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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.

Study: Visual cortex can dramatically change its function

When your brain encounters sensory stimuli, such as the scent of your morning coffee or the sound of a honking car, that input gets shuttled to the appropriate brain region for analysis. The coffee aroma goes to the olfactory cortex, while sounds are processed in the auditory cortex.

1 Mar 2011

Research uncovers new details about protein interactions in retina

Science fiction novelist and scholar Issac Asimov once said, "The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' but 'That's funny.' " This recently rang true for an international team of researchers when they observed something they did not expect.

1 Mar 2011

Two genes linked to binge drinking

University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers have identified two genes associated with binge drinking that may open doors to new, more effective treatments for excessive alcohol drinking. The scientists found that manipulating two receptors in the brain, GABA receptors and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), "caused profound reduction" of binge drinking for two weeks in rodents that had been bred and trained to drink excessively. The study was published online the week of Feb. 28 in the journal the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

1 Mar 2011

New nasal vaccine holds promise against both Alzheimer's disease and stroke

One in eight Americans will fall prey to Alzheimer's disease at some point in their life, current statistics say. Because Alzheimer's is associated with vascular damage in the brain, many of them will succumb through a painful and potentially fatal stroke.

1 Mar 2011

Acupressure improves cognitive function in patients with mild traumatic brain injury

A new University of Colorado Boulder study indicates an ancient form of complementary medicine may be effective in helping to treat people with mild traumatic brain injury, a finding that may have implications for some U.S. war veterans returning home.

1 Mar 2011

UCH installs GE's CARESCAPE Monitor B850 to enhance clinical decision making in the NICU

GE Healthcare today announced that the University of Colorado Hospital (UCH) has installed the new CARESCAPE™ Monitor B850, the company's latest advance in bedside patient monitoring, to help enhance clinical decision making in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Deployed in UCH's 50-bed NICU and Neonatal OR, the CARESCAPE Monitor B850 enables access to critical patient information from any bedside monitor anywhere in the unit.

28 Feb 2011

biOasis completes selection of monoclonal antibodies in Cognitest program for Alzheimer's disease

biOasis Technologies Inc. is pleased to announce the completion of a project intended to produce proprietary monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for its Cognitest™ blood test for Alzheimer's disease.

28 Feb 2011

Western Medical installs Toshiba's vascular X-ray system to provide efficiency during diagnostic procedures

To increase diagnostic capabilities and provide patients with the highest quality care, Western Medical Center Santa Ana has installed Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.'s Infinix VF-i bi-plane vascular X-ray system with Volume Navigation 3D roadmapping.

28 Feb 2011

Researchers discover new mechanism of beta cell destruction not previously known

The death of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas is a core defect in diabetes. Scientists in Italy and Texas now have discovered a new way that these cells die - by toxic imbalance of a molecule secreted by other pancreatic cells.

28 Feb 2011

Scientific Learning introduces new series of Virtual Brain Seminars for students

In today's economy, traveling to see renowned educators and authors speak at national conferences and seminars is no longer an option for many K-12 educators. Beginning this month, however, educators will have the opportunity to hear from nationally recognized experts in education, technology and neuroscience with the launch of a new series of Virtual Brain Seminars presented by Scientific Learning, makers of the Fast ForWord and Reading Assistant family of products.

28 Feb 2011

First patient treated in KUR-023 pilot clinical trial to assess safety and efficacy of product candidate

Kuros Biosurgery AG, a biotechnology company focused on the development of novel biomaterials and bioactive-biomaterial combination products for trauma, wound and spinal indications, announced today that it has treated the first patient in a pilot clinical trial investigating the safety and efficacy of KUR-023, its novel dural sealant product candidate.

28 Feb 2011

New study: Immune molecules can regulate synaptic connections in brain

The number of connections between nerve cells in the brain can be regulated by an immune system molecule, according to a new study from UC Davis. The research, published Feb. 27 in the journal Nature Neuroscience, reveals a potential link between immunity, infectious disease and conditions such as schizophrenia or autism.

27 Feb 2011

Vaccine lawsuit rejected by Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday against the parents of Hannah Bruesewitz, 18, who suffered seizures and permanent brain damage after receiving a diptheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine in 1993. The Bruesewitz family had sued Wyeth who was then the parent company of the maker of the DTP vaccine that Hannah received as an infant.

27 Feb 2011

Avastin debate spills over until June FDA hearing

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration have granted Roche a hearing in June to defend the cancer treatment Avastin. The hearing would examine the effectiveness of the drug in breast cancer.

27 Feb 2011

Medtronic acquires chitosan-dextran gel technology for use in functional endoscopic sinus surgery

Medtronic, Inc. today announced that it has completed the purchase of rights to a chitosan-dextran gel technology from Adelaide Research & Innovation Pty Ltd. in Australia, Robinson Squidgel Ltd., and Otago Innovation Ltd. in New Zealand. Medtronic is acquiring this technology for potential use in developing future products for functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS).

25 Feb 2011

U.S.-Chile collaborate to study new long-acting local anesthetic derived from algae

A U.S.-Chile collaboration is bringing surgical patients closer to having a long-acting local anesthetic. In a randomized, double-blind trial, patients given neosaxitoxin, a new local anesthetic derived from algae, had significantly less postoperative pain and recovered about two days sooner than those given the commonly used local anesthetic bupivacaine.

25 Feb 2011

Ballerinas need to know dangers of excessive weight loss and overexercise

With actress Natalie Portman in Oscar contention, the movie "Black Swan" has taken center stage. So have concerns surrounding the dramatic weight loss Portman underwent for the role. Her depiction of a dangerously thin ballerina sheds light on a potential downside of this art form.

25 Feb 2011

fMRI reveals complexity of consciousness

Using a sophisticated imaging test to probe for higher-level cognitive functioning in severely brain-injured patients provides a window into consciousness -- but the view it presents is one that is blurred in fascinating ways, say researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College in the Feb. 25 online edition of the journal Brain.

25 Feb 2011

PACAP hormone levels linked to post-traumatic stress disorder

High blood levels of a hormone produced in response to stress are linked to post-traumatic stress disorder in women but not men, a study from researchers at Emory University and the University of Vermont has found.

25 Feb 2011

Scientists find p27Kip1 protein expression in adult and aged human inner ear

In collaboration with scientists and clinicians from the University of California Los Angeles, scientists from Sound Pharmaceuticals have found p27Kip1 to be expressed in the adult and aged human inner ear including the auditory and vestibular sensory organs.

25 Feb 2011

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Study: Visual cortex can dramatically change its function

Research uncovers new details about protein interactions in retina

Two genes linked to binge drinking

New nasal vaccine holds promise against both Alzheimer's disease and stroke

Acupressure improves cognitive function in patients with mild traumatic brain injury

UCH installs GE's CARESCAPE Monitor B850 to enhance clinical decision making in the NICU

biOasis completes selection of monoclonal antibodies in Cognitest program for Alzheimer's disease

Western Medical installs Toshiba's vascular X-ray system to provide efficiency during diagnostic procedures

Researchers discover new mechanism of beta cell destruction not previously known

Scientific Learning introduces new series of Virtual Brain Seminars for students

First patient treated in KUR-023 pilot clinical trial to assess safety and efficacy of product candidate

New study: Immune molecules can regulate synaptic connections in brain

Vaccine lawsuit rejected by Supreme Court

Avastin debate spills over until June FDA hearing

Medtronic acquires chitosan-dextran gel technology for use in functional endoscopic sinus surgery

U.S.-Chile collaborate to study new long-acting local anesthetic derived from algae

Ballerinas need to know dangers of excessive weight loss and overexercise

fMRI reveals complexity of consciousness

PACAP hormone levels linked to post-traumatic stress disorder

Scientists find p27Kip1 protein expression in adult and aged human inner ear

Discover how SciY empowers scientists

Why use light scattering to analyze proteins and viral vectors?

Changing the landscape of R&D to build clinical success from the ground up

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