Iron in brain shows cognitive decline in people with Parkinson’s
The measure of iron in the brain may help doctors predict which patients with Parkinson's disease are most likely to develop dementia.... Read More...
thalamus
Researchers identify neurons capable of coordinating functional networks in the brain
A single neuron, through its axon, is capable of simultaneously producing different effects in separate areas of the cerebral cortex.... Read More...
Multi-center neuroimaging study offers new insights on schizophrenia
Those with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome had significantly lower brain volume, as well as lower volumes in specific structures, including the thalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala.... Read More...
Researchers stimulate areas vital to consciousness in monkeys’ brains, and it wakes them up
Stimulating the central lateral thalamus in monkeys under anesthesia was enough to wake the animals and elicit normal waking behaviors. ... Read More...
Patterns in the brain shed new light on how we function
The way neurons are structured, and the patterns they make can be used to explain how they behave and function. The findings have implications for creating intelligent robots.... Read More...
Imaging reveals pathways behind depression
Two new neuroimaging studies shed light on structural and functional abnormalities in the brains of those with major depressive disorder.... Read More...
Study identifies brain injury as a cause of dementia in some older adults
MRI neuroimaging can distinguish between memory loss caused by Alzheimer's disease and traumatic brain injury. Using new image analysis software, researchers discovered TBI causes the most amount of damage to the ventral diencephalon, a brain area associated with memory and learning, and the least amount of atrophy to the hippocampus, a brain region most impacted by Alzheimer's.... Read More...
Gene variants influence size of brain stem and other structures
Researchers identified 48 common genetic variants that appear to play a role in the size of the brainstem and other subcortical structures. Forty of the variants were novel. The findings also revealed 199 genes related to the variants which regulate brain development and susceptibility to neurological disorders.... Read More...
Finding the root of consciousness: Is this brain cell your ‘mind’s eye’?
Researchers believe they have identified specific neurons that are responsible for conscious awareness. Previous studies have implicated both thalamocortical circuits and cortico-cortico circuits in consciousness. The new study reports these networks intersect via L5p neurons. Directly activating L5p neurons made mice react to weaker sensory stimuli. The researchers say if consciousness requires L5p neurons, all brain activity without them must be unconscious.... Read More...
New findings on human speech recognition
Increased activity of the ventromedial geniculate body indicates the processing of auditory information begins before the auditory pathways reach the cerebral cortex.... Read More...
Frog in your throat? Stress might be to blame for vocal issues
Stress can have an impact on voice disorders. Researchers found those with higher salivary cortisol levels also exhibited brain activity that impacted the larynx. Those who were more introverted were more likely to have stress reactions related to speech.... Read More...
Research Identifies New Pathways for Sensory Learning in the Brain
Automated robotic technology allows researchers to identify new pathways activated when the brain rewires circuits in response to experience.... Read More...