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Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·February 12, 2020·5 min read

Gene associated with autism also controls growth of the embryonic brain

In normally developing mice, the autism-associated Foxp1 gene was activated earlier than previously believed. This occurred during the period when apical radial glia was beginning to expand in numbers and generate a subset of neurons found deep in the developing brain. Mice lacking Foxp1 had fewer apical radial glia at the early stages of brain development.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·February 4, 2020·5 min read

Blood test identifies risk of disease linked to stroke and dementia

Six proteins in the blood can be used to assess a person's risk of developing cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). CSVD has been linked to an increased risk of stroke and Alzheimer's disease.

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Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·November 4, 2019·4 min read

How brain injury can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder

Traumatic brain injury caused five times as many neurons in the amygdala to be active during white noise exposure in rats. Altered sensory processing within subcortical sensory-emotional networks following TBI impacts the facilitation of traumatic memory and may contribute to the development of PTSD.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·October 23, 2019·3 min read

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.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 6, 2019·5 min read

How serotonin and a popular anti-depressant affect the gut’s microbiota

Serotonin and SSRIs like Prozac can have a major effect on gut bacteria. When exposed to serotonin, specific gut bacteria grew to higher levels. However, when exposed to SSRIs, the bacterium grew to much lower levels in mouse models.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·August 21, 2019·4 min read

X chromosome gene may explain why women are more prone to autoimmune diseases

Kdm6a, a gene on the X chromosome appears to be associated with the development of autoimmune diseases, such as Multiple Sclerosis. The gene is expressed more in the immune cells of females than males. When Kdm6a was deleted in mouse models of MS, the animals had improved symptoms and reduced inflammation. The findings shed light on why women are more prone to autoimmune diseases than males.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·August 19, 2019·5 min read

New insights into what may go awry in brains of Alzheimer’s patients

Amyloid beta may be less harmful than previously thought. However, an age-damaged version of the protein may be more harmful.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·August 9, 2019·4 min read

69 genes that increase the risk for autism identified

Study identifies 69 genes linked to increased autism risk, including 16 new genes previously not believed to be associated with ASD.

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Featured Neuroscience

·May 31, 2019·6 min read

A small electrical zap to the brain could help you retrieve a forgotten memory

Using non-invasive transcranial direct current stimulation to target the left rostrolateral prefrontal cortex improves memory retrieval.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·May 24, 2019·6 min read

Nerve stimulation could provide new treatment option for most common type of stroke

Sphenopalatine ganglion stimulation increased cerebral blood flow, stabilized the blood-brain barrier and reduced infarct size in preclinical models of ischemic stroke. The stimulation also showed benefit in randomized human trials and improved functional outcomes.

This shows a brain with bobbles and lines forming networks

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·April 26, 2019·4 min read

Brain’s support network may play key role in attention deficit, hyperactivity behaviors: Rodent study

Astrocytes can alter neurons to drive behaviors associated with ADHD. Researchers believe astrocytes may be used to develop targeted treatments for behavioral deficits associated with a range of mental illnesses.

Featured Psychology

·February 28, 2019·4 min read

When Watching Others in Pain, Women’s Brains Show More Empathy

Study reveals women have higher activation in sensory areas of the brain associated with pain compared to males when witnessing another person suffering.