Neocortex News and Research

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Researchers discover three genes that may have contributed to evolution of large human brain

Three genes involved in nerve cell generation in the brain emerged roughly 3.5 million years ago and may have contributed to the rapid evolution of the large human brain, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Investigator David Haussler and colleagues report on May 31, 2018, in the journal Cell.

1 Jun 2018

New tracing methods reveal breadth of neural communication in visual cortex

An international collaboration of neuroscientists have today published a paper in Nature demonstrating the breadth of neural communication in visual cortex using a combination of methods for tracing the projections of individual neurons across the brain.

29 Mar 2018

High-resolution fMRI provides clues about age-related memory differences

As we get older, it's not uncommon to experience "senior moments," in which we forget where we parked our car or call our children by the wrong names. And we may wonder: Are these memory lapses a normal part of aging, or do they signal the early stages of a severe disorder such as Alzheimer's disease? Currently, there's no good way to tell.

8 Mar 2018

CLOCK gene plays key role in regulating many genes important to brain evolution

Scientists have long sought to unravel the molecular mysteries that make the human brain special: What processes drove its evolution through the millennia? Which genes are critical to cognitive development?

6 Dec 2017

Neurons have compatible shape, electrical properties for deep learning

Deep learning has brought about machines that can 'see' the world more like humans can, and recognize language. And while deep learning was inspired by the human brain, the question remains: Does the brain actually learn this way? The answer has the potential to create more powerful artificial intelligence and unlock the mysteries of human intelligence.

5 Dec 2017

The brain remains interconnected during non-REM sleep

When we sleep, our organism goes through different phases of sleep, however the brain remains interconnected during non-REM sleep, which was thought not to happen.

1 Dec 2017

Using AFM to characterize cancer cells

An interview with Dr. Jim Gimzewski, UCLA conducted by April Cashin-Garbutt, MA (Cantab).

From Bruker Nano Surfaces and Metrology 28 Nov 2017

Distinct small differences in the human brain may contribute to our cognitive abilities

The most dramatic divergence between humans and other primates can be found in the brain, the primary organ that gives our species its identity.

23 Nov 2017

Neuronal cross-talk in the sleeping brain may play role in memory formation

Using an innovative "NeuroGrid" technology, scientists showed that sleep boosts communication between two brain regions whose connection is critical for the formation of memories.

30 Oct 2017

Researchers use powerful X-ray beams for ‘navigational map view’ of mouse brain

If brain imaging could be compared to Google Earth, neuroscientists would already have a pretty good "satellite view" of the brain, and a great "street view" of neuron details.

17 Oct 2017

Maternal consumption of alcohol could produce transgenerational effects

Soon-to-be mothers have heard the warning - don't drink while pregnant. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued numerous statements about the dangers of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, as it can lead to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) in newborns.

7 Jul 2017

Scientists use brain organoids to identify root causes of Miller-Dieker syndrome

Research led by scientists at UC San Francisco and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine has used brain "organoids" — tiny 3D models of human organs that scientists grow in a dish to study disease — to identify root causes of Miller-Dieker Syndrome (MDS), a rare genetic disorder that causes fatal brain malformations.

7 Feb 2017

Study finds evidence for unique electrical properties of human pyramidal neurons

The human brain's advanced cognitive capabilities are often attributed to our recently evolved neocortex.

4 Jan 2017

Specific gene pathway appears to regulate growth, structure, and organization of cerebral cortex

One of the most significant ways in which the human brain is unique is the size and structure of the cerebral cortex. But what drives the growth of the human cortex, likely the foundation for our unique intellectual abilities?

30 Dec 2016

Circular ‘Princess Leia’ oscillations help sleeping brain consolidate memories

Every night while you sleep, electrical waves of brain activity circle around each side of your brain, tracing a pattern that, were it on the surface of your head, might look like the twin hair buns of Star Wars' Princess Leia.

15 Nov 2016

Bone gene in mammals may take additional role to promote cognition in humans

A gene that regulates bone growth and muscle metabolism in mammals may take on an additional role as a promoter of brain maturation, cognition and learning in human and nonhuman prim ates, according to a new study led by neurobiologists at Harvard Medical School.

9 Nov 2016

Takara Bio to provide SMART-Seq v4 Ultra Low Input RNA Kit for Sequencing to Allen Institute

Takara Bio USA, Inc. announced today that its SMART-Seq v4 Ultra Low Input RNA Kit for Sequencing has been selected for the development of gene expression profiles of individual brain cells as part of the Allen Cell Types Database, a public resource available from the Allen Institute for Brain Science.

2 Nov 2016

Researchers explore interaction between two brain regions during formation of long-term memories

Our brain has a tough task every time we experience something new - it must be flexible to take in new information instantly, but also stable enough to store it for a long time.

1 Nov 2016

Researchers publish comprehensive molecular atlas of primate brain development in Nature

Researchers at the Allen Institute for Brain Science have published an in-depth analysis of a comprehensive molecular atlas of brain development in the non-human primate.

18 Jul 2016

Researchers develop AI-powered systems to make pathologic diagnoses more accurate

Pathologists have been largely diagnosing disease the same way for the past 100 years, by manually reviewing images under a microscope. But new work suggests that computers can help doctors improve accuracy and significantly change the way cancer and other diseases are diagnosed.

20 Jun 2016