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Medical University of South Carolina

Auditory Neuroscience Autism Featured Neuroscience

·December 21, 2022·7 min read

A Link Between Hearing Loss and Autism Spectrum Disorder

MEF2C, a gene critical for brain development and regulating circuit formation in the brain also plays a significant role in inner ear development. Mutations of MEF2C have previously been linked to ASD. Researchers found mice with only one copy of the MEF2C gene had reduced activity in the auditory nerve.

This shows a medium spiny neuron in the nca

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·February 25, 2023·6 min read

A New Epigenetic Brain Defense Against Recurrence of Opioid Use

HDAC5, the "epigenetics" enzyme, plays a key role in limiting opioid-associated memories and drug-seeking behaviors following abstinence from drugs in rats. The findings provide a new avenue for the treatment of opioid addiction.

Image shows the location of the thalamus in the human brain.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 1, 2017·6 min read

Brain Circuit That Supports Smoking Cessation Identified

Researchers report a person's ability to quit smoking could be influenced by a neural network associated with inhibiting automated behavior.

this shows the van-dan network in the brain

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 27, 2021·5 min read

Brain Connectivity Is Lower in Adults With PTSD or a History of Sexual Abuse

People who experienced sexual abuse or suffer from PTSD have reduced connectivity in the ventral and dorsal attention network (VAN-DAN network) compared to those with no history of abuse or PTSD.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 8, 2026·9 min read

Brain Stimulation Boosts Willpower to Quit Smoking

Addiction is a biological imbalance where reward systems overpower self-control. Researchers have demonstrated that using rTMS to stimulate the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex can restore this balance, reducing cigarette use by 11 per day. This "top-down" approach strengthens the brain's ability to resist cravings, offering a promising precision-medicine tool for those struggling to quit smoking.

Brain Cancer Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·December 28, 2017·5 min read

Cancer Overrides the Circadian Clock to Survive

A new study reports misfolded proteins can cause circadian rhythm disruptions which contribute to cancerous tumor growth.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Psychology

·January 13, 2023·4 min read

Cannabis and the Oral Microbiome: Exploring Their Impacts on the Brain

A new study seeks to better understand how cannabis use alters the oral microbiome and how this may have an impact on neurodegenerative disorders.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·October 25, 2021·4 min read

Deterioration of Brain Cells in Parkinson’s Disease Is Slowed by Blocking the Bach1 Protein

Bach1, a protein that blocks the expression of genes associated with neuroprotection, has been implicated in Parkison's disease. Researchers say blocking Bach1 slows the deterioration of brain cells in preclinical models of Parkinson's disease.

Featured Genetics Psychology

·September 27, 2017·4 min read

Epigenetics of Addiction: Untangling Relapse and Addiction in the Brain

A new study looks at the epigenetic factors that contribute to drug addiction and influence relapse.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 29, 2020·2 min read

Feeling burned out? The contributors could be more related to depression than you think

Study contradicts the conventional belief that burnout is associated with workplace factors, and depressive symptoms are more heavily influenced by personal factors. Burnout, researchers say, is much more closely related to factors that drive depression than previously thought.

Autism Featured Genetics

·October 28, 2016·7 min read

Finding the Clues for Better Autism Treatments

Researchers shed light on what might be going wrong in the regulation of genes that govern the brain’s connectivity.

This shows DNA and the outline of a person.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·December 13, 2024·7 min read

Genetic Mechanism Links Emotional Experiences to Behavior Changes

Researchers have identified a genetic mechanism that regulates behavioral adaptations to emotional experiences by forming R-loops, unique RNA:DNA structures that activate target genes. The study focused on NPAS4, a gene implicated in stress and drug addiction, showing how blocking R-loops prevents maladaptive behaviors like cocaine seeking and stress-induced anhedonia in mice.

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Medical University of South Carolina

A Link Between Hearing Loss and Autism Spectrum Disorder

A New Epigenetic Brain Defense Against Recurrence of Opioid Use

Brain Circuit That Supports Smoking Cessation Identified

Brain Connectivity Is Lower in Adults With PTSD or a History of Sexual Abuse

Brain Stimulation Boosts Willpower to Quit Smoking

Cancer Overrides the Circadian Clock to Survive

Cannabis and the Oral Microbiome: Exploring Their Impacts on the Brain

Deterioration of Brain Cells in Parkinson’s Disease Is Slowed by Blocking the Bach1 Protein

Epigenetics of Addiction: Untangling Relapse and Addiction in the Brain

Feeling burned out? The contributors could be more related to depression than you think

Finding the Clues for Better Autism Treatments

Genetic Mechanism Links Emotional Experiences to Behavior Changes

Cannabis Destroys Sleep Quality

Genetic Risk for Anorexia May Begin Outside the Brain

Higher BMI Linked to Longer Survival After a Dementia Diagnosis

Can We Predict Hearing Loss Long Before Symptoms Ever Start?

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