The brains are incredibly good at processing faces, and even have specific regions specialized for this function. But what face dimensions are we observing? Do they observe general properties first; then look at the details? Or are dimensions such as gender or other identity details decoded interdependently? the response of the brain to faces in…
What happens in the brain when listening to the rhythmic pace of a song; or when waiting for a traffic light to turn green? For the first time, an imaging study shows that a time map exists in a specific area of the human brain; the so-called supplementary motor area (SMA). A region of the…
Anxiety is an emotion characterized by an unpleasant state of inner turmoil; often accompanied by nervous behavior such as pacing back and forth, somatic complaints, and rumination. It is the subjectively unpleasant feelings of dread over anticipated events, such as the feeling of imminent death. Anxiety is not the same as fear, which is a response to…
As visual information flows into the brain through the retina; the visual cortex transforms the sensory input into coherent perceptions. Neuroscientists have long hypothesized that a part of the visual cortex called the inferotemporal (IT) cortex is necessary for the key task of recognizing individual objects, but the evidence has been inconclusive. In a new…
A new study from Iowa State University biomedical researchers illuminates the biological processes by which exposure to some metals can contribute to the onset of Parkinson’s-like symptoms. Focuses on the metal manganese, which has a range of industrial uses as an alloy. Anumantha Kanthasamy, a Clarence Hartley Covault Distinguished Professor in veterinary medicine and the…
Choosing to forget something might take more mental effort than trying to remember it; researchers at The University of Texas at Austin discovered through neuroimaging. This surprising result extends prior research on intentional forgetting; which focused on reducing attention to the unwanted information through redirecting attention away from unwanted experiences or suppressing the memory’s retrieval.…
The human brain is the central organ of the human nervous system; with the spinal cord makes up the central nervous system. The brain consists of the cerebrum; the brainstem, and the cerebellum. It controls most of the activities of the body; processing, integrating, and coordinating the information it receives from the sense organs and making…
The release of neurotransmitters and hormones in the body is tightly controlled by complex protein machinery embedded in cell membranes. Manipulating that machinery with drugs could improve treatment of disorders ranging from diabetes to Parkinson’s disease. Progress has been slow, however; because of the lack of an animal model to test the effects of potential…
One of the most basic and universal responses a person can have to music is engagement. When listeners are engaged with music, they follow the sounds closely, connecting in an effective; invested way to what they hear. Despite the importance of this engagement; it was difficult to study given the limits of self-report and physiological…
Factors that influence the health of our blood vessels; such as smoking, high blood and pulse pressures, obesity, and diabetes, are linked to less healthy brains. The study examined the associations between seven vascular risk factors and differences in the structures of parts of the brain. The strongest links were with areas of the brain…
A cerebral organoid describes artificially grown, in vitro, miniature organs resembling the brain. Cerebral organoids are by culturing human pluripotent stem cells in a three-dimensional rotational bioreactor; develop over a course of months. The human brain is an extremely complex system of heterogeneous tissues and consists of an extremely diverse array of neurons. This complexity has made…
A Mid-Atlantic research team with roots at the University of Delaware has received a $440,000 grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) to test a device; called VibeForward, that uses vibration therapy to reduce symptoms of freezing of gait in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Non-invasive, lightweight and portable, and equipped with…