Brain | Page 376 | Science Codex

Brain scans illuminate emotional response to sound

Noisy gymnasiums, restaurants where conversations are nearly impossible and concert halls less than perfect for the music are all acoustical problems. Now Penn State acoustical engineers are using functional MRI to better understand room acoustics and the emotions they can cause.

"Traditional methods of evaluating room acoustics use subjective rating methods and part of our study uses this method," said Michelle Vigeant, assistant professor of acoustics and architectural engineering. "The other part uses fMRI to see how changes in acoustics appear in the brain."

Allen Institute researchers decode patterns that make our brains human

The human brain may be the most complex piece of organized matter in the known universe, but Allen Institute researchers have begun to unravel the genetic code underlying its function. Research published this month in Nature Neuroscience identified a surprisingly small set of molecular patterns that dominate gene expression in the human brain and appear to be common to all individuals, providing key insights into the core of the genetic code that makes our brains distinctly human.

Empathy is key to political persuasion, shows new research

Toronto - It's not news that liberals and conservatives are lousy at winning each other over.

But if they really care about making even modest in-roads with each other, they'll pay attention to research showing that arguments based on a political opponent's moral principles, rather than one's own, have a much better chance of success.

Researchers Matthew Feinberg and Robb Willer decided to investigate the idea after watching the increasing polarization in American politics.

New microscopy technology may help surgeons save more lives

Researchers at the University of Arizona have invented a device that for the first time allows neurosurgeons, who use microscopes extensively while operating, to see blood flowing inside vessels and more clearly distinguish cancerous from healthy tissue under the microscope.

Scientists sniff out female mouse scents that make males frisky

Scientists have identified two chemical scents in the urine of female mice that arouse sexual behavior in males, a discovery that shines a spotlight on how mouse pheromones control behavior.

The research, at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, is available online in the journal Cell.

Treating epilepsy and brain traumas by neurotransmitters

Roustem Khazipov, Head of the group of researchers from Kazan Federal University and Aix-Marseille University, "Brain activity is based on both excitatory and inhibitory actions regulated by neurotransmitters. Glutamic acid is responsible for the former and GABA for the latter. Nearly 20 years ago GABA was found to act excitatory on child's brain and since that time we study how it influences infant's neurons, why changes happen and what consequences they lead to".

Programmable electronic glasses provide children effective, digital lazy eye treatment

Note to reporters: A sentence near the end of the 5th paragraph has been corrected from "In the study, the lens over the lazy eye switched from clear to opaque every 30 seconds" to "In the study, the lens over the eye with better vision switched from clear to opaque every 30 seconds". Please take this change into account in any reporting.

#FAUTwitterStudy uses 20 million tweets to understand people and real-world situations

What can you tell about people and their situations from only 140 characters? Apparently, quite a lot according to a new study about Twitter just published in PLOS ONE. To date, no research has tapped the vast data from social networking sites to study situations. This new research provides insights about the psychological experience of a typical workday or week.

Parkinson's disease: A new tool aims to improve diagnosis and advance treatment

Montreal, Nov. 13 2015 - A group of experts working under the umbrella of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (MDS), have developed a new tool for healthcare professionals that they hope will mark a significant advancement in the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's disease, especially in its early stages. The results of their study, published in the journal Movement Disorders, could also have a major impact on the quality of research on Parkinson's disease.

Not so happy old age?

The notion that older people are happier than younger people is being challenged following a recent study led by a University of Bradford lecturer.

In fact it suggests that people get more depressed from age 65 onwards.

The study, led by psychology lecturer Dr Helena Chui and recently published in the international journal Psychology and Aging, builds on a 15-year project observing over 2,000 older Australians living in the Adelaide area.

Have an apple-shaped body? You may be more susceptible to binge eating

Women with apple-shaped bodies - those who store more of their fat in their trunk and abdominal regions - may be at particular risk for the development of eating episodes during which they experience a sense of "loss of control," according to a new study from Drexel University. The study also found that women with greater fat stores in their midsections reported being less satisfied with their bodies, which may contribute to loss-of-control eating.

Male bees have more than a one-track mind

Male bumblebees are just as smart as female worker bees despite their dim-witted reputation, according to new research from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL).

Researchers from QMUL's School of Biological and Chemical Sciences trained male and female bumblebees to distinguish between artificial flowers that contained food and another that did not.

The new study published today (Friday 13 Nov.) in the journal Animal Behaviour found male bumblebees equal the female or worker bee's excellence in learning which flowers reward with food.

Brain structure may be root of apathy

When brain scientists at Oxford University studied apathy, they didn't expect to see less motivated people making more effort. Their results suggest that for some people traditionally perceived as lazy, it's biology - not attitude - that might be the cause.

A team of neuroscientists at Oxford, funded by The Wellcome Trust, decided to study young people to see if there were any differences in the brains of those who were motivated compared to those who were apathetic.

TGen identifies drug that could limit the spread of deadly brain tumors

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Nov. 12, 2015 -- In a significant breakthrough, the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) has identified a drug, propentofylline or PPF, that could help treat patients with deadly brain cancer.

In a study published today in the Journal of NeuroOncology, TGen researchers report that PPF works to limit the spread of glioblastoma multiforme, or GBM -- the most common primary tumor of the brain and central nervous system -- by targeting a protein called TROY.

Experimental drug targeting Alzheimer's disease shows anti-aging effects

LA JOLLA--Salk Institute researchers have found that an experimental drug candidate aimed at combating Alzheimer's disease has a host of unexpected anti-aging effects in animals.