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This shows the retrosplenial cortex's location in the brain and maps between UCL and Imperial College London.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·April 1, 2019·3 min read

Key brain region for navigating familiar places identified

The posterior hippocampus tracks distance to a newly learned location, as well as familiar environments. By contrast, when navigating a familiar location, the retrosplenial cortex takes over responsibility for tracking distance. The findings shed light on how the brain navigates and encodes spatial information.

This is a diagram of how the smart pajamas tracks bodily functions during sleep

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Neuroscience Videos

·April 1, 2019·4 min read

‘Smart’ pajamas could monitor and help improve sleep

Researchers have developed smart sleepwear, embedded with self-powered sensors, which monitor heart rate, sleep posture and breathing. The technology will provide useful information to researchers, as well as the general public, to help improve sleep patterns.

This shows the location of the hippocampus

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 1, 2019·4 min read

How the brain fights off fears that return to haunt us

Newly identified 'extinction neurons' in the hippocampus suppress fearful memories when activated, and allow the memories to return when deactivated. The findings may provide new treatment avenues for PTSD, phobias, and anxiety.

this shows exhaust fumes coming from cars

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·March 31, 2019·5 min read

Teenage psychotic experiences more common in areas with high air pollution

Exposure to nitrogen dioxide and nitrogen oxides through air pollution is linked to an increased risk of experiencing psychotic symptoms in teenagers. Accounting for other known risk factors, exposure to both NO2 and NOx accounted for 60% of the link between symptoms of psychosis and living in an urban environment.

This image shows a syringe and medical paper work

Brain Cancer Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·March 31, 2019·4 min read

New glioblastoma vaccine shows promising results in phase Ib clinical trial

A new vaccine for glioblastoma brain cancer suspends tumor growth and is well tolerated by patients, according to the results of an early phase clinical trial.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 31, 2019·4 min read

Scientists find brain mechanism that naturally combats overeating

Hippocampal dopamine 2 receptors, cells known to play a role in regulating memory, help curb the impulse to overeat.

This is a calendar showing the date April 1

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 31, 2019·3 min read

April Fools hoax stories could offer clues to help identify ‘fake news’

A machine learning classifier identified, with over 65% accuracy, April Fools hoaxes and fake news stories. Based on the findings, researchers present guidelines for recognizing April Fools hoaxes and fake news stories in the media.

This shows a sad looking child in a garden

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 31, 2019·4 min read

Gastrointestinal complaints in children could signal future mental health problem

A correlation between gastrointestinal symptoms, adversity and childhood anxiety has been identified by researchers at Columbia University. Studying fMRI data and fecal samples, researchers noted adversity was associated with microbial diversity changes and differences prefrontal cortex activation in response to emotional faces.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 31, 2019·5 min read

Cannabis during pregnancy bumps psychosis risk in offspring

Cannabis consumption during pregnancy is associated with a slightly increased risk of a child developing psychosis at age ten. The findings also shed new light on the role endocannabinoids play in neurodevelopment.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·March 31, 2019·3 min read

30 Genes Associated with Schizophrenia Identified

A new phenotype atlas assisted researchers in identifying 30 genes associated with an increased risk of developing schizophrenia. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed an essential role for the transcription factor znf536 in the development of forebrain neurons associated with social behavior and stress.

The male and female symbols are shown here

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·March 31, 2019·4 min read

Allergic reactions play role in sexual behavior development in unborn males/females

Exposure to allergic inflammation, while in utero, increased mast cell and microglia activation, leading to masculinization of dendritic spine density in the preoptic area of females. During adulthood, females exposed to allergic inflammation showed an increase in more masculine behaviors.

This shows a person in virtual reality glasses

Autism Featured Neurology Neuroscience Psychology

·March 31, 2019·3 min read

Virtual reality could be used to treat autism, schizophrenia and Parkinson’s

Virtual reality can help recalibrate time perception and sensorimotor actions. Researchers believe the technology could help in the treatment of ASD, Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia.