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.

Weizmann Institute scientists 'fingerprint' a culprit in depression and anxiety disorders

According the World Health Organization, such mood disorders as depression affect some 10% of the world's population and are associated with a heavy burden of disease. That is why numerous scientists around the world have invested a great deal of effort in understanding these diseases. Yet the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie these problems are still only partly understood.

20 Jun 2014

Clinically relevant mouse model for difficult-to-treat squamous cell lung cancer

Only 15% of patients with squamous cell lung cancer - the second most common lung cancer - survive five years past diagnosis.

20 Jun 2014

Schizophrenia focus narrowed to dentate gyrus

The dentate gyrus is a likely site of pathology underlying schizophrenia, shows a study published in Molecular Psychiatry.

19 Jun 2014

Research provides unique insight into lncRNAs that regulate lung development

It's a long way from DNA to RNA to protein, and only about two percent of a person's genome is eventually converted into proteins.

19 Jun 2014

Study reveals how brain navigates from unconscious to conscious state

One of the great mysteries of anesthesia is how patients can be temporarily rendered completely unresponsive during surgery and then wake up again, with their memories and skills intact.

19 Jun 2014

March of Dimes Canada, U of T sign deal to advance research in brain injuries, stroke

Today, March of Dimes Canada and the University of Toronto (U of T) signed a $1.5 million agreement to advance research in recovery from brain injuries and stroke, making the donation to the University the largest made by the national charitable organization in its over 60 year history.

19 Jun 2014

Number-learning process depends on child's environment, shows study

American children learn the meanings of number words gradually: First they understand "one," then they add "two, "three," and "four," in sequence. At that point, however, a dramatic shift in understanding takes place, and children grasp the meanings of not only "five" and "six," but all of the number words they know.

19 Jun 2014

Leading experts to discuss mild traumatic brain injury at AACN annual meeting

It has been widely reported in the media that mild traumatic brain injury/concussion can cause prolonged physical and cognitive symptoms, and potentially permanent brain damage in some individuals.

19 Jun 2014

Bioengineer wins NIH grant to advance brain-computer interface technology

Less than two years ago, a brain-computer interface designed at the University of Pittsburgh allowed Jan Scheuermann to control a robotic arm solely with her thoughts. Using the arm to bring a chocolate bar to her mouth and taking a bite was a sweet victory for Scheuermann, who has quadriplegia.

19 Jun 2014

59% of people believe that Alzheimer's is a typical part of aging

Alzheimer's is a fatal, progressive disease impacting at least 44 million people worldwide yet it is widely misunderstood. According to an Alzheimer's Association® 12-country survey, 59 percent of people surveyed incorrectly believe that Alzheimer's disease is a typical part of aging and 40 percent of people believe that Alzheimer's is not fatal.

19 Jun 2014

Brain changes in problem gamblers make it hard to quit habit

People who gamble frequently may experience brain changes that make it extremely difficult for them to give up the habit.

19 Jun 2014

UT Arlington researchers use portable device to map brain activity responses during cognitive activities

UT Arlington researchers have successfully used a portable brain-mapping device to show limited prefrontal cortex activity among student veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder when they were asked to recall information from simple memorization tasks.

19 Jun 2014

Fireworks, public transportation, construction sites can induce hearing loss

Summer sounds include much more than crickets chirping. Outdoor concerts, parades, 4th of July fireworks, public transportation and construction sites all have one thing in common.

19 Jun 2014

Researchers develop new model of neural network

A newly-developed, highly accurate representation of the way in which neurons behave when performing movements such as reaching could not only enhance understanding of the complex dynamics at work in the brain, but aid in the development of robotic limbs which are capable of more complex and natural movements.

19 Jun 2014

Study: Watching violent TV shows alters the brain

Young adult men who watched more violence on television showed indications of less mature brain development and poorer executive functioning, according to the results of an Indiana University School of Medicine study published online in the journal Brain and Cognition.

19 Jun 2014

Self-repairing mechanism of adult brain can help preserve brain function in Alzheimer's

New research, led by scientists at the University of Southampton, has found that neurogenesis, the self-repairing mechanism of the adult brain, can help to preserve brain function in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Prion or Parkinson's.

19 Jun 2014

People with muscle diseases may benefit more from group doctor visits

A new study suggests that people with muscle diseases such as muscular dystrophies may benefit more from group doctor visits than individual appointments. The study is published in the June 18, 2014, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

19 Jun 2014

Children may benefit from targeted treatments specific to pediatric brain activity

A new study from Bradley Hospital has found that bipolar children have greater activation in the right amygdala - a brain region very important for emotional reaction - than bipolar adults when viewing emotional faces.

19 Jun 2014

Physical fitness plays key role in brain health and academic performance

Physical fitness in childhood and adolescence is beneficial for both physical and mental health throughout life.

19 Jun 2014

Alkermes reports data from aripiprazole lauroxil phase 3 clinical trial for treatment of schizophrenia

Alkermes plc today announced the presentation of data from its phase 3 clinical trial of aripiprazole lauroxil, an investigational drug candidate in development for schizophrenia, at the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology Annual Meeting in Hollywood, Fla.

18 Jun 2014