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thalamus

This shows a cartoon of a woman trying to read with lots of distractions in the background

·June 12, 2019·5 min read

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.

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·June 12, 2019·3 min read

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.

This brain scan highlights the thalamus and OFC

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 16, 2019·5 min read

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.

This shows the researcher's daughter and the broccoli sprouts she is growing

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·May 8, 2019·10 min read

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.

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·April 26, 2019·3 min read

Trigger region found for absence epileptic seizures

Absence epilepsy may be triggered by an impairment in communication between the striatum and somatosensory cortex.

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·April 23, 2019·5 min read

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.

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·April 8, 2019·3 min read

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.

This shows the location of the thalamus in the brain

Featured Neuroscience

·April 1, 2019·4 min read

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.

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·April 1, 2019·4 min read

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.

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·February 27, 2019·5 min read

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.

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·February 22, 2019·2 min read

Researchers Create Organoid of a Brain Region to Study Cognitive Disorders

Researchers have created an organoid of the thalamus, which they have fused with an organoid of the frontal cortex in order to study ASD, depression and other neuropsychiatric conditions.