Higher maternal socioeconomics offer little protection against toxic prenatal stress
Maternal stress and anxiety alter the structure and biochemistry of the developing fetal brain.... Read More...
cerebellum
High air pollution exposure in 1-year-olds’ linked to structural brain changes at age 12
Early-life exposure to high levels of traffic-related air pollution alters the structure of the brain at age 12. Children exposed to air pollution had reduced cortical thickness and gray matter volume compared to children who were not exposed to high levels of pollution.... Read More...
A rat had basically no brain, but it could still see, hear, smell, and feel
Rat R222 was born with hydrocephalus. Neuroimaging revealed most of its brain had compressed and collapsed as it filled with fluid. However, despite its condition, the animal was still able to see, hear, smell, and feel like other animals. The study sheds new light on neuroplasticity, and the findings could have implications for the development of new machine learning technologies.... Read More...
How decisions unfold
A new zebrafish study reveals the important role the cerebellum plays in cognition, decision making, and motor planning.... Read More...
Dendrites filtering neuron’s excitement
Purkinje cells can modulate and filter incoming signals. The findings shed new light on learning mechanisms within the cerebellum.... Read More...
Finding Upends Theory about the Cerebellum’s Role in Reading and Dyslexia
New findings dispute the popular cerebellar deficit hypothesis of dyslexia. Researchers report the cerebellum is not engaged during reading in typical readers and does not differ in children with dyslexia.... Read More...
Neurological signals from the spinal cord surprise scientists
A new study challenges existing theories about spinal cord neurons. New findings suggest neurological signals originate from a major, scattered network of cells that send signals to only a few other neurons. ... Read More...
Acute cerebellar inflammation and hyperexcitability induces ‘depression-like’ behavior
Acute inflammation of the anterior cerebellum resulted in depression-like symptoms in rodent models. Suppressing microglia helped reduce hyperexcitability and symptoms of depression.... Read More...
A paradoxical proinflammatory effect of endocannabinoids in the brain discovered
While endocannabinoids have been reported to play a role in anti-inflammation in some areas of the brain, a new study reveals they may cause inflammation in the cerebellum.... Read More...
Genes underscore five psychiatric disorders
Nineteen gene sets have been identified that contribute to at least five psychiatric disorders. The gene sets were associated with ADHD, ASD, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia. ... Read More...
Brain-computer interfacing technology uses music to make people happy
A new brain-machine interface technology can enhance emotional interaction with music. ... Read More...
Brain imaging may help identify teens at risk of increasing alcohol use
Neuroimaging study reveals teens with more gray matter in the caudate nucleus and left cerebellum were at increased risk of problem alcohol use over time. The findings reinforce the idea that brain structure differences may contribute to both psychiatric and substance use disorders.... Read More...