Summary: A new computational model reveals how information might flow between deep brain networks and how clusters of neurons can spontaneously self-optimize over time. Source: USC Researchers in the Cyber-Physical Systems Group at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, together with collaborators at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, have developed a computational model describing … Read more

Summary: Researchers have discovered a distinct class of neurons — called prediction-error neurons — that remain inactive for ordinary sounds but activate specifically when an auditory outcome violates expectation. These cells signal that an anticipated sound did not match reality, providing a neural marker of unexpected auditory events. In experiments with mice, neuroscientists at New … Read more

Vitamin D Unlikely to Protect Against Neurodegenerative Diseases, Systematic Review Finds Summary: Researchers report they have found little convincing evidence to support the claim that vitamin D acts as a neuroprotective agent. Source: University of Adelaide New research from South Australian scientists indicates that vitamin D — commonly called the “sunshine vitamin” — is unlikely … Read more

Summary: Chronic stress during pregnancy can trigger inflammatory immune activity in the brain, potentially creating conditions that increase vulnerability to postpartum depression. Source: Ohio State University Chronic stress during pregnancy prompts a neuroimmune response that could alter brain structure and function in ways linked to postpartum depression, according to new animal research. Researchers at Ohio … Read more

Summary: Brains of people who play online video games together show synchronized activity, even when players are physically apart. Source: University of Helsinki As online gaming and remote social interaction have surged—accelerated by the pandemic—understanding how these activities affect social cognition and teamwork has become essential. This study examines whether the brain-to-brain coupling shown in … Read more

UK scientists have reported a major advance in brain tumor diagnosis that could benefit tens of thousands of patients. Researchers led by Professor Francis Martin at Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, have demonstrated that infrared and Raman spectroscopy, when combined with robust statistical analysis, can reliably distinguish normal brain tissue from multiple types of brain … Read more

Summary: Researchers report that both standard and intensive blood pressure targets are similarly effective in the emergency management of acute intracerebral hemorrhage. Source: NIH/NINDS. NIH-funded study helps answer a decades-old question about emergency blood pressure management. An international, NIH-funded stroke trial found that rapidly reducing systolic blood pressure to a standard target used in acute … Read more

How Different Ways of Taking Someone Else’s Perspective Affect Health and Well‑Being Summary: The way we choose to empathize with others—either by imagining how they feel or by imagining ourselves in their situation—can influence our stress physiology and long‑term well‑being, a new study reports. Source: University at Buffalo New research published in the Journal of … Read more

Robotic Cleaning Technique Automates Patch-Clamp Recordings Summary: Researchers report a new robotic cleaning method that allows patch-clamp pipettes to be reused for up to 11 recordings, enabling greater automation in neuroscience experiments. Source: Georgia Institute of Technology A newly developed robotic cleaning process for patch-clamp pipettes could significantly increase automation in neuroscience laboratories, speeding up … Read more

Researchers in Canada report that training the brain’s alpha rhythm through neurofeedback strengthens a core cognitive-control network and is associated with decreased mind-wandering. The noninvasive training method, known as EEG neurofeedback, produced measurable changes in brain function after a single 30-minute session, suggesting a rapid form of neuroplastic modulation that may have implications for attention … Read more