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.

New technique can rapidly image synaptic proteins at high resolution

Our brains contain millions of synapses -- the connections that transmit messages from neuron to neuron. Within these synapses are hundreds of different proteins, and dysfunction of these proteins can lead to conditions such as schizophrenia and autism.

26 Sep 2019

In tiny doses, an addiction medication moonlights as treatment for chronic pain

Lori Pinkley, a 50-year-old from Kansas City, Mo., has struggled with puzzling chronic pain since she was 15.

26 Sep 2019

Researchers uncover how letter patterns color perceptions of truth

People today constantly encounter claims such as "Advil kills pain," "coffee prevents depression," or "Hilary promises amnesty" as brands, news outlets and social media sites vie for our attention--yet few people take the time to investigate whether these statements are true.

25 Sep 2019

Study into skin collection of blood chemistry from babies aims to replace invasive blood tests

Scientists at the University of Strathclyde are researching a system to measure and monitor blood chemistry levels in premature and sick babies through their skin, which if successful, could eventually replace the need for invasive blood tests.

25 Sep 2019

Researchers use AI to predict depression outcomes

The psychiatry field has long sought answers to explain why antidepressants help only some people.

25 Sep 2019

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative supports a patient-led movement to cure ALS

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative today announced $453,000 in funding for I AM ALS, a patient-led organization dedicated to raising awareness of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and empowering patients to lead the search for a cure.

25 Sep 2019

Does the brain thin as children grow?

Neuroscientists have long held that the brains of children thin down over time. However, this was on the basis of older imaging techniques. Now, using cutting-edge technology in the form of quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI), a team of researchers has found that the apparent thinning is due in part to myelin formation around the cortical nerve fibers. These very interesting findings, published in the journal PNAS on September 23, 2019, will drive further research on the link between cortical function and structure.

25 Sep 2019

Study finds evidence of blood-brain barrier damage even without reported concussion

In a new study of adolescent and adult athletes, researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Stanford University and Trinity College in Dublin have found evidence of damage to the brain's protective barrier, without a reported concussion.

25 Sep 2019

Dormant HIV reservoirs could be killed with RNA switch

Researchers from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine have found cellular triggers within the immune cells that could be controlled in order to kill dormant HIV-1 reservoirs in individuals with HIV-1.

25 Sep 2019

New studies highlight link between air pollution and mental health in children

Three new studies by scientists at Cincinnati Children's, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Cincinnati, highlight the relationship between air pollution and mental health in children.

25 Sep 2019

Teenagers sleep 43 more minutes each night after intervention that reset their body clocks

Teenagers got 43 more minutes of sleep a night after a four-week intervention that reset their body clocks and helped them go to bed earlier, a study from the Stanford University School of Medicine has shown.

25 Sep 2019

New review provides knowledge about sex-related differences in Parkinson's disease

There is growing evidence that Parkinson's disease affects women and men differently. In this insightful review, published in the Journal of Parkinson's Disease, scientists present the most recent knowledge about these sex-related differences and highlight the significance of estrogens, which play an important role in the sex differences in PD.

25 Sep 2019

Detailed imaging of trypanosome paves way for new opportunities to combat sleeping sickness

The parasite trypanosome does not swim through a blood vessel as has always been assumed, it can simply be carried along with the flow.

25 Sep 2019

New study can benefit children facing developmental challenges

In a first-of-its-kind study, Children's Hospital Los Angeles researchers piece together a road map of typical brain development in children during a critical window of maturation.

25 Sep 2019

Improved mapping of genomes from 1,000 Swedish individuals

In so-called whole genome sequencing, surveys are made of the total genome of an individual. It is still relatively rare in healthcare today, but it occurs at an increasing rate, for example in order to make an accurate diagnosis in the case of a rare disease.

25 Sep 2019

Epileptic seizures not likely to be predicted by changes in brain wave patterns

Until now, certain brain wave patterns were regarded as indicators; however, a study by the University of Bonn did not find any evidence for this Epileptic seizures can probably not be predicted by changes in brain wave patterns that were previously assumed to be characteristic precursors.

25 Sep 2019