SRI receives $6.3 million mental health grant Oct 9, 2009
3 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to study a new product involved in brain imaging and the treatment of mental disorders, the company announced Oct. 5. Among other things, the company will determine whether a new type of binding molecule can be administered to people for use in positron emission topography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and other types of brain scans, SRI said in a press release. (Palo Alto Online, CA)
Dyslexia: Getting lostin the translation Oct 7, 2009
For some children, though, this task is extraordinarily difficult, and brain imaging studies have shown that many of them end up using the right half of their brains for reading tasks, even though it isn't ideally suited for that purpose. The right brain is associated with spatial and visual skills, and it turns out that many of history's most celebrated artists, architects and outside-the-box thinkers are known to have struggled with dyslexia. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
Yamaha Motor Begins Second Research on 'The Relationship between Motorcycle Riding and Brain Stimulation' Oct 6, 2009
Tokyo, Oct 6, 2009 (JCN) - Yamaha Motor has announced the start of a second joint research project on the subject of the relationship between motorcycle riding and brain stimulation with Ryuta Kawashima Laboratory of the Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer at Tohoku University. The project began in September 2009 and is planned to continue until December 2010. (JCN Network, Japan)
Rethinking Alzheimer's disease and its treatment targets Sep 23, 2009
This is, according to Bartzokis, "similar to cleaning up a house that's been flooded by water but never repairing the actual pipe that created the flood. "For drug development then, the targets should be much further upstream, earlier in the process before the AB plaques even develop," he said. Instead of focusing on reducing amyloid beta, Bartzokis argues, the myelin model suggests entirely different approaches to treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease that precede plaque formation.... (EurekAlert!)
You Can't Trust A Tortured Brain: Neuroscience Discredits Coercive Interrogation Sep 22, 2009
20, 2008) There is evidence that brain imaging technology is being used to interrogate suspected terrorists despite concerns that it may not be reliable, and that it might inadvertently promote abuse of. (Oct. (Science Daily)
Virtual reality used for blind to map real world Sep 18, 2009
"(We've) concentrated on developing the gaming software as a rehabilitation tool to allow blind users to survey unfamiliar buildings before actually navigating through them in real life, as well as conducting brain imaging studies to uncover how the brain of a blind individual accomplishes this task," said Merabet. According to the World Health Organization, there are about 314 million visually impaired people worldwide and about 45 million of them are blind. (MSNBC -- Technology)
The pen may be mightier than the keyboard Sep 17, 2009
"But we don't want to lose sight of the fact that it is important for developing writers and children with transcription disability to be able to form letters by hand. A keyboard doesn't allow a child to have the same opportunity to engage the hand while forming letters on a keyboard a letter is selected by pressing a key and is not formed. Brain imaging studies with adults have shown an advantage for forming letters over selecting or viewing letters. A brain imaging study at the University of... (EurekAlert!)
Brain's Response To Seeing Food May Be Linked To Weight Loss Maintenance Sep 17, 2009
Findings from this brain imaging study, published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, suggest that successful weight loss maintainers may learn to respond differently to food cues. "Our findings shed some light on the biological factors that may contribute to weight loss maintenance. They also provide an intriguing complement to previous behavioral studies that suggest people who have maintained a long-term weight loss monitor their food intake closely and exhibit restraint in their... (Science Daily)
The role of genetic factors in adult ADHD Sep 15, 2009
The recent expansion of knowledge in genetics, brain imaging, and behavioural research is leading to a better understanding of the causes of ADHD, and paving the way for strategies for the development of more effective treatments for all age groups affected by this disorder and the prevention of the progression of disease into adulthood ... Schneider M, Retz W, Coogan A, Thome J, Rosler M. Anatomical and functional brain imaging in adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) a... (EurekAlert!)
Neurons don't waste energy Sep 12, 2009
Neurons from the rat hippocampus use three times less energy to propagate an action potential down an axon than was previously believed, according to a new study published in this week's issue of Science -- providing important clues for interpreting brain imaging techniques ... The results of this study have important implications for the interpretation of brain imaging techniques such as functional MRI (fMRI), said Hser. (The Scientist)
Can you see time? Sep 12, 2009
Brain imaging allows scientist to see what causes synaesthesia. And this is not the only emotional aspect of synaesthesia. (BBC News -- Science)
Earlier Model of Human Brain's Energy Usage Underestimated Its Efficiency Sep 11, 2009
As Magistretti notes, "All the functional brain imaging techniques that are used to explore brain activity, or PET (positron emission tomography), measure the use of energy in areas that are more active than others." But those types of imaging measure this sort of energy use only indirectly, so, Roth says, "It's up to the fMRI people to take this on board and decide what it means to the signals they are seeing.". That there is such a vast difference in efficiency between giant squid and small... (Scientific American)
Memories Exist Even When Forgotten Sep 10, 2009
Using advanced brain imaging techniques, the scientists discovered that a person's brain activity while remembering an event is very similar to when it was first experienced, even if specifics can't be recalled ... Johnson says brain imaging shines a "searchlight" into the brain. (Science Daily)
Brain Defect Implicated In Early Schizophrenia Sep 9, 2009
8, 2009) In the first functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study of its kind, neurologists and psychiatrists at Columbia University have identified an area of the brain involved in the earliest stages of schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders. Activity in this specific region of the hippocampus may help predict the onset of the disease, offering opportunities for earlier diagnosis and for the development of drugs for schizophrenia prevention. (Science Daily)
Life sciences company raises $5M investment Sep 9, 2009
A new study using brain imaging to study teen behavior is challenging a widely held theory about why adolescents sometimes make risky decisions. The study indicates that adolescents who engage in dangerous activities have more mature brains, not less. (Atlanta Business Chronicle, GA)
What Causes Depression? Sep 5, 2009
Brain imaging technology reveals some interesting changes in the brains of depressed people. When compared to brains of people who are not depressed, a depressed person s brain shows a number of abnormalities. (Suite101.com)
Is Tetris Good For The Brain? Sep 2, 2009
1, 2009) Brain imaging shows playing Tetris leads to a thicker cortex and may also increase brain efficiency, according to research published in the open access journal BMC Research Notes ... Researchers from Mind Research Network in Albuquerque used brain imaging and Tetris to investigate whether practice makes the brain efficient because it increases gray matter. (Science Daily)
Playing Tetris elevates brain efficiency Sep 2, 2009
The network used brain imaging and the game Tetris to investigate whether practicing the game makes the brain efficient because it increased gray matter. The study was funded by , the sole agent for the Tetris Co. Dr. Richard Haier, the study s lead author, is a consultant to Blue Planet. (New Mexico Business Weekly, NM)
Playing Tetris could boost brain power Sep 2, 2009
Dr. Rex Jung and Dr. Richard Haier, co-investigators in the Tetris study, made use of brain imaging and Tetris to see if practice makes the brain efficient because it increases gray matter. Jung, a clinical neuropsychologist, said: "One of the most surprising findings of brain research in the last five years was that juggling practice increased gray matter in the motor areas of the brain. "We did our Tetris study to see if mental practice increased cortical thickness, a sign of more gray matter. (India Times, India)
Caltech neuroscientists find brain region responsible for our sense of personal space Aug 31, 2009
Other coauthors of the paper, "Personal Space Regulation by the Human Amygdala," are postdoctoral scholar Jan Glscher and J. Michael Tyszka, the associate director of the Caltech Brain Imaging Center and director of Magnetic Resonance Physics. The work was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the Simons Foundation, the Della Martin Foundation, and a global Center of Excellence grant from Japan. (EurekAlert!)
More Accurate Interpretation Of Brain Imaging Data Aug 31, 2009
30, 2009) Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a technique widely used in studying the human brain. However, it has long been unclear exactly how fMRI signals are generated at brain cell level. (Science Daily)
It's Not All In Your Head: Descending Neural Mechanisms Of Placebo-induced Pain Control Aug 30, 2009
Brain imaging studies have shown that placebo analgesia stimulates release of endogenous opioids from higher brain regions associated with pain modulation and is associated with a decrease in signals from pain-sensitive areas ... Eippert and colleagues employed sophisticated brain imaging techniques to examine both higher cortical and lower brainstem responses in two groups of subjects: one receiving a drug called naloxone, which blocks opioid signaling, and one group with a natural opioid... (Science Daily)
New research findings pave the way to more accurate interpretation of brain imaging data Aug 29, 2009
Public release date: 28-Aug-2009. Contact: Professor Kai Kaila. (EurekAlert!)
Christianity confusion Aug 27, 2009
The Faith s article Jan. 27 entitled, "Center studies spirituality with brain imaging" by Joann Loviglio, is very challenging. The first paragraph reads, "Religion and science can combine to create some thorny questions: Does God exist outside the human mind, or is God a creation of our brains? Why do we have faith in things that we cannot prove, whether it's the afterlife or UFOs?". (Fresno Bee -- Opinion)
Surprising results in teen study: adolescent risky behavior may signal mature brain Aug 26, 2009
A new study using brain imaging to study teen behavior indicates that adolescents who engage in dangerous activities have frontal white matter tracts that are more adult in form than their more conservative peers ... The new study, using a new form of brain imaging, calls into question this theory. (EurekAlert!)
Scripps Research, UCSD, and University of Oslo team ties genetic variations to brain size Aug 19, 2009
LA JOLLA, CA August 17, 2009 Using advanced brain imaging and genomics technologies, an international team of researchers co-led by Scripps Research Institute scientists has shown for the first time that natural variations in a specific gene influence brain structure ... This proved a challenging task, because the extensive brain imaging used for TOPsand essential for finding the SNP-cortical area correlationsis not commonly used ... Though brain size has long been tied to various... (EurekAlert!)
Window Into The Brain: Diffusion Imaging MRI Tracks Memories And May Detect Alzheimer's At Early Stage Aug 18, 2009
16, 2006) UCLA researchers developed a new brain imaging strategy that tracks neural cell loss in the hippocampus, a key memory center of the brain ... 22, 2004) Using brain imaging, researchers at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) have found clear differences in brain function between healthy people who carry a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's. (Science Daily)
Why humans talk and chimps don't Aug 14, 2009
However, brain imaging studies have hinted that Broca's area also tends to be larger in one half of the chimpanzee brain than the other. What's more, this area kicks into action when chimps communicate via hand gestures, another study found. (India Times, India)
Chinese Acupuncture Affects Brain's Ability To Regulate Pain, UM Study Shows Aug 12, 2009
Using brain imaging, a University of Michigan study provides novel evidence that traditional Chinese acupuncture affects the brain's long-term ability to regulate pain. The results appear online ahead of print in the September Journal of NeuroImage. (Science Daily)
Allon Therapeutics Releases Second Quarter Operating Results Aug 11, 2009
In addition, TURNS and Allon collaborated on a companion study looking at changes in brain imaging in a small subset of the patients in the main trial. The Company will disclose these results when they are received from TURNS.. (CCNMatthews Press Releases)
Campus science research focuses on neurodynamics, nanoscience Aug 11, 2009
"What the Center has been interested in more, in recent years since I came back as faculty, has been brain imaging, in the mammalian brain, so we are looking at how seizures spread in the rat brain. We are also collecting data from human brain imaging from other universities to study," she said. The CND still uses non-linear dynamics but now it is applied to mammalian systems. (The Current Online, MO)
Study shows abnormality in brains of psychopaths Aug 8, 2009
Craig and two colleagues conducted the study, published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, using new brain imaging technology. Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company. (Boston Globe)
Is There Long-term Brain Damage After Bypass Surgery? More Evidence Puts The Blame On Heart Disease Aug 7, 2009
"Neuroscientists do not yet have good measures on heart disease and how the burden of this disease impacts brain function," says study senior investigator and neurologist Guy McKhann, M.D., a professor at Johns Hopkins, who next plans brain imaging studies to look at changes before and after heart bypass surgery to determine if there are any early, even predictive signs of cognitive problems, and if surgery could fix them. McKhann notes that previous studies have found some 50 percent of... (Science Daily)
UCI discovers new Alzheimer's gene Aug 7, 2009
In addition to Potkin, who is also the Robert R. Sprague Chair in Brain Imaging and director of UCI's Brain Imaging Center, UCI scientists Dr. Fabio Macciardi, Guia Guffanti, Dr. Anita Lakatos, Jessica Turner, Dr. Frithjof Kruggel and James Fallon worked on this study. They collaborated with Andrew Saykin of Indiana University, Dr. Michael Weiner of UC San Francisco and Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative patients and investigators. (EurekAlert!)
Brain Difference In Psychopaths Identified Aug 5, 2009
It highlights that exciting developments in brain imaging such as DT-MRI now offer neuroscientists the potential to move towards a more coherent understanding of the possible brain networks that underlie psychopathy, and potentially towards treatments for this mental disorder ... 22, 2004) Using brain imaging, researchers at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) have found clear differences in brain function between healthy people who carry a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's. (Science Daily)
Early Warning: Key Alzheimer's Brain Changes Observed In Unimpaired Older Humans Jul 31, 2009
Dr. Sperling and colleagues combined amyloid imaging with an associative memory functional brain imaging paradigm to study older humans who did not exhibit significant memory impairment. Importantly, the researchers found that a significant number of nondemented older individuals exhibited amyloid deposition and abnormal neural activity in key areas of the brain network thought to be involved in successful memory function. (Science Daily)
God vs. Science Jul 29, 2009
Brain imaging illustrates--in color. --the physical seat of the will and the passions, challenging the religious concept of a soul independent of glands and gristle. (Time.com)
Multitasking Ability Can Be Improved Through Training Jul 28, 2009
However, a new brain imaging. (May 2, 2005) A new study from Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm shows that hundreds of genes in the thigh muscle are activated in regular cycle training. (Science Daily)
'Brain-reading' Methods Developed Jul 28, 2009
Some researchers, and some new businesses, are banking on a brain imaging technique known as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to reveal hidden. (Nov. (Science Daily)
Oprah, Luke Skywalker And Maradona: New Study Investigates How Our Brains Respond To Them Jul 27, 2009
"Interestingly, in humans, the same "concept" of Marilyn can be evoked with other stimulus modalities, for instance by hearing or reading her name. Brain imaging studies have identified cortical areas in the human temporal lobe that are selective to voices and words. However, how visual, text and sound information can elicit a unique percept is still largely unknown.". The University of Leicester team in collaboration with UCLA and Caltech used presentations of pictures, spoken and written names... (Science Daily)
Do You Have Brain Cells Devoted to Oprah?Seeing or hearing familiar people trigger the same brain response, study says. Jul 24, 2009
Quiroga and his team used brain imaging to track which parts of the brain lit up when people saw, heard, or read about a famous person. While visual and auditory cues are processed by separate pathways in the brain, these cues were ultimately recognized by the same neurons in the hippocampus, the area of the brain associated with memory. (ABC News)
Can Brain Scans Read Your Mind? In Some Cases, The Answer Is 'Yes' Jul 24, 2009
Some researchers, and some new businesses, are banking on a brain imaging technique known as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to reveal hidden thoughts, such as lies, truths or deep desires. See also. (Science Daily)
Why is my daughter's borderline personality disorder worsening? Jul 22, 2009
Why would this disorder seem to be worsening -- mainly impulse control/depression -- and should she have a CT scan or other brain imaging to see if there is an underlying problem. Her primary care doctor has given up on her, and there are no psychiatrists in this town who will treat borderline personality disorder. (CNN -- Health)
UC Davis research gets $1.6M Jul 22, 2009
Current therapies for Parkinson s disease do not include the evaluation and treatment of the cognitive deficits that affect motor skills, but Disbrow and a team of researchers are using brain imaging techniques to identify abnormal brain function related to deficits in motor planning in Parkinson s disease. The five additional grants support research at UC Davis School of Medicine include research into cancer, viral infection and traumatic brain injuries. (Sacramento Business Journal, CA)
Childhood Adversity May Affect Processing In The Brain's Reward Pathways Jul 17, 2009
30, 2008) New brain imaging research published this week shows that, after consuming alcohol, social drinkers had decreased sensitivity in brain regions involved in detecting threats, and increased activity in. (Apr. (Science Daily)
Study: Alzheimer's symptoms found in 50s Jul 16, 2009
Researchers, however, do not recommend using brain imaging or cognitive tests to predict risk. Reader Comments. (Phoenix Business Journal, AZ)
New Ways To Detect Early Signs Of Alzheimer's Jul 15, 2009
UC Berkeley researchers are finding that brain imaging shows promise as a method of detecting early signs of Alzheimer's disease. On the left is a PET scan showing normal levels of glucose metabolism, indicated in yellow and red. (Science Daily)
Brain imaging and proteins in spinal fluid may improve Alzheimer's prediction and diagnosis Jul 14, 2009
Public release date: 14-Jul-2009. Contact: Niles Frantz. (EurekAlert!)
Dr Kawashima's Brain Training Jul 11, 2009
Dr Kawashima has spent twenty years researching the brain s functions, using brain imaging devices to establish when the brain was most stimulated and active ... His work on brain imaging and brain function is widely recognized throughout the world. (Suite101.com)
Allon Releases Results of Phase II Schizophrenia Cognitive Impairment Clinical Trial Jul 10, 2009
In addition, TURNS and Allon collaborated on a companion study looking at changes in brain imaging in a small subset of the patients in the main study. Analysis of the images from this study has neither been completed nor shared with the company. (CCNMatthews Press Releases)
Most neuropsychological tests don't tell Alzheimer's disease from vascular dementia Jul 9, 2009
A new report published by the American Psychological Association concluded that when older people are confused and forgetful, doctors should base their diagnoses on many different types of information, including medical history and brain imaging. Both Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia affect learning and memory, behavior and day-to-day function. (EurekAlert!)
A rise in celiac disease Jul 6, 2009
WHAT S NEXT: Future research might use brain imaging to explore different responses to stress. WHERE TO FIND IT: PLoS One, July 1. (Boston Globe)
X-rays For Early Alzheimer's Disease Detection Jul 2, 2009
16, 2006) UCLA researchers developed a new brain imaging strategy that tracks neural cell loss in the hippocampus, a key memory center of the brain. This cell loss is a hallmark sign of Alzheimer's disease. (Science Daily)
Less Empathy Toward Outsiders: Brain Study Jul 1, 2009
Other recent brain imaging studies show that feeling empathy for others in pain stimulates a brain area called the anterior cingulate cortex. Building on these results, the study authors tested the theory that these empathic feelings increase for members of the same social group. (Science Daily)
Early Alzheimer's: Not Remembering What Is Important To Remember Jun 29, 2009
22, 2004) Using brain imaging, researchers at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) have found clear differences in brain function between healthy people who carry a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's. (Apr. (Science Daily)
Neurological Differences Support Dyslexia Subtypes Jun 27, 2009
4, 2007) Brain imaging adds further support to the idea that at least some children with dyslexia have trouble processing sound, rather than a visual problem. The study also shows that computer-based sound. (Science Daily)
United Kingdom's 'Taste Dialects' Defined For The First Time Jun 24, 2009
This involves chemical, physical, psychological, sensory and brain imaging studies. Professor Taylor and Greg Tucker were interested in the development our taste preferences. (Science Daily)
Professor knows bipolar disorder firsthand Jun 23, 2009
" The conference also will feature sessions on brain imaging, how the disease affects thinking ability, new treatments and clinical trials and bipolar disease in adolescents, among several other topics. Most experts now agree that patients with bipolar disease need lithium or some other mood stabilizing drug to keep them from cycling between depression and mania. There is a type of treatment, however, that is demonstrably better than antidepressants -- psychotherapy -- according to Dr. Holly... (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
PET Scans May Improve Accuracy Of Dementia Diagnosis Jun 23, 2009
The new study identified 66 patients with mild dementia or mild cognitive impairment who were evaluated through standard neurological testing and anatomic brain imaging. Three clinical experts reviewed the results of these data to make diagnoses of either Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia or dementia with Lewy bodies. (Science Daily)
Alterations in brain's white matter key to schizophrenia, UCLA study shows Jun 23, 2009
In the first study of its kind, the researchers used a novel form of brain imaging to discover that white matter in the brains of adolescents at risk of developing schizophrenia does not develop at the same rate as healthy people. Further, the extent of these alterations can be used to predict how badly patients will or will not deteriorate functionally over time. (EurekAlert!)
Fibromyalgia Patients Show Decreases In Gray Matter Intensity Jun 19, 2009
Using sophisticated brain imaging techniques, researchers from Louisiana State University, writing in The Journal of Pain, found that alterations in levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine might be responsible for gray matter reductions. See also. (Science Daily)
Scientists capture the first image of memories being made Jun 19, 2009
Neuro researchers are world leaders in cellular and molecular neuroscience, brain imaging, cognitive neuroscience and the study and treatment of epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and neuromuscular disorders. For more information, please visit. (EurekAlert!)
'Depression gene'? Maybe not Jun 17, 2009
Caspi and other psychiatric researchers said it would be equally premature to abandon research into gene-environment interaction, when brain imaging and other kinds of evidence have linked the serotonin gene to stress sensitivity. Comments. (News & Observer)
MIND MATTERSMirroring Behavior Jun 16, 2009
Mirroring Behavior: Scientific American. How mirror neurons let us interact with others. (Scientific American)
Conservatives Easily Grossed Out, Study Finds Jun 5, 2009
20, 2008) Brain imaging illustrates that the same region of the brain is used for thoughts of self and similar others. Researchers have shown that we use the region of the brain associated with introspection. (Science Daily)
