University of Western Ontario

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University of Western Ontario

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·June 9, 2020·3 min read

Antioxidants in brain linked to improved psychosis treatment

Patients with psychosis who have higher levels of an antioxidant called glutathione responded more quickly to medications and had improved outcomes. Researchers estimate a 10% increase in antioxidants could lead to reduced time spent in hospital for those with psychosis. Read More

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Psychology

·April 17, 2020·4 min read

Concussion linked to loss of inhibition

Varsity football players who experienced concussions performed well on cognitive tests but showed strong impairments in tests related to inhibitory control. Many reported problems with the ability to suppress thoughts, actions, and feelings following concussions. The findings shed light on the long-term implications of sports-related concussions. Read More

This is a drawing of a brain and fast food cartons

Featured Neuroscience

·March 10, 2020·3 min read

Junk food orders up trouble for young brains

Everyone knows consuming junk food is bad for your health, but a new study reveals it could also be bad for developing brain health. Excessive consumption of calorie-dense foods can lead to changes in the structure and function of the prefrontal cortex, including altering dopamine signaling and inhibition. Read More

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Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·January 19, 2020·3 min read

Exercise boosts memory like caffeine

Short bouts of aerobic exercise can improve working memory as much as caffeine can. Additionally, exercise can help curb the negative effects of caffeine withdrawal, such as fatigue, headaches, and bad moods. Read More

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·January 19, 2020·4 min read

Research shows real risks associated with cannabis exposure during pregnancy

Regular exposure to low-dose THC during pregnancy led to an 8% reduction of birth weight, and decreased brain and liver growth of more than 20% in rat models. Read More

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Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 30, 2019·3 min read

Cannabis study reveals how CBD offsets the psychiatric side-effects of THC

CBD blocks the ability of THC to overstimulate the ERK pathway in the hippocampus, preventing negative side effects associated with cannabis use. Read More

Featured Neuroscience

·August 28, 2019·4 min read

Lefty, righty brains count on same area for numbers

A new study debunks the popular myth that handedness plays a role in the lateralization of number processing in the brain. The study revealed, regardless of which is your dominant hand, the brain's location for number processing is the same. Read More

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Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·July 12, 2019·3 min read

Researchers write ABCs of language disorder

Researchers publish a paper aimed at children to explain developmental language disorder (DLD). Those with DLD struggle to learn and comprehend oral and written communication, despite being of normal or above normal intellectual ability. Read More

This shows the location of the nucleus accumbens in the brain

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·July 8, 2019·3 min read

Why marijuana affects different people differently

By looking at THC’s effect on a rat brain, the researchers showed that THC, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana, can produce highly rewarding effects in the front-most part of a region of the brain called the nucleus accumbens. The image is in the public domain. Read More

Featured Neuroscience

·June 5, 2019·3 min read

Bad diets making for bad memories

Perineuronal nets (PNNs) and the neurons they enmesh can be damaged by poor diets. Excessive consumption of foods high in saturated fats and refined sugars cause inflammation and oxidative stress, resulting in cognitive decline and poor memory. Read More

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Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·April 13, 2019·4 min read

ICU patients with non-brain-related injuries may suffer undetected cognitive dysfunction

A number of patients in intensive care units for non-brain-related illnesses may suffer from cognitive dysfunction. Inflammation that occurs as a result of infection and problems with oxygen flow to the brain which occur when breathing is affected, could contribute to cognitive impairments. Read More

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Robotics

·February 11, 2019·3 min read

Spinal Cord is Smarter than Previously Thought

A new study reveals how the spinal cord is able to process and control more complex functions researchers previously believed to have been goverened by the cerebral cortex. Read More

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