Neocortex News and Research

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An evolutionary ancient brain region drives modern-day cognition

The superior colliculus is a midbrain region that is traditionally thought to help animals orient themselves toward important locations in space, like directing their eyes and head toward a bright flash of light. New research from the University of Chicago shows that this part of the brain also plays a role in complex cognitive tasks like visual categorization and decision making.

19 Sep 2024

Neuroscientists decode the brain’s response to unexpected sensory inputs

Researchers have discovered how two brain areas, neocortex and thalamus, work together to detect discrepancies between what animals expect from their environment and actual events.

28 Aug 2024

PET imaging and proteomics reveal distinct protein signatures in Alzheimer's disease progression

Researchers used PET imaging and proteomic analysis of cerebrospinal fluid to study amyloid β and tau tangle loads in Alzheimer's patients, identifying 127 proteins linked to disease progression. The findings highlight distinct molecular pathways and potential therapeutic targets.

28 Aug 2024

Maternal immune response to flu linked to fetal brain changes

A bad case of the flu during pregnancy can increase the risk for fetal neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder. But it's not the virus itself doing the damage; it's the mother's immune response.

29 Jul 2024

New brain atlas reveals hidden cell vulnerabilities in Alzheimer's

Researchers created a detailed transcriptomic atlas of six brain regions, revealing cell-type-specific and region-specific vulnerabilities in Alzheimer's disease and highlighting astrocyte genes linked to cognitive resilience.

25 Jul 2024

Mechanisms of aversive learning: How negative experiences shape neural circuits

'I'm not gonna do this again', we often say when faced with negative feedback, adverse effects, or disappointing outcomes. Thus, we attempt to learn from such negative experiences.

7 Jun 2024

Novel catalog of gene-isoform variation unveiled in the developing human brain

A team led by researchers at UCLA and the University of Pennsylvania has produced a first-of-its kind catalog of gene-isoform variation in the developing human brain.

23 May 2024

Sleep and anesthesia hinder brain toxin clearance, study reveals

Researchers found that brain clearance is reduced during both sleep and anesthesia, contradicting the belief that these states enhance toxin removal.

14 May 2024

Mathematical microscope sheds light on efficient memory formation even during sleep

UCLA Health researchers have discovered a mechanism that creates memories while reducing metabolic cost, even during sleep.

8 May 2024

Environmental stressors linked to fetal brain development challenges

Review article in the journal Antioxidants explores the impact of environmental factors on fetal and neonatal brain development, emphasizing the role of inflammation and oxidative stress from maternal stressors.

15 Apr 2024

Gut health linked to Alzheimer's progression, study suggests diet as potential therapy

Study reviews the intricate relationship between diet, gut microbiome diversity, and Alzheimer’s disease progression, suggesting gut health could play a key role in managing the disease.

3 Feb 2024

AI model unveils how memories blend reality and imagination

Recent advances in generative AI help to explain how memories enable us to learn about the world, re-live old experiences and construct totally new experiences for imagination and planning, according to a new study by UCL researchers.

19 Jan 2024

Imbalances in folic acid and vitamin B12 can alter brain development in mice

Folate is a B vitamin and a necessary nutrient to prevent neural tube defects, such as spina bifida. Folic acid, a synthetic form of folate, has been added to vitamins, breakfast cereals and other products in the U.S. and more than 80 other countries to ensure pregnant women get adequate amounts.

4 Jan 2024

New insights into evolution of the “little brain”

The evolution of higher cognitive functions in human beings has so far mostly been linked to the expansion of the neocortex – a region of the brain that is responsible, inter alia, for conscious thought, movement and sensory perception.

29 Nov 2023

Ultra-high resolution MRI scanner offers new opportunities for brain research

An intense international effort to improve the resolution of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for studying the human brain has culminated in an ultra-high resolution 7 Tesla scanner that records up to 10 times more detail than current 7T scanners and over 50 times more detail than current 3T scanners, the mainstay of most hospitals.

27 Nov 2023

Is COVID-19 a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease?

The study explores the interconnected risks between COVID-19 and Alzheimer's Disease (AD), highlighting how SARS-CoV-2 can aggravate AD pathology through neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. It raises significant concerns about the long-term cognitive implications of COVID-19, especially among those already at risk for AD.

23 Oct 2023

Research explains the reason behind delay in therapeutic action of antidepressants

SSRI antidepressants normally take a few weeks before any showing mental health benefits, but how come it takes so long? Now a study from a group of clinicians and scientists provides the first human evidence that this is due to physical changes in the brain leading to greater brain plasticity developing over the first few weeks of SSRI intake.

9 Oct 2023

Comparing two plasma p-tau217 assays for Alzheimer's detection and monitoring

Researchers compared two commercially available blood tests based on the biomarker p-tau217 for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease in 294 patients. Both tests demonstrated robust diagnostic capabilities, strongly correlating with established Alzheimer's biomarkers from PET scans.

24 Sep 2023

The association of dietary patterns with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia symptomology

A new paper discusses the impact of diet on the risk of AD, in which researchers describe the interrelationship between specific nutrients, dietary patterns, other risk factors for AD, and psychosocial factors driving these patterns.

24 Jul 2023

Mathematical neural network theory explains how memories are consolidated in the brain

How useful a memory is for future situations determines where it resides in the brain, according to a new theory proposed by researchers at HHMI"s Janelia Research Campus and collaborators at UCL.

20 Jul 2023