Researchers at MIT’s Picower Institute for Learning and Memory found that single brain cells, if confronted with a difficult task, can identify objects as dissimilar as sports cars and dogs. Researchers have never been sure exactly how specialized cells in the brain work. Do different neurons each contribute to unique thoughts or can some neurons […]
Tag Archives | Neuroscience
‘Sound’ Science Offers Platform For Brain Treatment And Manipulation
The ability to diagnose and treat brain dysfunction without surgery, may rely on a new method of noninvasive brain stimulation using pulsed ultrasound developed by a team of scientists led by William “Jamie” Tyler, a neuroscientist at Arizona State University. The approach, published in the journal Neuron on June 9, shows that pulsed ultrasound not […]
Your Wise Brain
Your Wise Brain is my blog, posted here on The Behavioral Medicine Report, as well as at Psychology Today, Huffington Post and other major websites. It’s about how to take charge of the caveman brain in the 21st century by using practical methods from the intersection of psychology, neurology, and contemplative practice. (read the full […]
Two Brain Circuits Found To Be Involved With Habitual Learning
Driving to and from work is a habit for most commuters – we do it without really thinking. But before our commutes became routine, we had to learn our way through trial-and-error exploration. A new study out of MIT has found that there are two brain circuits involved with this kind of learning and that […]
Imaging Reveals Abnormal Brain Growth In Toddlers With Fragile X
Differences in brain growth patterns between preschool-aged boys with Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common cause of inherited intellectual disability, and their healthy peers suggest that the disorder may affect brain development both before and after birth, according to NIMH-funded researchers. In addition, their findings indicate ages 1-5 are an important window for better […]
Brief Exercise Reduces Impact Of Stress On Cell Aging
Exercise can buffer the effects of stress-induced cell aging, according to new research from UCSF that revealed actual benefits of physical activity at the cellular level. The scientists learned that vigorous physical activity as brief as 42 minutes over a 3-day period, similar to federally recommended levels, can protect individuals from the effects of stress […]
Computational Model Sheds Light On How The Brain Recognizes Objects
Researchers at MIT’s McGovern Institute for Brain Research have developed a new mathematical model to describe how the human brain visually identifies objects. The model accurately predicts human performance on certain visual-perception tasks, which suggests that it is a good indication of what actually happens in the brain, and it could also help improve computer […]
Deep Brain Stimulation At Two Different Targets Produces Similar Motor Improvements in Parkinson’s Disease
In a major study, investigators have compared how individuals with Parkinson’s disease respond to deep brain stimulation (DBS) at two different sites in the brain. Contrary to current belief, patients who received DBS at either site in the brain experienced comparable benefits for the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s. The results appear in the June 3, […]
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