Summary: Researchers suggest that activating specific immune checkpoints in microglia could help restore the balance between neuroprotection and neurotoxicity in several neurodegenerative diseases. Source: Mass General. Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) propose that targeting immune checkpoints—molecules that regulate immune activity—in microglia may reduce the damaging inflammation that accompanies major neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s … Read more

Giving machine-learning systems “partial credit” during training improves image classification. Machine learning, the foundation of many modern artificial-intelligence applications, operates on probabilistic principles. For example, an image-recognition model might infer that a picture contains a dog with 60 percent probability and a cat with 30 percent probability. Traditional training approaches treat every incorrect label the … Read more

Summary: Optogenetic stimulation of the amygdala increases the motivation to consume cocaine in rats, producing behavior that resembles aspects of addiction. Source: University of Michigan. Activation of an Amygdala Circuit Intensifies Cocaine Seeking Researchers at the University of Michigan have identified a region within the amygdala that can dramatically amplify an animal’s motivation to obtain … Read more

Summary: A new analysis identifies the consumer products and activities most often linked to non-fatal traumatic brain injuries (TBI) among children and adolescents aged 0–19. For infants, falls from beds are a leading cause of head injury, while organized sports—particularly American football—account for the largest share of TBIs in older children and teens. Source: Taylor … Read more

Tectorial Membrane Stores Calcium and Explains Temporary Hearing Loss After Loud Sounds Summary: Researchers at Linköping University report that the tectorial membrane in the cochlea acts as a calcium reservoir that helps regulate sensory cell function. This discovery provides a likely explanation for the brief hearing impairment many people experience after exposure to loud sounds, … Read more

Stem cell study may help unravel how an LRRK2 genetic mutation leads to Parkinson’s disease symptoms Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have used patient-derived stem cells to identify a previously underappreciated mechanism that could link a common Parkinson’s disease mutation to neural dysfunction. By reprogramming skin cells from patients carrying a pathogenic … Read more

Understanding why people with autism and schizophrenia have difficulties with social interaction Researchers from Aarhus University and the University of Copenhagen report new experimental evidence that the brain’s mirror system plays a causal role in how people understand the actions of others. The study, to be published in Psychological Science, shows that specific motor regions … Read more

Summary: Researchers have created a brain-inspired semiconductor device that reproduces a neuron’s ability to change its sensitivity based on experience—known as intrinsic plasticity. The “Frequency Switching Neuristor” combines two complementary memristor types to control spike frequency, allowing the artificial neuron to learn from past activity and autonomously adapt its response. This hardware-level plasticity cuts energy … Read more

Summary: A long-term follow-up suggests a single course of treatment may not keep most young people with anxiety well over time. Source: Kim Krieger — UConn Only about one in five young people treated for anxiety remain symptom-free in the long term, according to researchers at UConn Health publishing in the Journal of the American … Read more

Summary: A new study distinguishes peer rejection from social network isolation in early adolescence. Children who are rejected by classmates tend to show more aggressive and less prosocial behavior, while children who are socially isolated are more likely to demonstrate withdrawn, internalizing behaviors and to expect less peer support when bullied. Source: North Carolina State … Read more