Tag Archives: brain

B for brain, B for B-complex!As Phoebe would have pointed out, ‘coincidence’?Scientific evidence suggests it’s definitely not!Emerging research shows that beyond the well-known B6 and B12, the full vitamin B-complex, including B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B7 (biotin), and B9 (folate), plays vital roles in keeping your brain energized and resilient. Studies reveal that these B …

Scientists are making significant strides forward in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, and a newly developed system can translate our thoughts into text or sound. It’s essentially an inner speech decoder, developed by researchers from institutions across the US. In tests on four volunteers with severe paralysis, the decoder hit an accuracy rate of up to 74 percent in translating thoughts …

You might expect that with age comes a natural progression of brain degeneration, but new research shows that this might not be the case for all regions of the brain. A new analysis of mouse and human brains suggests that some parts of the somatosensory cortex – the part of the brain that processes sensory information – aren’t just exempt …

Even years after a person has lost an arm, the brain faithfully maintains the circuits that once controlled the missing limb. MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST: When someone loses an arm, they can see it’s gone, but a new study finds their brain keeps on trying to interact with the missing limb. NPR’s Jon Hamilton reports on a study that challenges …

Summary: A new study identifies brain area 46 in the marmoset dorsolateral prefrontal cortex as a key regulator of mood-related behavior. When this region was inactivated, the animals showed less interest in rewards and heightened sensitivity to threats, mimicking depression and anxiety symptoms. Researchers also discovered a functional network connecting areas 46, 32, and 25 that helps counterbalance these effects, …

Summary: A new study reveals that the brain actively maintains blood sugar stability during everyday life, not just during crises. Researchers identified VMHCckbr neurons in the hypothalamus that regulate glucose by promoting fat breakdown, especially during the early hours of sleep. This prevents overnight hypoglycemia and ensures a steady energy supply. The findings suggest that overactivity of these neurons may …

Summary: Stress is a universal experience, but not all stress affects the brain in the same way. A new study in rats reveals that acute stress provokes anxiety-like behaviors, especially in males, while chronic stress is more strongly tied to depressive symptoms. Researchers also found changes in key blood-brain barrier proteins, showing that stress compromises brain defenses in different ways …

The pill may subtly rewire women’s brains—making them more prone to sadness, irritability and mood swings, scientists warn.  A study by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, found that oral contraceptives change activity in brain circuits that regulate mood and emotion. The discovery may help explain why some women experience psychological side effects when starting the pill, while …

Researchers have reversed memory loss in aging mice by targeting a protein that builds up in brain cells, pointing toward a potential pathway to counter the cognitive declines of aging. In a new study, researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, examined a protein called ferritin light chain 1 (FTL1), which was found to accumulate in the brain’s memory …

If Dr. Rudolph Tanzi has learned anything from his many years of research, it is that nothing helps the brain more than healthy habits. “Even if you’re taking supplements, nothing substitutes for lifestyle,” Tanzi, the director of Genetics and Aging Research at Massachusetts General Hospital and a professor of child neurology at Harvard Medical School, told Business Insider. Tanzi, who …