Brain News and Research

RSS

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.

Single bout of exercise can have significant positive behavioral and cognitive effects

In a new review of the effects of acute exercise published in Brain Plasticity, researchers not only summarize the behavioral and cognitive effects of a single bout of exercise, but also summarize data from a large number of neurophysiological and neurochemical studies in both humans and animals showing the wide range of brain changes that result from a single session of physical exercise.

12 Jun 2017

UC scientists use artificial intelligence to accurately predict treatment outcomes for bipolar disorder

The artificial intelligence that can blow human pilots out of the sky in air-to-air combat accurately predicted treatment outcomes for bipolar disorder, according to a new medical study by the University of Cincinnati.

12 Jun 2017

Decades-old drug used to treat malaria reduces toxic protein linked to ALS

A new study finds that a decades-old drug used to treat malaria lowers levels of a biomarker linked to the inherited form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS and Lou Gehrig's Disease.

12 Jun 2017

Research shows how sign language exposure affects young cochlear implant recipients

In a new, multisite study of deaf children with cochlear implants, UT Dallas researchers have found that children with either no exposure or limited exposure to sign language end up with better auditory, speaking and reading skills later.

12 Jun 2017

Study finds increase in suicide risk for people with physical health conditions

Suicide continues to be a major driver of mortality in the United States. Each year, more than 45,000 people die by suicide and in the past 15 years, the suicide mortality rate has risen by an alarming 24%.

12 Jun 2017

New review examines link between pain and opioid abuse

The drug overdose epidemic is largely driven by opioids, which continue to be prescribed for chronic pain despite recommendations to use non-opioids for most cases.

12 Jun 2017

New trial method could be more efficient way to study stroke treatments

A sequential multiple assignment randomized trial allows researchers to test two hypotheses at once.

9 Jun 2017

'Mismatch repair' genetic defects drive cancer patient's response to immunotherapy drugs

In an expanded, three-year clinical trial of 86 patients with colorectal and 11 other kinds of cancer that have so-called 'mismatch repair' genetic defects, scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine and its Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy have found that half of the patients respond to an immunotherapy drug called pembrolizumab.

9 Jun 2017

Radiation therapy critical to treating brain tumors, but linked to significant adverse effects

Radiation therapy using high-energy particles, like x-rays or electron beams, is a common and critical component in successfully treating patients with brain tumors, but it is also associated with significant adverse effects, such as neuronal loss in adjacent healthy tissues.

9 Jun 2017

Study provides new insight into cells that rejuvenate the brain

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease manifested by various neuronal pathological processes and a significant decline in brain function.

9 Jun 2017

UNIST introduces new robotic tool to improve mobility of stroke survivors

A recent study, affiliated with UNIST has introduced a new robotic tool for assessments of muscle overactivity and movement dysfunction in stroke survivors.

9 Jun 2017

Zika virus infection during pregnancy causes birth defects in 5% of babies, study finds

According to a report published today in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 5% of women in the U.S. and its territories who had confirmed Zika virus infection during pregnancy had a baby or fetus with Zika virus-associated birth defects.

9 Jun 2017

Researchers define action profile of experimental drug intended to treat chronic pain

At high doses, drug candidate BIA 10-2474 binds not only to the protein that it targets, but to other proteins as well. It thus deactivates proteins that are involved in the metabolism of nerve cells.

9 Jun 2017

Study finds evidence that genes influence empathy

New research has found empathy may have a genetic component that also influences personality, cognition, and psychiatric conditions. Further, although not a novel finding, researchers noted women generally performed better on a test used to gauge empathy than their male counterparts.

9 Jun 2017

Salk researchers analyze how neurons in the brain respond to natural scenes

If you think self-driving cars can't get here soon enough, you're not alone. But programming computers to recognize objects is very technically challenging, especially since scientists don't fully understand how our own brains do it.

9 Jun 2017

Smarter algorithms could lead to greater understanding of the brain's true complexity

The human brain naturally makes its best guess when making a decision, and studying those guesses can be very revealing about the brain's inner workings.

9 Jun 2017

Researchers develop new system with robot hands that learns how to grasp objects

Researchers at Bielefeld University have developed a grasp system with robot hands that autonomously familiarizes itself with novel objects. The new system works without previously knowing the characteristics of objects, such as pieces of fruit or tools.

8 Jun 2017

Sleepion 2 uses aromatherapy, soothing light and ambient sounds to promote deeper sleep

Cheero USA announced the Sleepion 2, an innovative sleep aid system that uses aromatherapy, soothing light and ambient sounds clinically proven to promote deeper sleep.

8 Jun 2017

Moderate drinking is associated with decline in brain health, claim researchers

Even drinking moderate amounts of alcohol is associated with an increased risk of brain damage and impaired cognitive function, say researchers. Heavy drinking has previously been associated with adverse brain outcomes, but few studies have looked at whether moderate drinking also is.

8 Jun 2017

Neuroimaging measures of emotional brain function may help predict PTSD

Neuroimaging measures of emotional brain function after acute trauma may help predict whether a person will develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a new study in Biological Psychiatry.

8 Jun 2017

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Single bout of exercise can have significant positive behavioral and cognitive effects

UC scientists use artificial intelligence to accurately predict treatment outcomes for bipolar disorder

Decades-old drug used to treat malaria reduces toxic protein linked to ALS

Research shows how sign language exposure affects young cochlear implant recipients

Study finds increase in suicide risk for people with physical health conditions

New review examines link between pain and opioid abuse

New trial method could be more efficient way to study stroke treatments

'Mismatch repair' genetic defects drive cancer patient's response to immunotherapy drugs

Radiation therapy critical to treating brain tumors, but linked to significant adverse effects

Study provides new insight into cells that rejuvenate the brain

UNIST introduces new robotic tool to improve mobility of stroke survivors

Zika virus infection during pregnancy causes birth defects in 5% of babies, study finds

Researchers define action profile of experimental drug intended to treat chronic pain

Study finds evidence that genes influence empathy

Salk researchers analyze how neurons in the brain respond to natural scenes

Smarter algorithms could lead to greater understanding of the brain's true complexity

Researchers develop new system with robot hands that learns how to grasp objects

Sleepion 2 uses aromatherapy, soothing light and ambient sounds to promote deeper sleep

Moderate drinking is associated with decline in brain health, claim researchers

Neuroimaging measures of emotional brain function may help predict PTSD

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

Latest News