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Institute For Basic Science

·May 23, 2025·5 min read

Tiny Genetic Code Disruption Alters Brain Wiring and Behavior

A small genetic sequence called mini-exon B plays a surprisingly crucial role in how neurons form synaptic connections, according to new research. Scientists found that deleting this four–amino acid segment from a synapse-building protein, PTPδ, disrupted neural activity and led to anxiety-like behaviors in mice.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 1, 2025·5 min read

Brain Circuit for Vicarious Fear Reveals How We Feel Others’ Pain

Scientists have uncovered a dedicated brain circuit that distinguishes between direct fear and fear learned by observing others—known as vicarious fear. The study shows that the right side of the brainstem’s locus coeruleus (LC) activates a specific pathway to the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) during vicarious fear, while the left side processes direct fear.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 11, 2025·4 min read

Brain Circuit Discovery Reveals How Empathy Shapes Our Behavior

Researchers have discovered how specific brain circuits process empathy, showing that witnessing others in pain activates the same neural pathways as experiencing pain directly. Using advanced imaging techniques, the study pinpointed neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) that respond both to personal distress and observed distress in others. The scientists further demonstrated that signals from the ACC to the brain’s periaqueductal gray (PAG) region are crucial for transforming empathy into behavioral responses, like freezing or avoidance.

This shows a brain and neurons representing pain.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·March 5, 2025·4 min read

Brain Distinguishes Pain and Itch Using Separate Neural Circuits

A new study reveals that pain and itch are processed by distinct neural circuits in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Researchers identified two types of neurons—one responding to both stimuli and another selectively activated by either pain or itch.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·December 27, 2024·5 min read

Lithium Restores Brain Function and Behavior in Autism

Lithium, a drug widely used for bipolar disorder, may also treat autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to new research. The study found that lithium restored brain function and reduced behavioral symptoms in mice with Dyrk1a gene mutations, a known ASD risk factor.

This shows a woman with an orange glow around her head.

Electrophysiology Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·September 23, 2024·5 min read

How the Brain Integrates Pain Expectations and Reality

New research reveals how the brain combines pain expectations with actual pain intensity, offering insights into the brain's pain integration process. Using fMRI, scientists found that while all brain networks store pain information, only higher-level networks integrate pain expectations and stimuli into a cohesive experience.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 11, 2024·4 min read

Brain’s Dual Response to Pain and Pleasure Unveiled

Researchers discovered that the brain processes pain and pleasure through overlapping regions. By analyzing sustained pain from capsaicin and pleasure from chocolate, they identified distinct brain activity patterns linked to both experiences. These findings enhance our understanding of the brain’s mechanisms for emotional responses. The study could have implications for treating chronic pain and depression.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·May 9, 2024·4 min read

Key Brain Region Implicated in Autism Sensory Issues

Researchers identified the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) as a crucial area linked to sensory hypersensitivity in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This sensory hypersensitivity, affecting about 90% of individuals with autism, leads to abnormal responses to stimuli like sound and light, complicating daily activities and social interactions.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 11, 2024·5 min read

AI Can Now Read Your Daydreams

Researchers developed methods to predict emotions in spontaneous thoughts using fMRI and machine learning. They crafted personalized narratives that participants read while their brain activity was monitored, aiming to decode the emotional dimensions of thoughts.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·February 23, 2024·4 min read

Ultrasound Brain Stimulation: A Significant Leap in Neurotherapy

Researchers introduced a groundbreaking non-invasive brain stimulation technique called Patterned Low-Intensity Low-Frequency Ultrasound (LILFUS). This innovative method can precisely target and modulate specific brain regions, offering a promising alternative to traditional magnetic, electrical, and surgical brain stimulation methods with fewer risks.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 26, 2024·5 min read

Nasal Lymphatic Network Crucial for Brain CSF Drainage

Researchers discovered a crucial network of lymphatic vessels at the back of the nose, which significantly contributes to draining cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the brain. This study reveals a previously unknown CSF outflow route, offering insights into neurodegenerative conditions.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 18, 2023·3 min read

AI Memory Mirrors Human Brain

Researchers unveiled a significant similarity between AI memory processing and human hippocampal functions. This discovery, bridging AI and neuroscience, highlights a parallel in memory consolidation - a process crucial in transforming short-term to long-term memories - in both AI models and the human brain.