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Showing posts from December, 2020

9 Tips to Give Yourself the Best Shot at Sticking to New Year’s Resolutions

Researchers explore psychological tricks and tips to help you reach your New Year Resolution goals. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3aZslmq

A Year of Blursdays: How Coronavirus Distorted Our Sense of Time in 2020

Many people reported they felt like time was passing differently during the initial COVID-19 lockdowns. Researchers explore how the pandemic has contributed to the feeling of time distortion. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/34ZwjY8

How Our Brains Track Where We and Others Go

Study reveals how our brains navigate physical spaces and how we are able to keep track of other people's locations. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3hyVsOl

Study Uncovers Blood Vessel Damage & Inflammation in COVID-19 Patients’ Brains but No Infection

Researchers found hallmarks of damage caused by thinning and leaky blood vessels in brain samples of people after contracting COVID-19, but saw no evidence of SARS_CoV_2 in the tissue samples. Findings suggest the damage was not caused by a direct viral attack on the brain, but by the body's immune response to the infection. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2KGcwX3

Study Delves Into Emotional Wellness in the Human Brain

NAA, a compound in the brain, plays a key role in emotional agency and flexibility in healthy people. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3aYIXui

Is Belief in God a Delusion?

A new study examines the relationship, and differences, between religion and delusion. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/34Z0Qp1

Mutations Associated With Early Onset Dementia Discovered

Disruptions in circulating white blood cells may be a key driver in ALSP, a rare form of early-onset dementia. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3rFNg3I

Potential New Treatment Strategy for Stroke

Treatment with LAU-0901, a synthetic molecule that blocks pro-inflammatory platelet-activating factor, in addition to aspirin-triggered NPD1, reduced the size of damage areas in the brain, initiated repair mechanisms, and improved behavioral recovery following ischemic stroke. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2Mn3FKb

Why Opioids Cannot Fix Chronic Pain

Study explores the role the reward system play in chronic pain, finding emotional and physical pain are bidirectional. Opioids, researchers report, ultimately make things worse. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2KMVEhb

Polysaccharides From Red Algae Affect the Immune System

Biologically active polysaccharides from red algae known as carrageenan appear to suppress the activity of peritoneal phagocytes in mice, generating an immunosuppressant effect. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2MaA2eU

Brain Imaging Predicts PTSD After Brain Injury

Smaller brain volumes in the cingulate cortex, insular, and superior frontal cortex predict an increased likelihood of developing PTSD three months after brain injury. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2L90btW

Quadriplegic Patient Uses Brain Signals to Feed Himself With Two Advanced Prosthetic Arms

A closed-loop system combining AI, robotics, and BCI technology allows a quadriplegic man to control movements to cut food and feed himself. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3n0lkUq

Common Brain Malformation Traced to Its Genetic Roots

Chiari 1 malformation, a common brain disorder, appears to be caused to two genetic mutations associated with brain development. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/34UMmqi

Newly Described Condition Causes Loss of Vertigo and Imbalance in TBI Patients

Researchers have identified a new condition associated with TBI in some patients. Vestibular agnosia, the newly identified disorder, worsens balance problems and reduces vertigo perception and dizziness. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3pzycmc

Large Transporter Protein Linked to Schizophrenia

Mutations of the ABCA13 cholesterol transport protein are associated with schizophrenia-like behaviors in mouse models. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2KK0k7u

New Antidepressants Can Lift Depression and Suicidal Thoughts Fast, but Don’t Expect Magic Cures

With the risk of potential for abuse, some new fast-acting antidepressants, like Ketamine, may not be a magic "cure-all" for depression. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3nW1sn1

Light Smokers May Not Escape Nicotine Addiction

Those who consider themselves to be light smokers, in that they smoke between one to four cigarettes a day, meet the criteria for nicotine addiction. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3hx6dB2

Maternal Immune Activation Induces Sustained Changes in Fetal Microglia Motility

Changes in fetal microglia caused as a result of maternal inflammation could contribute to the development of schizophrenia, autism, and other psychiatric or developmental disorders. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3mVrEwD

Neurologists Say There Is No Medical Justification for Police Use of Neck Restraints

Neurologists say police forces claiming chokeholds and neck restraints as a method of controlling aggravated or aggressive people are "safe methods" is erroneous and dangerous. Neck restraints, researchers say, are never medically appropriate, and minor force can lead to stroke, seizures, and death. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2WUTWMY

Astrocytes Eat Connections to Maintain Plasticity in Adult Brains

Astrocytes, not microglia, are responsible for constantly eliminate unnecessary and excessive adult synaptic connections in response to brain activity. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/37SJ3So

Link Between Word Choices and Extraverts

Extraverts tend to use more "positive emotional" and "social process" words when talking, researchers report. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/34OsiWk

One Psychedelic Experience May Lessen Trauma of Racial Injustice

A single dose of psychedelic treatments can help alleviate symptoms of depression, stress, and trauma in those who have experienced racial injustice. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/37Svt1c

Vaping Could Cloud Your Thoughts

Adults and adolescents who use vaping products are more likely to experience problems with concentration, memory, and decision making than their peers who don't vape or smoke. Those who began vaping before age 14 are more likely to experience "mental fog" as they develop into adulthood. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2L5YP39

The Brain Network Driving Changes in Consciousness

A brain network consisting of the thalamus, anterior and posterior cingulate cortex, and angular gyri was implicated in the loss, and return, of consciousness under both anesthetic and natural sleep. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2M6IhIU

Music-Induced Emotions Can Be Predicted From Brain Scans

Based on the activity in the auditory cortex and motor cortex, researchers were able to predict whether a participant was listening to music that was upbeat or sad. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/34PJ87c

Combining Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation with Telemedicine Enables Breakthrough Treatment at Home

Summary: Non-invasive brain stimulation in a telemedicine delivery model ensures that patients can maintain their treatment plans even when it becomes impractical or impossible to visit a care setting. Source: Ana Maiques – Neuroelectrics The selection and efficacy of drugs for treating brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s continue to improve, but they still fall short of where they need to be. For example, one third of the world’s 70 million epilepsy patients don’t respond to medication. That’s 23 million people […] from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2WOnlIT

Can’t Draw a Mental Picture? Aphantasia Causes Blind Spots in the Mind’s Eye

While people with aphantasia lack visual imagery ability, they have intact spatial memory. Findings suggest mental imagery recall and spatial memory may be stored differently in the brain. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/38I1SGW

Love and Hate in the Brain

Activity in the medial preoptic area tilts the mouse brain toward love and affection, while activity in the ventromedial hypothalamus is associated with more aggressive or hateful acts. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3hnk6S4

Protected: Combining Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation with Telemedicine Enables Breakthrough Treatment at Home

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3nMBVfT

Diversity and Severity of Autism Symptoms Linked to Mutation Locations

The severity of autism symptoms depends on which specific functional unit within a gene is the target of the mutation. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3nNFgLs

Anti-Diarrhea Drug Drives Cancer Cells to Cell Death

Loperamide, an anti-diarrhea medication, induces autophagy in glioblastoma brain cancer cells. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3mHabYN

AI-Designed Serotonin Sensor May Help Scientists Study Sleep and Mental Health

Artificial intelligence technology redesigned a bacterial protein that helps researchers track serotonin in the brain in real time. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/37LKF09

Covering Faces Around Kids Won’t Mask Emotions

Even when a person's face is covered by a surgical mask, children can ascertain their emotions based on other facial cues. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3nPtlNl

Why an Early Start Is Key to Developing Musical Skill Later in Life

Study supports the theory that learning to play music early in life is associated with higher levels of musical skill and achievement as adults. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3aFvhEy

Even After Long-Term Exposure, Bionic Touch Does Not Remap the Brain

After a year of using a bionic arm, patients report subjective sensations did not shift to match the location of the touch sensor on their prosthetic device. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3mKnmrY

Cannabis Use Blunts Stress Reactivity

Female rats exposed to vaporized cannabis for 30 days developed a blunted response to stress. The effect was not seen in male rats. Findings shed light on how chronic cannabis use affects males and females differently. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/38qW1FW

Neuroscientists Isolate Promising Mini Antibodies Against COVID-19 From a Llama

Researchers have isolated a set of antibodies from a llama which show promise for the treatment of COVID-19. The NIH-CoVnB-112 nanoantibody bound to ACE2 receptors up to ten times stronger than other lab-produced antibodies. The nanoantibody stuck directly to the ACE2 receptor binding portion of the SARS_CoV-2 spike protein. The protein could be effective in preventing coronavirus infection. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/38wKiFI

Exposure to Metals Can Impact Pregnancy

Prenatal exposure to metals including lead, nickel, and cobalt, may disrupt the endocrine system. The disruptions may contribute to health and disease risks for the offspring later in life. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3pbXWF8

How to Be Happier in 2021

What and how you contribute to the world could be key to happiness in 2021. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/34x0S7e

Why Some Multiple Sclerosis Patients Experience Seizures

Study identifies a pathway involving astrocytes that help explain why some with multiple sclerosis experience seizures. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/37ErtS4

Gene Pathway Linked to Schizophrenia Identified Through Stem Cell Engineering

Using human-induced pluripotent stem cells, researchers have identified a gene signaling pathway linked to a higher risk of developing schizophrenia. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2WAC7CT

Blood Alcohol Levels Much Lower Than the Legal Limit Impair Hand-Eye Coordination

Hand-eye coordination is impaired by 20% when blood alcohol levels are as low as 0.015%. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2WA8aCZ

Brain Tissue Yields Clues to Causes of PTSD

Gene expression patterns in four regions of the prefrontal cortex are distinctly different in those who have been diagnosed with PTSD compared to those who have not. Major differences were seen in interneurons, which inhibit the immune system and microglia in the central nervous system. Findings shed light on why women are more likely to experience PTSD and compound a link between post-traumatic stress and a dampening of the immune system. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3aEX9Z8

Targeted Brain Stimulation Dulls Social Pain

Combining brain stimulation directed at areas of the prefrontal cortex and emotional regulation strategies helps to improve emotional response in those with psychiatric disorders. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/34vfST5

Difference in Blood Pressure Between Arms Linked to Greater Death Risk

The difference in blood pressure between a person's arms is linked to a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, and ultimately death. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3nHiepD

Do I Know You? Researchers Evaluate How Masks Disrupt Facial Perception

It may be harder to recognize familiar faces when they wear a surgical mask to protect against COVID-19, a new study reports. Researchers noted a 15% drop in the ability for people to recognize faces when they were masked. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2LTigwB

How the Brain Distinguishes Speech From Noise

Study reports a pervasive neuromodulation system strongly influences sound processing in a key auditory region of the brain. Findings suggest acetylcholine may assist in the brain's ability to distinguish speech from other noise. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3reHaaf

Visual Illusion That May Help Explain Consciousness

A new visual illusion sheds light on redundancy masking and how we perceive our visual environment. The findings provide new insight into human consciousness. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2WAxJ6O

Why People Make Healthy Claims but Indulge in Unhealthy Behaviors

When asked questions about sensitive behaviors, such as alcohol consumption or over-eating, people tend to respond in ways they consider socially correct, while downplaying their personal negative behaviors. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3mxvrQn

In Fiction, We Remember the Deaths That Make Us Sad

In fiction, people are more likely to recall the deaths of characters perceived as "meaningful", rather than ones they considered to be "pleasurable". from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2LHwYGT