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Showing posts from December, 2021

Battle of the Sexes Begins in Womb as Father and Mother’s Genes Tussle Over Nutrition

The father's genes drive a fetus' demand for larger blood vessels and more nutrients, while maternal genes in the placenta try to take control over how much nourishment the mother provides. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3eAKYgL

Doesn’t an Excessive Intake of Simple Sugar Affect Higher Brain Function?

A new study in mice found excessive sugar intake during puberty could be an environmental risk factor for the development of psychiatric disorders in those with genetic predispositions. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3eCX9tz

Can an Accent Influence Moral Decision-Making?

When presented with a moral decision in their native language by people with a foreign accent, people tend to make more rational decisions. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3qCvP4j

A Common Risk Factor for Alzheimer’s Disease May Predispose Carriers to Severe COVID-19

Carriers of the Alzheimer's associated APOE4 gene have more than double the risk of developing severe COVID-19, a new study reports. Additionally, more microscopic hemorrhages were found in the brains of APOE4 carriers who contracted coronavirus. Researchers report those with the APOE4 gene also are more susceptible to developing long-term symptoms following COVID infection, including an increased risk of mental fatigue. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3Jld1Pw

Running Out of Ideas? Dozing off Could Be the Secret to Unlocking Your Creativity

Researchers report taking a small nap can significantly boost creativity. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3pBaUiP

Keeping the Aging Brain Connected With Words and Music

Learning a new language or playing a musical instrument has a positive impact on cognitive function in the aging brain, researchers report. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3mGPPSg

Oxytocin in a Developing Fish Brain Determines Later Social Behavior

Zebrafish whose brains lacked oxytocin during the first two weeks of life had impaired capacity for social interaction as they aged. Researchers also found oxytocin-producing neurons were critical for the development of dopaminergic neurons. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3HiXCxq

Have You Fallen for the Myth of ‘I Can’t Draw’? Do It Anyway – And Reap the Rewards

Researchers say whether you are a competent artist or not, drawing and doodling can have a positive effect on your mental health and help boost creativity. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3ewRFAM

Neuroprotective Mechanism Altered by Alzheimer’s Disease Risk Genes

In fruit fly models, an ABCA1 agonist can restore specific alterations of neuroprotective mechanisms associated with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's disease. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3quXl3C

How the Hippocampus Orchestrates Memory Consolidation

Study reveals how the CA2 region of the hippocampus plays a key role in long-term memory consolidation. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3pB5x34

Is Energy the Key to Alzheimer’s Disease?

Study identifies a link between how cells produce energy for brain function and a genetic mutation associated with Alzheimer's disease. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3eyONTC

Children Will Confront Their Peers, but How They Do So Varies Across Cultures

Regardless of where children come from, they will challenge their peers who break the rules. However, how they challenge rule-breakers varies between cultures. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3mXTsU7

Feeling Stressed? It’s ‘a Bit Weird’, but Tapping Helps – And It’s Easy to Learn

Researchers explain how stimulating acupressure points on the face and body can help relieve stress. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3He0zz4

Ketamine Therapy Swiftly Reduces Depression and Suicidal Thoughts

Ketamine reduces symptoms of depression and suicidal thoughts within four hours of a single treatment, and the effects last for up to two weeks. Additional treatments may prolong the effects, researchers say. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3qmAx6e

How Neurons That Wire Together Fire Together

A new study brings understanding how the brain processes information one step closer. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3EpmLVd

Stigma Surrounding Depression Drops for First Time in Us, but Increases for Other Mental Illnesses

While the stigma against depression has decreased for the first time, the stigma levels for other mental health disorders have either remained stagnant or increased. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3EnJ8dQ

Key Neural Mechanism Believed to Support Advanced Cognitive Abilities Identified

Researchers have identified a neural mechanism that supports advanced cognitive functions such as planning and problem-solving. The mechanism distributes information from a single neuron to larger neural populations in the prefrontal cortex. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3pndGrY

New Alzheimer’s Prevention Trial in Young People

A new international clinical trial has been launched with an aim of preventing Alzheimer's disease in people with a genetic disposition who are likely to develop the disease at a younger age. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/32uBEIt

Neural Network Reveals New Insights Into How the Brain Functions

A new computational method sheds light on the intricacies of brain structure and function. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3ekAcLw

Neurons in the Olfactory Cortex Link Smells to Places

Neurons in the primary olfactory cortex play a role in encoding spatial maps, a new study reports. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3EqdgoO

Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplements Do Not Help Prevent Depression

Study reveals there are no net benefits of omega-3 supplementation for preventing depression or boosting mood. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3yQxTJS

Twins Study Indicates Environmental Factors Significant in Alzheimer’s Pathology

Genes only play a moderate role in the accumulation of amyloid beta in the brain. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3yLpiYI

Key to How Exercise Protects Against Consequences of Aging

Study reveals how an enzyme called NOX4 is essential for exercise-induced reactive oxygen species and the adaptive response that drives metabolic health. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3Ea6Mug

An Element of Surprise Is the Recipe for Creating False Memories

Memory editing occurs on the fly, leaving the brain susceptible to creating memories that may not be accurate. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3GYBata

The Six-Minute Training Hack That Can Improve Face Recognition Skills

Rather than trying to remember a face in its entirety, researchers say focus on the ears and specific facial markings like freckles, moles, or scars, to help build facial recognition skills. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/32cJmHf

Alzheimer’s Disease and the Holidays

Researchers discuss how to accommodate family members with dementia over the holidays to make Christmas a meaningful and joyous event for the entire family. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3mjLKD8

Are Rocket Scientists and Brain Surgeons Really Smarter Than Everyone Else?

In terms of general intelligence, rocket scientists and brain surgeons are no smarter than the general population, researchers report. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3J4b2z9

Visuals Increase Attention; Now Science Explains Why

Norepinephrine is locally regulated in the visual cortex. More norepinephrine is released when and where visual information is processed. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3yECvCw

New Autism Marker Discovered in Kids

Children with autism have abnormally low levels of the CNTNAP2 protein. The protein, which can be detected in cerebrospinal fluid samples, may serve as a new biomarker for autism and could potentially become a target to treat epilepsy that is commonly associated with ASD. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3e852ah

Pain and Anxiety Impact Breathing on a Cellular Level

Core neurons in the lateral parabrachial nucleus project to the amygdala, an area of the brain associated with fear and emotional processing of pain. Neurons in the shell project to the pre-Bötzinger complex, a region that generates breathing rhythm. Both core and shell neurons influence each other according to inputs from each area, increasing breathing rate when we are in pain or anxious. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3p85njE

Rollercoaster of Emotions: Exploring Emotions With Virtual Reality

A virtual rollercoaster ride in combination with EEG helped researchers determine how emotions are processed in the brain. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3E8l1Qj

Parkinson’s Disease Mutation Misdirects Iron in the Brain

Findings reveal a common Parkinson's disease genetic mutation drives mislocalization of iron in activated microglia. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3GQOujk

‘Mini-Brains’ Provide Clues About Early Life Origins of Schizophrenia

Brain organoid study reveals multiple changes in brain cells during early embryonic development may contribute to schizophrenia later in life. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3IYLHpY

Why You Drink Black Coffee: It’s in Your Genes

A taste for black coffee and dark chocolate is possibly a genetic trait, a new study reports. Coffee drinkers who have a genetic variant that reflects faster caffeine metabolism prefer bitter, black coffee. The same genetic variant is found in those who prefer dark chocolate. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3yFS4do

Choline Transporter in the Brain Is Necessary for Tuning Out Unneeded Information

The choline transporter protein regulates habituation to smells in fruit fly brains. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3F2jVa0

How Ultrasound Could Be Used to Treat Psychiatric Disorders

Low-intensity transcranial ultrasound stimulation helps modulate brain activity and behaviors associated with a range of psychiatric disorders, a new study reports. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3ywgMwD

Hip Hop Song Linked to a Reduction in Suicides in the US

A popular hip hop song by Logic has led to an increase in calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and a reduction in suicide, a new study reports. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3IQOO3l

Running Down the Exercise ‘Sweet Spot’ to Reverse Cognitive Decline

Researchers have identified a "sweet spot" during exercise that appears to reverse age-related cognitive decline and improves learning in mouse models. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3m6xuNZ

Learning and Protecting Itself: How the Brain Adapts

Blocking matrix metalloproteinases MMP2 and MMP9 can have the opposite effect on neuroplasticity depending on whether the brain is healthy or injured. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3ytAI3m

Vitamin B12 Deficiency Increases Risk of Depression

People suffering from vitamin B12 deficiency are 51% more likely to develop depression over a four-year period. However, as a person's age increased, the risk of depression decreased. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3s7ElLa

COVID Protein Interacts With Parkinson’s Protein, Promotes Amyloid Formation

The COVID causing SARS-CoV-2 protein interacts with alpha-synuclein, speeding up the formation of amyloid plaques, a new study reports. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3dTuHTO

Common Sleep Disorder Combo Could Be Deadly

People who suffer from insomnia in conjunction with sleep apnea are more likely to experience heart problems and are 50% more likely to die than those without the conditions. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3pWMcbs

Flavor Your Food With “Flavanols (Flavan 3-Ols)” to Burn Excess Fat

Researchers have found a direct connection between flavan 3-ols consumption and fat browning by activation in the sympathetic nervous system. The findings could help in the development of new treatments for obesity-related disorders. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3m4YOw7

Live Personalized Music Soothes Stressed Patients During Lockdown

Patients who listened to personalized live music via tele-music showed a reduction in stress and anxiety. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3IN5CIA

New Hope for People Living With a Genetic Cause of Autism

Gene editing may provide hope for the treatment of Fragile X, the leading genetic cause of autism. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3EVzeB5

Your Perception of Self Becomes Blurrier Over Time

Self-perception becomes blurrier over time, the further away you get from the present, researchers report. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3m1EEmL

Our Emotions and Identity Can Affect How We Use Grammar

Study reveals how emotional context affects how we use and understand language at the neural level. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3DQ6wQW

Study Dispels Harmful Gender Dysphoria Myth

A new study disputes the findings of a controversial 2018 study, confirming there is no evidence for rapid-onset gender dysphoria (ROGD). Researchers say the ROGD hypothesis is harmful and perpetuates fear and discrimination against the trans community. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3dKv7Mh

Schizophrenia: Altered Brain Structural Connectivity and Association With Neurological Soft Signs

A new study found altered cortical and subcortical networks in those with schizophrenia and their unaffected first-degree relatives. Findings suggest brain regions associated with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia are partly separated from brain regions implicating neural abnormalities. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3rYkwpn

Low-Income Kids Use Different Brain Function to Ace Achievement Tests

Children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds with stronger connectivity between the lateral frontoparietal network and default mode network performed better in educational tests than those with weaker connectivity. The reverse was true for children from more privileged backgrounds. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/31MV8YU