Summary: Three days of unconscious training with a brain–computer interface (BCI) reduced phantom limb pain. Participants reported an average 30% pain reduction after the first session, and the benefit persisted for several days after training ended. Source: Osaka University Phantom-limb pain is a common and often disabling condition experienced by many amputees. Although most people … Read more

Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine and the School of Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, together with collaborators at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), have developed a new class of transparent graphene microelectrodes that overcome a key limitation in studying brain circuitry. Transparent graphene microelectrodes for simultaneous imaging and electrophysiology Understanding how … Read more

Summary: Children born to women with epilepsy who were treated with certain antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy show higher rates of behavioral difficulties as they grow, according to a recent prospective study. Source: Wiley Study Finds Increased Behavioral Problems in Children Prenatally Exposed to Common Antiepileptic Drugs A new prospective study published in Epilepsia evaluated behavioral … Read more

Summary: New research shows that community gardening lowers stress and anxiety, boosts fiber intake and physical activity, and can help reduce risks for cancer and other chronic diseases. Source: University of Colorado Get more exercise. Eat more plants. Connect with neighbors. As people plan health-focused goals for the coming year, new research from CU Boulder … Read more

Artificial “Nose” Uses Diathermy Smoke to Identify Brain Tumours During Surgery Summary: Researchers at Tampere University have developed a real-time method that analyzes diathermy (electrosurgical) smoke to distinguish malignant brain tumour tissue from healthy tissue during surgery. Source: University of Tampere Overview Neurosurgeons commonly use electrosurgical tools—such as an electric knife or diathermy blade—to cut … Read more

Summary: The anti-diarrheal drug loperamide induces autophagy and promotes autophagy-dependent cell death in glioblastoma cells. Source: Goethe University A research team led by Dr Sjoerd van Wijk at the Institute of Experimental Cancer Research in Paediatrics, Goethe University, previously reported that loperamide, a common anti-diarrheal medication, can trigger death in glioblastoma cell lines. In their … Read more

Mega-dose supplements not recommended across the board pending further research. New research links low blood levels of vitamin D with a higher number of brain lesions and signs of more active disease in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), suggesting vitamin D status may be related to the risk of future disability from this autoimmune condition. … Read more

Summary: UCSF researchers have recorded real-time brain signatures tied to movement symptoms and active deep brain stimulation in people with Parkinson’s disease. These long-duration neural recordings during everyday life could enable personalized stimulation therapies tailored to each patient’s brain activity. Source: UCSF UC San Francisco scientists have made pioneering neural recordings in people with Parkinson’s … Read more

A link between handedness and mathematical skills exists, but it is more complex than commonly believed, according to a study led by the University of Liverpool. The association between handedness and mathematical ability has long been debated. Prior studies have produced mixed claims: some reported that left-handed people excel in mathematics, others suggested that strong … Read more

Summary: Researchers have identified a brain gene that drives anxiety symptoms and shown that altering its activity reduces anxiety in animal models. The work points to a new amygdala miR-483-5p/Pgap2 pathway that helps regulate the brain’s response to stress and suggests a promising target for future anxiety therapies. Source: University of Bristol Scientists from an … Read more