Summary: Researchers used patterned electrical fields to mimic slow-wave sleep and found they can alter brain activity in ways that may improve memory. Source: University of Alberta New Clues on How Slow-Wave Sleep and Electrical Stimulation May Boost Memory Neuroscientists at the University of Alberta report that the rhythmic brain-wave patterns of deep slow-wave sleep … Read more

Summary: Researchers at Stanford have developed a targeted brain-cell transplant technique that could change treatment prospects for Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff diseases. By selectively depleting diseased microglia and replacing them with healthy donor precursor cells, the team restored crucial lysosomal enzyme activity in the brain and dramatically extended lifespan and function in a mouse model. Treated … Read more

Summary: Long-duration microgravity exposure is associated with increases in combined brain and cerebrospinal fluid volumes and deformation of the pituitary gland in astronauts. Source: RSNA Overview Extended missions on the International Space Station (ISS) are linked to vision changes and structural alterations in the eye. New findings published in Radiology indicate that the effects of … Read more

Gene Linked to Human Speech Shapes Mouse Vocal Communication Summary: Researchers examined how a FOXP2 gene mutation affects the ultrasonic vocalizations and vocal circuitry of adult male mice. Source: Frontiers Overview New research published in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience shows that a mutation in FOXP2 — a gene long associated with human speech production — … Read more

Summary: Researchers at Indiana University have developed a blood test that can measure how severe a person’s depression is, estimate their future risk of developing severe depression, and assess risk for bipolar disorder. The test, based on RNA biomarkers, also offers information that can help personalize treatment choices for individual patients. Source: Indiana University Globally, … Read more

Summary: Blocking expression of the ER-alpha gene in white-throated sparrows reduces their aggression. Source: Emory Health Sciences New research reveals how variation in a single gene within a supergene alters behavior in a wild songbird, determining whether the white-throated sparrow exhibits higher or lower levels of aggression. The study, led by neuroscientists at Emory University, … Read more

Summary: A low-protein diet may accelerate neurodegeneration, while supplementation with Amino LP7—a specific blend of seven essential amino acids—appears to slow brain atrophy and reduce the progression of dementia-related deficits in preclinical models. Source: The National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, is a group of disorders marked by severe loss … Read more

New MIT MRI Technique Could Reveal How Genes Drive Learning and Memory Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a cornerstone of modern medicine and neuroscience, routinely used to diagnose tumors, assess stroke damage, and map brain activity. Now a team of biological engineers at MIT has adapted MRI to a molecular scale, creating a method that … Read more

Lab-Grown V2a Interneurons Improve Breathing After Spinal Cord Injury in Mice Summary: Transplanting V2a interneurons derived from stem cells improved respiratory function in mice with cervical spinal cord injuries, according to a new study. Source: Drexel University College of Medicine and University of Texas at Austin Key finding Researchers report that transplanting a specific class … Read more

Summary: New research suggests that neuron loss in Alzheimer’s disease may sometimes be protective. The study indicates that the removal of dysfunctional neurons can result from an intrinsic cell quality control mechanism that helps limit damage to brain circuits. Source: Champalimaud Center for the Unknown. Researchers at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown (CCU) in … Read more