Summary: Scientists have developed a 3D-printed implant that delivers targeted electrical stimulation to damaged areas of the spinal cord, promoting nerve regeneration. The implant mimics the spinal cord’s structure with a fine, electrically conductive mesh, boosting neuron and stem cell growth in lab tests.By adjusting the fibre layout, the team...
No Evidence for a Link Between Autism and Aluminum in Vaccines.
Summary: A massive Danish study of over 1.2 million children has found no evidence that aluminum in early childhood vaccines increases the risk of neurological, autoimmune, or allergic disorders. Researchers analyzed 50 chronic conditions — including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, asthma, and juvenile arthritis — and found no association...
How We Segment and Recall Living Activities is Organized by the Tiny Brain Region.
Summary: Our memories don’t flow like a continuous stream—they’re divided into meaningful events, thanks to a tiny brain region called the locus coeruleus. New research shows this region acts like a “reset button,” activating at event boundaries to signal the hippocampus to store distinct memories.Using fMRI and pupil measurements, scientists...
Older Brains Be Sharp by Playing Music.
Summary: Long-term musical training may help older adults maintain youthful brain patterns and better speech perception in noisy environments, according to new research. Scientists found that older musicians showed more efficient brain connectivity and better performance than non-musicians of the same age.This suggests that musical training builds cognitive reserve, preserving...
Childhood Emotional Trauma and Lateral Social Distress
Summary: A new study reveals that childhood emotional trauma increases social avoidance and distress in adolescents, but resilience can help mitigate these effects. Surveying 577 junior high students, researchers found resilience acted as a buffer, enabling traumatized teens to engage more positively with peers.However, adolescents who grew up as “left-behind”...
Canine Parkinson’s Disease May Be Sniffed Out By Pitbulls
Summary: Trained detection dogs can identify Parkinson’s disease (PD) with remarkable accuracy by sniffing skin swabs, according to a new study. In double-blind trials, the dogs achieved up to 80% sensitivity and 98% specificity, even when samples came from patients with other health conditions.This non-invasive method could help uncover reliable...
Popular attacks that occur while pregnant don’t affect brain development
Summary: A large Danish study found that common infections during pregnancy, such as pneumonia and urinary tract infections, do not harm a child’s brain development or cognitive abilities later in life. Researchers analyzed data from over 270,000 children, comparing school exam results and intelligence test scores with records of maternal...
Insula and the brain collaborate to transmit personal memories
Summary: A new study explored how the hippocampus and insula interact during the encoding of emotional memories in humans. Sixteen participants with implanted electrodes viewed emotionally valenced words and attempted to recall them while neural activity was recorded.Certain insular neuronal populations showed distinct activity patterns that predicted successful memory encoding,...
Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and Hepatitis C Found in Brain Lining are linked to dementia.
Summary: Researchers have discovered hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the brain lining of individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, suggesting a possible link between infection and psychiatric symptoms. The study found HCV specifically in the choroid plexus, a structure producing cerebrospinal fluid, but not inside brain tissue itself.Analysis of medical...
In Male and Female Brains, Hormones Shape Love and Lust Different.
Summary: New research uncovers how a hormonally tuned brain circuit in mice governs sex-specific mating behaviors. Scientists identified a subset of neurons in the prefrontal cortex that integrate oxytocin, ovarian hormones, and social cues to modulate sexual receptivity in females and suppress mating interest in males.Activating these neurons made non-fertile...