Neuroscience News - AI, Neuroscience, Psychology Research

·April 24, 2023·3 min read

Classical Conditioning Through Brain Stimulation

Brain activity can be conditioned through external brain stimulation, researchers discovered. The findings have implications for using TMS as a therapeutic approach, potentially leading to more straightforward treatment for conditions such as Parkinson's disease and depression.

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·April 23, 2023·6 min read

Worm Model Weeds Out New Insight Into Endocannabinoid System

A new study of worms brings new insight into the workings of the endocannabinoid system and helps answer the question of why cannabis consumption enhances mood and gives people "the munchies". Researchers found cannabis consumption activates the endocannabinoid system and evokes cravings for higher calorie foods.

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·April 23, 2023·6 min read

Understanding the Importance of “Brain Age”

Researchers from Monash University are investigating the age of the brain, which may not always match the age of its host. Their work aims to unravel this mystery from different perspectives.

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·April 23, 2023·3 min read

Advance in Intelligent Neuroprosthetics May Benefit Those With Motor Diseases

It may be possible to optimize the stimulation parameters of brain implants in animals without human intervention. The study highlights the potential for autonomous optimization of prostheses implanted in the brain. The advance may prove to be beneficial for those with spinal cord injury and diseases that affect movement.

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·April 22, 2023·5 min read

500 Days of Solitude: One Woman’s Experience of Extreme Social Isolation Sheds Light on Time Perception

A woman who recently emerged from a cave after 500 days of isolation reported she rapidly lost her perception of time. Researchers explore how social isolation impacts time perception and the neurobiological mechanisms that may explain this phenomenon.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·April 22, 2023·3 min read

Early Indicators of Autism May Be Identified in Fetal Brain Scans

A study by King's College researchers has identified a link between autism traits and isolated fetal ventriculomegaly - a common antenatal brain abnormality. Using MRI brain scans, the study supports the need for early identification and intervention for families and could improve the long-term support of those affected.

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·April 22, 2023·5 min read

Mental Block: The Brain Often Stops Us From Learning From Mistakes

Researchers investigate why our brains often allow us to repeat mistakes and how we can apply cognitive control to self-correct when It comes to error-making.

Featured Neurology Pain

·April 22, 2023·5 min read

Alcohol Fuels Pain: Study Reveals Link Between Drinking and Chronic Pain

Chronic alcohol consumption can increase sensitivity to pain through two molecular mechanisms. Researchers also identified potential new drug targets for treating alcohol-related chronic pain. Over half of people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) suffer from persistent pain, including alcoholic neuropathy. The study found that alcohol withdrawal could result in neuropathy that was not reversed by re-exposure to alcohol.

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·April 21, 2023·3 min read

Tiny Polystyrene Particles Detected in the Brain Just Two Hours After Ingestion

Two hours after ingestion, tiny particles of polystyrene, a widely used plastic commonly used for food packing, can be detected in the brain. These plastic particles can increase the risk of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.

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·April 21, 2023·6 min read

Stress Rapidly Increases Biological Age, but Recovery Turns Back the Clock

Stress can cause rapid and transient increases in biological age, which can be reversed upon recovery, according to a new study. Using DNA methylation clocks, researchers found that stress triggers short-term fluctuations in biological age in humans and mice. The findings challenge the idea that biological age has a unidirectional upward trajectory over the life course, and highlights the importance of reducing biological age to improve longevity.

This shows neurons and the olfactory bulb

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·April 21, 2023·3 min read

Sniffing Out the Mechanism Behind Parkinson’s Smell Loss

Up to 90% of patients report experiencing a diminished sense of smell, even prior to the onset of other symptoms of Parkinson's disease. A new study reveals the mechanism behind smell loss associated with Parkinson's, reporting mouse models with olfactory impairments had severe pathology in projection neurons of the olfactory pathway. The mice also had reduced neurogenesis in the olfactory bulb.

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·April 21, 2023·4 min read

Key Protein of Hippocampal Neurogenesis Discovered

The protein Yap1 plays a key role in the generation of new neurons in the hippocampus. However, tight regulation of Yap1 activity is essential as dysregulation causes the disruption of tissue seen in glioblastoma brain cancer.