Fundamental UB discovery on acetylcholine receptor sheds light on rare genetic disease and advances prospects for “receptor engineering” A new study from scientists at the University at Buffalo reveals how surprisingly small molecular changes can control whether a drug or neurotransmitter switches a receptor on or off. The findings clarify how the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) … Read more

Summary: A new study suggests that subtle movements of the hand can reveal whether someone is leaning toward self-discipline or giving in to temptation even before a final decision is made. The findings offer fresh insight into how real-time cognitive processes unfold when people resist immediate rewards for longer-term goals. Source: Ohio State University. Study … Read more

Summary: A new computational method has linked multiple target genes to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Source: University of Missouri, Columbia. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encompasses a range of behavioral, social, and cognitive challenges. Early and accurate detection of ASD in children improves outcomes, but identifying the underlying genetic contributors is difficult because the disorder is … Read more

Summary: Early-life exposure to greenspace may produce measurable, beneficial structural differences in the developing brain, researchers report. Children raised in greener neighborhoods showed greater working memory and better attentional performance than peers from more urbanized environments. Source: UCLA Primary schoolchildren raised in homes surrounded by greater amounts of greenspace tend to exhibit larger volumes of … Read more

Summary: Living with a clear sense of purpose and meaning in life was linked to a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia in later life. The review found that a strong sense of purpose corresponded to a 19% lower rate of clinically significant cognitive impairment. Source: UCL Having a clear … Read more

Summary: New research finds that children who complete brief aerobic activity such as swimming after being taught new words perform better on follow-up vocabulary tests than children who do not exercise. The study suggests movement-based, automatic aerobic exercise may support the brain processes involved in encoding and retaining new words. Source: University of Delaware Swimming … Read more

UCL study produces the first whole-body map of pain spatial acuity “Where does it hurt?” is the instinctive first question when someone reports pain. A new study by researchers at University College London (UCL) provides the first systematic map showing how well people can localise pain—what scientists call spatial acuity for pain—across different parts of … Read more

Summary: Elevated maternal stress, anxiety, and depression during pregnancy were linked to measurable changes in fetal brain structure and biochemistry and to lower cognitive performance and increased social-emotional difficulties in children at 18 months. Source: Children’s National Hospital Elevated anxiety, depression and stress in pregnant women were associated with alterations in key fetal brain features … Read more

Summary: Researchers used an RNA-targeting CRISPR system to remove the mutant RNA that drives Huntington’s disease, clearing toxic protein aggregates while largely preserving other human genes and transcripts. Source: UCSD Huntington’s disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder marked by progressive loss of movement control, coordination and cognitive abilities. The disease results from a mutation … Read more

Research at King’s College London has identified subtle but persistent differences in brain wiring among adult males with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), offering clues as to why some autistic symptoms continue into adulthood. Autism spectrum disorder affects roughly 1 in 100 people in the UK and encompasses a diverse range of developmental differences. Individuals with … Read more