Cortex News and Research

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Brain compensation may delay worsening of Parkinson's symptoms

In Parkinson's disease, the cerebral cortex can take over tasks from a deeper part of the brain that has been damaged, where cells that make dopamine have been lost.

28 Sep 2023

Scientists bridge gap in understanding how the brain recognizes familiar objects

Because figuring out what is new and what is familiar in what we see is such a critically important ability for prioritizing our attention, neuroscientists have spent decades trying to figure out how our brains are typically so good at it.

28 Sep 2023

Study reveals a complex interplay of genetic and epigenetic changes in Alzheimer’s disease progression

Alzheimer's disease affects more than 6 million people in the United States, and there are very few FDA-approved treatments that can slow the progression of the disease.

28 Sep 2023

Evolution of new technologies to better diagnose bone fragility

Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the gold standard for assessing bone mass and evaluating fracture risk.

27 Sep 2023

Study investigates association between menopause stage and cerebral hemodynamics

Driven by changing estrogen levels, the menopause transition has a major influence on physiology during aging.

27 Sep 2023

Can training to suppress thoughts improve mental health? Study challenges century-old wisdom

Researchers describe the effects of thought suppression on mnemonic, affective, positive, or negative mental health indices.

26 Sep 2023

Could CaMKK2 enzyme be the key to treating bipolar disorder?

Researchers explore the role of the CaMKK2 signaling pathway in bipolar disorder, suggesting it as a new treatment target. By targeting this enzyme, scientists aim to develop more effective therapies for bipolar symptoms and metabolic dysfunction.

24 Sep 2023

Research provides a better understanding of how light stimulates the brain

New research conducted at the University of Liège, using ultra-high field 7 Tesla MRI, provides a better understanding of how light stimulates our brain and could provide new insights into how it works.

22 Sep 2023

Researchers discover brain pathways involved in sleep preparatory behavior in mice

Researchers have discovered the brain pathways involved in 'sleep preparatory behaviour' in mice, which is likely to also apply to humans.

21 Sep 2023

Brain activity changes predict recovery from early PTSD symptoms

After a traumatic experience, most people recover without incident, but some people - between 2% and 10%- develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental health condition that can cause debilitating symptoms of anxiety due to emotional dysregulation.

21 Sep 2023

Can deep brain stimulation unlock the cure for severe depression?

A multidisciplinary team of clinicians, engineers, and neuroscientists has identified a unique biomarker in the brain that indicates recovery from treatment-resistant depression, utilizing deep brain stimulation (DBS) and artificial intelligence. The discovery, which allows for real-time monitoring and tailoring of treatment, could revolutionize the approach to managing severe forms of depression.

21 Sep 2023

New brain regions crucial to the formation of long-term memory identified

Researchers at The University of Queensland have identified new regions of the brain crucial to the formation of long-term memory.

20 Sep 2023

New brain biomarker predicts recovery from treatment-resistant depression

Using a novel deep brain stimulation (DBS) device capable of recording brain signals, researchers have identified a pattern of brain activity or "biomarker" related to clinical signs of recovery from treatment-resistant depression.

20 Sep 2023

Wireless molecular-electrical communications for tumor-cell-induced apoptosis

Researchers utilize electricity generated by wireless-induced redox interactions at bio-nanoantennae to cause apoptosis in cancerous cells.

18 Sep 2023

Neighborhood disadvantage associated with differences in microstructure of the brain's cortex

You are what you eat, according to the adage. But it's not just the body that's impacted. According to research from UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, living in a disadvantaged neighborhood can affect food choices, weight gain and even the microstructure of the brain.

15 Sep 2023

New genetic test reveals a person’s predisposition to happiness

Your happiness levels aren't only based on external events. Genome testing can reveal how happy and optimistic you are predisposed to be. A leading testing expert reveals how variations of a key gene, CNR1, may have a significant impact on your level of happiness.

15 Sep 2023

Unhealthy pathobiome in the brain could cause some forms of Alzheimer's and related dementias

The human microbiome includes the genetic material of more than 100 trillion tiny microorganisms – fungi, yeast, bacteria, and even viruses, most of which hang out in our gastrointestinal tract to serve as guardians of our health.

13 Sep 2023

Innovative technique provides unparalleled insight into autism pathology

Does the human brain have an Achilles heel that ultimately leads to Autism? With a revolutionizing novel system that combines brain organoid technology and intricate genetics, researchers can now comprehensively test the effect of multiple mutations in parallel and at a single-cell level within human brain organoids.

13 Sep 2023

Cerebellar inhibitory interneurons essential for fear memory, study finds

An LSU Health New Orleans research study led by Siqiong June Liu, PhD, Professor of Cell Biology and Anatomy, has found that cerebellar inhibitory interneurons are essential for fear memory, a type of emotional memory formation.

13 Sep 2023

The science behind lifestyle's role in preventing depression

A recent paper looks at the effect of a range of lifestyle factors in relation to brain structure, immune function, metabolic pathways, and genetic mechanisms that are responsible for depression.

13 Sep 2023