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Exposure to stimulating environment increases brain plasticity of mice as well as their offspring

If mice grow up in a stimulating environment, for example in large cages with running wheels and labyrinths with several other mice, their brain remains adaptable for longer, ie more plastic. In fact, not only these mice, but also their offspring, benefit from this enrichment.

23 Jan 2019

Scientists have reversed memory loss in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s Disease

Using a new epigenetics-based approach, scientists have managed to reduce memory loss and improve cognitive function in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease.

22 Jan 2019

Early adult general cognitive ability is a stronger predictor of mental capacity later in life

Early adult general cognitive ability (GCA) -- the diverse set of skills involved in thinking, such as reasoning, memory and perception -- is a stronger predictor of cognitive function and reserve later in life than other factors, such as higher education, occupational complexity or engaging in late-life intellectual activities, report researchers in a new study publishing January 21 in PNAS.

22 Jan 2019

Mice transmit brain benefits of enriched upbringing to non-enriched offspring

Mice growing up in a basic cage maintain lifelong visual cortex plasticity if their parents were raised in an environment that promoted social interaction and physical and mental stimulation, according to a multigenerational study published in eNeuro.

From Society for Neuroscience 22 Jan 2019

Branched-chain amino acids in tumors can be targeted to prevent and treat cancer

Researchers at A*STAR's Singapore Bioimaging Consortium have discovered that branched-chain amino acids in tumors can be targeted to prevent and treat cancer. Together with collaborators from the United States and National Cancer Centre Singapore, they found that some cancers potently suppress the catabolism (breakdown) of BCAAs.

21 Jan 2019

MPFI researchers identify synaptic logic for connections between two brain hemispheres

Researchers at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience have developed a new combination of technologies that allows them to identify the functional properties of individual synapses that link the two hemispheres and determine how they are arranged within a neuron's dendritic field.

21 Jan 2019

Location of epigenetic changes co-locate with genetic signal causing psychartric disorder

It's no surprise to scientists that variety is the very essence of biology, not just the seasoning, but most previous studies of key brain cells have found little variability in a common cell process that involves how genetic information is read and acted on.

17 Jan 2019

Study delves deeper into developmental dyslexia

Men with dyslexia have altered structural connections between the thalamus and auditory cortex on the left side of the brain, new research published in JNeurosci reveals.

From Society for Neuroscience 16 Jan 2019

Neurobiologists uncover key component of how the human brain marks time

With a little help from HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm," University of California, Irvine neurobiologists have uncovered a key component of how the human brain marks time.

15 Jan 2019

Developmental dysfunction of prefrontal cortex causes cognitive deficits related to mental illness

Faulty wiring of the prefrontal cortex during development leads to abnormal brain activity and cognitive impairments related to mental illness, according to a mouse study published in JNeurosci.

From Society for Neuroscience 9 Jan 2019

Neuroimaging predicts influence of anti-smoking media campaign

Neuroimaging data obtained from a small group of smokers predicts the influence of a large anti-smoking media campaign targeting likely smokers, shows a new study published in JNeurosci.

From Society for Neuroscience 9 Jan 2019

Exposure to cannabis, stress during adolescence may lead to long-term anxiety disorders

A new study conducted on laboratory animals shows that exposure to cannabis and stress during adolescence may lead to long-term anxiety disorders characterized by the presence of pathological fear.

8 Jan 2019

Pitt study delves deeper into how electrical stimulation activates neurons

Electrical stimulation of the brain is common practice in neuroscience research and is an increasingly common and effective clinical therapy for a variety of neurological disorders. However, there is limited understanding of why this treatment works at the neural level.

8 Jan 2019

Study examines neural mechanisms underlying smoking and drinking

Academics at the University of Warwick have found that low functional connectivity of the lateral orbitofrontal cortex that is associated with the tendency to smoke is associated with increased impulsiveness - which may contribute to the tendency to smoke.

8 Jan 2019

PAC1R mutation in children with autism may be linked to severity of social problems

A mutation of the gene PAC1R may be linked to the severity of social deficits experienced by kids with autism spectrum disorder, finds a study from a multi-institutional research team led by Children's faculty.

8 Jan 2019

Study provides new insight into generation of new neurons in adulthood

Researchers at Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, in collaboration with research groups in Finland, Canada, and Slovenia, have discovered a novel and unexpected function of nestin, the best known marker of neural stem cells.

3 Jan 2019

Study identifies possible new strategies to treat silent seizures in children

As early as 3 months of age, infants with a severe form of epilepsy called Dravet syndrome start having convulsive seizures, during which their arms and legs jerk repeatedly. As they become toddlers, another type of seizure begins to appear.

2 Jan 2019

Neuroscientists decipher how brain circuits optimize themselves

Human beings, like other animals, possess an enormous learning capacity that allows for the apprehension of new sensory information to master new skills or to adapt to an ever-changing environment.

2 Jan 2019

Salk scientists show how brain cells filter information in groups

When we perceive the world around us, certain objects appear to be more noticeable than others, depending on what we do. For example, when we view a forest-covered mountain from a distance, the forest looks like a large green carpet. But as we get closer, we start noticing the individual trees, and the forest fades to the background.

2 Jan 2019

Sound can affect perception of touch in mice

Our eyes, ears and skin are responsible for different senses. Moreover, our brain assigns these senses to different regions: the visual cortex, auditory cortex and somatosensory cortex. However, it is clear that there are anatomical connections between these different cortices such that brain activation to one sense can influence brain activation to another

30 Dec 2018

Cortex News and Research

Exposure to stimulating environment increases brain plasticity of mice as well as their offspring

Scientists have reversed memory loss in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s Disease

Early adult general cognitive ability is a stronger predictor of mental capacity later in life

Mice transmit brain benefits of enriched upbringing to non-enriched offspring

Branched-chain amino acids in tumors can be targeted to prevent and treat cancer

MPFI researchers identify synaptic logic for connections between two brain hemispheres

Location of epigenetic changes co-locate with genetic signal causing psychartric disorder

Study delves deeper into developmental dyslexia

Neurobiologists uncover key component of how the human brain marks time

Developmental dysfunction of prefrontal cortex causes cognitive deficits related to mental illness

Neuroimaging predicts influence of anti-smoking media campaign

Exposure to cannabis, stress during adolescence may lead to long-term anxiety disorders

Pitt study delves deeper into how electrical stimulation activates neurons

Study examines neural mechanisms underlying smoking and drinking

PAC1R mutation in children with autism may be linked to severity of social problems

Study provides new insight into generation of new neurons in adulthood

Study identifies possible new strategies to treat silent seizures in children

Neuroscientists decipher how brain circuits optimize themselves

Salk scientists show how brain cells filter information in groups

Sound can affect perception of touch in mice

Improving healthcare sustainability through carbon data

Managing vibration in IVF laboratories

A New Approach to Preventing Bladder Cancer Recurrence

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