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Counterpart of cerebral cortex discovered in marine worms

Our cerebral cortex, or pallium, is a big part of what makes us human: art, literature and science would not exist had this most fascinating part of our brain not emerged in some less intelligent ancestor in prehistoric times. But when did this occur and what were these ancestors? Unexpectedly, scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, have now discovered a true counterpart of the cerebral cortex in an invertebrate, a marine worm.

3 Sep 2010

GABRA2 gene influences brain’s reward responses to alcohol odors: Research

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are DNA sequence variations that occur when a single nucleotide in the genome sequence is altered. Prior research suggested an association between SNPs in a gene that encodes aspects of the brain's gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA)-A receptors (the GABRA2 gene) and alcohol dependence. A study of responses to the aromas of alcoholic drinks according to subjects' genotyping at a SNP in GABRA2 has found that this genotype can affect the brain's reward responses to cues such as alcohol odors.

3 Sep 2010

Researcher awarded $1.8M grant to investigate sex differences in anxiety

Anxiety disorders afflict women twice as often as men, but estrogen might not be the reason. Testosterone, though, could be. That is one of the preliminary findings in the lab of Florida State University researcher Mohamed Kabbaj, associate professor in the College of Medicine. He recently was awarded a five-year, $1.8 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to investigate the sex differences in anxiety.

2 Sep 2010

Neurobiological markers of depression can help tailor antidepressant treatment to the brain

Depression is actually defined by specific clinical symptoms such as sadness, difficulty to experience pleasure, sleep problems etc., present for at least two weeks, with impairment of psychosocial functioning. These symptoms guide the physician to make a diagnosis and to select antidepressant treatment such as drugs or psychotherapy.

31 Aug 2010

Battery of tests for quick assessment of cognitive abilities in Down syndrome patients

Neuroscientists in the Down Syndrome Research Group at the University of Arizona have created a battery of tests that quickly aid in the assessment of the cognitive abilities of persons with Down syndrome.

27 Aug 2010

Neuroeconomics research identifes distinct brain structures for tracking various outcomes

Scientists at Harvard University have found that humans can make difficult moral decisions using the same brain circuits as those used in more mundane choices related to money and food.

26 Aug 2010

Specific type of neurons determine frightening stimulus reaction: Research

Fear can make you run, it can make you fight, and it can glue you to the spot. Scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Monterotondo, Italy and GlaxoSmithKline in Verona, Italy, have identified not only the part of the brain but the specific type of neurons that determine how mice react to a frightening stimulus.

26 Aug 2010

Study finds autism patients have short-range over-connectivity in brain's cortex

There is still much that is unknown about autism spectrum disorders, but a University of Nevada, Reno psychologist has added to the body of knowledge that researchers around the world are compiling to try to demystify, prevent and treat the mysterious condition.

26 Aug 2010

New diagnostic tool proves cost-effective in identifying rare genetic disorders

Mutations in a single gene can cause several types of developmental brain abnormalities that experts have traditionally considered different disorders. With support from the National Institutes of Health, researchers found those mutations through whole exome sequencing - a new gene scanning technology that cuts the cost and time of searching for rare mutations.

23 Aug 2010

Study finds ketamine restores connection in chronic stress affected brain cells

Yale researchers have discovered how a novel anti-depressant can take effect in hours, rather than the weeks or months usually required for most drugs currently on the market.

20 Aug 2010

Study on multisensory processing in autistic children

A new study by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University has provided concrete evidence that children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) process sensory information such as sound, touch and vision differently than typically developing children.

20 Aug 2010

Cortex second-quarter net loss decreases to $0.04 per share

Cortex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reported a net loss applicable to common stock of approximately $2,454,000, or $0.04 per share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, compared with a net loss applicable to common stock of approximately $2,778,000, or $0.06 per share, for the corresponding prior year period.

16 Aug 2010

Benvenue Medical commences treatment in U.S. with Blazer Vertebral Augmentation System

Benvenue Medical, Inc., a developer of minimally invasive solutions for spine repair, announced today that it has treated the first patient in the United States with the Blazer Vertebral Augmentation System - a new device for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). The case was performed by Francis Facchini, M.D., partner, VIR Chicago, at Adventist GlenOaks Hospital in Glendale Heights, Illinois.

13 Aug 2010

Research reveals link between perception of intentions and evaluation of behavior

People generally like to see generous people rewarded and selfish people punished. Now, new research reveals a critical link between how we perceive another's intentions and our evaluation of their behavior. The study, published by Cell Press in the August 12 issue of the journal Neuron, makes some intriguing observations about how a description of the impact of an individual's actions on a group can alter the neural representation of their observed behavior.

12 Aug 2010

Researchers identify perforant path brain passage associated with Alzheimer's disease

With the help of volunteers aged 18 to 89, UC Irvine researchers have identified for the first time in humans a long-hidden part of the brain called the perforant path. Scientists have struggled for decades to locate the tiny passage, which is believed to deteriorate gradually as part of normal aging and far more quickly due to Alzheimer's disease.

11 Aug 2010

New method for tracing brain circuits

The brain has been mapped to the smallest fold for at least a century, but still no one knows how all the parts talk to each other.

10 Aug 2010

Study finds 'grid cells' that help brain map locations outside hippocampus

"Grid cells," which help the brain map locations, have been found for the first time outside of the hippocampus in the rat brain, according to new research from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). The finding should help further our understanding of how the brain generates the internal maps that help us remember where we have been and how to get to where we want to go.

10 Aug 2010

Brain-wave pattern study may lead to techniques for enhancing sleep spindles

People who have trouble sleeping in noisy environments often resort to strategies like earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones that muffle the sound, but a new study from investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) may lead to ways to block disturbing sounds within the brain. In their report in the August 10 issue of Current Biology, the team reports finding a brain-wave pattern, reflecting activity of a key structure, that predicts the ease at which sleep can be disrupted by noise.

10 Aug 2010

UCLA study identifies neurocognitive pathways involved in inflammatory responses to acute social stress

Everyone experiences social stress, whether it is nervousness over a job interview, difficulty meeting people at parties, or angst over giving a speech. In a new report, UCLA researchers have discovered that how your brain responds to social stressors can influence the body's immune system in ways that may negatively affect health.

10 Aug 2010

Posterior parietal cortex brain activity linked with subjects’ performance perceptions

Our belief as to whether we will likely succeed or fail at a given task-and the consequences of winning or losing-directly affects the levels of neural effort put forth in movement-planning circuits in the human cortex, according to a new brain-imaging study by neuroscientists at the California Institute of Technology.

5 Aug 2010

Cortex News and Research

Counterpart of cerebral cortex discovered in marine worms

GABRA2 gene influences brain’s reward responses to alcohol odors: Research

Researcher awarded $1.8M grant to investigate sex differences in anxiety

Neurobiological markers of depression can help tailor antidepressant treatment to the brain

Battery of tests for quick assessment of cognitive abilities in Down syndrome patients

Neuroeconomics research identifes distinct brain structures for tracking various outcomes

Specific type of neurons determine frightening stimulus reaction: Research

Study finds autism patients have short-range over-connectivity in brain's cortex

New diagnostic tool proves cost-effective in identifying rare genetic disorders

Study finds ketamine restores connection in chronic stress affected brain cells

Study on multisensory processing in autistic children

Cortex second-quarter net loss decreases to $0.04 per share

Benvenue Medical commences treatment in U.S. with Blazer Vertebral Augmentation System

Research reveals link between perception of intentions and evaluation of behavior

Researchers identify perforant path brain passage associated with Alzheimer's disease

New method for tracing brain circuits

Study finds 'grid cells' that help brain map locations outside hippocampus

Brain-wave pattern study may lead to techniques for enhancing sleep spindles

UCLA study identifies neurocognitive pathways involved in inflammatory responses to acute social stress

Posterior parietal cortex brain activity linked with subjects’ performance perceptions

Achieving and maintaining ISO 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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