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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.

Study suggests bright lights inhibit the production of melatonin in preschoolers

A new study has found that exposure to bright light before bed time inhibits the production of sleep-promoting hormone, melatonin, in preschoolers.

6 Mar 2018

Treatments targeted to enhance brain neurotrophic factor signaling may improve memory functions

Treatments targeted to enhance brain neurotrophic factor signaling could improve memory functions in Alzheimer's disease even though they don't alter brain amyloid burden, according to recent research from the University of Eastern Finland.

6 Mar 2018

Strict eating schedule can help clear away protein responsible for Huntington disease in mice

New research from the University of British Columbia suggests that following a strict eating schedule can help clear away the protein responsible for Huntington disease in mice.

6 Mar 2018

Levels of inflammatory biomarkers could predict effectiveness of ECT for people with depression

People with major depression that has not been well controlled by medications and who have a biomarker in their blood indicating a higher level of inflammation may benefit more than people with less inflammation from electroconvulsive therapy to ease symptoms of their depression, according to a new UCLA study.

6 Mar 2018

Helmet use linked to lower likelihood of cervical spine injury during motorcycle crash

Despite claims that helmets do not protect the cervical spine during a motorcycle crash and may even increase the risk of injury, researchers from the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics in Madison found that, during an accident, helmet use lowers the likelihood of cervical spine injury, particularly fractures of the cervical vertebrae.

6 Mar 2018

Rice engineers develop thin lens-free fluorescent microscope

Lenses are no longer necessary for some microscopes, according to Rice University engineers developing FlatScope, a thin fluorescent microscope whose abilities promise to surpass those of old-school devices.

6 Mar 2018

TSRI research offers explanation for why neurons die off in Parkinson's disease

An estimated 10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson's disease--an incurable neurodegenerative disorder that leads to an increasing loss of motor control.

6 Mar 2018

Research explores hormonal impact of nighttime light exposure on young children

Exposing preschoolers to an hour of bright light before bedtime almost completely shuts down their production of the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin and keeps it suppressed for at least 50 minutes after lights out, according to new University of Colorado Boulder research.

6 Mar 2018

Research shows how interaction between nervous and immune systems occurs in lung infections

When the body is fighting infection, the immune system kicks into high gear. But emerging evidence hints at the involvement of another, rather surprising, player in this process: the nervous system.

5 Mar 2018

Infants process pain in their brains in different ways based on age

Reliance on behavioral indicators, such as crying, to assess pain in infants underestimates how much pain babies actually feel when they undergo stressful medical procedures.

5 Mar 2018

Researcher develops new technology for long-term stable neural recording

Klas Tybrandt, principal investigator at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics at Linköping University, has developed new technology for long-term stable neural recording. It is based on a novel elastic material composite, which is biocompatible and retains high electrical conductivity even when stretched to double its original length.

5 Mar 2018

The Neuro and Thermo Fisher Scientific team up to accelerate understanding of neurological disease

The Montreal Neurological Institute of McGill University, a world-leading institution focused on brain research and advanced patient care, and Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science, today announce an agreement designed to accelerate the understanding of neurological disease by focusing on about 30 proteins associated with Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), hereditary spastic paraplegias, epileptic encephalopathies and ataxias, which are all devastating brain diseases.

5 Mar 2018

Study pinpoints gene that plays direct role in neurodevelopmental disorders

A study led by researchers at McMaster University has pinpointed a gene that is responsible for neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism.

5 Mar 2018

Plymouth researcher receives grant to further investigate causes of hereditary neuro-tumors

The University of Plymouth will be continuing its research into the advancement of neuro-tumor treatments thanks to more than £100,000 from Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity and Sparks, the medical research charity.

5 Mar 2018

Researchers find way to effectively stop internal bleeding using magnetically-driven nanoparticles

Scientists from ITMO University have found a way to effectively stop internal bleeding by magnetically-driven nanoparticles containing thrombin.

5 Mar 2018

Scientists find algorithm for brain simulations on exascale systems

An international group of researchers has made a decisive step towards creating the technology to achieve simulations of brain-scale networks on future supercomputers of the exascale class.

5 Mar 2018

Scientists identify genes involved in age-related brain deterioration

A group of genes and genetic switches involved in age-related brain deterioration have been identified by scientists at the Babraham Institute, Cambridge and Sapienza University, Rome.

5 Mar 2018

Research investigates how the brain makes predictions

Goethe University Frankfurt can boast another EU-funded research project: With the appointment of Yee Lee Shing as Chair of Developmental Psychology her PIVOTAL research project has accompanied her to Frankfurt. Professor Shing's research work investigates how the brain makes predictions.

5 Mar 2018

Oral contraceptives increase ischemic stroke risk

Oral contraceptives increase the risk of ischemic stroke, but this risk is very small among women who do not have other stroke risk factors, according to a comprehensive review in the journal MedLink Neurology by Loyola Medicine stroke specialists.

5 Mar 2018

Study estimates incidence of first-episode psychosis in six countries

Young males, ethnic minorities and people living in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas are more likely to experience first-episode psychosis, defined as the first manifestation of one or more severe mental disorders including schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, and depression with psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions and cognitive disorganization.

2 Mar 2018

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Study suggests bright lights inhibit the production of melatonin in preschoolers

Treatments targeted to enhance brain neurotrophic factor signaling may improve memory functions

Strict eating schedule can help clear away protein responsible for Huntington disease in mice

Levels of inflammatory biomarkers could predict effectiveness of ECT for people with depression

Helmet use linked to lower likelihood of cervical spine injury during motorcycle crash

Rice engineers develop thin lens-free fluorescent microscope

TSRI research offers explanation for why neurons die off in Parkinson's disease

Research explores hormonal impact of nighttime light exposure on young children

Research shows how interaction between nervous and immune systems occurs in lung infections

Infants process pain in their brains in different ways based on age

Researcher develops new technology for long-term stable neural recording

The Neuro and Thermo Fisher Scientific team up to accelerate understanding of neurological disease

Study pinpoints gene that plays direct role in neurodevelopmental disorders

Plymouth researcher receives grant to further investigate causes of hereditary neuro-tumors

Researchers find way to effectively stop internal bleeding using magnetically-driven nanoparticles

Scientists find algorithm for brain simulations on exascale systems

Scientists identify genes involved in age-related brain deterioration

Research investigates how the brain makes predictions

Oral contraceptives increase ischemic stroke risk

Study estimates incidence of first-episode psychosis in six countries

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