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Columbia University

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·January 5, 2020·5 min read

Study explains why some creams and cosmetics may cause a skin rash

Study reveals how some chemicals in popular cosmetics and skin lotions displace lipids in skin cells, triggering allergic contact dermatitis.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·December 5, 2019·4 min read

Brain differences detected in children with depressed parents

The right putamen, a brain area linked to reward, motivation, and feelings of pleasure, is smaller in children with a genetic risk factor for depression. Previous studies implicated reduced putamen volume with anhedonia, which is often associated with depression, suicidal behaviors, and psychosis.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·November 14, 2019·5 min read

Link between hearing and cognition begins earlier than once thought

Lower levels of cognitive function were observed in people whose hearing was slightly impaired by aging but was still considered to be normal. The findings suggest cognitive impairment starts as soon as hearing becomes imperfect.

Featured Neuroscience Neuroscience Videos

·November 12, 2019·5 min read

Specific neurons that map memories now identified in the human brain

Neural activity in the entorhinal cortex is correlated with place-based memories. The findings shed new light on how the brain processes spatial memory.

Neuroscience

·October 15, 2019·5 min read

Stress during pregnancy may affect baby’s sex and risk of preterm birth

Stress and depression during pregnancy can affect the fetus' sex and increase the risk of preterm birth. Mothers who experienced physical and psychological stress during pregnancy were less likely to have a baby boy. During pregnancy, the fetuses of stressed mothers had reduced heart rate movement coupling, indicating slower central nervous system development.

This shows a person holding out empty pockets

Featured Neuroscience

·October 9, 2019·4 min read

Drops in income may not only hurt the wallet, they may harm the brain

Experiencing an income drop of 25% or more impacts brain health and cognitive ability during middle age.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 6, 2019·4 min read

Bad to the bone or just bad behavior?

How we perceive moral goodness or moral badness, as either biological and innate traits or potentially changeable, can guide whether we are willing to be lenient over other peoples' transgressions.

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Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·June 27, 2019·7 min read

Hidden Consciousness Detectable with EEG Just Days after Brain Injury

Researchers detected brain waves indicative of 'hidden' consciousness in 15% of patients with TBI four days after the injury occurred. Among those patients, 50% improved and were able to follow verbal commands before being discharged from hospital compared to just 26% who did not show signs of hidden consciousness.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·June 6, 2019·5 min read

Ultrasound method restores dopaminergic pathway in brain at Parkinson’s early stages

Using transcranial focused ultrasound in combination with injectable microbubbles, researchers open a pathway through the blood-brain barrier. The technique allows drugs to penetrate the brain and trigger therapeutic effects for those with neurodegenerative diseases.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·May 25, 2019·4 min read

Infants with autism risk may be less likely to distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar speech patterns

Children at higher risk of ASD are less able to distinguish between differences in speech patterns. The findings suggest the biological mechanism of language development is less acquisitive in high-risk infants who are diagnosed with autism during toddlerhood.

This shows a person holding his tummy as if in pain

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·May 7, 2019·7 min read

Study explains why a moody gut often accompanies depression

Mice with a genetic mutation linked to severe depression had impaired ability for neurons in the gut and brain to create serotonin. The reduction of serotonin in the gut led to a deterioration in the gut's lining, slowing the movement of contents through the GI tract and resulting in constipation. However, treatment with 5-HTP increased neurogenesis in the gut, restoring normal function.

This shows a sad looking child in a garden

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 31, 2019·4 min read

Gastrointestinal complaints in children could signal future mental health problem

A correlation between gastrointestinal symptoms, adversity and childhood anxiety has been identified by researchers at Columbia University. Studying fMRI data and fecal samples, researchers noted adversity was associated with microbial diversity changes and differences prefrontal cortex activation in response to emotional faces.