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Study highlights human's potential to cultivate compassion

Until now, little was scientifically known about the human potential to cultivate compassion - the emotional state of caring for people who are suffering in a way that motivates altruistic behavior.

24 May 2013

Drug addiction can be visualized in specific regions of brain that determine decision-making

New research shows that craving drugs such as nicotine can be visualized in specific regions of the brain that are implicated in determining the value of actions, in planning actions and in motivation.

24 May 2013

NIH-funded study raises hope for recovery of some adult patients with brain disorder

Scientists have reversed behavioral and brain abnormalities in adult mice that resemble some features of schizophrenia by restoring normal expression to a suspect gene that is over-expressed in humans with the illness.

23 May 2013

Neuroscientist receives Karl Spencer Lashley Award from APS for pioneering work on neuroscience of vision

The American Philosophical Society (APS) has awarded New York University neuroscientist J. Anthony Movshon its 2013 Karl Spencer Lashley Award in recognition of his "pioneering work on the neuroscience of vision."

22 May 2013

Early-life exposure to traffic-related air pollution associated with higher hyperactivity

Early-life exposure to traffic-related air pollution was significantly associated with higher hyperactivity scores at age 7, according to new research from the University of Cincinnati (UC) and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

21 May 2013

Difficult-to-interpret patterns important for complex brain functions

Many brain researchers cannot see the forest for the trees. When they use electrodes to record the activity patterns of individual neurons, the patterns often appear chaotic and difficult to interpret. "But when you zoom out from looking at individual cells, and observe a large number of neurons instead, their global activity is very informative," says Mattia Rigotti, a scientist at Columbia University and New York University who is supported by the SNSF and the Janggen-Pöhn-Stiftung.

21 May 2013

Multiple studies examine ideal biomarkers for Huntington's disease

While Huntington's disease (HD) is currently incurable, the HD research community anticipates that new disease-modifying therapies in development may slow or minimize disease progression. The success of HD research depends upon the identification of reliable and sensitive biomarkers to track disease and evaluate therapies, and these biomarkers may eventually be used as outcome measures in clinical trials. Biomarkers could be especially helpful to monitor changes during the time prior to diagnosis and appearance of overt symptomatology.

21 May 2013

Disruption of brain developmental processes caused by premature birth can affect cognitive function

Researchers from King's College London have for the first time used a novel form of MRI to identify crucial developmental processes in the brain that are vulnerable to the effects of premature birth.

21 May 2013

Students receive Addiction Science Award at 2013 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair

An exploration of electronic "screen time" and sleep on mood, memory and learning was given the top Addiction Science Award at the 2013 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair - the world's largest science competition for high school students.

20 May 2013

Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques improve memory

Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques aimed at mental and neurological conditions include transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression, and transcranial direct current (electrical) stimulation, shown to improve memory.

20 May 2013

Research shows new neural circuits arise when hippocampus is disabled

When the brain's primary "learning center" is damaged, complex new neural circuits arise to compensate for the lost function, say life scientists from UCLA and Australia who have pinpointed the regions of the brain involved in creating those alternate pathways - often far from the damaged site.

17 May 2013

RIKEN researchers visualize memory formation for first time in zebrafish

In our interaction with our environment we constantly refer to past experiences stored as memories to guide behavioral decisions. But how memories are formed, stored and then retrieved to assist decision-making remains a mystery.

17 May 2013

Nearly 1/10 stroke patients suffer from chronic and debilitating pain

Nearly 1 in 10 stroke patients suffer chronic and debilitating pain, typically described as sharp, stabbing or burning. It's called central poststroke pain syndrome (CPSP). It was first described more than 100 years ago, and it is treatable with medications and magnetic or electrical stimulation of the brain.

9 May 2013

UC Berkeley vision scientists pinpoint how the brain tracks fast-moving objects

How does San Francisco Giants slugger Pablo Sandoval swat a 95 mph fastball, or tennis icon Venus Williams see the oncoming ball, let alone return her sister Serena's 120 mph serves? For the first time, vision scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have pinpointed how the brain tracks fast-moving objects.

9 May 2013

Researchers identify genetic mutations that appear to underlie rare syndrome

Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and Duke University have identified genetic mutations that appear to underlie a rare but devastating syndrome combining reproductive failure with cerebellar ataxia - a lack of muscle coordination - and dementia.

9 May 2013

Scientists discover how Alzheimer's pharmaceuticals sharpen the brain's performance

Scientists at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute have discovered how the predominant class of Alzheimer's pharmaceuticals might sharpen the brain's performance.

8 May 2013

New form of electroconvulsive therapy could prevent adverse cognitive side effects

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most effective acute treatment for severe major depression. However, even with newer forms of ECT, there remains a significant risk of adverse cognitive effects, particularly memory problems.

7 May 2013

NeuroSigma receives Class 2 medical device license for Monarch eTNS System from Health Canada

NeuroSigma, Inc., a California-based medical device company, today announced that it has received a Class 2 medical device license for its Monarch eTNS (external trigeminal nerve stimulation) System from Health Canada.

2 May 2013

Researchers identify key regulator that controls expansion and folding of brain during fetal development

During fetal development of the mammalian brain, the cerebral cortex undergoes a marked expansion in surface area in some species, which is accommodated by folding of the tissue in species with most expanded neuron numbers and surface area. Researchers have now identified a key regulator of this crucial process.

26 Apr 2013

Research supports polygenic phenotype in schizophrenia

Cumulative genetic risk for schizophrenia has been linked to impaired prefrontal brain activity, in findings that support an additive genetic risk model for a polygenic phenotype.

25 Apr 2013

Cortex News and Research

Study highlights human's potential to cultivate compassion

Drug addiction can be visualized in specific regions of brain that determine decision-making

NIH-funded study raises hope for recovery of some adult patients with brain disorder

Neuroscientist receives Karl Spencer Lashley Award from APS for pioneering work on neuroscience of vision

Early-life exposure to traffic-related air pollution associated with higher hyperactivity

Difficult-to-interpret patterns important for complex brain functions

Multiple studies examine ideal biomarkers for Huntington's disease

Disruption of brain developmental processes caused by premature birth can affect cognitive function

Students receive Addiction Science Award at 2013 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair

Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques improve memory

Research shows new neural circuits arise when hippocampus is disabled

RIKEN researchers visualize memory formation for first time in zebrafish

Nearly 1/10 stroke patients suffer from chronic and debilitating pain

UC Berkeley vision scientists pinpoint how the brain tracks fast-moving objects

Researchers identify genetic mutations that appear to underlie rare syndrome

Scientists discover how Alzheimer's pharmaceuticals sharpen the brain's performance

New form of electroconvulsive therapy could prevent adverse cognitive side effects

NeuroSigma receives Class 2 medical device license for Monarch eTNS System from Health Canada

Researchers identify key regulator that controls expansion and folding of brain during fetal development

Research supports polygenic phenotype in schizophrenia

Improving healthcare sustainability through carbon data

Managing vibration in IVF laboratories

A New Approach to Preventing Bladder Cancer Recurrence

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