region in the brain that processes and regulates pain signals.

Finally this week, new research shows how empathy can be socially transmitted.

Slumber, Science, and the Mind: Unraveling the Mysteries of Sleep

January 9, 2024Leave a comment

Sleep is a fundamental aspect of human existence, yet the reasons behind why we sleep have puzzled scientists for centuries. Recent advancements in neuroscience have shed light on the mechanisms and functions of sleep, revealing its impact on cognitive function, emotional well-being, and overall health. In this post, we will explore the neuroscientific perspective on why we sleep and the vital role it plays in maintaining optimal brain function.

Restoration and Repair

One of the primary functions of sleep is to facilitate physical and mental restoration. During the waking hours, the brain accumulates metabolic waste products that can be detrimental to its proper functioning. Studies [1] have shown that during sleep, the glymphatic system becomes highly active, clearing away toxins and waste products that accumulate in the brain throughout the day. This process promotes cellular repair, ensuring that the brain is in optimal condition for the next day’s activities.

Memory Consolidation

Sleep plays a crucial role in memory consolidation, a process in which newly acquired information is stabilized and integrated into existing knowledge networks. The hippocampus, a brain region vital for memory formation, is particularly active during specific stages of sleep, such as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Research [2] suggests that the reactivation of neural pathways during sleep strengthens synaptic connections, contributing to the consolidation and organization of memories.

Emotional Regulation

The emotional resilience of an individual is closely tied to the quality of their sleep. Studies [3] have revealed that sleep is essential for regulating emotional responses and processing negative experiences. The amygdala, a key player in emotional processing, undergoes a recalibration during sleep, helping individuals better cope with stress and emotional challenges. Disruptions in sleep patterns have been linked to heightened emotional reactivity and an increased risk of mood disorders.

Learning and Cognitive Function

Sleep is intricately connected to learning and cognitive performance. Evidence [4] suggests that sleep facilitates synaptic plasticity, the ability of synapses to strengthen or weaken over time. This process is crucial for learning new skills, acquiring knowledge, and adapting to changing environments. Lack of sleep has been shown to impair attention, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities, highlighting the integral role of sleep in maintaining optimal cognitive function.

Hormonal Regulation

Sleep has a profound impact on the regulation of hormones, influencing various physiological processes. Studies [5] have demonstrated that sleep deprivation can disrupt the balance of hormones related to appetite, metabolism, and stress. This imbalance may contribute to weight gain, increased inflammation, and a higher risk of chronic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Sleep is a complex and dynamic process that serves multiple essential functions for the brain and body. From the restoration of cellular integrity to the consolidation of memories and the regulation of emotions, sleep plays a critical role in maintaining overall well-being. As our understanding of the neuroscience of sleep deepens, it becomes increasingly clear that prioritizing healthy sleep patterns is fundamental to promoting optimal cognitive function and sustaining a balanced and fulfilling life.

Notes

[1] Xie et al. (2013): “Sleep Drives Metabolite Clearance from the Adult Brain.”Nedergaard, M. (2013); “Garbage Truck of the Brain.”

[2] Diekelmann, S., & Born, J. (2010): “The memory function of sleep.” ; Walker, M. P., & Stickgold, R. (2006): “Sleep, memory, and plasticity.”

[3] Walker, M. P., & van der Helm, E. (2009): “Overnight therapy? The role of sleep in emotional brain processing.” ; Goldstein, A. N., & Walker, M. P. (2014): “The Role of Sleep in Emotional Brain Function.”

[4] Stickgold, R. (2005): “Sleep-dependent memory consolidation.” ; Rasch, B., & Born, J. (2013): “About Sleep’s Role in Memory.”

[5] Spiegel, K., & Leproult, R. (1999): “Impact of sleep debt on metabolic and endocrine function.” ; Taheri, S., et al. (2004): “Short Sleep Duration Is Associated with Reduced Leptin, Elevated Ghrelin, and Increased Body Mass Index.”

Weekly Neuroscience Update

January 5, 2024Leave a comment

A new study has identified a neural coding mechanism that allows the transfer of information back and forth between perceptual regions to memory areas of the brain. The results are published in Nature Neuroscience.

Perceived time has a significant impact on the actual time it takes to heal physical wounds, according to new research.

Researchers have identified a wide range of risk factors for young-onset dementia. The findings challenge the notion that genetics are the sole cause of the condition, laying the groundwork for new prevention strategies.

Scientists have uncovered a key brain pathway mediating panic disorder symptoms.

Researchers have developed a groundbreaking synaptic transistor inspired by the human brain. This device can simultaneously process and store information, mimicking the brain’s capacity for higher-level thinking.

People who have more disrupted sleep in their 30s and 40s may be more likely to have memory and thinking problems a decade later, according to new research published in Neurology.

With help from an artificial language network, neuroscientists have discovered what kind of sentences are most likely to fire up the brain’s key language processing centers. The new study reveals that more complex sentences, either because of unusual grammar or unexpected meaning, generate stronger responses in these language processing centers. Very straightforward sentences barely engage these regions, and nonsensical sequences of words don’t do much for them either.

Finally this week, scientists have identified a molecular anchor that stabilizes mitochondria near synapses to support memory formation.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

October 6, 2023Leave a comment

A new study has provided the first clear picture of where language processes are located in the brain. The findings may be useful in clinical trials involving language recovery after brain injury.

Researchers have developed a model for studying one type of familial epilepsy, opening the door to understanding—and eventually targeting—the mechanisms that lead to the disorder and its associated fatalities.

A new study published in Nature Medicine sheds light on how biological sex influences brain function and its impact on the risk of various brain-related diseases.

A breakthrough technique developed by University of Oxford researchers could one day provide tailored repairs for those who suffer brain injuries. The researchers have demonstrated for the first time that neural cells can be 3D-printed to mimic the architecture of the cerebral cortex.

A research team has identified new potential treatments for children with rare genetic conditions of blood vessels, which cause severe, symptoms like seizures and impaired development.

Scientists have discovered new insights into how our brain stores episodic memories—a type of long-term, conscious memory of a previous experience—that could be critical to the development of new neuroprosthetic devices to help patients with memory problems, like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

A global blood test for concussion could be a step closer after a new study discovered specific proteins or biomarkers that can help diagnose concussions relatively quickly and accurately.

The brain circuitry that is disrupted in Alzheimer’s disease appears to influence memory through a type of brain wave known as theta oscillation, a team led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers report. The findings, published in Nature Communications, could help researchers design and evaluate new treatments for Alzheimer’s, a condition that affects millions of people around the globe and has no cure.

Finally this week, a new study reveals the role of vascular system cells—pericytes—in the formation of long-term memories of life events—memories that are lost in diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

September 29, 2023September 29, 2023Leave a comment

*Dietary phospholipid intervention could prevent brain aging by maintaining lipid homeostasis and enhancing synaptic plasticity. Credit: Wei Xiong et al.*

A new review highlights the significant role of dietary lipids in preventing brain aging and cognitive decline. As the global burden of aging-related brain diseases, particularly dementia, continues to rise, this research offers promising insights into potential nutritional interventions that could improve brain function during aging.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks may be one of the mechanisms that link traumatic brain injury (TBI) with dementia, according to a new hypothesis.

Short-term exposure to air pollution may be linked to an increased risk of stroke, according to a meta-analysis published in Neurology. Short-term exposure was defined as occurring within five days of the stroke.

People with a higher cumulative estrogen exposure throughout their life may have a lower risk of cerebral small vessel disease, according to a new study.

New research is painting a clearer picture of the early signs of multiple sclerosis (MS), showing that people are nearly twice as likely to experience mental illness in the years leading up to the onset of the disease.

Increased TV/DVD screen time at 1 and 2 years of age negatively affects developmental performance at 2 and 3 years of age, according to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics.

Whether you are an early bird or a night owl, your internal clock plays a critical role in maximizing your mental performance, according to a recent study. This effect is so strong that it can significantly impact academic performance for adolescent students and the results of brain health assessments for older adults.

Researchers are using ultra-high field 7 Tesla MRI to provide a better understanding of how sleep is regulated.

A new study suggests a common brain network exists among people with substance use disorder. By evaluating data from across more than 144 studies of addiction, the team found abnormalities across substance use disorders mapped to a common brain network across substances and lesion locations, suggesting a potential brain circuit to target with neurostimulation therapies.

Finally this week, people differ significantly in their memory performance and researchers have now discovered that certain brain signals are related to these differences.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

August 6, 2023Leave a comment

Credit: *Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging* (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2023.07.003

Researchers have recently been exploring the potential of psychedelic drugs, such as psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) for treating depression and other mental disorders. Recent research compared the brains of those who had taken psychedelics to those who meditated or were hypnotized. The researchers found that while some may report similar experiences or feelings under these different states of consciousness, what is happening in their brains is very different. Despite the similarities in brain activity between psilocybin and LSD, the changes they induced were markedly different. It suggests that psychedelics, meditation, and hypnosis operate differently and possess distinct underlying mechanisms.

A new study has used multi-omics profiling to track the markers of aging in women.

In a recent review published in the journal Trends in Cognitive Science on August 3rd, a group of social scientists describe how the functions of social media algorithms are misaligned with human social instincts meant to foster cooperation, which can lead to large-scale polarization and misinformation.

Researchers have proposed a strategy to stratify risk of progression from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s disease.

Research from the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience has identified a mechanism through which insulin-like growth factors facilitate brain plasticity. The insulin superfamily of hormones, including insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), and insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2), play a crucial role not only in regulating blood sugar, metabolism, and growth, but also in healthy brain development and function, including learning and memory.

Finally this week, how people feel about their sleep has a greater impact on their well-being than what sleep-tracking technology says about their sleep quality, new research has found.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

July 30, 2023Leave a comment

A new study reveals that individuals with stronger ‘mindreading’ abilities, or the capacity to understand others’ feelings and intentions, are more successful in cooperative tasks. This trait, also known as ‘theory of mind,’ is not directly tied to intelligence and can potentially be improved through training programs.

Researchers have identified proteomic changes associated with forms of Alzheimer’s disease.

People in their eighties who can recall everyday events and life experiences as well as someone 20 to 30 years younger—known as superagers—are also more likely to have greater movement speed than typical older adults. They also have lower rates of anxiety and depression, according to a new study published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity journal.

A research team has developed a tool that counts brain lesions in seconds.

A new study has found that the frequency and duration of naps in infants are an indication of their cognitive needs. According to the research, infants with smaller vocabularies and poorer cognitive abilities tend to nap more frequently.

Researchers have discovered that myo-inositol, a small cyclic sugar molecule found in breast milk, plays a crucial role in promoting neuronal connections in infants’ brains.

Neuroscientists have proposed a fresh perspective on systems consolidation, the process by which certain memories are moved from the hippocampus to the neocortex for long-term storage. Their theory, backed by a mathematical neural network model, posits that the consolidation of memories depends on their generalizability, not age. This theory suggests a new memory, which is a generalization of previous memories, is created during consolidation.

Researchers have utilized artificial intelligence to uncover the promising potential of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) in combating Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

New research heightened light sensitivity in Alzheimer’s patients to “sundowning,” a worsening of symptoms late in the day, and sleep disruptions that may advance the disease. This fresh understanding of biological clock disruptions in Alzheimer’s could aid the creation of treatments and symptom management. Light therapy could potentially regulate erratic sleep patterns caused by altered circadian rhythms.

Finally this week, scientists have identified a group of nerve cells in the midbrain, which, when stimulated, can suspend all movement, akin to setting a film on pause.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

July 7, 2023July 7, 2023Leave a comment

Artificial Intelligence (AI), specifically GPT-4, was found to match the top 1% of human thinkers on a standard creativity test. The AI application ChatGPT, developed using GPT-4, excelled in fluency and originality in the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking, a widely recognized tool for assessing creativity. This breakthrough finding indicates that AI may be developing creative ability on par with or even surpassing human capabilities.

Researchers have identified a small structure in the brain, the anterior precuneus or aPCu, as a crucial component in establishing our physical self or “I”.

Taking good care of your teeth may be linked to better brain health, according to a study published in Neurology. The study found that gum disease and tooth loss were linked to brain shrinkage in the hippocampus, which plays a role in memory and Alzheimer’s disease. The study does not prove that gum disease or tooth loss causes Alzheimer’s disease; it only shows an association.

A new study has demonstrated for the first time that the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) can be significantly improved by additionally measuring the thickness of retinal layers in the eye.

Distinct, though neighbouring, areas of the brain are activated when processing music and language, with specific sub-regions engaged for simple melodies versus complex melodies, and for simple versus complex sentences, according to researchers.

New findings suggest that depression after traumatic brain injury (TBI) could be a clinically distinct disorder rather than traditional major depressive disorder, with implications for patient treatment.

If you’re sleep deprived, you will likely have a harder time remembering things than if you’re well-rested. But if you have good cardiorespiratory fitness, your memory may be less affected by the effects of sleep deprivation than others, according to a recent McGill study published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

Finally this week, even during sleep, the sounds that infants are exposed to can play a big role in language development, especially for babies at risk of language delays.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

June 30, 2023Leave a comment

Encouraging children to indulge in reading for pleasure can enhance their cognitive and mental health during adolescence, a recent study reveals. The study, involving over 10,000 young adolescents from the US, discovered that an optimal reading duration of 12 hours per week contributed to improved brain structure and mental health.

New research has investigated associations of adverse childhood experiences with changes in epigenetic age acceleration.

Researchers have discovered a new depression subtype, the ‘cognitive biotype,’ affecting 27% of patients who respond poorly to typically prescribed antidepressants. These patients struggle with planning, self-control, sustained focus, and suppressing inappropriate behavior, with brain scans revealing reduced activity in the regions responsible for these tasks.

A team of researchers has developed a predictive model to recognize patterns of persistent negative thinking, or rumination, using machine learning.

A new study involving over 22,000 people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) has identified a genetic variant associated with the disease’s faster progression. The research discovered a genetic variant that significantly affects disease severity. This development brings us closer to understanding and combatting the progressive form of MS. The identified genetic variant accelerates disability, undermining patient mobility and independence over time.

Regularly finding time for a little snooze is good for our brain and helps keep it bigger for longer, say researchers.

Do intelligent people think faster? Researchers made the surprising finding that participants with higher intelligence scores were only quicker when tackling simple tasks, while they took longer to solve difficult problems than subjects with lower IQ scores.

Finally this week, new research provides the first physiological evidence supporting the scientific theory of how the brain consolidates memory during sleep.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

June 11, 2023Leave a comment

A new study sheds light on gender differences in risk-taking behavior. The research reveals women are more averse to risk than men due to heightened sensitivity to potential losses. Conversely, men, exhibiting greater optimism, are more willing to engage in risk-taking.

Researchers have identified specific brain network connections associated with anosognosia, a condition where patients are unaware of their neurological or psychiatric deficits.

Scientists have discovered children’s ability to process emotional cues is largely established by the time they start school. Analyzing brain scans from children aged five to 15, the study revealed that such brain activity becomes increasingly similar to their peers as they reach adolescence. The research emphasizes the importance of early intervention to address issues related to understanding emotional cues.

Recent neuroscience studies underscore the profound impact of sleep and sleep disorders on memory.

In a paper published in Science Advances, an international team reveal the discovery of sequence variants in the gene ABCC9 that influence the pitch of voices. The scientists found that ABCC9 variants associate with higher voice pitch in both men and women. The same sequence variants are also linked to higher pulse pressure, a cardiovascular risk factor, highlighting links between voice pitch and health-related traits.

Researchers have discovered a promising new avenue for treating glioblastoma, a deadly brain cancer.

Research led by the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, has looked into premature brain aging in individuals with type 1 diabetes. The findings of this study show an increase in brain aging among individuals with type 1 diabetes without any early signs of AD-related neurodegeneration. These increases were associated with reduced cognitive performance, but according to the authors, the abnormal patterns observed in the samples were modest.

Finally this week, intricate links between breathing and memory recall have been unraveled by recent scientific research, painting a more complex picture of our cognitive processes.