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Reprogramming Brain Cells Enables Flexible Decision-Making
Humans, like other animals, have the ability to constantly adapt to new situations. Researchers at the Brain Research Institute of the University of Zurich have utilized a mouse model to reveal which neurons in the brain are in command in guiding adaptive behavior. Their new study contributes to our understanding of decision-making processes in healthy […]
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New Path to Neuron Regeneration After Spinal Cord Injury
Dynamic networks that specialize in the transmission of information generally consist of multiple components, including not only primary processors, like computers, for example, but also numerous support applications and services. The human nervous system is fundamentally very similar—neurons, like computers, process and transmit information, sending molecular signals through axons to other neurons, all of which […]
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Beyond Plaques and Tangles: Genetic Variation May Increase Risk of Cognitive Decline
A genetic variation in some people may be associated with cognitive decline that can’t be explained by deposits of two key proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease, amyloid ß and tau, according to a study published in the September 16, 2020, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The genetic […]
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New gene implicated in neuron diseases
Motor neurons control movement, breathing, swallowing and speaking. Their death is a hallmark of progressive diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy and ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Understanding what can cause motor neurons to die is a key to developing precision treatments. Scientists are finding that the causes of motor neuron diseases are […]
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How Psychedelics Bind to Key Brain Cell Receptor
Psychedelic drugs such as LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline cause severe and often long-lasting hallucinations, but they show great potential in treating serious psychiatric conditions, such as major depressive disorder. To fully investigate this potential, scientists need to know how these drugs interact with brain cells at the molecular level to cause their dramatic biological effects. […]
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Scientists discover what happens in our brains when guessing
Researchers have identified how cells in our brains work together to join up memories of separate experiences, allowing us to make educated guesses in everyday life. By studying both human and mouse brain activity, they report that this process happens in a region of the brain called the hippocampus.
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How Fear Persists in the Mouse Brain
After a sudden fright, it’s common for your heart rate to stay elevated, your palms to stay sweaty and senses to remain alert for another threat. Mice also exhibit this response and a team of Caltech researchers wanted to learn what’s happening at a cellular level in the mouse’s brain during these persistent displays of […]
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As Pandemic Progressed, People’s Perceived Risks Went Up
In the first week of the coronavirus pandemic, people living in the United States underestimated their chances of catching the virus, or of getting seriously ill from the virus, according to a recently published Caltech-led study. But as the days progressed, those same people became more worried about their personal risk, and, as a result, […]
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首款“即插即用”的BCI系统
脑机接口（BCI）设备是瘫痪患者重要的辅助工具，能帮助他们通过意念控制鼠标和机械臂。但目前所广泛采用的插入式电极设备容易因时间的推移而出现信号改变的情况，需要使用者反复进行校准，十分繁琐。为了解决这一弊端，该团队研发出了一种基于大脑皮层电扫描技术（ECoG）的可植入设备，如便条纸般大小，只需固定在大脑皮层上即可使用。虽然这种设备所接收到的信号没有插入式电极精准，但却更为稳定。加上一同开发的可自行与脑电不断进行匹配更新的算法，就能在初校后实现 “即插即用”的效果，长时间不进行校准也不会影响使用，大大提高了BCI设备的便利性。
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甲状腺炎症与焦虑症具有相关性
在治疗焦虑症的时候，人们常常把目光放在神经系统上，而最新的研究结果却表明，内分泌系统的问题也会使人产生焦虑情绪。一部分焦虑症患者的超声和血检报告显示，其甲状腺功能虽然处于正常范围但却有明显的炎症反应。这种炎症反应是自身免疫障碍的一种表现，而在使用布洛芬和甲状腺素进行治疗后，不但甲状腺的情况有了改善，焦虑水平也出现了明显的下降。除了甲状腺，研究人员怀疑性激素和肾上腺素相关的问题也可能诱发焦虑情绪。因此，在进行心理诊疗时，还需将生理情况也纳入考量。