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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.

Columbia researchers identify nerve cells that drive fruit fly's escape behavior

Columbia University researchers have identified the nerve cells that initiate a fly's escape response: that complex series of movements in which an animal senses, and quickly maneuvers away from, something harmful such as high heat.

20 Mar 2018

Child’s temperament and parenting influence weight gain in babies

Offering a snack may be a sure way to soothe a fussy child, but researchers say making it a habit can result in unnecessary weight gain in babies with certain temperaments.

20 Mar 2018

Researchers discover 'missing mutation' in severe infant epilepsy

Researchers have discovered a "missing mutation" in severe infant epilepsy--long-suspected genetic changes that might trigger overactive, brain-damaging electrical signaling leading to seizures.

20 Mar 2018

New study identifies key role for particular gene in 16p11.2 deletion syndrome

In a new study of one of the most common genetic causes of autism, neuroscientists at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory have identified a specific molecular mechanism that appears to undermine the ability of neurons in affected mice to properly incorporate changes driven by experience.

20 Mar 2018

Brain SPECT scans predict treatment outcomes in patients with depression

New research from the Amen Clinics shows that brain SPECT imaging, a study that measures blood flow and activity patterns, identifies who is likely to get better from depression and who is not.

20 Mar 2018

Scientists uncover new answers to cell aging in children with rare, fatal disease

In a recent paper published in Cell Reports, Saint Louis University researchers have uncovered new answers about why cells rapidly age in children with a rare and fatal disease.

20 Mar 2018

Study shows benefits of hair loss drug in improving cognitive function and vascular health

Minoxidil, a popular drug used on the scalp to treat hair loss, might improve blood flow to the brain, lower blood pressure and increase elasticity in the blood vessels if taken in an oral form, according to a new study in mice.

20 Mar 2018

Music therapy helps treat combat-related psychological injuries in military personnel

A new paper published in Music Therapy Perspectives examines the importance of music therapy in military healthcare.

20 Mar 2018

Mother’s pre-pregnancy waist size may be linked to child's autism risk

A new study finds children born to mothers who had a larger waist size before pregnancy may be more likely to have autism than those whose mothers had a smaller pre-pregnancy waist.

20 Mar 2018

LSD reduces 'sense of self' - research

Dr Albert Hofmann, a Swiss chemist, first found the effects of LSD or lysergic acid diethylamide or “acid” on the psyche. It has been 75 years since his invention. Now new research finds deeper understanding of how this psychedelic chemical alters the perception and affects the brain.

19 Mar 2018

Research suggests possible link between heading a soccer ball and brain imbalance

New behavioral neuroscience research suggests there's likely a connection between heading the ball in soccer and brain imbalance

19 Mar 2018

Fearful worms provide new clues about human anxiety

Ask a dozen people about their greatest fears, and you'll likely get a dozen different responses. That, along with the complexity of the human brain, makes fear--and its close cousin, anxiety--difficult to study.

19 Mar 2018

Scientists discover rare childhood liver cancer's ability to metastasize to the brain

A surprising finding by Rockefeller University scientists about a rare liver cancer's behavior could lead to more comprehensive patient monitoring and hopefully better outcomes.

19 Mar 2018

Scientists discover basic molecular mechanism that helps understand how ALS works

It took eight long years of research, but now an international team led by neuroscientists at Université de Montréal has discovered a basic molecular mechanism that better helps understand how Lou Gehrig's disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), works.

19 Mar 2018

Discovery aids understanding of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Researchers have discovered a basic molecular mechanism that sheds light on the disease process underlying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

19 Mar 2018

Vitamin B12 supplementation could postpone disease progression in Parkinson’s patients

Patients recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease that have low levels of vitamin B12 develop symptoms faster than those with higher levels, suggesting supplementation could postpone the progression of symptoms, new research has found.

From BetterYou Ltd 19 Mar 2018

Atrial fibrillation patients could reduce risk of dementia by taking stroke prevention drugs

Patients with atrial fibrillation could reduce the risk of dementia by taking stroke prevention medications, according to recommendations published online today in EP Europace, a European Society of Cardiology journal, and presented at EHRA 2018.

19 Mar 2018

Mice study shows how BPA exposure during pregnancy can lead to altered brain development

New research in mice provides an explanation for how exposure to the widely used chemical bisphenol A during pregnancy, even at levels lower than the regulated "safe" human exposure level, can lead to altered brain development and behavior later in life.

19 Mar 2018

Researchers team up to improve life for children with microcephaly

Audrey Alves had just turned 2 when she first visited the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute Neuromotor Research Clinic a year ago. Unlike most toddlers her age, she struggled to sit, crawl, and communicate.

16 Mar 2018

Multi-center study to evaluate promising new intervention for upper limb dysfunction after SCI

Kessler Foundation has been awarded an $857,600 sub-award from the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, to study a promising new intervention for upper limb dysfunction after spinal cord injury (SCI).

16 Mar 2018

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Columbia researchers identify nerve cells that drive fruit fly's escape behavior

Child’s temperament and parenting influence weight gain in babies

Researchers discover 'missing mutation' in severe infant epilepsy

New study identifies key role for particular gene in 16p11.2 deletion syndrome

Brain SPECT scans predict treatment outcomes in patients with depression

Scientists uncover new answers to cell aging in children with rare, fatal disease

Study shows benefits of hair loss drug in improving cognitive function and vascular health

Music therapy helps treat combat-related psychological injuries in military personnel

Mother’s pre-pregnancy waist size may be linked to child's autism risk

LSD reduces 'sense of self' - research

Research suggests possible link between heading a soccer ball and brain imbalance

Fearful worms provide new clues about human anxiety

Scientists discover rare childhood liver cancer's ability to metastasize to the brain

Scientists discover basic molecular mechanism that helps understand how ALS works

Discovery aids understanding of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Vitamin B12 supplementation could postpone disease progression in Parkinson’s patients

Atrial fibrillation patients could reduce risk of dementia by taking stroke prevention drugs

Mice study shows how BPA exposure during pregnancy can lead to altered brain development

Researchers team up to improve life for children with microcephaly

Multi-center study to evaluate promising new intervention for upper limb dysfunction after SCI

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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