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Schizophrenia

This is a photo of lead researcher Josef Bless.

·February 8, 2013·2 min read

Smartphone App Offers New Possibilities For Psychological Research

Researchers show that the iDichotic smartphone app can be successfully used for psychological testing. A new version of this app has been specially developed for schizophrenic patients suffering from auditory hallucinations.

Featured Psychology

·February 6, 2013·2 min read

Induction of Mild Inflammation Leads to Cognitive Deficits Related to Schizophrenia

Researchers have identified an exceptional mouse model of schizophrenia. The study identified a mutant mouse lacking the Schnurri-2 protein (Shn-2 KO) that exhibits behavioral deficits and other brain features consistent with schizophrenia.

The image shows a number of brain scans.

Featured Psychology

·February 1, 2013·2 min read

Brain Activity Study Lends Insight into Schizophrenia

Researchers discover four spectral features in the brain signals of schizophrenia patients that changed with age compared to healthy control subjects, suggesting that schizophrenia affects the way in which brain activity evolves with age.

The image shows a modified schematic of the Circulatory system.

Featured Genetics Psychology

·January 31, 2013·3 min read

Genome-Wide Atlas of Gene Enhancers in the Brain On-line

Future research into the underlying causes of neurological disorders such as autism, epilepsy and schizophrenia, should greatly benefit from a first-of-its-kind atlas of gene-enhancers in the cerebrum (telencephalon). This new atlas identifies and locates thousands of gene-regulating elements in a region of the brain that is of critical importance for cognition, motor functions and emotion.

The image shows Dr. Lin Mei , Drs. Yongjun Chen and Chengyong Shen; the researchers involved in this study.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 30, 2013·3 min read

Scientists Learn more about how Inhibitory Brain Cells get Excited

New research discovers an early step in how the brain's inhibitory cells get excited. Erbin, a protein critical to brain development, is also crucial for the excitement of inhibitory cells.

The image shows neurons expressing neuroglobin-2 and MDGA1. The caption explains the image best.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·January 28, 2013·3 min read

Protein Family Linked to Autism Suppresses the Development of Inhibitory Synapses

A study shows another family of proteins linked to neurodevelopmental disorders regulates the function of neuroligins and neurexins in order to suppress the development of inhibitory synapses.

The image shows the cell nuclei in human embryonic stem cells.

Featured Genetics

·January 22, 2013·3 min read

Stem Cell Research Aims to Help Identify Origins of Schizophrenia

New research demonstrates how defects in an important neurological pathway in early development may be responsible for the onset of schizophrenia later in life.

Featured Genetics

·October 9, 2012·2 min read

Rare Genetic Disorder Points to Molecules that May Play Role in Schizophrenia

Scientists studying a rare genetic disorder have identified a molecular pathway that may play a role in schizophrenia, according to new research. The findings may one day guide researchers to new treatment options for people with schizophrenia - a devastating disease that affects approximately 1 percent of the world's population.

Schizophrenia fMRI brain scans are shown.

Featured Genetics Psychology

·October 3, 2012·4 min read

New de novo Genetic Mutations in Schizophrenia Identified

Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) researchers have identified dozens of new spontaneous genetic mutations that play a significant role in the development of schizophrenia, adding to the growing list of genetic variants that can contribute to the disease. The schizophrenia study was the largest and most comprehensive of its kind.

Featured Neurology

·September 19, 2012·4 min read

Scientists Show Biological Mechanism Can Trigger Epileptic Seizures

Researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center report that molecular disruptions in small neurons called granule cells – located in the dentate gyrus region of the brain – caused brain seizures in mice similar to those seen in human temporal lobe epilepsy.