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.

Stanford researchers use computer simulations to study complexity of concussions

It seems simple enough: Taking a hard hit to the head can give you a concussion. But, Stanford researchers report March 30 in Physical Review Letters, in most cases, the connection is anything but simple.

31 Mar 2018

Study reveals how interneurons emerge and diversify in the brain

Modern neuroscience, for all its complexity, can trace its roots directly to a series of pen-and-paper sketches rendered by Nobel laureate Santiago Ramón y Cajal in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

31 Mar 2018

New project addresses differences in our perceptions of virtual reality

Shimmer recently supported a project undertaken by Donovan Faraoni, a Grade 10 student at Bishop’s College School, Québec, Canada. Donovan’s experiment focused on how mixed reality technologies will soon blend virtual elements seamlessly into our everyday lives, making it critical to understand potential underlying differences in our perceptions of virtual reality.

From Shimmer 31 Mar 2018

Researchers propose a novel tripartite mechanism of neural memory

The overwhelming quest in cognitive science has been (and still is) to scientifically describe mental processes on a molecular level, notably memory and intelligence, and attempt to mimic them technologically. But really 'intelligent' computers can only arise from an appreciation of neural reality with credible principles about the nature of neural mentation.

30 Mar 2018

Adult-onset degenerative disease mechanism begins much earlier than previously thought

The disease mechanism for adult-onset progressive degenerative diseases begins much earlier than previously thought, according to a Northwestern Medicine study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

30 Mar 2018

Monkeys' brain synchrony influenced by proximity and social status, research suggests

Though their purpose and function are still largely unknown, mirror neurons in the brain are believed by some neuroscientists to be central to how humans relate to each other. Deficiencies in mirror neurons might also play a role in autism and other disorders affecting social skills.

30 Mar 2018

First-of-its-kind cancer drug effective in 93% of pediatric patients

A first-of-its-kind drug targeting a fused gene found in many types of cancer was effective in 93 percent of pediatric patients tested, researchers at UT Southwestern's Simmons Cancer Center announced.

30 Mar 2018

Children with autism and ADHD at increased risk for anxiety, mood disorders

Children with both autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at increased risk for being diagnosed with or treated for anxiety and mood disorders, according to a study published in Pediatrics today.

30 Mar 2018

New review explores potentially safer therapies for treating chronic abdominal pain

An estimated 2 million people in the U.S. are addicted to prescription opioids- powerful doctor-prescribed medications for chronic or severe pain. The drugs are commonly prescribed to treat gastrointestinal pain caused by conditions such as Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), raising the risk of addiction among this population.

29 Mar 2018

Leukemia itself may increase risk for long-term neurocognitive problems in survivors

Leukemia itself, not just side effects related to its treatment, may increase the risk for long-term problems with attention, organization and related neurocognitive skills in survivors of the most common childhood cancer, according to research from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The study appears today in the journal JAMA Oncology.

29 Mar 2018

Ultra-slow waves in the brain directly linked to consciousness

If you keep a close eye on an MRI scan of the brain, you'll see a wave pass through the entire brain like a heartbeat once every few seconds. This ultra-slow rhythm was recognized decades ago, but no one quite knew what to make of it. MRI data are inherently noisy, so most researchers simply ignored the ultra-slow waves.

29 Mar 2018

Tadpole metamorphosis found to be controlled by fat-sensing hormone

When tadpoles are but tadpoles, they're voracious eaters, chomping down all of the plant matter in their paths.

29 Mar 2018

Study provides broader picture of problems faced by stroke victims

A new study looks at what problems affect people most after a stroke and it provides a broader picture than what some may usually expect to see.

29 Mar 2018

New tracing methods reveal breadth of neural communication in visual cortex

An international collaboration of neuroscientists have today published a paper in Nature demonstrating the breadth of neural communication in visual cortex using a combination of methods for tracing the projections of individual neurons across the brain.

29 Mar 2018

Scrutinizing Medicare coverage for physical, occupational and speech therapy

For years, confusion has surrounded the conditions under which older adults can receive physical, occupational and speech therapy covered by Medicare.

29 Mar 2018

UTSW study reveals mechanisms underlying development of Sonic Hedgehog medulloblastoma

A delicate balance during brain development could have profound implications for understanding and treating medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor affecting children.

29 Mar 2018

Genetic links to cot deaths found in new research

Cot death or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a rare but unexplained and tragic occurrence where babies between ages two and four months who are apparently healthy die unexpectedly during sleep. SIDS is responsible for around 300 and 2400 deaths in the United Kingdom and United States of America yearly. Researchers have now found a genetic link that could explain the occurrence and risk of such incidents. The study appeared in the latest issues of the journal Lancet.

29 Mar 2018

New insights into breast implant-associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma

For the past seven years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reported on cases of a type of lymphoma associated with breast implants.

28 Mar 2018

C-Path and CHDI announce launch of Huntington's Disease Regulatory Science Consortium

The Critical Path Institute, together with CHDI Foundation, Inc., today announced the official launch of C-Path's Huntington's Disease Regulatory Science Consortium.

28 Mar 2018

Researchers highlight the need to reconsider mitochondrial replacement moratorium

Mothers with mitochondrial DNA mutations often give birth to children who face incurable and fatal illnesses. But a much-studied form of mitochondrial replacement could prevent the transmission of such diseases from mothers to children, researchers say.

28 Mar 2018

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Stanford researchers use computer simulations to study complexity of concussions

Study reveals how interneurons emerge and diversify in the brain

New project addresses differences in our perceptions of virtual reality

Researchers propose a novel tripartite mechanism of neural memory

Adult-onset degenerative disease mechanism begins much earlier than previously thought

Monkeys' brain synchrony influenced by proximity and social status, research suggests

First-of-its-kind cancer drug effective in 93% of pediatric patients

Children with autism and ADHD at increased risk for anxiety, mood disorders

New review explores potentially safer therapies for treating chronic abdominal pain

Leukemia itself may increase risk for long-term neurocognitive problems in survivors

Ultra-slow waves in the brain directly linked to consciousness

Tadpole metamorphosis found to be controlled by fat-sensing hormone

Study provides broader picture of problems faced by stroke victims

New tracing methods reveal breadth of neural communication in visual cortex

Scrutinizing Medicare coverage for physical, occupational and speech therapy

UTSW study reveals mechanisms underlying development of Sonic Hedgehog medulloblastoma

Genetic links to cot deaths found in new research

New insights into breast implant-associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma

C-Path and CHDI announce launch of Huntington's Disease Regulatory Science Consortium

Researchers highlight the need to reconsider mitochondrial replacement moratorium

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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