Brain News and Research

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The human brain is the center of the human nervous system and is a highly complex organ. Enclosed in the cranium, it has the same general structure as the brains of other mammals, but is over three times as large as the brain of a typical mammal with an equivalent body size.

Television actor hosts latest free patient education DVD and guidebook on epilepsy

Television actor and "Dancing with the Stars" winner John O'Hurley is the host of Epilepsy: A Guide for Patients and Families, the latest free patient education DVD and guidebook produced by the American Academy of Neurology and its foundation, the American Brain Foundation.

20 May 2013

Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques improve memory

Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques aimed at mental and neurological conditions include transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression, and transcranial direct current (electrical) stimulation, shown to improve memory.

20 May 2013

Leslie G. Ungerleider to receive Andrew Carnegie Prize in Mind and Brain Sciences from Carnegie Mellon

Carnegie Mellon University will award the first Andrew Carnegie Prize in Mind and Brain Sciences to Leslie G. Ungerleider, chief of the Laboratory of Brain and Cognition at the National Institute of Mental Health.

20 May 2013

New prototype allows patients with severe functional disability to be more active and independent

The European R&D project BrainAble, led by Barcelona Digital, has just successfully ended by developing a prototype that allows patients with severe functional disability to be more active and independent.

18 May 2013

First alcoholic drink during puberty increases risk of alcohol problems

Research shows that the earlier the age at which youth take their first alcoholic drink, the greater the risk of developing alcohol problems. Thus, age at first drink (AFD) is generally considered a powerful predictor of progression to alcohol-related harm.

18 May 2013

Study examines effects of smoking on cognitive functioning in AD individuals

Treatment for alcohol use disorders works best if the patient actively understands and incorporates the interventions provided in the clinic.

18 May 2013

Safety and efficacy evaluation methods for medical devices

Medical devices are any medical items that are neither a drug nor a biological product. In light of their different mechanisms, actions and regulatory requirements, medical device trail evaluations are much more complicated than drug trails due to their unique clinical practices.

18 May 2013

Spontaneous brain activity in amygdala higher among combat veterans with PTSD

Chronic trauma can inflict lasting damage to brain regions associated with fear and anxiety. Previous imaging studies of people with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, have shown that these brain regions can over-or under-react in response to stressful tasks, such as recalling a traumatic event or reacting to a photo of a threatening face.

18 May 2013

Transcranial random noise stimulation allows the brain to work more efficiently, say researchers

In the future, if you want to improve your ability to manipulate numbers in your head, you might just plug yourself in. So say researchers who report in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on May 16 on studies of a harmless form of brain stimulation applied to an area known to be important for math ability.

18 May 2013

Research findings could lead to new therapies for stroke and other brain diseases

Scientists investigating the interaction of a group of proteins in the brain responsible for protecting nerve cells from damage have identified a new target that could increase cell survival.

18 May 2013

UC Davis scientists detect novel molecular target for multiple sclerosis

Working with lab mice models of multiple sclerosis, UC Davis scientists have detected a novel molecular target for the design of drugs that could be safer and more effective than current FDA-approved medications against MS.

17 May 2013

Our brains wired to make music-color connections based on how melodies make us feel: Study

Whether we're listening to Bach or the blues, our brains are wired to make music-color connections depending on how the melodies make us feel, according to new research from the University of California, Berkeley.

17 May 2013

Homeless heavy drinkers suffer many head injuries, new study finds

Men who are heavy drinkers and homeless for long periods of time have 400 times the number of head injuries as the general population, according to a new study by researchers who said they were shocked by their findings.

17 May 2013

Study shows strong correlation between brain dominance and the ear used for cell phone

If you're a left-brain thinker, chances are you use your right hand to hold your cell phone up to your right ear, according to a newly published study from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

17 May 2013

Loss of Merlin protein leads to abnormal growth of tumours

A study led by researchers from Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry has for the first time revealed how the loss of a particular tumour suppressing protein leads to the abnormal growth of tumours of the brain and nervous system.

17 May 2013

Protein processing breakdown in endoplasmic reticulum

With obesity reaching epidemic levels in some parts of the world, scientists have only begun to understand why it is such a persistent condition. A study in the Journal of Biological Chemistry adds substantially to the story by reporting the discovery of a molecular chain of events in the brains of obese rats that undermined their ability to suppress appetite and to increase calorie burning.

17 May 2013

Roundup: N.D. abortion clinic sues to stop new law; Health care savings close budget hole in Conn.; Calif. counties struggle to expand mental health care

The running battle over the regulation of abortions entered a North Dakota courtroom on Wednesday, as the state's sole abortion clinic sued to block a new law that it says could force it to shut down. The law, requiring doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital, was promoted by anti-abortion legislators, who argued that it would mean better care for women who suffer medical emergencies (Eckholm, 5/15).

17 May 2013

Northwestern University scientists identify gene important to morning wake-up call

Northwestern University scientists have shown a gene involved in neurodegenerative disease also plays a critical role in the proper function of the circadian clock.

17 May 2013

Berlin scientists plan to research on neurodegenerative diseases

Now, both have signed a cooperation agreement to seal their close scientific collaboration. The objective is to combine existing expertise and to bring new outstanding researchers to Berlin.

17 May 2013

Research: People with skin cancer may be less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease

People who have skin cancer may be less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, according to new research published in the May 15, 2013, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The link does not apply to melanoma, a less common but more aggressive type of skin cancer.

17 May 2013

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Television actor hosts latest free patient education DVD and guidebook on epilepsy

Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques improve memory

Leslie G. Ungerleider to receive Andrew Carnegie Prize in Mind and Brain Sciences from Carnegie Mellon

New prototype allows patients with severe functional disability to be more active and independent

First alcoholic drink during puberty increases risk of alcohol problems

Study examines effects of smoking on cognitive functioning in AD individuals

Safety and efficacy evaluation methods for medical devices

Spontaneous brain activity in amygdala higher among combat veterans with PTSD

Transcranial random noise stimulation allows the brain to work more efficiently, say researchers

Research findings could lead to new therapies for stroke and other brain diseases

UC Davis scientists detect novel molecular target for multiple sclerosis

Our brains wired to make music-color connections based on how melodies make us feel: Study

Homeless heavy drinkers suffer many head injuries, new study finds

Study shows strong correlation between brain dominance and the ear used for cell phone

Loss of Merlin protein leads to abnormal growth of tumours

Protein processing breakdown in endoplasmic reticulum

Roundup: N.D. abortion clinic sues to stop new law; Health care savings close budget hole in Conn.; Calif. counties struggle to expand mental health care

Northwestern University scientists identify gene important to morning wake-up call

Berlin scientists plan to research on neurodegenerative diseases

Research: People with skin cancer may be less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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