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Northwestern University

Featured Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·April 30, 2020·2 min read

Eyes send an unexpected signal to the brain

A new study puts into question conventional belief that the eyes communicate with the brain exclusively via one signaling pathway. Researchers have identified a subset of retinal neurons that sends inhibitory signals to the brain. This subset of neurons is also involved in the synchronization of circadian rhythms to light/dark cycles and pupil constriction to bright light intensity.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 9, 2020·5 min read

Decoding hidden brain chatter to advance neuroprostheses

Neural activity patterns for limb movements remain stable over time. Researchers were able to record, decode, and reconstruct activity patterns from common movement skills. The findings could have immediate implications for the development of neuroprosthetics that can bypass brain injuries by inferring intended motor actions from a person's brain.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·December 6, 2019·3 min read

How gene mutation causes autism and intellectual disability

Genetic mutations in Usp9X results in the brain growing fewer synapses during development. The mutation also causes hyperactivity and an increased risk of anxiety. The findings shed new light on the cause of autism and other intellectual disabilities.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 11, 2019·5 min read

Late talkers twice as likely to have severe, frequent temper tantrums

Toddlers who were late talkers had more severe temper tantrums, and the risk of having a tantrum was 1.96 times greater than their peers with typical language development.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·October 9, 2019·4 min read

Craving junk food after a sleepless night?

Sleep deprivation causes the olfactory system to go into overdrive, sharpening food odors, and breaking down communication within other brain areas that receive food signals.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·October 8, 2019·4 min read

Stem cell transplant reverses disabling MS-like disease

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation reversed neuromyelitis optica. Five years following transplantation, only 2 of twelve patients had relapsed.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·October 8, 2019·3 min read

Study furthers understanding about what shapes human gut microbiome

Despite humans sharing a close genetic relationship to apes, our gut microbiome more closely resembles that of Old World monkeys like baboons. In terms of the development of the human microbiome, ecology across evolution plays a more significant role than genetic relationships.

This shows the location of the brain networks

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·September 2, 2019·3 min read

Map of broken brain networks shows why people lose speech in language-based dementia

Researchers have identified the location of dysfunctional brain networks that lead to impaired sentence production and word-finding in primary progressive aphasia (PPA). PPA can occur in those with neurodegenerative diseases, such as frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Mapping the networks allows clinicians to apply non-invasive brain stimulation to potentially improve speech in those with PPA.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 27, 2019·2 min read

Wearable device can predict aggressive outbursts in people with autism a minute in advance

A newly designed device can give caregivers warning of an impending aggressive outburst from a person with ASD one minute before it occurs. The device monitors physiological indicators of stress.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 19, 2019·3 min read

Are Attitudes Contagious?

Our attitudes toward others may be attributed to nonverbal signals as much as the behavior of other people.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 20, 2019·3 min read

Newly discovered neural pathway processes acute light to affect sleep

Study challenges the widely accepted belief that all light information is relayed through the suprachiasmatic nucleus, which synchronizes the circadian rhythm.