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.

Research reveals optimal magnesium levels could lower dementia risk

Researchers found moderate evidence of a U-shaped link between serum magnesium levels and dementia, but more studies are needed to clarify magnesium's role in cognitive health.

15 Jul 2024

Allen Institute launches neuroscience initiatives on perception, recognition, and psychedelics

How do neurons react to magic mushrooms? What happens in the brain when we see motion, or when we recognize grain patterns in a piece of wood? How do our brains track the subtle changes in our friends' appearances over time?

15 Jul 2024

Breakthrough biosensors illuminate opioid dynamics in the brain

New research from a Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience researcher could transform how we understand the way opioids affect the brain.

15 Jul 2024

SH2B1 gene defends against obesity via the paraventricular hypothalamus

Obesity is a complicated condition, caused by a combination of genetics, the food environment, behavior, and other factors.

15 Jul 2024

Genetic marker predicts gabapentin response in chronic pelvic pain

Women who carry a particular form of a pain gene are more likely to respond well to a common medication used to treat long-term discomfort, research shows.

15 Jul 2024

Study reveals altered neural signature in patients with depression

As parents, teachers and pet owners can attest, rewards play a huge role in shaping behaviors in humans and animals.

15 Jul 2024

Mechanism behind propofol-induced unconsciousness revealed

There are many drugs that anesthesiologists can use to induce unconsciousness in patients. Exactly how these drugs cause the brain to lose consciousness has been a longstanding question, but MIT neuroscientists have now answered that question for one commonly used anesthesia drug.

15 Jul 2024

Precise brain imaging method reveals origins of creativity

Have you ever had the solution for a tough problem suddenly hit you when you're thinking about something entirely different? Creative thought is a hallmark of humanity, but it's an ephemeral, almost paradoxical ability, striking unexpectedly when it's not sought out.

15 Jul 2024

Predicting behavior from image features: Insights from cortical tuning

Researchers investigate whether the human occipital-temporal cortex (OTC) co-represents the semantic and affective content of visual stimuli to guide behavior.

15 Jul 2024

New brain targets for GLP1-based obesity drugs may reduce weight without nausea

Researchers identified distinct hindbrain GLP1R neurons driving satiety and aversion, offering new targets for effective, side-effect-free obesity treatments.

14 Jul 2024

Study reveals how inflammation weakens muscles during illness

Infections and neurodegenerative diseases cause inflammation in the brain. But for unknown reasons, patients with brain inflammation often develop muscle problems that seem to be independent of the central nervous system. Now, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have revealed how brain inflammation releases a specific protein that travels from the brain to the muscles and causes a loss of muscle function.

13 Jul 2024

Study links OCD improvement to brain activity shift

A recent study from Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital has identified a specific neural activity pattern as a novel biomarker to accurately predict and monitor the clinical status of individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) who have undergone deep brain stimulation (DBS), a rapidly emerging therapeutic approach for severe psychiatric disorders. The study, led by led by Drs. Sameer Sheth and Wayne Goodman along with co-lead authors, Drs. Nicole Provenza, Sandy Reddy, and Anthony Allam, was published in Nature Medicine.

13 Jul 2024

Researchers identify brain region that tunes hearing to contextual needs

Have you ever noticed how you can suddenly hear your refrigerator humming in the background when you focus on it? Or how the sound of your name instantly catches your attention even in a noisy crowd?

12 Jul 2024

Neighborhood disadvantage linked to higher expression of stress-related genes in prostate tumors

Those living in disadvantaged neighborhoods have significantly higher activity of stress-related genes, new research suggests, which could contribute to higher rates of aggressive prostate cancer in African American men.

12 Jul 2024

Discovering the cerebellum's new role in thirst modulation

The cerebellum, often referred to as the 'little brain', has captivated researchers for centuries due to its unique structure and cellular complexity, as one of the most ancient brain regions in evolutionary terms.

12 Jul 2024

Lifesaving drugs and police projects mark first use of opioid settlement cash in California

Sonja Verdugo lost her husband to an opioid overdose last year. She regularly delivers medical supplies to people using drugs who are living — and dying — on the streets of Los Angeles. And she advocates at Los Angeles City Hall for policies to address addiction and homelessness.

12 Jul 2024