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The human brain is the center of the human nervous system and is a highly complex organ. Enclosed in the cranium, it has the same general structure as the brains of other mammals, but is over three times as large as the brain of a typical mammal with an equivalent body size.

New Genetic Link to Autism Identified

New research published in The American Journal of Human Genetics has identified a previously unknown genetic link to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The study found that variants in the DDX53 gene contribute to ASD, providing new insights into the genetic underpinnings of the condition.

20 Dec 2024

New VR Technology Offers Fresh Insights into Neural Activity

In recent years, mice have entered a new arena – virtual reality – and now Cornell University researchers have built mini VR headsets to more fully immerse them.

20 Dec 2024

SMART Software Unlocks New Insights into Cellular Dynamics

Researchers at University of California San Diego have developed and tested a new software package, called Spatial Modeling Algorithms for Reactions and Transport (SMART), that can realistically simulate cell-signaling networks -; the complex systems of molecular interactions that allow cells to respond to diverse cues from their environment.

20 Dec 2024

Neural Stem Cells Found to Rejuvenate the Aging Brain

Much like plants in a thriving forest, certain cells in the brain create a nurturing environment, enhancing the health and resilience of their neighbors, while others promote stress and damage, akin to a noxious weed in an ecosystem.

19 Dec 2024

Molding the Mind: Researchers use Neurofeedback To Reshape Brain Perception

A study reveals how real-time fMRI neurofeedback can reshape neural activity, enhancing perceptual learning and creating new visual categories in the brain.

19 Dec 2024

Researchers Uncover Ketamine’s Effect on Astrocytes in Zebrafish

The decades-old anesthetic ketamine could be a game changer for treating severe depression, but there are still many questions about how the drug works, including exactly how it affects the brain's cells and circuits.

18 Dec 2024

Space Experiment Reveals Surprising Brain Cell Behavior

Microgravity exposure accelerates brain cell development in organoids, revealing potential implications for neurodegenerative disease research and space health.

18 Dec 2024

Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Sheds Light on Craniopharyngioma Tumor Subtypes

Craniopharyngiomas are brain tumors that negatively impact the hormonal function of the nearby pituitary.

17 Dec 2024

Stem Cell-Derived Brain Organoids Model Mitochondrial Diseases

Mini-brains, also known as brain organoids, have been created by researchers at the University of Bergen using cutting-edge stem cell technology.

16 Dec 2024

Targeting Cancer with Nanoparticle-Delivered Gene Therapy

Scientists are literally shining a laser on the energy centers of cancer cells in an attempt to harm these sources of power and cause widespread cancer cell death.

16 Dec 2024

The Mechanics Behind Crocodile Morphology: A Breakthrough in Evolutionary Biology

How do humans account for the variety of morphologies found in living things? Genetics is usually the first explanation that comes to mind, but it is not the only one.

12 Dec 2024

New Imaging Method Reveals Sharper Layers of Cells in Living Tissue

Metabolic imaging is a noninvasive method that enables clinicians and scientists to study living cells using laser light, which can help them assess disease progression and treatment responses.

12 Dec 2024

Gut Bacteria Influence Wild Bird's Health and Ornamentation

All living organisms host microbiomes composed of both beneficial and harmful microbes that influence health.

11 Dec 2024

Ribosomal Fingerprints: A Novel Approach to Early Cancer Detection

Different types of cancer have unique molecular 'fingerprints' which are detectable in early stages of the disease and can be picked up with near-perfect accuracy by small, portable scanners in just a few hours, according to a study published today in the journal Molecular Cell.

11 Dec 2024

Biomaterials to Regenerate the Nervous System: Carl Zeiss Foundation Sponsors InteReg Project at Mainz University

Collaborative project involving Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, and the Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research will receive EUR 6 million.

11 Dec 2024

Study Reveals How Toxoplasma Parasite Evades Drug Treatment by Altering Protein Production

A study by Indiana University School of Medicine researchers sheds new light on how Toxoplasma gondii parasites make the proteins they need to enter a dormant stage that allows them to escape drug treatment.

10 Dec 2024

New Brain Mapping Reveals Connections Behind Higher Order Functions

A new way of mapping activity and connections between different regions of the brain has revealed fresh insights into how higher order functions like language, thought and attention, are organized.

9 Dec 2024

New Study Challenges Traditional View of Axon Shape and Function

In a provocative new study, scientists challenge a fundamental tenet in neuroscience about the shape of axons -- the long, thin filaments radiating from nerve cells that transmit electrical signals from cell to cell – and propose a new model for understanding how information is transmitted in the brain.

9 Dec 2024

New Study Explores the Neural Basis of Response Inhibition

In the split second that is needed to view a stop sign and react to it, our brain navigates a complex process that transitions seamlessly from perception to action control.

6 Dec 2024