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.

Understanding brain circuit development: an interview with Dr Hollis Cline

There's a tremendous amount known about brain circuit development. Our work was inspired by experiments that were done over 50 years ago by scientists at Harvard University, Hubel and Wiesel. They received a Nobel Prize for their work and have inspired many additional experiments over the last 50 or 60 years.

10 Aug 2016

Study finds reduced activity of ACMSD enzyme in people with suicidal behavior

It is known that people who have attempted suicide have ongoing inflammation in their blood and spinal fluid. Now, a collaborative study from research teams in the U.S., Sweden and Australia published in Translational Psychiatry shows that suicidal patients have a reduced activity of an enzyme that regulates inflammation and its byproducts.

10 Aug 2016

Researchers use TMS–EEG device to examine the brain activity of people in NREM sleep

Researchers from Aalto University and the University of Wisconsin utilised a TMS-EEG device, which combines transcranial magnetic stimulation and EEG, to examine how the brain activity of people in the restful non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep is affected by whether they dream or do not dream.

10 Aug 2016

Researchers develop machine-learning program that helps identify hundreds of ASD-related genes

Investigators eager to uncover the genetic basis of autism could now have hundreds of promising new leads thanks to a study by Princeton University and Simons Foundation researchers.

9 Aug 2016

Commonly-used stroke prevention drug may not control blood clotting over long term

Warfarin prescribed to prevent strokes in atrial fibrillation may not adequately control blood clotting over the long-term, even when patients have been historically stable on the drug, according to a study from the Duke Clinical Research Institute.

9 Aug 2016

Cerebral protection device reduces brain lesions after TAVI in patients with severe aortic stenosis

Among patients with severe aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aortic valve) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation, the use of a cerebral protection device (a filter that captures debris [tissue and plaque] dislodged during the procedure) reduced the number and volume of brain lesions, according to a study appearing in the August 9 issue of JAMA.

9 Aug 2016

Scientists improve potential weapon to fight against autoimmune disorders

With a trick of engineering, scientists at the Gladstone Institutes improved a potential weapon against inflammation and autoimmune disorders. Their work could one day benefit patients who suffer from inflammatory bowel disease or organ transplant rejection.

9 Aug 2016

CARRS-Q study shows caffeine combined with bright light can improve driver alertness

Bright light combined with caffeine can improve driving performance and alertness of chronically sleep deprived young drivers, according to a Queensland University of Technology road safety study.

9 Aug 2016

Concussive injury in female athletes elicits long-term changes in the corpus callosum

Female athletes who have suffered at least one concussion showed structural differences in the corpus callosum, the structure that connects the two hemispheres of the brain, compared to unconcussed female athletes and other women.

9 Aug 2016

New article discusses how imbalances in gut microbiome may be linked to neurological disorders

A growing body of scientific and medical evidence continues to shed light on the complex interaction between metabolic pathways affected by microrganisms living in the human gut and gene expression, immune function, and inflammation that can contribute to a range of cognitive, psychiatric, and neurodegenerative disorders.

9 Aug 2016

UW Medicine researchers discover new type of neuron in mouse retina

In the retina of mice, a new type of neuron that falls outside century-old classifications has been discovered.

9 Aug 2016

Researchers shed new light on roots of dystonia

Researchers at VIB-KU Leuven have managed to get a clearer view on the roots of dystonia, a neurological disorder that causes involuntary twisting movements.

9 Aug 2016

Sharing of patients' stem cells could boost bipolar disorder research

Stem cells from patients with bipolar disorder are being made available to scientists around the world to boost research into the condition.

9 Aug 2016

Antiepileptic drugs for reducing seizures may induce psychotic disorders, study shows

Today Brain publishes a new study indicating that antiepileptic drugs designed to reduce seizures, may also induce psychotic disorders in some patients.

9 Aug 2016

New laboratory model replicates early phase of Parkinson's before onset of motor symptoms

They're two of the biggest mysteries in Parkinson's disease research--where does the disease start? And how can it be stopped early in the process? Now, a new laboratory model of Parkinson's is giving scientists an inside look at what happens in the brain years before motor symptoms appear.

9 Aug 2016

Scientists unravel effect of prion proteins on the nerves

Ever since the prion gene was discovered in 1985, its role and biological impact on the neurons has remained a mystery.

9 Aug 2016

Wistar scientists discover novel mechanism that helps tumors adapt to hypoxia

One of the many reasons tumors are so difficult to treat is that they are able to adapt whenever they are exposed to unfavorable conditions.

9 Aug 2016

Researchers clarify beneficial function of brain protein linked to mad cow disease

Scientists have clarified details in understanding the beneficial function of a type of protein normally associated with prion diseases of the brain, such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (commonly known as mad cow disease) and its human counterpart, variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

8 Aug 2016

Neuropathic pain could be significantly reduced by targeting brain cells

Neuropathic pain - which affects more than 1 million Americans - could be reduced or even eliminated by targeting brain cells that are supposed to provide immunity but, in some instances, do the opposite, causing chronic pain that could last a lifetime.

8 Aug 2016

Activation of specific neural circuit can inhibit binge-like eating behavior in mice

While binge eating affects about 10 percent of adults in the United States, the neurobiological basis of the disease is unclear.

8 Aug 2016

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Understanding brain circuit development: an interview with Dr Hollis Cline

Study finds reduced activity of ACMSD enzyme in people with suicidal behavior

Researchers use TMS–EEG device to examine the brain activity of people in NREM sleep

Researchers develop machine-learning program that helps identify hundreds of ASD-related genes

Commonly-used stroke prevention drug may not control blood clotting over long term

Cerebral protection device reduces brain lesions after TAVI in patients with severe aortic stenosis

Scientists improve potential weapon to fight against autoimmune disorders

CARRS-Q study shows caffeine combined with bright light can improve driver alertness

Concussive injury in female athletes elicits long-term changes in the corpus callosum

New article discusses how imbalances in gut microbiome may be linked to neurological disorders

UW Medicine researchers discover new type of neuron in mouse retina

Researchers shed new light on roots of dystonia

Sharing of patients' stem cells could boost bipolar disorder research

Antiepileptic drugs for reducing seizures may induce psychotic disorders, study shows

New laboratory model replicates early phase of Parkinson's before onset of motor symptoms

Scientists unravel effect of prion proteins on the nerves

Wistar scientists discover novel mechanism that helps tumors adapt to hypoxia

Researchers clarify beneficial function of brain protein linked to mad cow disease

Neuropathic pain could be significantly reduced by targeting brain cells

Activation of specific neural circuit can inhibit binge-like eating behavior in mice

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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