UCL Research Articles - Neuroscience News

Teenage eating disorders linked to early childhood eating habits

Neuroscience NewsAugust 12, 2019

Children who are picky eaters are at an increased risk of developing anorexia during their teen years. Those who overeat as children are at higher risk of binge eating disorders. Persistent undereating during childhood increased the risk of developing anorexia in teen years by 6% for girls. ... Read More...

FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology5 min read

Understanding ’radicalizing environments’ key to tackling extremism

Neuroscience NewsAugust 4, 2019

Vulnerability to extremism isn't just a matter of being psychologically susceptible to moral influence. It is also a matter of being susceptible to sustained exposure to settings that enable extremist socialization. A new study sets five categories of determinants which generate, or suppress, the risk of individuals acquiring extremist beliefs and engaging in extremist behaviors. The study proposes a framework for tackling lone-actor terrorist risks and the emergence of radicalizing environments.... Read More...

FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology4 min read

People who eat dark chocolate less likely to be depressed

Neuroscience NewsAugust 3, 2019

Eating dark chocolate can help reduce anxiety and improve symptoms of clinical depression. People who ate dark chocolate in two 24-hour periods had 70% reduced odds of reporting depressive symptoms than those who did not eat chocolate. However, milk chocolate did not produce the same effect. Dark chocolate contains phenylethylamine, a neuromodulator implicated in mood regulation.... Read More...

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Socially active 60-year-olds face lower dementia risk

Neuroscience NewsAugust 3, 2019

Being socially active in early old age can help to prevent against dementia later on. Researchers found those engaged in social activities almost daily at 60 were 12% less likely to develop dementia than those who were socially active only once or twice a month.... Read More...

FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology8 min read

Canned laughter works and makes ‘dad jokes’ funny

Neuroscience NewsJuly 22, 2019

Canned laughter tracks increase how funny we find a joke and how much we laugh, even when the jokes are groan-worthy. Testing the hypothesis on both neurotypical people and those on the autism spectrum, researchers found the effect was universal.... Read More...

AutismFeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology5 min read

Squeezing of blood vessels may contribute to cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s

Neuroscience NewsJune 23, 2019

Capillary constriction caused by amyloid beta restricts cerebral blood flow in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. Inhibiting the capillary constriction may potentially reduce some of the neurodegenerative features of Alzheimer's.... Read More...

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AI used to detect brain’s response to multiple sclerosis treatment

Neuroscience NewsJune 12, 2019

Combining artificial intelligence technology with MRI brain scans, researchers are able to detect the brain's response to Natalizumab treatment for those with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.... Read More...

Artificial Intelligencedeep learningFeaturedmachine learningNeurologyNeuroscienceneurotechOpen Neuroscience Articles4 min read

Sleeping for too little or too long linked to poorer memory

Neuroscience NewsJune 5, 2019

Sleep duration can have a negative impact on memory skills and reaction time. While the effects of sleep deprivation are well documented, researchers report sleeping for longer than the recommended 7 to 8 hours per night is associated with more errors in memory recall and slower reaction times, with each additional hour of sleep impacting performance more.... Read More...

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Gene mutation evolved to cope with modern high-sugar diets

Neuroscience NewsJune 4, 2019

A variant of the CHC22 gene evolved to help people adapt to the modern, higher sugar diet. However, many people still retain the older version of the genetic variant, which does not allow for correct metabolism of modern diets and may be linked to an increased risk of developing diabetes.... Read More...

FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles5 min read

Prior eating disorders linked to long-term depression risk for mothers

Neuroscience NewsMay 14, 2019

Women who suffered from eating disorders are at increased risk of developing depression during pregnancy and up until 18 years after the birth of their child.... Read More...

FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology5 min read

Statins’ potential to treat MS unrelated to lowering cholesterol

Neuroscience NewsMay 10, 2019

The common statin drug Simvastatin reduces brain atrophy and slows the progression of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). The effects appear to be independent of the drug's cholesterol-lowering effects.... Read More...

FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience7 min read

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Cannabis addiction influenced by genetic make-up

Neuroscience NewsApril 25, 2019

People with the specific genotype of the Cannabinoid receptor 1 gene may be more prone to cannabis use disorder. Researchers report those with FAAH rs324420 A continue to want more marijuana following use and are more drawn to cannabis-related imagery while under the influence of the drug.... Read More...

FeaturedGeneticsNeurosciencePsychology5 min read

News

Dog ownership associated with better cardiovascular health

Suicide and self-harm risk nearly triple in people with restless leg syndrome

How ‘Australian’ mutation leads to Alzheimer’s disease

Neuroscience

Dog ownership associated with better cardiovascular health

Suicide and self-harm risk nearly triple in people with restless leg syndrome

How ‘Australian’ mutation leads to Alzheimer’s disease

Neurology

Dog ownership associated with better cardiovascular health

How ‘Australian’ mutation leads to Alzheimer’s disease

Ginkgo biloba may aid in treating Type 2 Diabetes

AI

Understanding the animal brain could help robots wash your dishes

Are Siri and Alexa making us ruder?

Machine learning decodes genetic influence over behavior

Robotics

Understanding the animal brain could help robots wash your dishes

New artificial compound eye could improve 3D object tracking

Brain-controlled prosthetic hand to become reality

Psychology

Suicide and self-harm risk nearly triple in people with restless leg syndrome

‘Microdosers’ of psychedelics report improved mood, focus and creativity

Stress in pregnancy impacts childrens’ vulnerability to stress in adulthood

UCL

Teenage eating disorders linked to early childhood eating habits

People who eat dark chocolate less likely to be depressed

Canned laughter works and makes ‘dad jokes’ funny

Squeezing of blood vessels may contribute to cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s

AI used to detect brain’s response to multiple sclerosis treatment

Sleeping for too little or too long linked to poorer memory

Gene mutation evolved to cope with modern high-sugar diets

Prior eating disorders linked to long-term depression risk for mothers

Statins’ potential to treat MS unrelated to lowering cholesterol

Cannabis addiction influenced by genetic make-up