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brain research

Research articles and news stories tagged with brain research

·April 24, 2023·4 min read

High-Fat Diets During Early Life Lead to Cravings for Salty Foods Later On

In utero and early life exposure to high-fat diets result in a preference for foods that are higher in salt later in life, a new study reports. Researchers say high-fat diets increase the expression of the AT1 protein in the taste buds. This occurs as early as three weeks of age. AT1 is associated with a preference for salty tastes and researchers suggest AT1 affects salty taste preference by increasing sodium intake in taste bud cells.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 24, 2023·5 min read

The Power of Bullying: Aggressive Behavior Boosts Chimpanzees’ Social Status and Reproductive Success

A new study finds that chimpanzees with more aggressive personalities and less conscientiousness are more successful at climbing the social ladder and siring offspring than their more passive counterparts. However, the researchers also find it puzzling that not every chimpanzee has the same personality traits, suggesting that there may be other factors at play that determine the diversity of personalities in chimpanzees.

Brain Cancer Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·April 24, 2023·4 min read

New Gel Treatment Wipes Out Deadly Brain Cancer in Mice – Offers Hope For Defeating Glioblastoma in Humans

Combining an anticancer drug with an antibody, researchers developed a novel gel that cured glioblastoma brain cancer in 100% of mouse models. The findings offer new hope in the fight against the most deadly form of brain cancer in humans. The gel triggers an immune response and, when the cancer was reintroduced, the immune system alone helped beat the cancer without additional medications.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 24, 2023·3 min read

Sleep Better, Live Better: Machine-Learning Method Can Predict Your Body Clock

New machine-learning method predicts body clock, helping to improve sleep and health. The technology offers personalized sleep and meal plans aligned to our personal biology, reducing risks of illness. The approach uses blood samples to predict circadian timing and offers an easy way to estimate our own circadian rhythms.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·April 24, 2023·4 min read

Antiviral Pathway a Potential New Target for Alzheimer’s Treatment

Inhibiting cGAS, an innate immune system enzyme allows neurons to become more resilient to tau fibrils. The new finding may serve in the development of new therapies to help treat Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia, two neurodegenerative disorders associated with tau build-up in the brain.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 24, 2023·3 min read

Monkey See, Monkey Think: Groundbreaking Study Reveals Primate’s Ability for Complex Decision-Making

Move over humans, monkeys can think deeply too! A novel study has shown that monkeys are capable of careful decision-making by considering costs, consequences, and constraints. Findings reveal our primate cousins are capable of making optimal choices instead of impulsive decisions.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 24, 2023·5 min read

A Helping Hand: Small Acts of Kindness Occur Every Two Minutes

In a study of people from different countries and cultural backgrounds, researchers found people tend to ask for assistance with small tasks on average every two minutes. Across cultures, people tend to positively respond to the requests of others more often than they deny assistance. The findings suggest all cultures may have more similar cooperative behaviors than prior research has established.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 24, 2023·5 min read

Disrupted Synaptic Pruning a Key Factor in Teen Mental Health at Risk

According to research, problems with the brain's ability to prune itself of unnecessary connections may be behind a wide range of mental health disorders that begin during adolescence. This could explain why people are often affected by more than one disorder. The discovery of a characteristic pattern of brain activity called the "neuropsychopathological factor" (NP factor) could help identify those at greatest risk of mental health problems and facilitate earlier interventions to reduce the risk.

Featured Neuroscience

·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.

This shows a genetically engineered worm

Featured Neuroscience

·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.

Featured Neuroscience

·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.

Featured Neuroscience

·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.