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Neuroscience

Neuroscience research articles are listed here. Every science article tagged with neuroscience is shown.

What is neuroscience? Neuroscience is the scientific study of nervous systems. Neuroscience often involves research from numerous science genres including brain science, psychology, neurology, computer science, artificial intelligence, big data, statistics, engineering, medicine, physics, mathematics, linguistics, electrophysiology, biology, anatomy and neurobiology.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 27, 2024·5 min read

Classical vs. Operant Conditioning: The Brain’s Memory Tug-of-War

Classical and operant conditioning compete in the brain, preventing simultaneous learning of conflicting actions. Using fruit flies, researchers demonstrated that attempting to teach both types of learning simultaneously results in confusion and no clear memory formation.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 27, 2024·4 min read

Oxytocin Influences Social Behavior and Emotional Response

New research reveals how oxytocin profoundly influences social behavior and emotional responses in the brain. Animal models have shown how this hormone impacts social fear and how chronic stress or early life experiences shape behavioral patterns.

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.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 23, 2024·5 min read

Mapping Brain-to-Spinal Cord Pathways for Motor Control

Researchers have created a 3D atlas mapping brain regions that connect to V1 spinal interneurons, which shape motor output. By using a genetically modified rabies virus, they pinpointed connections from the brain to these diverse "switchboard operator" cells in the spinal cord.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·December 21, 2024·8 min read

Rare Brain Cells Offer Clues to Aging and Rejuvenation

A study reveals how brain cell interactions influence aging, showing that rare cell types either accelerate or slow brain aging. Neural stem cells provide a rejuvenating effect on neighboring cells, while T cells drive aging through inflammation.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 20, 2024·5 min read

Structural Sexism Tied to Faster Memory Decline in Older Women

Women born in states with higher structural sexism experience faster memory decline later in life, with effects equivalent to nine years of cognitive aging. Structural sexism encompasses societal inequities like unequal labor force participation and underrepresentation in government, which create systemic barriers to health. The impact is particularly pronounced among Black women, highlighting the intersection of sexism and racism.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·December 20, 2024·8 min read

Chronic Gut Virus May Play a Role in Alzheimer’s Development

Researchers have linked chronic intestinal infections caused by cytomegalovirus (HCMV) to a unique subtype of Alzheimer’s disease. The virus may travel from the gut to the brain via the vagus nerve, altering immune responses and contributing to hallmark Alzheimer’s changes like amyloid plaques and tau tangles. While HCMV infection is common and typically harmless, this study found that it may cause chronic brain inflammation in certain individuals.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·December 20, 2024·5 min read

AI Estimates Brain Age, Links Lifestyle to Cognitive Health

Researchers used AI to analyze brain images from 70-year-olds, estimating their biological brain age and uncovering connections to lifestyle and health factors. Diabetes, inflammation, and high glucose levels were linked to older-looking brains, while regular exercise and healthy habits were associated with younger-looking brains.

This shows food items shaped into a brain.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 20, 2024·5 min read

Serotonin, GABA, and Dopamine Drive Hunger and Feeding

A new study has revealed how brain circuits and neurotransmitters regulate meal initiation, offering insights into obesity management. Researchers identified serotonin neurons in the midbrain's dorsal Raphe nucleus (DRN) as key players, inhibited by GABA and dopamine when hunger strikes.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 20, 2024·4 min read

How Alcohol Impairs the Brain’s Ability to Adapt and Learn

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) disrupts cognitive flexibility, crucial for learning and adapting to change. New research reveals that chronic alcohol exposure alters the firing patterns of cholinergic interneurons (CINs), key neurons in the brain’s striatum that regulate dopamine and influence reward-driven learning.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 19, 2024·5 min read

70 Is the New 60: Age Related Declines Slowing in Older People

study highlights significant improvements in the physical and mental functioning of older adults in England compared to previous generations. Using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging, researchers found that advancements in education, nutrition, sanitation, and medical care have likely contributed to better health outcomes. For instance, a 68-year-old born in 1950 exhibited similar capacities to a 62-year-old born a decade earlier.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·December 19, 2024·7 min read

New Genetic Link to Autism Identified on X Chromosome

Researchers identified variants in the DDX53 gene, located on the X chromosome, as contributors to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These genetic variants, found predominantly in males, provide critical insights into the biological mechanisms behind autism’s male predominance. The study also uncovered another potential gene, PTCHD1-AS, near DDX53, linked to autism, emphasizing the complexity of ASD’s genetic architecture.