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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.

Scientists uncover dopamine's role in learning from rewards and punishments

What happens in the human brain when we learn from positive and negative experiences? To help answer that question and better understand decision-making and human behavior, scientists are studying dopamine.

1 Dec 2023

Brain peptide identified as key player in heavy alcohol drinking

Alcohol is the most common addictive substance in the world. Every year in the U.S. excessive alcohol use costs $249 billion and causes approximately 88,000 deaths, as well as various chronic diseases and social issues.

1 Dec 2023

Scientists warn of potential pitfalls when using the Cre-LoxP system in cancer research

A new editorial paper was published in Oncoscience (Volume 10) on November 14, 2023, entitled, "Be mindful of potential pitfalls when using the Cre-LoxP system in cancer research."

1 Dec 2023

A child-centric approach is the blueprint for building thriving communities, study shows

Communities can prosper by providing attentive education and social services to their youngest residents - but the challenge is for leaders to work together.

1 Dec 2023

New insights on optimizing housing for individuals with spinal cord injury

Housing that fails to meet the needs of people with disabilities may have far-reaching consequences. Living situations that impede independence and community integration, for example, can adversely affect health and wellbeing over the long term.

1 Dec 2023

Rhythmic speech, not phonetics, key to language learning in babies

Parents should speak to their babies using sing-song speech, like nursery rhymes, as soon as possible, say researchers.

1 Dec 2023

The "totonou" effect: physiological and subjective benefits of sauna relaxation

The neural impacts of the Japanese sauna practice called 'tononou'.

1 Dec 2023

Study finds long-COVID symptoms fluctuate over time, challenging treatment approaches

Study reveals that over half of long Covid patients experience fluctuating symptom severities over time, highlighting the dynamic nature of the condition. The research underscores the need for adaptive healthcare interventions and self-management strategies, considering these symptom variations in long Covid cases.

30 Nov 2023

Exploring 'food noise': Study sheds light on eating thoughts and obesity treatment breakthroughs

Study delves into the concept of 'food noise,' referring to persistent thoughts about eating, and assesses its impact on eating behaviors and obesity treatments. It explores how GLP-1RAs, a class of drugs used for weight management, might influence food cue reactivity, potentially offering new insights into obesity treatment and the psychological aspects of eating behaviors.

30 Nov 2023

Machine learning model predicts brain health improvements based on neural biomarkers

As part of its ongoing quest to advance better brain health and performance, new research led by Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas investigated neural biomarkers associated with improvements on a brain health index.

30 Nov 2023

Long-term physical activity can prevent obesity-induced cognitive decline

Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular metabolic diseases and neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia.

30 Nov 2023

Harnessing AI tools for life science research

Artificial intelligence (AI) may attempt to mimic the human brain, but it has yet to fully grasp the complexity of what it means to be human.

30 Nov 2023

Neural patterns unravel distinctions between traumatic and sad memories in individuals with PTSD

Researchers investigate the neural patterns of patients with PTSD while listening to narratives that depicted their own memories.

30 Nov 2023

Scientists uncover the mystery behind painless leishmaniasis lesions

For the first time, scientists have begun to figure out why the disfiguring skin lesions caused by cutaneous leishmaniasis don't hurt.

30 Nov 2023

Traumatic memories represented differently in the brain, study finds

A new analysis of the brain activity of people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the first to reveal that traumatic memories are represented in the brain in an entirely different way than sad autobiographical memories.

30 Nov 2023

Mapping emotions in the body: Study reveals physical topography of feelings

The study published in PNAS reveals that emotions create identifiable maps of bodily sensations, consistent across different cultures and races. Using a novel method named "embody," researchers found that subjective emotional experiences are linked to specific bodily changes, providing insights that could aid in understanding and treating mood disorders like depression and anxiety, which alter standard emotional processing.

30 Nov 2023