Summary: A new study has identified genetic variants in the ITSN1 gene that significantly increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. Researchers analyzed nearly 500,000 genetic profiles and found that individuals carrying ITSN1 variants face up to a tenfold higher risk of Parkinson’s.The study also linked ITSN1 to earlier disease...
Summary: Researchers have developed a computational framework that maps how the brain processes speech during real-world conversations. Using electrocorticography (ECoG) and AI speech models, the study analyzed over 100 hours of brain activity, revealing how different regions handle sounds, speech patterns, and word meanings.The findings show that the brain processes...
Summary: A new brain-computer interface (BCI) has enabled a paralyzed man to control a robotic arm by simply imagining movements. Unlike previous BCIs, which lasted only a few days, this AI-enhanced device worked reliably for seven months. The AI model adapts to natural shifts in brain activity, maintaining accuracy over...
Summary: Researchers have identified memory-related brain cells that are highly vulnerable to tau protein accumulation, a key factor in Alzheimer’s disease. Using the MISS brain-mapping technique, they profiled 1.3 million cells in mice to pinpoint which cell types are most affected.Their findings show that glutamatergic neurons in the hippocampus are...
Summary: A new study shows that just three days of a high-fat diet can cause memory impairments and brain inflammation in older adults, independent of obesity. Researchers compared young and old rats fed a diet with 60% of calories from fat and found that only the older rats showed cognitive...
Summary: A new study shows that people with minority viewpoints on controversial topics often self-silence when discussing their opinions, leading them to behave in ways that contradict their true beliefs. Researchers found that participants who disagreed with the majority view avoided fully expressing their stance and engaged in behaviors that...
Summary: A new study finds that long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is associated with a lower risk of developing dementia. Researchers followed 11,745 adults over 14.5 years and found that those who used NSAIDs long-term had a 12% reduced dementia risk.However, short- and intermediate-term NSAID use did not...
Summary: A new study reveals that pupil size fluctuates constantly during sleep, reflecting changes in brain activation levels. Researchers developed a novel method to keep test subjects’ eyes open, allowing them to monitor these dynamics without disrupting sleep.They found that pupil changes correspond to sleep stages, brain waves, and responsiveness...
Summary: A new study reveals that pain and itch are processed by distinct neural circuits in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Researchers identified two types of neurons—one responding to both stimuli and another selectively activated by either pain or itch.Using advanced synaptic analysis and chemogenetic techniques, they found that these...
Summary: New studies challenge the idea that variability in human behavior, often seen as “noise,” is simply an error to be minimized. Researchers argue that noise provides valuable insights into cognitive processes, from decision-making to moral reasoning.By applying computational models, they show how different types of noise can reflect distinct...
