Brain News and Research

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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.

Mathematical Models and Biological Dynamics in Embryo Development

One of life’s enduring fundamental questions revolves around the process of development. Consider human growth—how do cells autonomously arrange themselves into structures like skin, muscles, or bones? How do they coalesce to form intricate organs such as the brain, fingers, or spine?

7 Dec 2023

Unlocking the Mysteries of Fetal Brain Development

Cheryl Rosenfeld has dedicated three decades to investigating the transmission of biological information from mothers to babies during pregnancy.

6 Dec 2023

Blue Light Exposure Alters Cellular Processes Linked to Aging

In a study on fruit flies, daily low-intensity blue light exposure (BLE), similar to that experienced daily by billions of humans in the form of LED lighting and device screens, changed flies at the sub-cellular level, affecting processes related to aging and circadian rhythms.

6 Dec 2023

Brain Cell Genetics Drive Alzheimer's Progression

Developing treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD) is difficult because complex underlying mechanisms drive different types of cells that may contribute to the disorder.

6 Dec 2023

AI Helps Scientists See Neurons in Moving Animals

A collaborative team from EPFL and Harvard has introduced an advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technique to track neurons within animals in motion.

5 Dec 2023

Misfolded Proteins: How They Damage Neurons and Cause Neurodegeneration

Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the deposition of clumped proteins in the brain and progressive neuronal cell death.

5 Dec 2023

Prion Protein Forms Dynamic Liquid Condensates to Regulate Copper Ions

In an innovative research article published in Science Advances, scientists from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE-Berlin) illuminate the intricate interplay between the prion protein and copper ions in the physiopathology of live cells.

4 Dec 2023

Breakthrough Research in Leishmaniasis Reveals Pain-Suppression Pathways

For the first time, scientists have begun to figure out why the disfiguring skin lesions caused by cutaneous leishmaniasis don't hurt.

1 Dec 2023

Unveiling the Role of the Cerebellum in Human Cognitive Evolution

The development of advanced cognitive functions in humans has primarily been associated with the growth of the neocortex, a brain region responsible for conscious thought, movement, and sensory perception.

30 Nov 2023

"Wake" Slow Waves may Decrease the Impact of Epileptic Spikes on Brain Activity

Slow waves that usually only occur in the brain during sleep are also present during wakefulness in people with epilepsy and may protect against increased brain excitability associated with the condition, finds a new study led by researchers at UCL.

30 Nov 2023

New Method Allows Scientists to Observe Multiple Signals in Living Cells

Living cells are bombarded with many kinds of incoming molecular signal that influence their behavior.

29 Nov 2023

Unveiling the Role of EVs in Bacterial Communication and Immune Surveillance

Messenger bubbles produced by human cells can pick up bacterial products and deliver them to other cells, University of Connecticut researchers report in the Nov. 16 issue of Nature Cell Biology.

28 Nov 2023

Fluorescence-Based Actinometers Enable Precise and Versatile Light Intensity Measurements

Accurate measurements of light intensity provide vital data for scientists and everyday applications.

28 Nov 2023

New Tool Tracks Mouse Movements and Brain Activity

Mice exhibit constant activity, regardless of external stimuli such as the presence of a nearby cat. Their ongoing actions, which include whisker movement, environmental exploration, and self-grooming, trigger neural responses spanning various brain regions.

21 Nov 2023

Unveiling the Cerebellar Nuclei’s Role in Associative Learning

The regulation of associative learning was traditionally believed to be controlled by the cortex within the cerebellum, commonly known as the “little brain.”

21 Nov 2023

Artificial System Develops Key Characteristics Similar to Human Brains Under Physical Constraints

Cambridge scientists have shown that placing physical constraints on an artificially-intelligent system – in much the same way that the human brain has to develop and operate within physical and biological constraints – allows it to develop features of the brains of complex organisms in order to solve tasks.

21 Nov 2023