Tag: Neuroscience
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Tau protein as biomarker for predicting recovery time after concussion
Elevated levels of the brain protein tau following a sport-related concussion are associated with a longer recovery period and delayed return to play for athletes, according to a study published in Journal Neurology. The findings suggest that tau, which can be measured in the blood, may serve as a marker to help physicians determine an…
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Chronic headache and Vitamin D deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk of a chronic headache, according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland. The findings were published in Scientific Reports. The Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study, KIHD, analyzed the serum vitamin D levels and occurrence of a headache in approximately 2,600 men aged between…
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Decoded neurofeedback to help instill confidence, reduce fear
A new technique of analyzing brain patterns appears to help people overcome fear and build self-confidence. The approach, developed by a UCLA-led team of neuroscientists, is described in two new papers, published in the journals Nature Communications and Nature Human Behaviour. Study subjects were conditioned to fear certain color patterns, but researchers found that small…
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Increased brain connectivity seen in endurance runners.
University of Arizona researchers discovered that MRI scans of endurance runners’ brains have greater functional connectivity than the brains of more sedentary individuals. Researchers compared brain scans of young adult cross country runners to young adults who don’t engage in regular physical activity. The runners, overall, showed greater functional connectivity or connections between distinct brain…
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Deep brain magnetic stimulation provides precise and reliable activation of target neurons
Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers have developed what appears to be a significant improvement in the technology behind brain implants used to activate neural circuits responsible for vision, hearing or movement. The investigators, who are also affiliated with the Boston VA Healthcare System, describe their development of tiny magnetic coils capable of selectively activating target…
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Research categorizes depression in to 4 subtypes based on fMRI scans
Patients with depression can be categorized into four unique subtypes defined by distinct patterns of abnormal connectivity in the brain, according to new research from Weill Cornell Medicine. In a collaborative study published in Nature Medicine, Dr. Conor Liston, an assistant professor of neuroscience in the Feil Family Brain and Mind Institute and an assistant…
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Magnetoencephalography and computational analysis to accurately diagnose concussions
Simon Fraser University researchers have found that high-resolution brain scans, coupled with computational analysis, could play a critical role in helping to detect concussions that conventional scans might miss. In a study published in PLOS Computational Biology, Vasily Vakorin and Sam Doesburg show how magnetoencephalography (MEG), which maps interactions between regions of the brain, could…
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New biomarker based on expression of SHOX2 gene for predicting survival in Gliomas
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found a new biomarker for glioma, a common type of brain cancer, that can help doctors determine how aggressive a cancer is and that could eventually help determine the best course of treatment. The findings are published in EBiomedicine. Researchers from the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center found…
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NeuroVascular Unit on a chip created to mimic functions of Blood-brain barrier
The blood-brain barrier is a network of specialized cells that surrounds the arteries and veins within the brain. It forms a unique gateway that both provides brain cells with the nutrients they require and protects them from potentially harmful compounds. This is an illustration of the neurovascular unit on a chip.Credit: Dominic Doyle, Vanderbilt University An…
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