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neurobiology

This shows the brain scans of a person who had a hemispherectomy

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·November 19, 2019·4 min read

Brain scans reveal how the human brain compensates when one hemisphere is removed

The brains of adults who received hemispherectomies as children had unusually strong connections between functional brain networks in the remaining hemisphere, which help the body to function as if the brain were intact.

This shows an EEG readout from the study

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·November 19, 2019·4 min read

Ayahuasca DMT compound changes brainwaves to vivid ‘waking-dream’ state

DMT alters electrical activity in the brain. The compound significantly decreases alpha wave activity, the dominant rhythm associated with wakefulness, and increases theta waves, associated with dreaming. Overall brain activity becomes more chaotic and less predictable. The findings advance the understanding of the neurobiological underpinnings of immersive states of consciousness.

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·November 18, 2019·3 min read

Newborn baby hiccups could be key to brain development

Contractions of the diaphragm muscles during hiccuping evoke a significant response in the brain's cortex, causing two large brainwaves followed by a third. The third brainwave is similar to that evoked by noise.

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·November 18, 2019·4 min read

High-fat maternal diet can cause life-long changes in the fetal brain

When pregnant women consume diets high in polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acids, an excess of endocannabinoids is produced which overloads the fetus, and impairs healthy brain development.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 18, 2019·3 min read

Adolescent drinking increases anxiety and alcohol abuse risk later in life

Teenage binge drinking is linked to altered gene expression in the brain, specifically the central nucleus of the amygdala. Adolescent rats exposed to alcohol had increased levels of miR-137, resulting in lower expression of proteins essential for healthy neuron growth. During adulthood, these rats displayed higher levels of anxiety and an increased preference for alcohol consumption.

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·November 18, 2019·4 min read

Side effects mild and brief with single antidepressant dose of intravenous ketamine

The side effects of administering ketamine to treat major depressive disorder are mild and persist for no longer than four hours, researchers report. Most of the side effects peaked within an hour of treatment, and many patients reported the effects as being significantly reduced two hours post ketamine administration.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·November 18, 2019·4 min read

Research reveals no link between statins and memory loss

Study reveals there is no link between memory decline and statin use in older adults. Additionally, no association was found between statin use and cognitive decline in those with genetic risk factors for dementia.

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·November 18, 2019·3 min read

Ketamine reduces drinking in male rats, but not females

Ketamine reduced alcohol intake in male rat models of alcohol use disorder but increased the desire for alcohol in low-consumption females.

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·November 18, 2019·5 min read

The difference between an expert’s brain and a novice’s

When learning a new task, brain activities alter over time as mice transition to an expert from a novice. The changes are reflected in neural networks and neural activity. As the animal's knowledge grows, neural networks become more focused.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 16, 2019·3 min read

At what point does click-bait susceptibility become a mental health disorder?

One-third of patients seeking help for buying-shopping disorder (BSD) reported an addiction to online shopping. They also reported higher levels of anxiety and depression, in addition to greater severity of BSD symptoms.