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Neuroscience news
Psychology & Psychiatry
Study sheds new light on the contribution of dopamine to reinforcement learning
The neurotransmitter dopamine has often been linked to pleasure-seeking behaviors and making stimuli paired with rewards (e.g., food, drinks) valuable. Nonetheless, the processes through which this key chemical messenger ...
7 hours ago
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Genetics
Researchers find a single, surprising gene behind a disorder that causes intellectual disability
Scientists have found the genetic root of a disorder that causes intellectual disability, which they estimate affects as many as one in 20,000 young people. And they hope their discovery leads to a new diagnosis that can ...
5 hours ago
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Neuroscience research suggests ketones can enhance cognitive function and protect brain networks
Researchers at the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester have identified mechanisms in the brain's hippocampal network that are rescued by ketones. These findings build on previous research showing ...
May 31, 2024
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Researchers identify a genetic cause of intellectual disability affecting tens of thousands
Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and others have identified a neurodevelopmental disorder, caused by mutations in a single gene, that affects tens of thousands of people worldwide. The work, published ...
May 31, 2024
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New research finds antidepressants may help deliver other drugs into the brain
Since the 1980s, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants have been the backbone of treatment for depression and other mental health conditions worldwide, with tens of millions of annual prescriptions ...
May 31, 2024
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Radio waves from mobile phones do not affect cognition: Study
A World Health Organization-commissioned systematic review finds that radio wave exposure from mobile phones does not affect learning, memory, attention span and other cognitive functions like coordination. The work is published ...
May 31, 2024
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Alzheimer's biomarker sTREM2 plays a causal, potentially modifiable, role in disease
The protein sTREM2 plays a crucial role in Alzheimer's disease, but the role is complex and poorly understood. In the early stages of the disease, sTREM2 levels in the cerebrospinal fluid fall relative to healthy people's, ...
May 31, 2024
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Enjoying the sights and smells of a virtual garden
As we go about our daily lives, it's easy to overlook the significance of the seemingly ordinary things around us. But imagine the profound impact of the absence of the sound of birds, the scent of flowers, or the sight of ...
May 31, 2024
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Migraine surgery reduces headache days, finds study
For patients with chronic migraine, nerve decompression surgery effectively reduces the number of headache days—the outcome measure preferred by neurologists—along with other measures including the frequency and intensity ...
May 31, 2024
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How does the word 'not' affect what we understand? Scientists find negation mitigates our interpretation of phrases
When we're told "This coffee is hot" upon being served a familiar caffeinated beverage at our local diner or cafe, the message is clear. But what about when we're told "This coffee is not hot"? Does that mean we think it's ...
May 30, 2024
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New avenues to developing personalized treatments for schizophrenia
An international study, published in Nature Communications, may facilitate the creation of new personalized treatments for people diagnosed with schizophrenia. These are patients who suffer from various types of symptoms, ...
May 30, 2024
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In the brain at rest, study indicates neurons rehearse future experience
Some dreams may, in fact, predict the future: New research has found that during sleep, some neurons not only replay the recent past but also anticipate future experience.
May 30, 2024
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Study suggests astrocytes induce sex-specific effects on memory
Weill Cornell Medicine scientists have uncovered the first evidence that astrocyte receptors can trigger opposite effects on cognitive function in male and female preclinical models. The findings point to astrocytes, brain ...
May 30, 2024
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A multimodal approach to better predict recovery in patients with disorders of consciousness
When a patient is admitted to intensive care due to a disorder of consciousness—such as a coma—establishing their neurological prognosis is a crucial yet challenging task.
May 30, 2024
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Too much or too little: The impact of protein dosage on fetal development
New research from the University of Lausanne reveals that both the excess and the deficiency of a single protein can lead to severe intellectual deficiencies. The discovery offers critical insights for early diagnosis of ...
May 30, 2024
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'Sticky and strain-gradient artificial epineurium' can heal severed nerves in only one minute, study claims
A novel medical advancement termed the "sticky and strain-gradient artificial epineurium" (SSGAE) has been developed, demonstrating remarkable efficacy in rapidly healing severed nerves without traditional microsurgical suturing ...
May 30, 2024
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New type of cerebellar ataxia discovered: How the immune system destroys the cerebellum
Cerebellar ataxia is a neurological disorder of the cerebellum. This important area at the back of the brain acts as a conductor, so to speak, coordinating our movements and keeping us in balance.
May 30, 2024
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What are nootropics and do they really boost your brain?
Humans have long been searching for a "magic elixir" to make us smarter, and improve our focus and memory. This includes traditional Chinese medicine used thousands of years ago to improve cognitive function.
May 30, 2024
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Examinations of major salivary glands and heart reveal pathophysiological progression of Parkinson's
Researchers have reported that patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) exhibiting sympathetic denervation in the major salivary glands and the heart tend to have more advanced non-motor symptoms as they age, suggesting that ...
May 30, 2024
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Social media use and sleep duration connected to brain activity in teens
A new study to be presented at the SLEEP 2024 annual meeting found a distinct relationship between sleep duration, social media usage, and brain activation across brain regions that are key for executive control and reward ...
May 30, 2024
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