Neuron ‘nursery’ in nose tissue could help correct smell loss
The olfactory epithelium may be a hub for neurogenesis.... Read More...
Duke University
Researchers catalog dozens of mutations in crucial brain development gene
Researchers have identified 107 mutations in the RNA helicase DDX3X that cause cortical malformations in the developing brain. As the DDX3X gene is carried by the X chromosome, the associated developmental problems are more likely to occur in females. In severe cases, the functional changes in DDX3X resulted in a smaller or missing corpus callosum. Almost all of the mutations occurred de novo, meaning they happened during early development rather than being inherited from a parent. Researchers say the malfunction can now be considered to be a development disability syndrome.... Read More...
The Impact of Paternal Marijuana Exposure on the Brains of Offspring
Cannabis use in males appears to alter sperm before mating, increasing the risk of their offspring developing brain abnormalities in areas associated with mood, memory, learning, and reward.... Read More...
WWI Helmets Protect Against Shock Waves Just as Well as Modern Designs
Study reveals the French Adrian helmet, a combat helmet from World War 1, performs better than modern designs in protecting from overhead blasts. ... Read More...
Female chimps with powerful moms are less likely to leave home
Chimpanzees with high ranking mothers are more likely to remain in their group, a new study reports. Researchers speculate those with stronger mothers stay in their family group, despite higher risks of inbreeding, because they may benefit from their mother's social clout. ... Read More...
Researchers Are Using Machine Learning to Screen for Autism in Children
With the help of data collected from an online app, researchers have developed a machine learning algorithm which is 90% accurate in determining subsets of behavior associated with ASD.... Read More...
What made humans ‘the fat primate’?
Early humans underwent critical shifts in how DNA was packaged inside fat cells. As a result, the human body's ability to turn "bad" fat into "good", calorie burning fat was reduced.... Read More...
General anesthesia hijacks sleep circuitry to knock you out
Study reveals anesthesia activated neurons have been discovered in the hypothalamus. Activation of AANs promotes slow-wave sleep, extending the effects of anesthesia, while inhibition of AANs shortens the duration of general anesthetics and disrupts natural sleep.... Read More...
Artificial intelligence singles out neurons faster than a human can
Convolutional neural network model significantly outperforms previous methods and is as accurate as humans in segmenting active and overlapping neurons.... Read More...
It’s spring already? Physics explains why time flies as we age
A slower rate of image processing speeds up our perception of time as we grow older.... Read More...
It’s Not Your Fault, Your Brain is Self-Centered
Testing self-referential bias in working memory, researchers report people automatically self prioritize. This may form the basis for egocentric bias when it comes to decision making.... Read More...
Childhood Lead Exposure Linked to Poor Adult Mental Health
A new study reveals lead exposure during childhood can significantly impact mental health and personality traits later in life. Researchers found exposure to leaded gasoline prior to the 1990s was linked to increased psychiatric symptoms experienced by adults.... Read More...