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Neuroscience news

Neuroscience

Potential new drug that protects blood-brain barrier shows promise against Alzheimer's

Worldwide, more than 55 million people suffer from dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other conditions that destroy cells in the brain and nervous system.

Neuroscience

Experimental drug may benefit some patients with rare form of ALS

When Columbia neurologist and scientist Neil Shneider speaks to his ALS patients who volunteer for experimental therapies, he's unwaveringly honest. "Patients always ask me, 'What can I hope to get out of this?"' Shneider ...

Genetics

Tiny genetic switch found to control brain balance and behavior

Researchers at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) have identified a remarkably small but critical piece of genetic code that helps determine how brain cells connect, communicate, and function. The discovery not only deepens ...

Neuroscience

Electrical stimulation offers hope for treating spinal injuries

A grid of electrodes placed on the backs of study participants delivered enough low-voltage electrical stimulation through the skin to change the short-term function of spinal cord neurons, a study led by UT Southwestern ...

Neuroscience

'Groovy' brains may be more efficient

Many grooves and dimples on the surface of the brain are unique to humans, but they're often dismissed as an uninteresting consequence of packing an unusually large brain into a too-small skull.

Psychology & Psychiatry

How the placebo effect tricks the mind into relieving pain

The detailed mechanism of how the placebo effect reduces the perception of pain in rats has been uncovered by RIKEN neuroscientists. These findings, published in Science Advances, could potentially lead to ways to harness ...

Psychology & Psychiatry

Experiment sheds new light on the origins of consciousness

An experiment seven years in the making has uncovered new insights into the nature of consciousness and challenges two prominent, competing scientific theories: Integrated Information Theory (IIT) and Global Neuronal Workspace ...

Neuroscience

Compromised synapse-clearing ability linked to autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition in which affected individuals experience difficulties in social communication and exhibit restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior or interests.

Genetics

A protein link between brain diseases and leaky blood vessels

Reduced levels of a critical protein are linked to devastating brain diseases like Alzheimer's, frontotemporal dementia, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Surprisingly, the protein shortage primarily affects the brain's ...