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brain

The picture shows an Antheraea pernyi silk moth.

·February 6, 2013·3 min read

Insect Drives Robot to Track Down Smells

In a new study, a small, two-wheeled robot was driven by a male silkmoth to track down the sex pheromone usually given off by a female mate.

The image is a topography of the primary motor cortex, on an outline drawing of the human brain. Different body parts are listed in this area.

Featured Neurology

·February 5, 2013·3 min read

Stroke Damage in Mice Overcome by Training Which ‘Rewires’ Brain Centers

A new study discovers mice can recover from physically debilitating strokes that damage the primary motor cortex, if the rodents are quickly subjected to physical conditioning that rapidly “rewires” a different part of the brain to take over lost function.

Featured Neurology

·February 4, 2013·2 min read

Chemical Reaction Keeps Stroke Damaged Brain from Repairing itself

When the brain produces too much nitric oxide, it contributes to the severity and progression of stroke and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Researchers recently discovered that nitric oxide not only damages neurons, it also shuts down the brain’s repair mechanisms.

The image shows brain scans of damage to the amgydala. The caption explains this best.

Featured Neurology

·February 4, 2013·4 min read

Human Brain is Divided on Fear and Panic

A new study provides proof that the amygdala is not the only gatekeeper of fear in the human brain. Other regions, such as the brainstem, diencephalon, or insular cortex, could sense the body’s most primal inner signals of danger when basic survival is threatened.

The FMRI image shows regions of activation including primary visual cortex (V1, BA17), extrastriate visual cortex and lateral geniculate body.

Featured Neuroscience

·February 3, 2013·3 min read

Pioneering Research Helps to Unravel the Brain’s Vision Secrets

A new study has identified the two areas of the brain responsible for our perception of orientation and shape. Research found that the two neighbouring areas, known as human visual field maps, process the different types of visual information independently.

The image shows a number of brain scans.

Featured Psychology

·February 1, 2013·2 min read

Brain Activity Study Lends Insight into Schizophrenia

Researchers discover four spectral features in the brain signals of schizophrenia patients that changed with age compared to healthy control subjects, suggesting that schizophrenia affects the way in which brain activity evolves with age.

The image shows a black fly with Onchocerca volvulus emerging from its antenna. Onchocerca volvulus is responsible for the parasitic disease Onchocerciasis.

Featured Neurology

·February 1, 2013·2 min read

Parasites and Poor Antenatal Care are the Main Causes of Epilepsy in Sub-Saharan Africa

A new study found adults in sub-Saharan Africa who had been exposed to parasitic disease were 1.5 to 3 times more likely to have epilepsy.

The image shows opera singers performing a scene from La Boheme .

Featured Psychology

·January 31, 2013·5 min read

Listeners Mindfulness Enhanced by Meditation Technique

New research explores how mindfulness meditation could enhance both musical engagement and performance. Additional research into mindfulness meditation could potentially lead to new treatment for mental illness and brain injuries.

Brain image with the basal ganglia and other brain areas.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 30, 2013·2 min read

NIH Study Advances Understanding of Movement Control

Voluntary movements involve the coordinated activation of two brain pathways that connect parts of deep brain structures called the basal ganglia, according to a study in mice.

The image shows Seth Tomchik, Ph.D, the lead researcher of this study.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 29, 2013·2 min read

Study Shows how Brain Cells Shape Temperature Preferences

A new study shows a complex set of overlapping neuronal circuits works in concert to drive temperature preferences in the fruit fly Drosophila by affecting a single target, a heavy bundle of neurons within the fly brain known as the mushroom body. These nerve bundles play critical roles in learning and memory.

The image shows a stained section of human brain tissue upon acute ischemic stroke.

Featured Neurology

·January 29, 2013·4 min read

Medical Societies Unite on Patient Centered Measures for Nonsurgical Stroke Interventions

Representatives from medical societies created a multispecialty and international consensus on the metrics and benchmarks for processes of care and technical and clinical outcomes for stroke patients.