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.

ERK pathway discovery may provide therapeutic options for treating drug addictions

The extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) pathway plays a role in multiple drug addictions and appears to modulate neuronal plasticity through epigenetic mechanisms, say French scientists.

7 Oct 2013

Glutamergic agents may be used as novel treatment for mood and anxiety disorders

Glutamergic agents may one day be used as a novel treatment for mood and anxiety disorders, new research presented at the 26th ECNP Congress suggests.

7 Oct 2013

Research: VIP interneurons inhibit activation of other inhibitory neurons in cerebral cortex

The cerebral cortex contains two major types of neurons: principal neurons that are excitatory and interneurons that are inhibitory, all interconnected within the same network.

7 Oct 2013

Study shows precision medicine provides better treatment options for mentally ill person

A multidisciplinary team led by a geneticist and psychiatrist from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory's (CSHL) Stanley Institute for Cognitive Genomics today publish a paper providing a glimpse of both the tremendous power and the current limitations of what is sometimes called "precision medicine."

5 Oct 2013

Scientists discover key function in molecule that regulates sleep, metabolism and hunger

Why does hunger keep us awake and a full belly make us tired? Why do people with sleep disorders such as insomnia often binge eat late at night? What can sleep patterns tell us about obesity?

5 Oct 2013

New biomarker for pancreatic cancer effectively targets potential therapy for small survival rate

University of Cincinnati (UC) researchers have discovered a biomarker, known as phosphatidylserine (PS), for pancreatic cancer that could be effectively targeted, creating a potential therapy for a condition that has a small survival rate.

5 Oct 2013

Newly opened Manchester-based DNA bank may support discoveries on motor neuron disease

A specialist DNA Bank, based at The University of Manchester, is now open to the worldwide research community, supporting more crucial discoveries about motor neurone disease (MND), a devastating terminal illness.

5 Oct 2013

Autism Speaks launches the Preclinical Autism Consortium for Therapeutics

Autism Speaks, the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization, today announced the launch of the Preclinical Autism Consortium for Therapeutics (PACT).

4 Oct 2013

Penn brain trauma experts provide latest data, guidelines from Neurocritical Care Society Meeting

A team of experts in neurocritical care, engineering, and informatics, with the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, have devised a new way to detect

4 Oct 2013

Kessler Foundation and VA New Jersey collaborate to study cognitive fatigue in Gulf War veterans

A major grant totaling $761,222 from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Clinical Science Research and Development, involves a collaboration between Kessler Foundation and the VA New Jersey Health Care System. Glenn Wylie, DPhil is principal investigator for the study, "Examination of Cognitive Fatigue in Gulf War Illness using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging."

4 Oct 2013

Penn Medicine receives $12M NIHM grant for genetics study that points causes of mental illness

A major international consortium co-led by Penn Medicine has received a $12 million National Institute of Mental Health (NIHM) grant for a large-scale genetics study investigating why patients with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome have an increased risk of schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders.

4 Oct 2013

Mayo Clinic's Sports Medicine Center hosts Ice Hockey Summit II

Mayo Clinic's Sports Medicine Center will host Ice Hockey Summit II: Action on Concussion on Oct. 8-9, 2013. The summit will bring together top scientists, trainers, coaches, officials, retired professional players and manufacturers from across the United States, Canada and Europe to discuss concussion-related issues, including the science of concussion, impact on youth athletes and hockey community response. While the summit will focus on ice hockey, concussion-related topics will apply to all sports.

4 Oct 2013

Walking in woods reduces stress and boosts immune system

Work, home, even in the car, stress is a constant struggle for many people. But it's more than just exhausting and annoying. Unmanaged stress can lead to serious health conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

4 Oct 2013

Individuals diagnosed with ASD more likely to have gene deletions, shows analysis

Using powerful genetic sequencing technology, a team of investigators, led by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, scanned the genome of hundreds of individuals, and discovered those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were more likely to have gene deletions than were people without the disorder.

4 Oct 2013

Researchers examine why depression messes with memory

To pinpoint why depression messes with memory, researchers took a page from Sesame Street's book. The show's popular game "One of these things is not like the others" helps young viewers learn to differentiate things that are similar - a process known as "pattern separation."

4 Oct 2013

CHOP’s 22q and You Center plays major role in brain and behavior consortium

Genetics experts from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) are among the top leaders of a major international collaboration researching why patients with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome have an elevated risk of schizophrenia and other psychiatric illnesses.

4 Oct 2013

Experts develop way to reduce radiation exposure in children who require repeated brain CT scans

A team of pediatric neurosurgeons and neuroradiologists at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center has developed a way to minimize dangerous radiation exposure in children with a condition that requires repeat CT scans of the brain.

4 Oct 2013

Researchers suggest new view of how stem cells may help repair brain following trauma

University of South Florida researchers have suggested a new view of how stem cells may help repair the brain following trauma. In a series of preclinical experiments, they report that transplanted cells appear to build a "biobridge" that links an uninjured brain site where new neural stem cells are born with the damaged region of the brain.

4 Oct 2013

Whitehead Institute researchers redefine gene mutation that cause Rett syndrome

Whitehead Institute researchers have redefined the function of a gene whose mutation causes Rett syndrome, a neurodevelopmental autism spectrum disorder. This new research offers an improved understanding of the defects found in the neurons of Rett syndrome patients and could lead to novel therapies for the disease.

4 Oct 2013

Genetic condition that attacks multiple organs can be detected using new MRI technique

A genetic condition that attacks multiple organs and usually results in fatal heart problems can be detected using a new MRI technique that was developed at the University of Alberta. The discovery of this new diagnostic tool has resulted in updated clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Fabry disease in Canada.

3 Oct 2013

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

ERK pathway discovery may provide therapeutic options for treating drug addictions

Glutamergic agents may be used as novel treatment for mood and anxiety disorders

Research: VIP interneurons inhibit activation of other inhibitory neurons in cerebral cortex

Study shows precision medicine provides better treatment options for mentally ill person

Scientists discover key function in molecule that regulates sleep, metabolism and hunger

New biomarker for pancreatic cancer effectively targets potential therapy for small survival rate

Newly opened Manchester-based DNA bank may support discoveries on motor neuron disease

Autism Speaks launches the Preclinical Autism Consortium for Therapeutics

Penn brain trauma experts provide latest data, guidelines from Neurocritical Care Society Meeting

Kessler Foundation and VA New Jersey collaborate to study cognitive fatigue in Gulf War veterans

Penn Medicine receives $12M NIHM grant for genetics study that points causes of mental illness

Mayo Clinic's Sports Medicine Center hosts Ice Hockey Summit II

Walking in woods reduces stress and boosts immune system

Individuals diagnosed with ASD more likely to have gene deletions, shows analysis

Researchers examine why depression messes with memory

CHOP’s 22q and You Center plays major role in brain and behavior consortium

Experts develop way to reduce radiation exposure in children who require repeated brain CT scans

Researchers suggest new view of how stem cells may help repair brain following trauma

Whitehead Institute researchers redefine gene mutation that cause Rett syndrome

Genetic condition that attacks multiple organs can be detected using new MRI technique

Industry Focus eBook - Neurology/Neuroscience - 2nd 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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