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.

Graphene may one day be used to test for ALS

The wonders of graphene are numerous -- it can enable flexible electronic components, enhance solar cell capacity, filter the finest subatomic particles and revolutionize batteries.

6 Dec 2018

Study shows correlation between childhood infections and increased risk of mental disorders

A new study from iPSYCH shows that the infections children contract during their childhood increase the risk of mental disorders during childhood and adolescence. This knowledge expands our understanding of the role of the immune system in the development of mental disorders.

6 Dec 2018

CWRU researcher secures $14.6 million funding for genetic study into Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease symptoms, such as memory loss or cognitive decline, can present in different ways among people with diverse ethnic backgrounds. Researchers know that a complex mix of social, behavioral, and genetic variables can impact the onset and progression of this disease.

6 Dec 2018

Researchers create new light-activated tools for controlling neurons

By enabling super-fast remote control of specific cells, light-activated proteins allow researchers to study the function of individual neurons within a large network - even an entire brain. Now one of the pioneers of 'optogenetics' and colleagues have created two new tools - protein pores which when illuminated allow Ca2+ into cells or K+ out - for switching neurons on or off using light.

6 Dec 2018

Spinal cord injury disrupts the body's internal clock, study shows

Although paralysis is the most noticeable result of a spinal cord injury, a new study by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin suggests such injuries could throw off the internal clock of the entire body's daily activities, from hormones to sleep-wake schedules.

6 Dec 2018

Functional ultrasound imaging can reveal brain activity maps of mice for specific behaviors

In a study published in Neuron, Emilie Macé from Botond Roska's group and collaborators demonstrate how functional ultrasound imaging can yield high-resolution, brain-wide activity maps of mice for specific behaviors.

5 Dec 2018

Vitamin D deficiency associated with increased risk of depression in older adults

A new study by researchers from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing at Trinity College Dublin has shown for the first time in Ireland that a deficiency in vitamin D was associated with a substantial increased risk of depression (+75%) over a four-year follow up period.

5 Dec 2018

Scientists understand how sounds can incite fear

How is it that a sound can send a chill down your spine? By observing individual brain cells of mice, scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory are understanding how a sound can incite fear.

5 Dec 2018

NIH-funded tissue chips that model aspects of the human immune system sent to space

When traveling in space, astronauts experience physiological changes normally associated with aging, such as bone loss, muscle deterioration and altered immune systems. When the astronauts return to Earth, the changes often reverse.

5 Dec 2018

Researcher takes further steps in understanding how and why cute aggression occurs

Have you ever looked at a puppy and had the urge to squeeze or even bite it? Or felt compelled to pinch a baby's cheeks, albeit without a desire to harm it? If you answered yes to either question, you've experienced a phenomenon called cute aggression -- and you're far from alone.

5 Dec 2018

New CU Boulder study shows how spinal injury impacts circadian rhythms

In the hours and days following a spinal cord injury, the gears that control the body's internal clocks fall profoundly out of sync, impacting body temperature, hormone fluctuation, immunity and the timing of a host of other bodily processes, according to new University of Colorado Boulder research.

5 Dec 2018

Cedars-Sinai research identifies neurons that play role in how people recognize errors

New research from Cedars-Sinai has identified neurons that play a role in how people recognize errors they make, a discovery that may have implications for the treatment of conditions including obsessive-compulsive disorder and schizophrenia.

5 Dec 2018

Novel approach gives new insights into formation of neurons in mammalian adult brain

A team of researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, the Texas Heart Institute and Texas Children's Hospital has developed a powerful new approach to understand the formation of new neurons in the mammalian adult brain.

5 Dec 2018

The Lancet study: First baby born following uterus transplantation from deceased donor

Currently, uterus donation is only available for women with family members who are willing to donate. With live donors in short supply, the new technique might help to increase availability and give more women the option of pregnancy.

5 Dec 2018

Maryland researchers receive grant to study the brain-to-gut connection in schizophrenia

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine's Maryland Psychiatric Center and Institute for Genome Sciences, along with researchers at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, have been awarded a collaborative five-year $1.78 million grant to study the brain-to-gut connection in schizophrenia.

5 Dec 2018

Fish oil does not increase perioperative bleeding in surgery patients

A new study published in Circulation showed that fish oil -- which contains the omega-3s EPA and DHA -- did not increase perioperative bleeding in surgery patients. In fact, higher blood omega-3 levels were associated with lower risk of bleeding.

4 Dec 2018

Successful delivery after womb transplant

A Brazilian woman became the first woman to successfully deliver a baby after having received a womb transplant from a dead donor.

4 Dec 2018

Single workout can improve metabolism for up to 2 days

Lounging around all weekend may weigh heavy on the minds of the health conscious. But these sedentary stretches may not affect the waistline, provided they're preceded by a bit of exercise.

4 Dec 2018

Eliminating microglia can reverse some aspects of stress sensitization, study shows

Using an animal model of chronic stress, researchers at The Ohio State University have shown that the immune cells of the brain, called microglia, hold unique signatures of chronic stress that leave the animal more sensitive to future stressful experiences, evident by increased anxiety and immune responses.

4 Dec 2018

Combining toxic herbicide with sugar-binding proteins may trigger Parkinsonism

Combining low doses of a toxic herbicide with sugar-binding proteins called lectins may trigger Parkinsonism -- symptoms typical of Parkinson's disease like body tremors and slowing of body motions -- after the toxin travels from the stomach to the brain.

4 Dec 2018

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Graphene may one day be used to test for ALS

Study shows correlation between childhood infections and increased risk of mental disorders

CWRU researcher secures $14.6 million funding for genetic study into Alzheimer's disease

Researchers create new light-activated tools for controlling neurons

Spinal cord injury disrupts the body's internal clock, study shows

Functional ultrasound imaging can reveal brain activity maps of mice for specific behaviors

Vitamin D deficiency associated with increased risk of depression in older adults

Scientists understand how sounds can incite fear

NIH-funded tissue chips that model aspects of the human immune system sent to space

Researcher takes further steps in understanding how and why cute aggression occurs

New CU Boulder study shows how spinal injury impacts circadian rhythms

Cedars-Sinai research identifies neurons that play role in how people recognize errors

Novel approach gives new insights into formation of neurons in mammalian adult brain

The Lancet study: First baby born following uterus transplantation from deceased donor

Maryland researchers receive grant to study the brain-to-gut connection in schizophrenia

Fish oil does not increase perioperative bleeding in surgery patients

Successful delivery after womb transplant

Single workout can improve metabolism for up to 2 days

Eliminating microglia can reverse some aspects of stress sensitization, study shows

Combining toxic herbicide with sugar-binding proteins may trigger Parkinsonism

Industry Focus eBook - Cell & Gene Therapy (1st Edition) eBook

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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