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...
thalamus
Early-and-regular cannabis use by youth is associated with alteration in brain circuits that support cognitive control
Compared to peers who do not use cannabis, teens and young adults with significant marijuana use history have reduced activation in brain areas that support cognitive control and conflict resolution.... Read More...
How we tune out distractions
A pathway linking the basal ganglia to the thalamus enhances sensory discrimination and is used to suppress 'background noise'. The pathway, which is controlled by the prefrontal cortex, selectively suppresses sensory input as it flows to the thalamus.... Read More...
Learning fine motor coordination changes the brain
Study identifies a population of neurons in an area of the midbrain, called the red nucleus, that alter when fine motor skills are learned. The more an action is practiced, the stronger the connections between these neurons become. ... Read More...
Brain activity of Spanish Popular Party voters triggered by rivals
Neuroimaging study of Spanish voters reveals negative political messages illicit stronger neural responses. Messages about corruption activate brain areas associated with risk and disappointment. ... Read More...
Broccoli sprout compound may restore brain chemistry imbalance linked to schizophrenia
Sulforaphane, a compound derived from broccoli sprouts, may be a useful new treatment for those suffering from schizophrenia. In a recent set of animal and human studies, researchers characterized novel chemical imbalances in the brain related to glutamate. Levels of glutamate, they discovered, can be altered by administering sulforaphane.... Read More...
Trigger region found for absence epileptic seizures
Absence epilepsy may be triggered by an impairment in communication between the striatum and somatosensory cortex.... Read More...
Obesity linked with differences in form and structure of the brain
Obesity is associated with alterations in brain structure, including lower gray matter volume and smaller globus pallidus volume.... Read More...
Advances in deep brain stimulation could lead to new treatments
Researchers discuss the potential of deep brain stimulation in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, OCD, Tourette syndrome and other disorders.... Read More...
Thalamus and cerebral cortex interactions influence the decision on sensory perceptions
The direction of information flow and instant synchronization of the sensory thalamocortical circuit play critical roles in sensory perception.... Read More...
Brain growth inhibited by heavy alcohol use
Heavy drinking during adolescence negatively impacts brain development and growth. Chronic alcohol exposure reduces cerebral white matter and the development of the subcortical thalamus. ... Read More...
A Gentle Method For Unlocking the Mysteries of the Deep Brain
Researchers report EEG technology has the ability to study activity of areas deep inside the brain, such as the thalamus and nucleus accumbens. The findings will help shed new light on disorders that affect these brain regions, such as Parkinson's disease and OCD.... Read More...