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Tel Aviv University

·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

·November 26, 2024·5 min read

Feeling Beautiful Spurs Kindness and Generosity

A new study shows that enhancing one’s appearance, even virtually, increases prosocial behavior such as kindness and charitable giving. Participants who saw enhanced images of themselves were twice as likely to donate to charity compared to controls, suggesting that feeling attractive boosts social consciousness.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·November 20, 2024·6 min read

Gene Repair Restores Brain Signal Efficiency in Autism

Autism-linked SHANK3 gene mutations disrupt not only neurons but also oligodendrocytes, essential for producing myelin, which insulates nerve fibers. This damage reduces brain signal efficiency and impairs behavior. Using gene therapy, researchers successfully repaired these cells in a mouse model, restoring their function and myelin production. They validated their findings with human-derived stem cells, confirming similar impairments and repair mechanisms.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 15, 2024·6 min read

NMDA Stabilizes Brain Activity

Researchers have discovered that the NMDA receptor (NMDAR), known for its role in learning and memory, also stabilizes brain activity by setting baseline neural network activity. This stabilization supports the brain’s adaptability amid constant environmental and physiological changes.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·November 13, 2024·6 min read

Parkinson’s Progression Linked to New Protein Pathway

Researchers have identified a protein, TMEM16F, that appears to aid the spread of Parkinson’s pathology in the brain. They found that a mutation in this protein promotes the secretion of a harmful form of α-synuclein, which moves through nerve cells, forming toxic Lewy bodies.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 12, 2024·6 min read

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Shows Promise for Treating PTSD

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has shown effectiveness in alleviating symptoms for individuals with PTSD unresponsive to traditional treatments. In a study of combat veterans, HBOT led to significant reductions in flashbacks, irritability, and hypervigilance, and was associated with improved brain connectivity on fMRI scans. The specialized protocol, developed over years, involves 60 sessions of breathing pure oxygen under high pressure.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·August 5, 2024·5 min read

Genetically Engineered Parasite Delivers Drugs to the Brain

Researchers genetically engineered the parasite Toxoplasma gondii to deliver drugs across the blood-brain barrier. This innovative approach has been used to deliver therapeutic proteins to neurons, showing promise for treating neurological conditions like Rett syndrome. The research highlights the potential for parasites to act as delivery vehicles for large molecules that typically struggle to penetrate the brain. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for a variety of neurological disorders.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 16, 2024·5 min read

Breaking Silence: Giving the Silent a Voice Through Thoughts

Researchers enabled a silent person to produce speech using thought alone. Depth electrodes in the participant's brain transmitted electrical signals to a computer, which then vocalized imagined syllables. This technology offers hope for paralyzed individuals to regain speech. The study marks a significant step towards brain-computer interfaces for voluntary communication.

This shows a drawing of a person putting a ballot into a voting box

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 30, 2023·4 min read

Political Orientation Could Be Predicted by Differences in Brain Activation and Synchronization

Neuroimaging reveals partisanship-dependent differences in brain stimulation when people are exposed to political messaging from either their own or opposing political sides.

This shows a child crying after falling over

Autism Featured Neuroscience Pain

·January 29, 2023·6 min read

People With Autism Experience Pain at a Higher Intensity

People with autism experience pain at a higher intensity than those not on the autism spectrum and are less adaptable to the sensation. This revelation contradicts the prevailing belief that those with ASD tend to be indifferent to pain.