One in 59 children in the United States lives with a form of autism spectrum disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The signs of autism begin in early childhood and can affect individuals differently. However, many with autism share similar symptoms, including difficulties with social communication. Researchers from the University of Missouri School...
Category: <span>Neuroscience</span>
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Human drug addiction behaviors tied to specific impairments in six brain networks
Specific impairments within six large-scale brain networks during drug cue exposure, decision-making, inhibitory control, and social-emotional processing are associated with drug addiction behaviors, according to a systematic review of more than 100 published neuroimaging studies by experts at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published Wednesday, June 6 in the journal Neuron. Drug addiction is...
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Cell Transplant Trial for Spinal Injury Is Safe
The first human experiment with neural precursor cells implanted to treat chronic spinal cord injury suggests the procedure is safe, and hints at a small benefit. Four patients with chronic spinal damage and a complete loss of motor and sensory functions below their waists have received transplants of human neural stem cells in a first-of-its-kind...
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“Mind-boggling” Stanford research turns human blood cells into functional neurons
In breakthrough new research described as “somewhat mind-boggling,” a team at Stanford University has developed a technique than can transform human immune cells found in a regular blood sample into functional neurons in just three weeks. Transforming human immune cells found in a regular blood sample into functional neurons will allow for clearer laboratory study into...
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Never ignore depression
(HealthDay)—Studies show that depression is underreported. People aren’t getting the help they need, sometimes because they don’t know the warning signs or where to turn, or are embarrassed because of the stigma that can still surround mental health issues. But the numbers are too great to ignore. Up to 26 percent of U.S. women and...
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Sweet tooth? Brain-tinkering study makes sugar taste vile
Have you ever been on a diet and wished that spinach excited your tastebuds? Or that chocolate left you cold? Neural projections from the sweet (green) and bitter (red) cortex terminate at distinct targets in the amygdala in the brains of mice. Neuroscientists said Wednesday they have discovered how to manipulate the brain to make...
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Imec Develops Wireless Eye-Tracking Glasses to Aid in Research of Neurological Disorders
Many neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, can often present with symptoms of abnormal eye movements. Much research has been done in utilizing eye movement tracking technology to help with the diagnosis of these diseases and the monitoring of their progression. Traditional eye-tracking technology relies heavily on cameras, which, while accurate, are typically large...
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‘Second brain’ neurons keep colon moving
Millions of neurons in the gastrointestinal tract coordinate their activity to generate the muscle contractions that propel waste through the last leg of the digestive system, according to a study of isolated mouse colons published in JNeurosci. The newly identified neuronal firing pattern may represent an early feature preserved through the evolution of nervous systems. The...
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Is the placenta the missing link connecting genes, environment and schizophrenia?
A compelling new study suggests that activity in the placenta could be the missing link connecting environmental factors with genetics in relation to the development of many behavioral disorders, including schizophrenia. Stresses in the placenta could be key in triggering the onset of a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders including schizophrenia(Credit: alphaspirit/Depositphotos) A large volume of recent research has...
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Study reveals gaps in follow-up care after concussion
NIH/NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE Being discharged from a hospital trauma center after receiving treatment for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) does not necessarily mean that a patient has fully recovered. TBI can lead to long-lasting physical and cognitive symptoms, but a new study in JAMA Network Open suggests that many patients may not be...