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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.

International research initiative aims to improve cardiovascular care for women

The American Heart Association, celebrating 100 years of lifesaving service as the world's leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, is joining with other top cardiovascular research funders around the world to support an international scientific research grant focused on women's cardiovascular health.

25 Sep 2024

Earthquake aftermath linked to higher rates of menstrual irregularities

In research published in Brain and Behavior, investigators found increased rates of menstrual irregularities in women living in areas affected by the 2023 earthquake in Turkey.

25 Sep 2024

Extracellular vesicles play key role in brain development

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are tiny bubbles released by cells, acting as cargo vessels through which cells exchange signals and thus communicate.

25 Sep 2024

Increasing daily consumption of flavonoid-rich foods may lower dementia risk

Research shows that flavonoid-rich diets, including tea and red wine, are associated with a lower risk of dementia in genetically susceptible individuals.

25 Sep 2024

One-third of former professional American football players report a punch-drunk reality - CTE

Study found that one-third of former American football players reported perceived CTE, which was significantly associated with a higher risk of suicidality and mental health problems.

25 Sep 2024

Research uncovers mechanism of psychedelic-induced anxiety reduction

A classic psychedelic, similar to LSD, psilocybin and mescalin, was found to activate a cell type in the brain that silences other neighboring neurons, a result that provides insight into how such drugs reduce anxiety, according to a new study.

24 Sep 2024

New study challenges dopamine's role in placebo effects and pain relief

New findings argue against a direct causal role for dopamine during the experience of a treatment effect in the establishment of positive treatment expectations and placebo analgesia in healthy volunteers, according to a study published September 24th in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by Ulrike Bingel from University Hospital Essen, Germany, and colleagues.

24 Sep 2024

New findings reveal how emotion enhances memory for contextual details

Researchers at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology demonstrated that emotion enhances memory for contextual details, challenging the view that emotion impairs the ability to remember such information.

24 Sep 2024

Music therapy improves sleep and comfort in preterm infants

Daily music interventions significantly improved comfort and sleep transitions in preterm infants without affecting physiological stability. This study highlights the potential of non-pharmacological music therapy in neonatal care.

24 Sep 2024

Study uncovers decision-making impairments linked to Parkinson's drug

Parkinson's disease (PD), also known simply as Parkinson's, is a disorder of the nervous system that affects millions of people worldwide.

24 Sep 2024

New insights into how the brain processes the concept of zero

Despite its importance for mathematics, the neuronal basis of the number zero in the human brain was previously unknown.

24 Sep 2024

Neurostimulation target identified for treating PTSD in veterans

A new study led by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, suggests that using neurostimulation therapies on a specific brain network could treat post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans.

24 Sep 2024

Internet searches predict ADHD medication prescriptions during COVID-19

In a groundbreaking study published in Brain Medicine (Genomic Press), UCI researchers have uncovered a striking correlation between internet searches for ADHD medications and actual prescription rates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

24 Sep 2024

Ultra-short heart rate variability recordings transform recovery tracking for TBI survivors

For the over 1 million Americans who survive severe traumatic brain injuries each year, the road to recovery is often long and challenging.

24 Sep 2024

Brain connectivity changes after psilocybin treatment in body dysmorphic disorder patients

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a debilitating mental illness characterized by an obsessive preoccupation with perceived flaws in one's physical appearance.

24 Sep 2024

Study links initial symptoms to long-term disability in multiple sclerosis

In a significant advance for multiple sclerosis (MS) research, a new study has uncovered a potential link between certain initial symptoms and long-term disability outcomes.

24 Sep 2024

Groundbreaking project seeks to illuminate the complexities of Parkinson's

Launching today, Landmark is a groundbreaking three-year research programme that aims to understand Parkinson’s in unprecedented detail. The project brings together Parkinson’s UK, Imperial College London, GSK, Novartis, Roche and UCB for the first time, and has been made possible by a founding gift of £4 million from the Gatsby charitable foundation.

24 Sep 2024

Neuroactive drugs show promising anti-glioblastoma effects in preclinical trials

Study explores the potential to repurpose neuroactive drugs, originally approved for neurological disorders, for the treatment of glioblastoma. Vortioxetine, an antidepressant, showed promising anti-glioblastoma activity, significantly reducing tumor size in preclinical trials.

24 Sep 2024

Simple intervention can prevent lifelong disability in premature babies

Giving women at risk of premature birth a simple magnesium sulphate infusion (or 'drip') can prevent their babies from developing cerebral palsy, a recent Cochrane review has confirmed. The drug itself costs approximately £5 (~$6.50) per dose in England, and requires hospital admission with experienced staff to administer the drug safely to the mother.

24 Sep 2024

Human challenge study reveals lasting cognitive decline after mild COVID-19

Researchers from the UK conducted the first human challenge study of SARS-CoV-2, revealing long-lasting cognitive deficits in unvaccinated participants infected with the virus, especially in memory and executive function.

23 Sep 2024