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.

New research describes neural mechanism by which sleeping brain locks in learning visual task

As any indignant teacher would scold, students must be awake to learn. But what science is showing with increasing sophistication is how the brain uses sleep for learning as well.

10 Nov 2013

Lifestyle changes in diet and exercise show promise for learning, depression in teens

New studies released today underscore the potential impact of healthy lifestyle choices in treating depression, the effects of aging, and learning. The research focused on the effects of mind/body awareness, exercise, and diet, and was presented at Neuroscience 2013, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.

10 Nov 2013

Moderate exercise during pregnancy enhances newborn child's brain development

As little as 20 minutes of moderate exercise three times per week during pregnancy enhances the newborn child's brain development, according to researchers at the University of Montreal and its affiliated CHU Sainte-Justine children's hospital.

10 Nov 2013

Aptiom receives FDA approval to treat seizures associated with epilepsy

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Aptiom (eslicarbazepine acetate) as an add-on medication to treat seizures associated with epilepsy.

10 Nov 2013

Olympus hosts fourth annual neuroimaging symposium on functional brain imaging with cellular resolution

Olympus is hosting its fourth annual neuroimaging symposium in conjunction with the 2013 meeting of the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) on Monday, November 11 in San Diego. The Olympus Neuroimaging Symposium will be held near the Convention Center at the San Diego Marriott Marquis and Marina, San Diego Ballroom – Salon A, beginning at 6:30pm. The symposium and reception are open to all media and SfN registered attendees.

From Evident Corporation - Life Sciences 8 Nov 2013

Michael Kors gifts $3M to Weill Cornell Medical College to support immunology research

Award-winning fashion designer Michael Kors has dedicated his career to designing luxury American sportswear. Now, with a $3 million gift to Weill Cornell Medical College, one of America's most recognized faces in fashion is seeking to significantly help advance human health.

8 Nov 2013

Brain & Behavior Research Foundation announces recipients of NARSAD Investigator Grants

The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (formerly known as NARSAD, the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression), under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey Borenstein, President & CEO, has announced the latest recipients of its NARSAD Distinguished Investigator Grants.

8 Nov 2013

Researchers identify chain reaction that triggers regrowth of some damaged nerve cell

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a chain reaction that triggers the regrowth of some damaged nerve cell branches, a discovery that one day may help improve treatments for nerve injuries that can cause loss of sensation or paralysis.

8 Nov 2013

Researchers clinically validate new method for predicting Alzheimer's progression

A Columbia University Medical Center-led research team has clinically validated a new method for predicting time to full-time care, nursing home residence, or death for patients with Alzheimer's disease.

8 Nov 2013

Researchers identify enzymes that are crucial for growth of cancers with genetic aberrations in p53

The most frequently mutated gene across all types of cancers is a gene called p53. Unfortunately it has been difficult to directly target this gene with drugs. Now a multi-institutional research team, led by Dr. Lewis Cantley and investigators at Weill Cornell Medical College, has identified a family of enzymes they say is crucial for the growth of cancers that have genetic aberrations in p53.

8 Nov 2013

Diets and the famine reaction: an interview with Associate Professor Amanda Salis, University of Sydney

The statistic that you often hear is that 95% of diets fail, but in actual fact, emerging research is now showing that it’s around 70% of diets that fail. That means that around 30% of people who are losing weight are actually keeping it off. So we’re doing better now than we were doing in the past, but there’s still work to be done.

7 Nov 2013

Stroke patients treated at hospitals with neurology residency programs benefit from tPA drugs

Stroke patients treated at hospitals with neurology residency programs are significantly more likely to get life-saving clot-busting drugs than those seen at other teaching or non-teaching hospitals, new Johns Hopkins-led research suggests.

7 Nov 2013

UCLA launches first university-based military medicine center to care for wounded veterans

UCLA has launched the first university-based military medicine center on the West Coast, thanks to a generous donation from two sons in honor their father, the inventor, entrepreneur and philanthropist Ronald A. Katz.

7 Nov 2013

Investigators find potential new target for treatment of low-grade gliomas

Investigators at Johns Hopkins have found a known genetic pathway to be active in many difficult-to-treat pediatric brain tumors called low-grade gliomas, potentially offering a new target for the treatment of these cancers.

7 Nov 2013

Majerus to donate $2M for new Primary Children's and Families' Cancer Research Center at HCI

Today the Majerus Family Foundation (a foundation Rick Majerus, former University of Utah basketball coach from 1989-2004, established prior to his death in 2012) announced that it will make a gift in the amount of $2 million toward the construction of the new Primary Children's and Families' Cancer Research Center at Huntsman Cancer Institute.

7 Nov 2013

New study looks at hormone/SNS relationship in women taking hormone contraceptives

After menopause, women's levels of estrogen and progesterone fall. Their formerly lower risk for heart disease equals, even surpasses, men's risk. One possible contributing explanation for the change in risk is that sex hormones affect the sympathetic nervous system, which controls constriction of blood vessels and participates in the fight or flight response.

7 Nov 2013

Study: Speaking a second language may delay onset of three types of dementias

In the largest study on the topic to date, research shows that speaking a second language may delay the onset of three types of dementias. The research is published in the November 6, 2013, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

7 Nov 2013

Decision-making process may occur in localized region of the prefrontal cortex

While eating lunch you notice an insect buzzing around your plate. Its color and motion could both influence how you respond. If the insect was yellow and black you might decide it was a bee and move away. Conversely, you might simply be annoyed at the buzzing motion and shoo the insect away. You perceive both color and motion, and decide based on the circumstances. Our brains make such contextual decisions in a heartbeat.

7 Nov 2013

MGH researchers identify probable mechanism for pain-induced cognitive impairment

The pain caused by a surgical incision may contribute to the risk of postoperative cognitive dysfunction, a sometimes transient impairment in learning and memory that affects a small but significant number of patients in the days following a surgical procedure.

7 Nov 2013

University of Adelaide research uses special adult stem cells to treat Hurler's syndrome

University of Adelaide research using special adult stem cells is promising new hope for better treatments for the devastating genetic disease Hurler's syndrome.

7 Nov 2013

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

New research describes neural mechanism by which sleeping brain locks in learning visual task

Lifestyle changes in diet and exercise show promise for learning, depression in teens

Moderate exercise during pregnancy enhances newborn child's brain development

Aptiom receives FDA approval to treat seizures associated with epilepsy

Olympus hosts fourth annual neuroimaging symposium on functional brain imaging with cellular resolution

Michael Kors gifts $3M to Weill Cornell Medical College to support immunology research

Brain & Behavior Research Foundation announces recipients of NARSAD Investigator Grants

Researchers identify chain reaction that triggers regrowth of some damaged nerve cell

Researchers clinically validate new method for predicting Alzheimer's progression

Researchers identify enzymes that are crucial for growth of cancers with genetic aberrations in p53

Diets and the famine reaction: an interview with Associate Professor Amanda Salis, University of Sydney

Stroke patients treated at hospitals with neurology residency programs benefit from tPA drugs

UCLA launches first university-based military medicine center to care for wounded veterans

Investigators find potential new target for treatment of low-grade gliomas

Majerus to donate $2M for new Primary Children's and Families' Cancer Research Center at HCI

New study looks at hormone/SNS relationship in women taking hormone contraceptives

Study: Speaking a second language may delay onset of three types of dementias

Decision-making process may occur in localized region of the prefrontal cortex

MGH researchers identify probable mechanism for pain-induced cognitive impairment

University of Adelaide research uses special adult stem cells to treat Hurler's syndrome

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