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Epilepsy and sudden death linked to bad gene

In sudden death in epilepsy, people stop breathing for no apparent reason and die. Now, a group of UConn neuroscientists have a lead as to why. Many neurologists argue that a bad seizure can travel through the brain to cause breathing or heartbeat malf…

Largest study of CTE finds it in 6% of subjects

Nearly 6% of athletes and non-athletes were found to have the neurodegenerative disorder chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in the largest, and broadest, study conducted of the disease to date. Kevin F. Bieniek, Ph.D., of UT Health San Antonio is t…

Squeezing of blood vessels may contribute to cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s

Reduced blood flow to the brain associated with early Alzheimer’s may be caused by the contraction of cells wrapped around blood vessels, according to a new study that opens up a new way to potentially treat the disease.

Pigs help scientists understand human brain

For the first time, researchers have used an imaging method normally reserved for humans to analyze brain activity in live agricultural swine models, and they have discovered that pig brains are even better platforms than previously thought for the stu…

Early-and-regular cannabis use by youth is associated with alteration in brain circuits that support cognitive control

The development of neural circuits in youth, at a particularly important time in their lives, can be heavily influenced by external factors — specifically the frequent and regular use of cannabis. A new study reports that alterations in cognitive cont…

Recognizing the hidden signs of depression

People with depression can experience a variety of symptoms, some of which may be harder to recognize than others. Hidden symptoms of depression can range from fatigue and changes in sleeping patterns to anger and losing interest in pleasurable activit…

How information is like snacks, money, and drugs — to your brain

A new study has found that information acts on the brain’s dopamine-producing reward system in the same way as money or food. The study is the first to demonstrate a common neural code for information and money.

First-ever successful mind-controlled robotic arm without brain implants

Researchers have made a breakthrough in the field of noninvasive robotic device control. Using a noninvasive brain-computer interface (BCI), researchers have developed the first-ever successful mind-controlled robotic arm exhibiting the ability to cont…

Joint hypermobility related to anxiety, also in animals

Researchers report the first evidence in a non-human species, the domestic dog, of a relation between joint hypermobility and excitability: dogs with more joint mobility and flexibility tend to have more anxiety problems.

‘Goldilocks’ neurons promote REM sleep

It has been a mystery why REM sleep, or dream sleep, increases when the room temperature is ‘just right’. Neuroscientists show that melanin-concentrating hormone neurons within the hypothalamus increase REM sleep when the need for body temperature defe…