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visual neuroscience

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·October 2, 2024·4 min read

Targeting Protein Reduces Macular Degeneration Symptoms

New research identifies a protein, TIMP3, overproduced in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) that may drive the disease’s progression. By targeting the enzyme linked to inflammation and drusen formation, scientists reduced early signs of AMD in stem cell models, offering hope for new treatments.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology Visual Neuroscience

·October 1, 2024·5 min read

Reduced Brain Response to Visual Cues Linked to Psychosis in Parkinson’s

People with Parkinson's disease (PD) who experience visual hallucinations have reduced brain responses to unexpected visual changes, a marker known as visual mismatch negativity (vMMN). Using EEG, researchers compared brain activity in PD patients with and without hallucinations and discovered that those with hallucinations showed weaker vMMN signals.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 26, 2024·5 min read

Caregiver Cognition Linked to Infant Brain and Visual Development

Researchers have found that caregiver cognition is associated with infant visual cognition and brain function. The study revealed that infants' ability to detect visual changes is connected to their caregivers' visual cognition and behavioral regulation.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 21, 2024·5 min read

Serotonin Receptor Dampens Visual Input to Enhance Internal Processes

The 5-HT2A receptor in the brain reduces incoming visual information, allowing more space for internal thought processes. Researchers found that this receptor, when overactivated, suppresses sensory input, potentially explaining the effects of hallucinations from drugs like LSD.

Featured Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·September 10, 2024·5 min read

How Flickering Light Induces Hallucinations

A new study reveals how flickering lights can trigger hallucinations by causing standing waves in the brain's visual cortex. Researchers observed that high-frequency flickering lights create ripple-like waves of neural activity, which turn into standing waves at higher frequencies.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·September 9, 2024·4 min read

Gene Therapy Offers Hope for Glaucoma and AMD

A newly developed gene therapy shows great potential for treating glaucoma, a condition that can lead to vision loss. The therapy protects retinal ganglion cells, essential for vision, and improves their function in animal models of glaucoma. It also enhances energy production in human retinal cells, which could prevent further damage. This therapy offers a new and promising approach to treating a condition that affects millions worldwide.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·September 6, 2024·4 min read

Gene Therapy Restores Vision

A new gene therapy has restored vision in patients with Leber congenital amaurosis type I (LCA1), a rare genetic condition causing blindness. In a small trial, those receiving the highest dose saw up to a 10,000-fold improvement in light sensitivity and significant gains in reading and navigation abilities.

This shows a woman with objects moving around her.

Featured Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·August 27, 2024·5 min read

Brain Circuit Unveils Secrets of Visual Object Memory

Researchers have identified how the brain stores and recalls visual object memory, crucial for tasks like navigation and problem-solving. By studying macaques, they discovered that the anterior ventral temporal cortex (aVTC) and the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) work together in this process, with OFC regulating memory-related activities in aVTC neurons. The findings could pave the way for new treatments for memory deficits in dementia.

Featured Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·August 12, 2024·6 min read

How the Brain Learns and Integrates Prior Knowledge with New Information

The brain builds a hierarchy of knowledge, connecting lower-order sensory details to higher-order concepts, shaping our perception of the world. A new study reveals how visual experience influences the brain’s feedback connections, allowing us to integrate context and recognize patterns based on past experiences. Researchers found that visual input refines these connections, enhancing our ability to interpret complex stimuli and update our understanding of the environment.

Featured Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·July 23, 2024·5 min read

Researchers Use Game of Thrones to Study Face Blindness

Researchers used Game of Thrones to study how the brain recognizes faces, providing insights into prosopagnosia, a condition affecting facial recognition in 1 in 50 people. MRI scans showed increased brain activity in regions associated with character knowledge in fans of the series, but reduced activity in those unfamiliar with the show and in prosopagnosia patients.

Auditory Neuroscience Featured Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·July 19, 2024·5 min read

Childhood Vision Loss Affects Sound Distance Judgement

New research reveals that individuals who experience vision loss before age 10 struggle more with judging sound distance compared to those who lose sight later in life. This difficulty in perceiving the location of sounds has significant implications for safety and navigation. The study highlights the need for tailored healthcare solutions for those with early vision loss to enhance their quality of life.

Featured Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·July 16, 2024·6 min read

Antioxidants Slow Vision Loss in Late-Stage Dry AMD

Researchers found that daily antioxidant supplements slow the progression of late-stage dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The supplements help preserve central vision by slowing the expansion of geographic atrophy regions in the retina. This finding supports the use of AREDS2 supplements for people with late dry AMD.