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The latest news on neuroscience research

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Experimental drug may benefit some patients with rare form of ALS

Published: May 22, 2025 18:30

When Columbia neurologist and scientist Neil Shneider speaks to his ALS patients who volunteer for experimental therapies, he's unwaveringly honest. "Patients always ask me, 'What can I hope to get out of this?"' Shneider says. "And I always say, in most…

Study questions precautionary measures on paternal use of valproate

Published: May 22, 2025 14:43

A new study from researchers at Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital found no increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children whose fathers were treated with valproate during spermatogenesis. The results have just been published in…

Got knee pain? Stimulating the vagus nerve through the ear may help

Published: May 22, 2025 14:33

Tying shoelaces, getting into a car, picking things up off the floor and walking down stairs all involve flexing that most difficult of joints: the knee. But pain in the knee can significantly hinder those and many other routine activities.

Brain scans reveal neural mechanisms that underlie suicidal thoughts, behaviors in veterans

Published: May 22, 2025 12:00

Implicit Association Tests (IATs) are computerized tests that can be used to assess the subconscious association between different concepts. A form of the IAT, the Suicide Implicit Association Test (S-IAT), can measure people's associations between the…

Tiny genetic switch found to control brain balance and behavior

Published: May 22, 2025 11:24

Researchers at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) have identified a remarkably small but critical piece of genetic code that helps determine how brain cells connect, communicate, and function. The discovery not only deepens our understanding of how the…

Electrical stimulation offers hope for treating spinal injuries

Published: May 22, 2025 08:11

A grid of electrodes placed on the backs of study participants delivered enough low-voltage electrical stimulation through the skin to change the short-term function of spinal cord neurons, a study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers showed.

Brain molecule provides new insights into migraine-related light sensitivity

Published: May 21, 2025 20:00

Scientists in the U.K., Australia and China have identified a brain molecule called NEAT1 that appears to play a central role in triggering light sensitivity (photophobia), a common and debilitating symptom of migraines. Their findings, published in The…

Good news for people who take migraine drugs before or during pregnancy: No increase in autism, ADHD, other disorders

Published: May 21, 2025 16:23

There's good news for people with migraine who take common drugs before or during pregnancy—a new study found no increase in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and ADHD in their children. The study, which looked at drugs used for migraine attacks…

Insulin resistance in brain may be one of the factors linking Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy

Published: May 21, 2025 14:51

Researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil have succeeded in showing, in an animal model, that the process of insulin resistance in the brain affects both Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy and may be a linking factor between the two…

Less frequent stroke monitoring is safe, effective and frees up resources, study finds

Published: May 21, 2025 12:28

Halving the number of times vital signs and neurological function are checked in low-risk patients after treatment for acute ischemic stroke does not compromise care or recovery, according to new findings presented at the 11th European Stroke Organization…

The Armamentarium: Scientists create next generation of tools in battle against brain disease

Published: May 21, 2025 11:01

In a scientific first, researchers from around 29 universities and institutions across North America have teamed up to create a large, versatile, and effective arsenal of new biological tools that will play a critical role in the battle against brain…

How the placebo effect tricks the mind into relieving pain

Published: May 21, 2025 09:21

The detailed mechanism of how the placebo effect reduces the perception of pain in rats has been uncovered by RIKEN neuroscientists. These findings, published in Science Advances, could potentially lead to ways to harness the placebo effect in therapy.

Advanced tools offer improved insights into brain injury patients' condition and their potential for recovery

Published: May 20, 2025 18:30

Trauma centers nationwide will begin to test a new approach for assessing traumatic brain injury (TBI) that is expected to lead to more accurate diagnoses and more appropriate treatment and follow-up for patients.

A study in stroke patients shows the brain's vision-language connection shapes object knowledge

Published: May 20, 2025 16:11

Our ability to store information about familiar objects depends on the connection between visual and language-processing regions in the brain, according to a study published in PLOS Biology by Bo Liu from Beijing Normal University, China, and colleagues.

CRISPR study reveals mitochondrial dysfunction as early marker in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Published: May 20, 2025 15:35

Using the gene scissors CRISPR and stem cells, researchers at Stockholm University and the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) at King's College London have managed to identify a common denominator for different gene mutations that all cause the…

ICU delirium tests misclassify Spanish-speakers, research suggests

Published: May 20, 2025 12:48

Delirium is common in the ICU, and guidelines call for daily screening. Now a new study published at the ATS 2025 International Conference suggests that standard screening tests may result in the misclassification of the delirium status of Spanish-speaking…

Boredom gets a bad rap. But science says it can actually be good for us

Published: May 20, 2025 10:54

We have all experienced boredom—that feeling of waning interest or decreased mental stimulation. Eventually we lose focus, we disengage. Time seems to pass slowly, and we may even start to feel restless. Whether it be watching a movie that disappoints, a…

A new analysis method for capturing long-term brain activity in freely moving mice

Published: May 20, 2025 09:43

Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have developed a novel technique for analyzing neural activity in the brain. This new approach makes it possible to track neuronal signals in freely moving animals for over 99 days—an unprecedented duration. It…

Tiny brain region found to drive motor learning in reaching movements

Published: May 20, 2025 09:41

A research team at the University of Osaka has identified a crucial brain region involved in motor learning during reaching movements. The parvocellular division of the red nucleus, a small but specialized structure in the midbrain, was found to generate…

Do we see color the same way? What scientists can learn from artists

Published: May 20, 2025 09:18

As many people sit at the wheel of their car, they are certain they know what color is. It's the red traffic light in front of them, the garish yellow hatchback in the next lane, or the green verge banking to their right.

Human-specific DNA enhancer linked to brain development and neuron proliferation

Published: May 20, 2025 06:40

Duke University Medical Center-led research has identified a human-specific DNA enhancer that regulates neural progenitor proliferation and cortical size. Small genetic changes in HARE5 amplify a key developmental pathway, resulting in increased cortical…

A new tool can help predict brain-damaging seizures and free up continuous EEG machines for high-risk patients

Published: May 19, 2025 17:06

In hospital intensive care units, neurologists often use a simple scorecard to quickly evaluate a critically ill patient's likelihood of having a brain-damaging seizure so they can prevent it. The scorecard saves lives, lowers costs and helps doctors make…

Common analgesic gas aids in opening of blood-brain barrier

Published: May 19, 2025 15:21

Nitrous oxide, a commonly used analgesic gas, temporarily improved the opening of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to allow gene therapy delivery in mouse models using focused ultrasound (FUS), UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers report in a new study.…

Body's own cannabinoids may be key to reducing excessive fear responses

Published: May 19, 2025 13:01

Specific cannabinoids produced by the human body may help to quell excessive fear responses in people with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, according to a Northwestern Medicine-led study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Associations between auditory and visual information: Findings link brain activity to memory recall

Published: May 19, 2025 13:00

When a person remembers their friend telling them a funny story, they associate the sound of that friend talking with the appearance of that friend speaking and laughing. How does the human brain form audiovisual memories like this?

How molecules can 'remember' and contribute to memory and learning

Published: May 19, 2025 12:57

Researchers have discovered how an ion channel in the brain's neurons has a kind of "molecular memory," which contributes to the formation and preservation of lifelong memories. The researchers have identified a specific part of the ion channel at which…

Proteins regulating NMDA receptor function offer hope for targeted autism therapies

Published: May 19, 2025 12:41

A research team has identified a molecular mechanism that coordinates the operation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor, which is key to regulating excitatory synapse function in the brain. This achievement paves the way for the precise…

Brain inflammation linked to repetitive behaviors in autism and obsessive-compulsive disorder

Published: May 19, 2025 12:34

A research team has unveiled the cause and molecular mechanism of chronic brain inflammation that results in repetitive behavioral disorders. The research team demonstrated that an inflammatory response by immune cells in the brain induces overactivity in…

Why your migraine might be making you crave a large Coke and fries

Published: May 19, 2025 10:05

Whether it's one or two coffees to get us going in the morning or a bar of chocolate after a stressful day, many of us self-medicate when we're tired, stressed or sad. But when we have a headache, most of us head straight for the painkillers.

Oveporexton shows promise in improving wakefulness in narcolepsy type 1

Published: May 19, 2025 09:24

Research led by Gui de Chauliac Hospital in Montpellier, France, and the University of Bologna in Italy reports that oveporexton improves wakefulness and reduces cataplexy episodes in patients with narcolepsy type 1. Findings suggest a potential…

Glial cells may play key role in managing sleep and metabolism, fruit fly study suggests

Published: May 18, 2025 09:40

Homeostasis is the ability of living organisms to maintain stable internal conditions, such as temperature, hydration and blood sugar levels, irrespective of any changes in their surroundings. Homeostatic mechanisms also regulate behaviors that are central…

Matching mindfulness methods to anxiety symptoms may boost mental well-being, study finds

Published: May 18, 2025 06:12

If you're anxious about work, finances, the state of the world, or anything else, you might try a moment of mindfulness. Paying close attention to the present moment without judgment—the basic idea behind all mindfulness techniques—can help calm anxiety…

Dopamine and noradrenaline linked to hippocampal activation during light exercise

Published: May 17, 2025 12:30

Researchers at the University of Tsukuba investigated whether monoamine neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, are involved in hippocampal activation even during light exercise. Dopamine secreted from the ventral tegmental area of the brainstem and…

Psychological treatment linked to physical brain changes that ease chronic pain

Published: May 16, 2025 13:12

Back pain, migraines, arthritis, long-term concussion symptoms, complications following cancer treatment—these are just a few of the conditions linked to chronic pain, which affects 1 in 5 adults and for which medication is not always the answer.

Movement disorders tremor and myoclonus can be well distinguished using machine learning

Published: May 16, 2025 12:25

In a pioneering study from the Expertise Center for Movement Disorders in Groningen, machine learning, a core area of artificial intelligence (AI), was successfully used for the first time to distinguish different types of movement disorders from each…

Fruit fly study links Alzheimer's proteins to widespread organ changes and sensory decline

Published: May 16, 2025 11:09

While Alzheimer's disease is mostly considered a disorder of the brain, emerging evidence suggests that the condition also affects other organs of the body. Working with the laboratory fruit fly, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, the Jan and Dan…

Vitamin B1 derivative enhances wakefulness, study finds

Published: May 16, 2025 10:23

Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have found that thiamine (vitamin B1) tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide (TTFD), a common thiamine derivative, can induce arousal. TTFD is chemically modified to improve tissue penetration and absorption and is recognized…

Study links inflammation to reduced motivation and brain circuit changes in schizophrenia

Published: May 16, 2025 09:27

A new study from Emory University has identified a biological connection between inflammation and deficits in motivation in individuals with schizophrenia, offering new hope for treating symptoms that have long been resistant to existing therapies.

How do middle-aged folks get dementia? These proteins provide a clue

Published: May 16, 2025 05:00

Dementia usually affects older people, so when it occurs in middle age, it can be hard to recognize. The most common form is frontotemporal dementia (FTD), which is often mistaken for depression, schizophrenia, or Parkinson's disease before the correct…

Can the brain be targeted to treat type 2 diabetes?

Published: May 15, 2025 17:22

Successfully treating type 2 diabetes may involve focusing on brain neurons, rather than simply concentrating on obesity or insulin resistance, according to a study published today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

An overlooked cell type orchestrates brain rewiring during states of heightened attention

Published: May 15, 2025 17:15

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have upended the decades-old dogma of how connections between brain cells are rearranged during states of heightened vigilance or attention. The team found that a brain chemical…

A key neural pathway reveals how the brain forms fear memories from psychological threats

Published: May 15, 2025 16:49

Fear memories can form in the brain following exposure to threatening situations such as natural disasters, accidents, or violence. When these memories become excessive or distorted, they can lead to severe mental health disorders, including post-traumatic…

Scientists find two brain biomarkers in long COVID sufferers that may be causing cognitive issues

Published: May 15, 2025 14:00

A new study that is the first to compare inflammation and brain stress responses in long COVID-19 patients with individuals who have fully recovered shows that those with continued brain fog and other cognitive issues have a lower ability to adapt to…

Study finds that patients with glioblastoma who received gabapentin lived longer

Published: May 15, 2025 13:27

A new study by investigators from Mass General Brigham suggests that gabapentin, a relatively common anti-seizure/pain medication, is linked to improved survival in patients with glioblastoma (GBM)—the most common and deadly form of brain cancer in adults.…

Well-designed gardens promote relaxation by guiding rapid eye movements, study finds

Published: May 15, 2025 11:13

When was the last time you sat in a garden and simply let your gaze wander? Observation gardens are built especially for this purpose, but can also fulfill other functions, such as providing aid for meditation.

Research reveals how the brain's 'dimmer switch' fine-tunes arousal and attention

Published: May 15, 2025 09:48

A small cluster of cells deep within our brains, called the locus coeruleus, affects how awake and attentive we are, how we respond to stress, how we cope with anxiety and fear, and how we create memories and learn.

Marfan syndrome linked to increased brain inflammation and neurological risk

Published: May 15, 2025 09:23

A study by the Institut de Neurociències of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (INc-UAB) reveals that inflammation associated with Marfan syndrome increases vulnerability to neurological diseases and complications following strokes, as demonstrated in…

Research suggests reading can help combat loneliness and boost the brain

Published: May 15, 2025 09:08

Loneliness has become such a widespread problem that Silicon Valley billionaires are now highlighting it to market AI companions, with Mark Zuckerberg recently stating "the average American has fewer than three friends."

Ajovy clinical trial shows little improvement over placebo in migraine and depression

Published: May 15, 2025 06:55

Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Teva Pharmaceuticals, in collaboration with multiple international institutions, report findings on the efficacy of fremanezumab (sold as Ajovy by Teva) in reducing migraine frequency and depressive symptoms among…

Psilocybin better preserves depressed patients' emotional response to music than standard drug, study finds

Published: May 15, 2025 06:30

Depression is among the most widespread mental health disorders worldwide, typically characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, a lack of interest in daily activities and dysregulated sleep and/or eating habits. There are now a wide range of…

Could a mini-stroke leave lasting fatigue?

Published: May 14, 2025 16:00

A transient ischemic attack, also known as a mini-stroke, is typically defined as a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain that causes symptoms that go away within a day, but a new study finds that people who have this type of stroke may also have…

Famous film helps reveal brain region biased towards drug cues in individuals with heroin use disorder

Published: May 14, 2025 15:08

Mount Sinai researchers have found that a brain region that is implicated extensively in value-based decision-making and craving in people with heroin use disorder—known as the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)—shows synchronized responses biased toward drug…

Real-time imaging shows how neuron energy balance changes during stroke-like conditions

Published: May 14, 2025 11:59

A research team at the Carl Ludwig Institute for Physiology at Leipzig University has, for the first time, demonstrated how the energy levels of individual neurons in the brain change during so-called spreading depolarizations—waves of activity that occur…

The key to spotting dyslexia early could be AI-powered handwriting analysis

Published: May 14, 2025 11:48

A new University at Buffalo–led study outlines how artificial intelligence–powered handwriting analysis may serve as an early detection tool for dyslexia and dysgraphia among young children.

Speaking more than one language can add layers to stroke recovery

Published: May 14, 2025 11:30

You might not put a lot of thought into what it takes to speak, but speaking keeps your brain busy. In every conversation, multiple regions activate to process sounds, give words meaning and control the muscles that move your mouth.

Reversible method breaks brain circuits with molecular precision

Published: May 14, 2025 11:08

Scientists have developed a powerful new method for selectively and reversibly breaking connections between brain cells—a leap forward that could transform how we study brain processes and, one day, how we treat neurological disorders such as epilepsy,…

Neuroscientists reveal insights into how the brain forms habits and why they are so hard to break

Published: May 14, 2025 11:00

Neuroscientists at the Sainsbury Wellcome Center (SWC) at UCL have discovered that the brain uses a dual system for learning through trial and error. This is the first time a second learning system has been identified, which could help explain how habits…

How the brain allows us to infer emotions

Published: May 14, 2025 11:00

Xiaowei Gu and Joshua Johansen at the RIKEN Center for Brain Science in Japan have discovered key circuitry in the rat brain that allows the learning of inferred emotions. The study reveals how the frontal part of the brain coordinates with the amygdala—a…

Experts highlight key steps to reduce stroke risk during awareness month

Published: May 14, 2025 10:50

May is National Stroke Awareness Month, and as part of everyday awareness, Mayo Clinic health care professionals suggest reducing stroke risk and knowing the signs. A stroke happens every 40 seconds in the U.S., and the likelihood of stroke increases with…

Long working hours may alter brain structure, preliminary findings suggest

Published: May 13, 2025 18:30

Long working hours may alter the structure of the brain, particularly the areas associated with emotional regulation and executive function, such as working memory and problem solving, suggest the findings of preliminary research, published online in…

Psychedelics may induce right-brain dominance, researcher proposes

Published: May 13, 2025 16:18

The secret to psychedelic drugs' links to greater empathy and insight may lie in their ability to coax the right hemisphere of the brain into a position of dominance over the left, according to a proposed new theory.

Mouse memory hinges on a nine-letter protein fragment exclusive to neurons

Published: May 13, 2025 15:36

Cells have a trick called splicing. They can cut a gene's message into pieces and decide which fragments to keep. By mixing and matching these fragments, a single gene can produce many different proteins, giving tissues and organs more options to thrive…

Hormone cycles shape the structure and function of key memory regions in the brain, researchers find

Published: May 13, 2025 14:49

Hormone levels fluctuate like the tides, ebbing and flowing according to carefully orchestrated cycles. These hormones not only influence the body, but can cross into the brain and shape the behavior of our neurons and cognitive processes.

Mapping the brain's naming network: New insights into how people retrieve words during speech

Published: May 13, 2025 12:22

How are we able to recall a word we want to say? This basic ability, called word retrieval, is often compromised in patients with brain damage. Interestingly, many patients who can name words they see, like identifying a pet in the room as a "cat,"…

ALS drug testing in patient-derived cells provides personalized window into nervous system

Published: May 13, 2025 11:45

Unlike other pathologies, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cannot be reproduced accurately in animal models, complicating the development of effective drugs. Faced with this challenge, a group of researchers from IMDEA Nanociencia Institute (Madrid),…

Can AI help prevent the next stroke? Study uses brain scans to detect hidden heart risk

Published: May 13, 2025 11:21

A study recently published in the journal Cerebrovascular Diseases shows that artificial intelligence (AI) may help physicians detect a common, but often hidden, cause of stroke by analyzing brain scans. The technology could make stroke care faster, more…

Distinct neuron populations in the hypothalamus encode states associated with predator-related threats

Published: May 13, 2025 06:30

The ability to detect imminent threats and execute behaviors aimed at protecting oneself, such as hiding, running away or defending oneself, is central to the survival of most animal species. A region of the mammalian brain known to play a key role in…