THEPSYCHOLOGYTURKEY

Researchers investigating brain activity in older people say the coordination between neuronal activity and the brain's oxygenation is altered. Non-invasive recording of the function of these neurovascular units in living humans has never been done before, but has now been achieved by using several measurement techniques coupled with novel analysis methods. The results promise a relatively simple and non-invasive method for assessing the state of the brain in healthy aging, and in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. http://dlvr.it/St0xDD

A gene encoding a protein linked to tau production -- tripartite motif protein 11 (TRIM11) -- was found to suppress deterioration in small animal models of neurodegenerative diseases similar to Alzheimer's disease (AD), while improving cognitive and motor abilities, according to new research. http://dlvr.it/SsxKj5

A group of nerve cells in the brain has the remarkable ability to completely stop all forms of movement, a new mouse study shows. The discovery provides valuable insight into how the nervous system can control our movements. http://dlvr.it/Ssw2tR

Although the prevailing wisdom among neuroscientists is that Purkinje cells have just one primary dendrite that connects with a single climbing fiber from the brain stem, new research shows that nearly all Purkinje cells in the human cerebellum have multiple primary dendrites. http://dlvr.it/Ssv1VW

Researchers have investigated the impact of 10-min very light exercise on pupil size and prefrontal function. Their findings provide the first evidence that changes in pupil size during exercise can serve as an indicator for the enhancement of cognitive function associated with the prefrontal cortex resulting from very light exercise. http://dlvr.it/SstXmX

How does the brain adapt our behavior in response to an infection or injury? Scientists have revealed the existence of a circuit involved in sensing and also in the regulation of the anti-inflammatory response orchestrated by different brain regions. This circuit detects inflammation in the blood and organizes and regulates the immune response. It embodies a two-way connection between the brain and immune system. http://dlvr.it/Ssq32j

A new study hascrevealed that the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) can be slowed by suppressing a specific protein in the brain that causes corrosion. http://dlvr.it/SsnWLx

People who start taking medication soon after the first signs of multiple sclerosis (MS) may have a lower risk of disability later, according to a new study. http://dlvr.it/SsbTBW

The brain registers what we see even if we are not consciously aware of it. We even react emotionally to the content. How is this possible? A new experiment reveals that, while various regions of the brain register brief activity when a new image is viewed, the visual cortex retains that pattern of activity -- at a reduced level -- throughout the time the image is viewed. Is conscious awareness when the prefrontal cortex accesses the sustained activity in the visual cortex? http://dlvr.it/SsZf7r

Researchers have uncovered remarkable new insights into the neural pathways of the brain that allow people to act to regulate their body temperature in response to changes in the environment. Their study has revealed two previously unidentified distinct neuronal pathways: one for cold avoidance and one for heat avoidance. This discovery could provide a deeper understanding of the neural circuit mechanisms of the brain and may even lead to the development of new technologies for the prevention of heatstroke. http://dlvr.it/SsWhS1

Lewy body disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease. A research group has now shown that the disease can be detected before symptoms appear, using a spinal fluid test. Researchers also demonstrate that reduced sense of smell is strongly linked to Lewy body disease even before other clear symptoms have developed. http://dlvr.it/SsQJYT

Averting our eyes from things that scare us may be due to a specific cluster of neurons in a visual region of the brain, according to new research. Researchers found that in fruit fly brains, these neurons release a chemical called tachykinin which appears to control the fly's movement to avoid facing a potential threat. Fruit fly brains can offer a useful analogy for larger mammals, so this research may help us better understand our own human reactions to scary situations and phobias. Next, the team want to find out how these neurons fit into the wider circuitry of the brain so they can ultimately map out how fear controls vision. http://dlvr.it/Ss9jyZ

Researchers developed a method to produce artificially grown miniature brains -- called human brain organoids -- free of animal cells that could greatly improve the way neurodegenerative conditions are studied and, eventually, treated. The work offers a solution to overcome Matrigel's weaknesses. http://dlvr.it/Ss8Z0l

Older people who have little social contact with others may be more likely to have loss of overall brain volume, and in areas of the brain affected by dementia, than people with more frequent social contact, according to a new study. http://dlvr.it/Ss64Sq

Although most people don't associate oral disease with serious health problems, increasing evidence shows that oral bacteria play a significant role in systemic diseases like colon cancer and heart disease. Now, new research shows a link between periodontal (gum) disease and the formation of amyloid plaque, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. http://dlvr.it/Ss46pv

That experiences leave their trace in the connectivity of the brain has been known for a while, but a pioneering study now shows how massive these effects really are. The findings in mice provide unprecedented insights into the complexity of large-scale neural networks and brain plasticity. Moreover, they could pave the way for new brain-inspired artificial intelligence methods. http://dlvr.it/Ss2vDX

Mania, in which mood and energy level are extremely elevated for at least a week, and hypomania, which is less severe and lasts at least four days, are the defining features of bipolar spectrum disorders (BSD) and can be the most disruptive symptoms. A new study now identifies a signature of risk for developing future mania or hypomania. http://dlvr.it/Ss2Q81

Scientists have come together to present a new way to observe the brain's structure and dynamics -- in a high resolution and without damaging the tissue. http://dlvr.it/Ss0J6b

A new study suggests that birth-control pills negatively impact women's stress response. http://dlvr.it/Srz21c

Researchers have uncovered a potential mechanism in humans that explains how and why deep-sleep brain waves at night are able to regulate the body's sensitivity to insulin, which in turn improves blood sugar control the next day. It's an exciting advance because sleep is a modifiable lifestyle factor that could now be used as part of a therapeutic and painless adjunct treatment for those with high blood sugar or Type 2 diabetes. http://dlvr.it/Srrwgr

A study has demonstrated for the first time that diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) can be significantly improved by additionally measuring the thickness of retinal layers in the eye. Use of the procedure helps to detect the condition at an earlier stage and predict its progression more accurately. This can lead to a decisive increase in the chance of improved patient outcomes. http://dlvr.it/SrpZBR

Neuroscientists say the brain's auditory lexicon, a catalog of verbal language, is actually located in the front of the primary auditory cortex, not in back of it -- a finding that upends a century-long understanding of this area of the brain. The new understanding matters because it may impact recovery and rehabilitation following a brain injury such as a stroke. http://dlvr.it/SrnbcV

Taking good care of your teeth may be linked to better brain health, according to a new study. The study found that gum disease and tooth loss were linked to brain shrinkage in the hippocampus, which plays a role in memory and Alzheimer's disease. The study does not prove that gum disease or tooth loss causes Alzheimer's disease; it only shows an association. http://dlvr.it/Srkvx2

A cochlear signal, the exact role of which has been unclear since its discovery around 70 years ago, probably gives the brain information on whether the ear is functioning normally or not. These new findings are an important piece of the puzzle in explaining what happens in the ear in hearing impairment caused by harmful noise, and may in the long run contribute to diagnosing noise-induced hearing injury. http://dlvr.it/SrgsTx