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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.

Oxytocin regulates social distance between women and men

Flirting brings women and men closer. But the "social distance" ensures that they will keep a certain spatial distance from each other. Researchers under the leadership of the University of Bonn studied whether this distance can be diminished by the so-called love hormone, oxytocin.

16 Nov 2012

New AAN book for people with primary and metastatic brain tumors

It is estimated that every 30 minutes, someone is diagnosed with brain cancer. Published in conjunction with the American Academy of Neurology as part of the Neurology Now Books series, NAVIGATING LIFE WITH A BRAIN TUMOR provides readily accessible information and encouragement for the thousands of people living with primary and metastatic brain tumors.

16 Nov 2012

D737 compound restores motor function and longevity in fruit flies with Alzheimer's

An efficient, high-volume technique for testing potential drug treatments for Alzheimer's disease uncovered an organic compound that restored motor function and longevity to fruit flies with the disease, according to new research that could help put the search for an effective Alzheimer's drug on a faster track.

16 Nov 2012

Peak interest in health issues comes at about age 51 for baby boomers

For baby boomers, the peak interest in health issues comes at about age 51, with a second peak coming near age 65, according to a new study.

16 Nov 2012

Researchers make groundbreaking discovery into optimization of light sources to human vision

Vision researchers at Barrow Neurological Institute have made a groundbreaking discovery into the optimization of light sources to human vision. By tuning lighting devices to work more efficiently with the human brain the researchers believe billions of dollars in energy costs could be saved.

16 Nov 2012

Study provides first picture of college enrollment and STEM participation for young adults with ASD

It's a popularly held belief that individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) gravitate toward STEM majors in college (science, technology, engineering mathematics).

16 Nov 2012

Study finds mechanism that mediates inhibition of critical breathing muscles during REM sleep

A novel brain mechanism mediating the inhibition of the critical breathing muscles during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep has been identified for the first time in a new study, offering the possibility of a new treatment target for sleep-related breathing problems.

16 Nov 2012

Denosumab associated with improved overall survival in NSCLC patients

It is common for patients initially diagnosed with lung cancer to have the cancer spread to sites like the liver, brain and bone. One of the most frequent sites of metastases is the bone, with an estimated 30 to 40 percent of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) developing bone loss.

16 Nov 2012

Freestyle rapping increases brain activity in the medial prefrontal cortex

Researchers in the voice, speech, and language branch of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have used functional magnetic resonance imaging to study the brain activity of rappers when they are "freestyling" - spontaneously improvising lyrics in real time.

16 Nov 2012

Maternal vitamin C deficiency can have serious consequences for foetal brain

Maternal vitamin C deficiency during pregnancy can have serious consequences for the foetal brain. And once brain damage has occurred, it cannot be reversed by vitamin C supplements after birth. This is shown through new research at the University of Copenhagen just published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE.

16 Nov 2012

Tanshinones protect against sepsis: Study

Researchers at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research have discovered that tanshinones, which come from the plant Danshen and are highly valued in Chinese traditional medicine, protect against the life-threatening condition sepsis. The findings are published in the December issue of Biochemical Pharmacology.

16 Nov 2012

Electrical engineers develop new technology to monitor medical vital signs

Electrical engineers at Oregon State University have developed new technology to monitor medical vital signs, with sophisticated sensors so small and cheap they could fit onto a bandage, be manufactured in high volumes and cost less than a quarter.

16 Nov 2012

Researchers identify broad patterns of gene activity that correspond to aggression

With a mate and a nest to protect, the male threespined stickleback is a fierce fish, chasing and biting other males until they go away.

15 Nov 2012

White matter alterations evident before psychosis development

Results from a UK study show that white matter integrity is reduced in patients at ultra-high risk for psychosis, although to a lesser extent than in first-episode psychosis patients.

15 Nov 2012

Deep-brain stimulation effects sustained in dystonia

Improvements in dystonia achieved with deep-brain stimulation are usually sustained for at least 5 years, shows follow up of a randomized trial.

15 Nov 2012

Braking mechanism in olfactory neurons helps generate amazing diversity of sensors in the nose

The human nose has millions of olfactory neurons grouped into hundreds of different neuron types. Each of these neuron types expresses only one odorant receptor, and all neurons expressing the same odorant receptor plug into one region in the brain, an organization that allows for specific odors to be sensed.

15 Nov 2012

Researchers discover rare genetic mutation that increases risk of Alzheimer's disease

Researchers from Nottingham have played their part in the discovery of a rare genetic mutation that increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease, in a study with major implications for understanding the causes of the disease.

15 Nov 2012

Researchers study supercomputer simulations and TBI patients to improve helmet designs

Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories and the University of New Mexico are comparing supercomputer simulations of blast waves on the brain with clinical studies of veterans suffering from mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) to help improve helmet designs.

15 Nov 2012

Breakthrough treatment for survivors of traumatic brain injury

The first treatment breakthrough of its kind for survivors of traumatic brain injury (TBI) or stroke will be published in the December 1 issue of the journal CNS Drugs, with an accompanying editorial.

15 Nov 2012

Feinstein seeks NDA approval for Fluorodopa F 18 PET scan to diagnose parkinsonian syndromes

The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research announced today the submission of a New Drug Application to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the Fluorodopa F 18 positron emission tomography (PET) scan used to diagnose parkinsonian syndromes.

15 Nov 2012

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Oxytocin regulates social distance between women and men

New AAN book for people with primary and metastatic brain tumors

D737 compound restores motor function and longevity in fruit flies with Alzheimer's

Peak interest in health issues comes at about age 51 for baby boomers

Researchers make groundbreaking discovery into optimization of light sources to human vision

Study provides first picture of college enrollment and STEM participation for young adults with ASD

Study finds mechanism that mediates inhibition of critical breathing muscles during REM sleep

Denosumab associated with improved overall survival in NSCLC patients

Freestyle rapping increases brain activity in the medial prefrontal cortex

Maternal vitamin C deficiency can have serious consequences for foetal brain

Tanshinones protect against sepsis: Study

Electrical engineers develop new technology to monitor medical vital signs

Researchers identify broad patterns of gene activity that correspond to aggression

White matter alterations evident before psychosis development

Deep-brain stimulation effects sustained in dystonia

Braking mechanism in olfactory neurons helps generate amazing diversity of sensors in the nose

Researchers discover rare genetic mutation that increases risk of Alzheimer's disease

Researchers study supercomputer simulations and TBI patients to improve helmet designs

Breakthrough treatment for survivors of traumatic brain injury

Feinstein seeks NDA approval for Fluorodopa F 18 PET scan to diagnose parkinsonian syndromes

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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