How the “Little Brain” Fuels Motivation and Addiction

How the "Little Brain" Fuels Motivation and Addiction

Key points First-of-its-kind research shows how the cerebellum modulates dopamine release within the basal ganglia. Motivation and addiction are both fueled by dopamine activation in the basal ganglia’s substantia nigra. Too little dopamine causes Parkinson’s disease. Stimulating the cerebellum may be a new treatment…

Study finds brain mechanism that may explain how physical exercise improves mood

Study finds brain mechanism that may explain how physical exercise improves mood

by Nanjing University School of Life Sciences Challenging movement can improve anxiety more effectively by recruiting the hypothalamic-cerebellar orexinergic circuit which more strongly activates the cerebello-amygdalar glutamatergic monosynaptic projections. Credit: Neuron (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.01.007 “Only exercise can remove all kinds of doubts,” Goethe said….

5 easy ways to start following the MIND diet for longevity and brain health

5 easy ways to start following the MIND diet for longevity and brain health

Health 5 easy ways to start following the MIND diet for longevity and brain health Facebook Email Twitter LinkedIn Copy Link Read in app The MIND diet focuses on eating patterns that protect your brain as you age, and you can get started with…

The Science of Sleep: Understanding What Happens When You Sleep

The Science of Sleep: Understanding What Happens When You Sleep

man in sleep study Sleep accounts for one-quarter to one-third of the human lifespan. But what exactly happens when you sleep? Before the 1950s, most people believed sleep was a passive activity during which the body and brain were dormant. “But it turns out…

New Tech Could Record Deep-Brain Activity From Surface

New Tech Could Record Deep-Brain Activity From Surface

0 Modern technology for recording deep-brain activity involves sharp metal electrodes that penetrate the tissue, causing damage that can compromise the signal and limiting how often they can be used. A rapidly growing area in materials science and engineering is to fix the problem…

You must remember this: VT discovery may lead to keeping good memories, removing bad ones

You must remember this: VT discovery may lead to keeping good memories, removing bad ones

A protein in the brain may pave the way for targeted therapeutic interventions to enhance memory or alleviate negative memories. Virginia Tech researchers discovered a new function for a common protein in the brain — a development that sheds new light on the mysteries…

Neuroscientists just uncovered a fascinating link between sleep, memory, and breathing

In a groundbreaking study, researchers have discovered a significant link between breathing patterns during sleep and the brain’s ability to consolidate memories. This finding, published in Nature Communications , sheds light on how the simple act of breathing might play a pivotal role in…

Does the Brain Slow Down Our Aging Process?

Does the Brain Slow Down Our Aging Process?

Key points Inflammation plays a critical role in aging and age-related diseases. The immune system has mechanisms for resolving inflammation that are impaired in elderly individuals. The brain is capable of sending an antiinflammatory signal to inflamed tissues and disrupted with aging. It has…

How the brains of healthy older adults perceive color

How the brains of healthy older adults perceive color

Procedure of the color pupillometry experiment. The experimental stimuli consisted of 26 broad-spectrum color fields which were shown in a black-out room on an Eizo ColorEdge CG2420 24-inch LCD monitor in pseudo-randomized to prevent that variations of the same color category were shown in…

Promising Findings – Scientists Successfully Revive Lost Brain Function Following Stroke

Promising Findings – Scientists Successfully Revive Lost Brain Function Following Stroke

Researchers have discovered a potential stroke recovery therapy that can restore brain function in mice after a stroke. This therapy, involving inhibitors of the metabotropic glutamate receptor mGluR5, has shown to improve sensorimotor functions even when administered days after a stroke. The study suggests…

Multivitamins May Boost Memory and Brain Health in Older Adults

Multivitamins May Boost Memory and Brain Health in Older Adults

What if you could boost your memory and slow cognitive aging with a single supplement? According to a major new study, you can. Multivitamins are the most commonly used dietary supplements in the U.S., with 40 percent of those over the age of 60…

New online study explores link between healthy brains and bodies

New online study explores link between healthy brains and bodies

Credit: Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels So little is understood about the dialogue between the body and the brain. It might seem obvious that our physical state can affect our ability to think, but there are many fundamental questions neuroscientists would still like to answer—with…

Cannabis found to activate specific hunger neurons in brain

Cannabis found to activate specific hunger neurons in brain

Vapor Cannabis Exposure Augments Meal Frequency. (A) Illustrates the vapor chamber apparatus used in the following studies. (B), (C), and (E) Represent quantification of ingested chow at 1-h intervals following air or cannabis exposure (n = 12/group), significance calculated with two-way repeated measures ANOVA…

Research shows Lion’s mane mushroom can combat dementia and cognitive decline

Currently, there are more than 55 million people who suffer from dementia worldwide, and nearly 10 million new cases of dementia are diagnosed each year . Cognitive decline has become such a pervasive issue in modern society; it has become normalized across the political…

This Graphene-Based Brain Implant Can Peer Deep Into the Brain From Its Surface

This Graphene-Based Brain Implant Can Peer Deep Into the Brain From Its Surface

Finding ways to reduce the invasiveness of brain implants could greatly expand their potential applications. A new device tested in mice that sits on the brain’s surface—but can still read activity deep within—could lead to safer and more effective ways to read neural activity….

Study challenges traditional views on how the brain processes movement and sensation

Study challenges traditional views on how the brain processes movement and sensation

Utilizing optogenetics, researchers at Fujita Health University have selectively deactivated neural pathways with light, revealing new insights into how sensory and motor areas of the mouse brain communicate during movement. Credit: Takayuki Yamashita from Fujita Health University Our body movements profoundly impact how our…

Good or bad? High levels of HDL or “good” cholesterol may be linked to dementia, reveals study

Good or bad? High levels of HDL or “good” cholesterol may be linked to dementia, reveals study

Advertisement Earlier studies have suggested that high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is associated with several health benefits, such as promoting heart health. But, according to a recent study, high levels of HDL cholesterol could be linked to a greater risk of dementia . The study,…

New Study Finds the Best Brain Exercises to Boost Memory

New Study Finds the Best Brain Exercises to Boost Memory

New Study Finds the Best Brain Exercises to Boost Memory Research has found exercise can have a positive impact on your memory and brain health. A new study linked vigorous exercise to improved memory, planning, and organization. Data suggests just 10 minutes a day…

Scientists link growth hormone to anxiety and fear memory through specific neuron group

Scientists link growth hormone to anxiety and fear memory through specific neuron group

Growth hormone (GH) acts on many tissues throughout the body, helping build bones and muscles, among other functions. It is also a powerful anxiolytic. A study conducted by researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil has produced a deeper understanding of…

Exploring fear engrams to shed light on physical manifestation of memory in the brain

Exploring fear engrams to shed light on physical manifestation of memory in the brain

In a world grappling with the complexities of mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and PTSD, new research from Boston University neuroscientist Dr. Steve Ramirez and collaborators offers a unique perspective. The study, recently published in the Journal of Neuroscience , delves into the…

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