In animals, the brain (enkephale) (Greek for “in the skull”), is the control center of the central nervous system, responsible for behavior. The brain is located in the head, protected by the skull and close to the primary sensory apparatus of vision, hearing, equilibrioception (balance), sense of taste, and olfaction (smell).
Short stressful events may improve working memory – Acute stress – a short stressful incident – may enhance learning and memory through the effect of the stress hormone cortisol on the brain’s prefrontal cortex, revealed by researchers at the University at Buffalo.
Review provides new insights into the causes of anorexia – individuals with anorexia have an imbalance between circuits in the brain that regulate reward and emotion. – New imaging technology provides insight into abnormalities in the brain circuitry of patients with anorexia nervosa (commonly known as anorexia) that may contribute to the puzzling symptoms found in people with the eating disorder.
UCLA scientists present first genetic evidence for why placebos work — Researchers find genetic link to placebo response in depressive disorder. – In people suffering from major depressive disorder, depression or MDD, genes that influence the brain’s reward pathways may modulate the response to placebos, revealed by researchers.
Biomarkers may help predict risk of Alzheimer’s disease in patients with mild cognitive impairment – Several cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers showed good accuracy in identifying patients with mild cognitive impairment who progressed to Alzheimer’s disease, revealed by US researchers in JAMA.
Mayo Clinic researchers find previous exercise helps stroke patients recover faster – A person who has exercised regularly prior to the onset of a stroke appears to recover more quickly, say researchers from Mayo Clinic in Florida, USA, in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.
The fancier the cortex, the smarter the brain? – A larger brain cortex predicts greater intellectual capacity in a person, revealed by researchers. These findings would help researchers and scientists to find new ways of increasing intelligence.
Sinai Hospital of Baltimore is ranked as one of the top hospitals in the country for neurology and neurosurgery. – Sinai Hospital of Baltimore is ranked as one of the top hospitals in the country for neurology and neurosurgery, according to the U.S. News & World Report’s 2009-10 America’s Best Hospitals edition.
Research identifies network of altered genes that appear to play role in development of brain tumors – The interaction between a network of altered genes appears to play an important role in the development and progression of brain tumors, revealed by researchers in the Journal of the American Medical Association — JAMA.
Smoking associated with more rapid progression of multiple sclerosis — Smokers at higher risk of developing multiple sclerosis. – Patients with multiple sclerosis who smoke appear to experience a more rapid progression of their disease, revealed by researchers in the Archives of Neurology.
UNSW and the Black Dog Institute will take part in the largest international study of its type to pinpoint the risk factors associated with bipolar disorder. – Around 500 Australians aged 12 to 30 will be recruited to take part in a new study to know causes of bipolar disorder and related risk factors, to be conducted in collaboration with four major research institutions in the United States – Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and the Universities of Michigan, Indiana and Washington.
White matter changes may predict dementia risk – Elderly people with no memory or thinking problems are more likely to later develop thinking problems if they have a growing amount of “brain rust,” or small areas of brain damage, revealed by researchers.
Alzheimer’s disease drug treats traumatic brain injury, report GUMC researchers – The destructive cellular pathways activated in Alzheimer’s disease are also triggered following traumatic brain injury, say researchers from Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC).
