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·July 18, 2017·4 min read

Heavy Drinking During Adolescence Has Dire Effects on the Brain

According to a Frontiers in Psychology study, binge drinking in teens is associated with a reduction in brain areas that play key roles in memory, learning, language and attention.

Featured Neurology Psychology

·July 18, 2017·4 min read

Reversing Fetal Alcohol Damage After Birth

Researchers from Northwestern University reveal that, with the aid of two drugs, it may be possible to repair neurological damage caused as a result of prenatal alcohol exposure. The study reports both drugs help normalize genes that control DNA methyl transferase1 expression, an enzyme critical for brain development.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·July 17, 2017·4 min read

Brief Interactions Spur Lasting Waves of Gene Activity in the Brain

Researchers report they are able to see alterations in gene expression up to two hours after a stickleback fish interacts with an intruder. They speculate the changes in gene expression and chromatin modification could help set up the brain to respond to future threats. The study appears in PLOS Genetics.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 17, 2017·3 min read

Daily Crosswords Linked to Sharper Brain in Later Life

A new study from the University of Exeter adds to growing evidence that embarking on daily challenging puzzles can help protect brain function later in life. Researchers report older people who complete a daily crossword have brain function equivalent to people ten years their junior when it comes to grammatical reasoning and short term memory accuracy.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 15, 2017·4 min read

How Neurons Sense Our Everyday Life

Researchers at King's College London have identified a molecular mechanism that allows neural connections to adapt as a result of experience. This adaptation fuels our ability for memory and learning.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 10, 2017·4 min read

More Evidence That Natural Plant Compound May Reduce Aging’s Cognitive Effects

Researchers from Salk Institute have found additional evidence that fisetin, a natural compound found in strawberries, could help to treat cognitive decline and memory loss associated with aging. They discovered the compound reduced memory loss in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. Based on the findings, researchers report fisetin could help prevent other age related neurodegenerative diseases.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 10, 2017·7 min read

Brain Training Has No Effect on Cognitive Function or Decision Making

Over the past few years, brain training programs have grown in popularity with claims of helping to improve memory and cognitive function. However, a new study in the Journal of Neuroscience reports a popular commercial brain training system had no effect on cognitive function beyond practice effects on the training tasks. They system also had no effect on decision making.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 10, 2017·3 min read

Chew On This: Reduced Mastication Impairs Memory and Learning Function

Researchers find changes in masticatory stimuli can modulate neurogenesis and hippocampal function. Published in the Journal of Dental Research, findings reveal reduced mastication impaired learning and memory function in mice.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 9, 2017·4 min read

New Clues to How Memories Form in the Brain

A study recently published in Neuron may provide new insights into how memory forms in the brain. Researchers discovered acquired olfactory memory is associated with synaptic long term potentiation, which can last for at least two weeks.

Image shows a doctor looking at brain scans.

Featured Neurology

·July 9, 2017·5 min read

What’s the Difference Between Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia?

A common misconception is that Alzheimer's disease and dementia are the same thing. Alzheimer's disease is simply one form of dementia. Researchers from Texas A&M describe how Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia impact the lives of both patients and their families, and provide new insights into minimizing the risks of developing neurodegenerative conditions.

Featured Neurology Open Neuroscience Articles

·July 6, 2017·3 min read

Drug Restores Cells and Memories in Alzheimer’s: Mouse Study

A new drug has proven effective at restoring memories and neural connections in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. The new drug was originally developed as a treatment for Schizophrenia. While the drug does not destroy amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer's, it does allow the plaques to co-exist with neurons.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 6, 2017·6 min read

Controlling Memory By Triggering Specific Brain Waves During Sleep

Using optogenetics, researchers manipulated pulses of neural activity during non REM sleep that made mice either remember of forget things they had learned. This novel study demonstrated that altering sleep spindle oscillations during sleep has an impact on memory formation and retention.