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learning

·May 29, 2013·3 min read

Neuroscientists Discover New Phase of Synaptic Development

Researchers discover a new phase of synaptic development. The finding could lead to a better understanding of how learning and memory occur.

The image shows an NDMA receptor in action.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 28, 2013·3 min read

Scientists Advance Understanding of Brain Receptor; Could Help Fight Neurological Disorders

A new study provides clues into how the function of the most common NMDA receptor subtypes may be manipulated for clinical benefit. NMDA receptors have been implicated in a number of neurological and psychological disease, from Alzheimer's to schizophrenia.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 16, 2013·2 min read

Fishing for Memories

Observing whole-brain activity in live zebrafish, researchers have discovered how information stored as long-term memory in the cerebral cortex is processed to guide behavioral choices.

The diagram shows the location of the hippocampus in the brain.

Featured Neurology

·May 15, 2013·4 min read

Brain Rewires Itself After Damage or Injury

When the hippocampus, an area of the brain associated with memory and learning, is damaged, the prefrontal cortex takes over. This demonstration of neuroplasticity could give rise to new treatment options for Alzheimer's disease and other conditions associated with damage to the brain.

The image shows a head with question marks surrounding it.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 13, 2013·3 min read

Grammar Errors? The Brain Detects Them Even When You Are Unaware

Researchers discover people detect and process grammatical errors with no conscious awareness of doing so.

Featured Neurology

·May 8, 2013·2 min read

Brain Anatomy of Dyslexia Is Not the Same in Men and Women, Boys and Girls

Researchers discover significant sex-based brain anatomy differences between males and females with dyslexia.

The image shows four brain slices with temporal lobe damage.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 22, 2013·5 min read

Gone, But Not Forgotten

Researchers describe in detail the underlying neurobiology of the "world's second most famous amnesiac", EP, who suffered profound memory loss after damage to key portions of his brain.

Autism Featured

·March 20, 2013·6 min read

Humanoid Robot Helps Train Children with Autism

Vanderbilt researchers develop a humanoid robotic system to help teach autistic children to coordinate their attention with objects and other people in their environment.

The image shows a diagram of the brain with specific regions of the dopamine and serotonin pathways mapped out.

Featured Psychology

·March 15, 2013·2 min read

Discovery Could Yield Treatment for Cocaine Addicts

Researchers discovered cocaine causes cells within the nucleus accumbens to boost the production of two specific proteins linked to addition and learning. Understanding addiction on a molecular level could lead to future developments for new treatments.

The image is a diagram comparing the difference between neuron damage and associated damage in alzheimer's disease with normal neurons.

Featured Neurology

·March 8, 2013·2 min read

Buphenyl Identified as a Possible Drug for Alzheimer’s Disease

Buphenyl (sodium phenylbutyrate), a medication approved for the treatment of hyperammonemia, could help prevent the progression of Alzheimer's disease, a new study finds.

The image shows cultured neurons with projecting dendrites highlighted in green.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 6, 2013·2 min read

Flip of a Single Molecular Switch Makes an Old Brain Young

Monitoring the synapses of living mice, researchers discover an important genetic switch for brain maturation. Mice without the Nogo Receptor 1 gene have persistent levels of juvenile brain plasticity through adulthood.

The image shows a drawing of the brain with the lateral intraparietal area (LIP) highlighted in red.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 6, 2013·4 min read

One Region, Two Functions: Brain Cells’ Multitasking Could be a Key to Understanding Overall Brain Function

The lateral intraparietal area (LIP), a region of the brain known to play a vital role in spatial and visual processing also has a parallel function, categorizing visual information, a new study suggests.