Life-changing moments are also brain-changing moments: everything from a first kiss to the last goodbye modifies cells within the skull. The capacity to learn and remember, however, extends beyond the profound experiences that we lament or treasure. In fact, a new study led by Rockefeller scientist Charles D. Gilbert suggests that even when we’re not...
Category: <span>Neuroscience</span>
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Just a few drinks can change how memories are formed
Researchers at Brown found that alcohol hijacks a conserved memory pathway in the brain and changes which versions of genes are made, forming the cravings that fuel addiction PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — One of the many challenges with battling alcohol addiction and other substance abuse disorders is the risk of relapse, even after progress...
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Bioactive compound from the Rhodiola plant improves memory
In an aging society, more people are suffering from memory disorders. The progressive loss of memory severely impairs the quality of life of those affected. So far, no drugs are known to prevent age-related cognitive decline. For the first time, a study conducted by scientists from the Leibniz Institutes for Neurobiology (LIN) and for Plant Biochemistry (IPB) and published in the...
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What causes multiple sclerosis? What we know, don’t know and suspect
U.S. actress Selma Blair announced on the weekend she has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. “I have probably had this incurable disease for 15 years at least,” she wrote. “And I am relieved to at least know.” People exposed to low levels of sunlight are more likely to have MS than those who live in warm climates. Credit:...
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Scientists examine how neuropathic pain responds to Metformin
Scientists seeking an effective treatment for one type of chronic pain believe a ubiquitous, generic diabetes medication might solve both the discomfort and the mental deficits that go with the pain. Image: UT Dallas doctoral student Stephanie Shiers led a recent study with Dr. Sven Kroener (left) and Dr. Ted Price, both of the School...
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New autism guidelines aim to improve diagnostics and access to services
You can’t test for autism with a simple blood test or scan, which can make the diagnostic process difficult and dependent on the skill and experience of the clinician. Credit: altanaka/Shutterstock New Australian autism guidelines, released today, aim to provide a nationally consistent and rigorous standard for how children and adults are assessed and diagnosed with...
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Antidepressants could stave off dementia
People with a diagnosis of dementia can also face depression. For this reason, they may end up taking antidepressant drugs. Now, a study has found that these drugs may be able to treat not just depression, but dementia itself. A new study tests out the potential of antidepressants to tackle dementia mechanisms in the brain. According to data cited by the Alzheimer’s Association,...
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Sleep helps people predict regular sequences of events
Sleep stabilizes previously gained knowledge, and by doing so, helps to develop long-term memory. In a new study, Tübingen researchers Nicolas Lutz, Ines Wolf and Stefanie Hübner investigated whether sleep also improves learning performance in predictable processes. Their research was supervised by Professor Jan Born and Dr. Karsten Rauss of the University of Tübingen’s Institute of Medical Psychology and...
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New causative gene found in severe childhood epilepsy
A large international research team has discovered a new genetic cause for a severe, difficult-to-treat childhood epilepsy syndrome. Spontaneous mutations in one gene disrupt the flow of calcium in brain cells, resulting in epileptic overactivity. The team’s research in patients also found clues to potential medical treatments for the rare condition. Image: Katherine L. Helbig,...
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Memory ‘brainwaves’ look the same in sleep and wakefulness
Identical brain mechanisms are responsible for triggering a memory in both sleep and wakefulness, new research at the University of Birmingham has shown. Credit: CC0 Public Domain The study sheds new light on the processes used by the brain to ‘reactivate’ memories during sleep, consolidating them so they can be retrieved later. Although the importance...