The ability to adapt one’s beliefs about actions and their consequences in a constantly changing environment is a hallmark of advanced cognition. Disruptions to this ability can negatively impact cognition and behavior, potentially leading to states of mind such as paranoia, where there is a belief that others intend to cause harm. In a groundbreaking … Read more
Low-level light therapy (LLLT) appears to promote healing in the brains of individuals with significant brain injuries, according to a study published in the journal Radiology. For years, researchers have explored the wound-healing properties of light of various wavelengths. In a recent study, scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) applied LLLT to 38 patients who … Read more
Neuroplasticity, also known as brain plasticity or neural plasticity, is a fundamental property of the brain that refers to its ability to change and adapt throughout life in response to experiences, learning, environmental stimuli, injury, and disease. This remarkable capacity for structural and functional reorganization enables the brain to modify neural pathways, establish new connections, … Read more
Neurochemistry is the branch of neuroscience that focuses on the chemical processes occurring within the nervous system, including the synthesis, release, reuptake, and metabolism of neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, and other signaling molecules. It encompasses the study of molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal communication, synaptic transmission, neuroplasticity, and brain function. Understanding neurochemistry is essential for unraveling the molecular … Read more
Neurobiology is a fascinating field of study that delves into the intricacies of the nervous system, which serves as the body’s communication and control center. The nervous system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that coordinate sensory perception, motor function, cognition, and behavior. In this exploration of neurobiology, we will delve into … Read more
Saturday evening at a well-attended stand-up party. Servers balance trays of appetizers over the heads of the guests. We spot donuts on one of these passing platters and decide in a matter of seconds in favor of the one on the far right. But then the waitress briefly disappears from our field of vision, only … Read more
Neuroscience researchers from Bochum confirm different strategies when choosing between primary and secondary rewards. The lever is impulsivity. People make decisions every day—from what to wear in the morning to what to watch on TV in the evening. But how do decisions differ when it comes to essential food and money? A neuroscientific research team … Read more
Bursts of brain rhythms with “beta” frequencies control where and when neurons in the cortex process sensory information and plan responses. Studying these bursts would improve understanding of cognition and clinical disorders, researchers argue in a new review. The brain processes information on many scales. Individual cells electrochemically transmit signals in circuits but at the … Read more
It could be very informative to observe the pixels on your phone under a microscope, but not if your goal is to understand what a whole video on the screen shows. Cognition is much the same kind of emergent property in the brain. It can only be understood by observing how millions of cells act … Read more
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), seemingly distinct neurological disorders, have long puzzled doctors and scientists with their seemingly disparate symptoms and affected brain regions. However, a groundbreaking study published in Cell has unveiled remarkable similarities between these conditions at the cellular and molecular levels, shedding light on potential therapeutic targets that … Read more
In a new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from the University of Minnesota Medical School have investigated brain development to understand how different areas of the brain become specialized in handling information such as vision, sound, touch and planning. The study found that different areas of the brain start … Read more
Imagine a busy restaurant: dishes clattering, music playing, people talking loudly over one another. It’s a wonder that anyone in that kind of environment can focus enough to have a conversation. A new study by researchers at Brown University’s Carney Institute for Brain Science provides some of the most detailed insights yet into the brain … Read more
The human brain’s adaptability to internal and external changes, known as neural plasticity, forms the foundation for understanding cognitive functions like memory and learning, as well as various neurological disorders. New research conducted by a team led by Dr. Park Joo Min of the Center for Cognition and Sociality within the Institute for Basic Science … Read more
How does sex relate to lasting love? To answer that question, scientists have long studied a small Midwestern rodent called the prairie vole, one of the few mammals known to form long-term, monogamous relationships. A team of researchers, including Steven Phelps at The University of Texas at Austin, has created the first brain-wide map of … Read more