brain Archives - Page 2 of 16 - Family Medicine News

Disruption of glycine receptors to study embryonic development and brain function

18.12.2019 Health Problems

Glycine receptors are among the most widely distributed inhibitory receptors in the central nervous system and have important roles in a variety of physiological processes. Researchers from Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI), University of Toyama, Yamagata University, Cairo University, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences and Setsunan University collaborated to study glycine receptors, particularly glycine receptor alpha-4 (Glra4), […]

Brain patterns can predict speech of words and syllables

10.12.2019 Health Problems

Neurons in the brain’s motor cortex previously thought of as active mainly during hand and arm movements also light up during speech in a way that is similar to patterns of brain activity linked to these movements, suggest new findings published today in eLife. By demonstrating that it is possible to identify different syllables or words from patterns of neural […]

Scientists identify the cells behind nicotine aversion in the mouse brain

26.11.2019 Health Problems

If you have ever smoked, or know someone who has—they might tell you that smoking a cigarette probably felt disgusting at first. Taryn Grieder has a personal interest in understanding why people continue to smoke despite the initial revulsion and countless health risks. “In my family we have six people and five of us—everyone but me—smoke, or at least they […]

Inflammatory processes drive progression of Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases

20.11.2019 Health Problems

Inflammation drives the progression of neurodegenerative brain diseases and plays a major role in the accumulation of tau proteins within neurons. An international research team led by the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and the University of Bonn comes to this conclusion in the journal Nature. The findings are based on the analyses of human brain tissue and further […]

Zika virus can cause immune and brain abnormalities in asymptomatic pig offspring

14.11.2019 Health Problems

Zika virus infection in the womb produces altered immune responses and sex-specific brain abnormalities in apparently healthy pig offspring, according to a study published november 14 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Uladzimir Karniychuk of the University of Saskatchewan, and colleagues. As noted by the authors, the findings could point to new strategies to prevent and alleviate the long-term […]

Neuroscientists have gained new insight into how the brain predicts missing visual information

13.11.2019 Health Problems

Neuroscientists at the University of Glasgow have gained new insight into how the brain predicts missing visual information when perceiving the outside world. The researchers, from the University’s Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, discovered that our brains “sketch out” portions of scenes that are not visible—much like how an artist sketches out a scene before filling the remaining details. The […]

Connecting the brain and consciousness

06.11.2019 Health Problems

What is consciousness? What does it mean to be ‘aware’, and how is our consciousness connected to the physical brain? A recent thesis from Uppsala University explores the philosophical aspects of the issue, and proposes a solution: the ‘intrinsic consciousness’ theory. “We need to combine empirical and conceptual work to assess the significant issues raised by these developments in brain […]

Name that tune: Brain takes just 100 to 300 milliseconds to recognize familiar music

30.10.2019 Health Problems

The human brain can recognise a familiar song within 100 to 300 milliseconds, highlighting the deep hold favourite tunes have on our memory, a UCL study finds. Anecdotally the ability to recall popular songs is exemplified in game shows such as ‘Name That Tune’, where contestants can often identify a piece of music in just a few seconds. For this […]

Scientists identify brain circuit responsible for building memories during sleep

29.10.2019 Health Problems

Neuroscientists at the University of Alberta have identified a mechanism that may help build memories during deep sleep. In a study published last month in eNeuro, the researchers focused on the role of the nucleus reuniens, an area of the brain that connects two other brain structures involved in creating memories and may co-ordinate their activity during slow-wave sleep. “Slow […]

Groundbreaking study improves understanding of brain function

29.10.2019 Health Problems

Researchers at KAUST are officially one step closer to understanding the brain and its function. Dr. Corrado Calì, a research scientist specializing in brain imaging at KAUST, and Swiss scientists from the Blue Brain Project (BBP) have shown how lactate is necessary for memory formation and learning, which could lead to improved learning and memory function. The project falls under […]

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