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Showing posts from January, 2021

What is Personality?

A new theoretical study proposes new models outlining the relationship between personality, genes, and behaviors. Researchers also propose a method to discover where personality resides in the brain, and how it relates to other psychological functions including memory and emotion. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3rdVLSB

Obesity May Exacerbate the Effects of Alzheimer’s Disease

Neuroimaging study reveals obesity may contribute towards neural tissue vulnerability in Alzheimer's disease. Researchers say maintaining a healthy weight could help preserve brain structure for those in the early stages of Alzheimer's. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2Ytrfrw

Are the Brains of Atheists Different to Those of Religious People?

Study reviews differences in cognitive processes between atheists and those who believe in a deity. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/39y2FMz

Turning on the Switch for Plasticity in the Human Brain

Glutamate is first released near the AMPA-type glutamate receptors, then released near the NMDA-type receptors immediately after the first signal to activate the switch for synaptic plasticity. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2YrcIfQ

Why Do Psychiatric Drugs Help Some, but Not Others?

Study reveals the function of a specific protein works differently in the brains of men and women. The findings help explain why some psychiatric disorders and resistance to treatments vary between the sexes. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3j22Na4

Childhood Trauma Could Affect Development and Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

Mice exposed to childhood stress were more likely to develop autoimmune disorders, like multiple sclerosis, and were less likely to respond to treatment. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3afoe3B

Our Gut-Brain Connection

A new "organ on a chip" system helps researchers uncover how bacteria in the human digestive tract can impact neurological diseases. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3coK07K

Specific Bacteria in the Gut Prompt Mother Mice to Neglect Their Pups

Researchers have identified a strain of E.coli in the guts of female mice that cause them to neglect their offspring. The study shows a direct link between the microbiome and maternal behavior. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3jbo41j

Chinese Spice Helps Unravel the Mysteries of Human Touch

Using hydroxy-α-sanshoo, a bioactive compound of Szechuan pepper, researchers gain new insight into how the brain detects and perceives touch. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3ovGZF4

‘Be a Man’: Why Some Men Respond Aggressively to Threats to Manhood

Men with a more fragile sense of masculinity, or whose feelings of masculinity rely more on others, are more likely to act aggressively in order to prove their masculinity. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3iZDcyG

Risk-Taking Linked to Particular Brain Features

Researchers found functional and anatomical differences in the brains of people who are more likely to embark on risky behaviors. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/39rW8Tl

Melatonin Produced in the Lungs Prevents Infection by COVID-19

Melatonin produced in the lungs acts as a barrier defense against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, by blocking the expression of genes that encode proteins in cells acting as viral entry points. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3acraOm

Frequent Cannabis Use by Young People Linked to Decline in IQ

Frequent cannabis use was associated with a two point decline in IQ. The decline was primarily related to verbal IQ. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3opXQJb

Can Large Fluid-Filled Spaces in the Brain Help Identify Those at Risk of Dementia?

Enlarged perivascular spaces around small blood vessels in the brain may be a biomarker for cognitive decline, and ultimately dementia, a new study reports. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/39tlFMd

Secrets of Traumatic Stress Hidden in the Brain Are Exposed

Study sheds light on the effects of allostatic closed-loop neurotechnology on functional brain connectivity in those with traumatic stress. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3adQbbI

How Does the Immune System Keep Tabs on the Brain?

Immune cells in the meninges monitor fluid released from the brain. If the fluid contains signs of infection, disease, or damage, the immune cells initiate an immune response to tackle the problem. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3puhzsA

Schizophrenia Second Only to Age as Greatest Risk Factor for COVID-19 Death

People with schizophrenia are 2.7 times more likely to die as a result of contracting coronavirus than other groups of people. Schizophrenia is second only to age in mortality risk for COVID-19 infection.The higher risk could not be explained by other risk factors associated with the mental health disorder, including smoking, heart disease, and diabetes. People with other mental health and anxiety disorders are not at increased risk of death associated with COVID-19. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3cexvLO

On Nights Before a Full Moon, People Go to Bed Later and Sleep Less

Ubiquitously, whether a person lives in a rural or urban area, the phases of the moon affect sleep patterns. Researchers found people sleep less and go to bed later on nights before a full moon. Findings suggest our circadian cycles appear to be synchronized with luna phases. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/36j5n6r

Immune Cells Silence Neurons by Removing Synapses in Multiple Sclerosis

Gray matter damage associated with multiple sclerosis progression may be caused by inflammatory reactions that lead to synaptic loss. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3j0XLuF

AI Used to Predict Early Symptoms of Schizophrenia in Relatives of Patients

Combining brain scans with AI technology, researchers were able to accurately predict the likelihood of a person developing schizophrenia in those with a family history of the psychiatric disorder. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/39mX8be

Highly Specific Synaptic Plasticity in Addiction

Enzyme activity outside of specific cell types contribute to synaptic plasticity associated with addiction behaviors. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3sXKGXt

LSD May Offer Viable Treatment for Certain Mental Disorders

LSD increases social behaviors by activating 5-HTPA serotonin receptors and AMPA receptors in the prefrontal cortex, and the mTORC1 protein. Activating all three factors promoted social interactions. The findings suggest supervised LSD microdosing may help alleviate some of the social problems associated with ASD and other mental health disorders that impact social behaviors. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2YjxWw0

Growing up in a Bilingual Home Has Lasting Benefits

Children who grow up in a bilingual household are quicker at shifting their attention and faster at detecting visual changes than adults who learned a second language later in life. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2YbSMh1

Watching Decision Making in the Brain

A newly developed system allowed researchers to visualize, in real-time, how the brain embarks on the decision making process. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3sXQxfq

Afternoon Napping Linked to Better Mental Agility

An afternoon nap may help improve mental agility, a new study suggests. A short afternoon nap was associated with better working memory, verbal fluency, and locational awareness. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2YdMehR

Biomarkers in Mother’s Plasma Predict a Type of Autism in Offspring With 100% Accuracy

Using machine learning, researchers have identified patterns of maternal autoantibodies in the blood plasma of pregnant women that were highly associated with autism and the severity of symptoms in offspring. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3qQURuT

Negative Mental Health Effects of Pandemic Lockdowns Spike, Then Fade

As people adjust to life in COVID lockdown, the negative mental health effects dissipate. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3qSfk2s

Stimulating Brain Pathways Shows Origins of Human Language and Memory

The evolutionary development for both human and primate brains may have been similar for communication and memory. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3pimCfN

Newly Discovered Subset of Brain Cells Fight Inflammation With Instructions From the Gut

A newly discovered microbiome-controlled anti-inflammatory subset of astrocytes helps researchers better understand inflammation of the central nervous system and its regulation. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/39ffDyw

Street Trees Close to the Home May Reduce the Risk of Depression

A new study reveals living on a street lined with trees may be good for mental health. Researchers found people who lived within 100 meters of trees were less likely to be prescribed antidepressants. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3qQDoCP

Immune Cells in the Brain Are Behind the Depression Experienced in Inflammation

Microglia appear to play a key role in inflammation-associated depression. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2YaNKBr

Musicians Have More Connected Brains Than Non-Musicians

Regardless of innate pitch ability, musicians' brains have stronger connections than those who don't play music. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3ofw2qL

Up to a Fifth of Adults Have Mental Health Problems in Midlife

People born between 1946 and 1970 were up to 20% more likely to report psychological distress, including symptoms of anxiety and depression during their 40s and 50s, a new study reports. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3sUdQH4

COVID-19 Attack On Brain, Not Lungs, Triggers Severe Disease In Mice

Mice exposed to COVID-19 through the nasal passage, researchers noted a rapid and escalated attack on the brain by the virus that triggered a more severe outcome of the infection, even after the lungs were cleared of the disease. Researchers also found virus levels were over 1,000 times higher in the brain than other parts of the body. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/399Uq9i

MRI Helps Unravel the Mysteries of Sleep

MRI technology helps researchers identify specific brain activity during different stages of sleep. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2KFPFuD

Lack of Sleep and Stress Can Lead to Symptoms Resembling Concussion

Lack of sleep, pre-existing mental health conditions, and increased stress appear to be key symptoms of post-concussion syndrome, a new study reports. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3iBWUjy

Abnormal Hyperactivation in the Brain May Be an Early Sign of Alzheimer’s

Hyperactivation in specific brain areas may be an early biomarker for Alzheimer's disease. Researchers found those who reported concerns over diminished memory skills, and with other risk factors for Alzheimer's, showed signs of hyperactivation in brain areas prior to the diagnosis of dementia. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3sPp1Rk

Gut Fungi Are Not Associated With Parkinson’s Disease

While gut microbes may be associated with an increased risk of Parkinson's disease, gut fungi are not, a new study reports. The study refutes the speculation gut anti-fungal treatments are helpful for Parkinson's patients. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2LX5Cgm

Positive Messaging Plays a Key Role in Increasing COVID-19 Mask Compliance

Positive messages about unity and togetherness are more effective at getting people to mask up and protect against COVID-19 than messages based on fear. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3paAsR2

Sunbathing After Menopause May Be Harmful

Menopausal women who frequently sunbathe have increased levels of gonadotropins and lower levels of estrogen than their peers who are not active sun worshipers. Low estrogen levels and higher levels of other hormones increase the risk for a number of health problems, including Alzheimer's disease. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3p1v3vH

Study Shows the Relationship Between Surgery and Alzheimer’s Disease

Major surgery can trigger different patterns of cognitive alterations depending on previous presence, or absence, of Alzheimer's pathologies. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3o5xSKQ

Prenatal BPA Exposure May Contribute to the Male Bias of ASD

Exposure to BPA during the gestational period leads to decreased neural viability and neural density in the hippocampus of male offspring. Additionally, exposure led to the dysregulation of ASD-related genes in the hippocampus. Findings suggest BPA may serve as an environmental factor that contributes to the prevalence of male-bias in autism. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3sGiNmt

Eggs Reveal What May Happen to Brain on Impact

Using an egg, researchers discover how trauma occurs to the brain as a result of impact. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3bTbnqb

Fatty Acid May Help Combat Multiple Sclerosis

Dietary changes to include more foods containing oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid, may help to increase the number of regulatory T cells in patients with multiple sclerosis. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3o1fW3U

Eye Tests Predict Parkinson’s-Linked Cognitive Decline 18 Months Ahead

A simple vision test can predict whether a person with Parkinson's disease will develop cognitive decline or dementia within 18 months. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2LGxyVY

Childhood Neglect Leaves Generational Imprint

Infant children whose mothers experienced neglect when they were young showed altered brain circuitry in areas associated with anxiety and fear response. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/39R6pHX

Where Do Our Minds Wander? Brain Waves Can Point the Way

Increased alpha waves in the prefrontal cortex and decreased P3 activity in the parietal cortex are potential neural biomarkers for breaks in our attention span. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/39I41TE

Digital Hoarders: We’ve Identified Four Types – Which Are You?

From retaining old emails to accumulating digital files, digital hoarding is emerging as a potential problem for people. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2LIYCDT

Better Diet and Glucose Uptake in the Brain Lead to Longer Life

Better glucose uptake compensates for age-related motor deterioration and extends lifespan in fruitflies. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3qCwuRL

Magnetic Skin Supports Freedom of Movement for People With Quadriplegia

A novel flexible, breathable magnetic skin allows people with quadriplegia to move around their environment with greater ease. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/39M8a8X

Timing Is of the Essence When Treating Brain Swelling in Mice

Myelomonocytic cells, a type of immune cell, can both harm and help the brain following injury. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3irdZwG

To Get Ahead as an Introvert, Act Like an Extravert. It’s Not as Hard as You Think

Introverts who act like extraverts are viewed by others as having more leadership potential. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2XV8fSt

Why Breastfed Babies Have Improved Immune Systems

Regulatory T cells expand in the first three weeks of life in breastfed babies, and are twice as abundant than in bottle-fed babies. Specifically, the bacterias Veillonella and Gemella are more abundant in the guts of breastfed babies. Veillonella and Gemella supportthe function of regulatory T cells. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3qvDj7x

The Brain Region Responsible for Self-Bias in Memory

Study implicates the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain associated with information processing about the self, in self-bias memory. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3sBxSFP

Snap-Freezing Reveals a Truer Structure of Brain Connections

Using a snap-freezing method, researchers have been able to reveal the true structure of the connections that join neurons together in the adult brain. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2XRLb73

Personalized Brain Stimulation Alleviates Severe Depression Symptoms

A novel individualized neuromodulation system may help alleviate symptoms of depression within minutes for those who are resistant to current treatments. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/35UC7CL

How and Why Some People Report “Hearing the Dead”

Spiritualist mediums, those who believe they can hear and communicate with the dead, are more prone to immersive mental activities and unusual auditory experiences in early life. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3qCftHn

How to Bond With Your Kids According to Neuroscience

New research that simultaneously measures brain activity in children and their parents offers insights into bonding. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3sBiHwD

New Perspectives in Human Behavior and Culture

Researchers comment on a new theory of human behavior in traditional societies and advocate for a new, fully integrated evolutionary theory of human behavior. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/39IWpjB

Mothers of Children With Autism Found to Have Significantly Different Metabolite Levels

Two to five years after birth, mothers of children on the autism spectrum have several significantly different metabolite levels than mothers of typically developing children. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2LV2XUc

Acute Itching in Eczema Patients Linked to Environmental Allergens

Those with eczema who produce immunoglobulin E in response to environmental allergens are more likely to experience chronic and acute itching. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/35NjZdW

Study Measures Brain Volume Differences in People With HIV

Lower white blood cell count associated with HIV infection was linked to decreased volume in the hippocampus and thalamus. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/39Fr5lQ

Study Links Cellular Transport Pathway to Aggressive Brain Cancer

Researchers have identified a pathway involving a protein called Rab35 in glioblastoma brain cancer. The study reports restoring the activity of Rab35 could have therapeutic benefits for those with glioblastoma. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/38N000O

Increased Risk of Parkinson’s Disease in Patients With Schizophrenia

People diagnosed with schizophrenia have an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease later in life, researchers report. The reason could be due to alterations in the brain's dopamine system cause as a result of dopamine receptor antagonists or neurophysiological changes associated with schizophrenia itself. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3oPvObb

T Cells Linked to Myelin Implicated in MS-Like Disease in Monkeys

Some of the T cell epitopes targeting myelin in monkeys were the same as those found in humans. Researchers say linking these specific cells opens the doors to developing antiviral therapies that could be useful to treat newly diagnosed cases of MS in humans. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3oQt2Cj

Designer Cytokine Makes Paralyzed Mice Walk Again

Protein hyper-interleukin-6, a "designer protein" that has to be produced via genetic engineering, enabled a paralyzed mouse to walk again. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3sxtOGW

How the Brain Paralyzes You While You Sleep

Neurons in the brainstem suppress unwanted movements during REM sleep in mice, a new study reports. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3qslczv

Getting Romantic at Home Wearing an EEG Cap

An EEG study of couples embarking on romantic gestures, such as hugging and kissing, reveal positive emotions are mainly processed in the left hemisphere of the brain. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3iiucnJ

Compound Protects Myelin and Nerve Fibers

A newly engineered compound prevents damage to myelin and nerve fibers by stimulating a protective response in cells that produce and maintain myelin. The compound has positive implications for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3bHiIJs

Disagreeing Takes up a Lot of Brain Real Estate

When people agree, their brains display a synchrony of activity in sensory areas. When they disagree, may other brain regions associated with cognitive function become active. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/35GSXot

High Insulin Levels During Childhood a Risk for Mental Health Problems in Adulthood

High levels of insulin during mid-childhood was linked to an increased risk of developing psychosis during early adulthood. Additionally, an increase in BMI during the onset of puberty, specifically in girls, was linked to an increased risk of depression. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3nSRuSB

Memory May Be Preserved in Condition With Brain Changes Similar to Alzheimer’s Disease

While 40% of people with primary progressive aphasia have underlying Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests they may not develop the memory problems associated with Alzheimer's. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/38FZYrI

MIND and Mediterranean Diets Associated With Later Onset of Parkinson’s Disease

Close adherence to the MIND and Mediterranean diets delayed the onset of Parkinson's disease by up to 17.4 years in women, and 8.4 years in men. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3qmvoJD

Rotten Egg Gas Could Guard Against Alzheimer’s Disease

Hydrogen sulfide, a gas that smells like rotten eggs, appears to help protect brain cells against Alzheimer's disease in mouse models. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3nIn0Cl

Mothers, but Not Fathers, With Multiple Children Report More Fragmented Sleep

Mothers with more than one child reported more sleep disruptions that mothers with just one child. The number of children did not impact the quality, or quantity, of sleep for fathers. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3siwWpO

Gut Microbes May Antagonize or Assist in Anorexia

Promoting and maintaining a better gut microbial balance may help to protect against symptoms of anorexia in those with the eating disorder. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3i5CaAu

SARS_CoV_2 Can Infect Neurons and Damage Brain Tissue

SARS_CoV_2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, can directly enter the nervous system. The virus can infect the brain, causing alterations in blood vessels and directly disrupt oxygen supply to the organ. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2LJyLLE

Cats May Help Increase Empathy and Decrease Anxiety for Kids With Autism

Cats may help increase empathy while reducing symptoms of separation anxiety in children with autism, a new study reports. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2MT7CGB

Mindfulness Can Improve Mental Health and Wellbeing, but It’s Unlikely to Work for Everyone

In most community settings, compared with doing nothing, mindfulness reduced stress, anxiety, depression, and increased wellbeing. However, in some cases, mindfulness may be no better than other practices to reduce anxiety and depression. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2XwhLex

A Workflow Algorithm to Predict Psychosis

Study shows a combination of human and artificial intelligence optimizes the prediction of mental health problems, including psychosis. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3sdJHBX

Brain Circuit That Encodes Timing of Events Identified

Pyramidal cells in the CA2 region of the hippocampus are responsible for storing critical timing information. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3oAzHRf

We Wouldn’t Be Able to Control Super Intelligent Machines

Using theoretical calculations, computer scientists show it would be fundamentally impossible for humans to control a super-intelligent AI. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3btUyBS

Zombie Movies Prepared You for the Pandemic

Zombie movies and dystopian entertainment may have helped people prepare for the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers report. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2MYIgaF