The intensity of brain activity during the day, notwithstanding how long we’ve been awake, appears to increase our need for sleep, according to a new UCL study in zebrafish. The research, published in Neuron, found a gene that responds to brain activity in order to coordinate the need for sleep. It helps shed new light…
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Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have discovered a mechanism for how androgens — male sex steroids — sculpt brain development. The research, conducted by Margaret M. McCarthy, Ph.D., who Chairs the Department of Pharmacology, could ultimately help researchers understand behavioral development differences between males and females. The research, published in Neuron,…
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Anorexia can cause severe health issues, and the illness can sometimes be fatal. New research suggests a surgical technique can stimulate the patient’s brain into improving their mental health and overall well-being. Anorexia is an eating disorder that makes people lose more weight than what is considered healthy. According to the The National Association of…
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Long-term heavy use of alcohol in adolescence alters cortical excitability and functional connectivity in the brain, according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital. These alterations were observed in physically and mentally healthy but heavy-drinking adolescents, who nevertheless did not fulfil the diagnostic criteria for a substance abuse…
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In a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers conduct a study to examine how the brain responds to visual food cues. The results indicate that large portion sizes, and high energy density can diminish processing areas of the brain involved in control. In many countries, childhood obesity has become…
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As a species we are so brain-proud that it doesn’t occur to most of us to ask whether a big brain has disadvantages as well as cognitive benefits. “We can think of tons of benefits to a larger brain, but the other side of that is brain tissue is incredibly ‘expensive’ and increasing brain size…
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Anorexia can cause severe health issues, and the illness can sometimes be fatal. New research suggests a surgical technique can stimulate the patient’s brain into improving their mental health and overall well-being. Anorexia is an eating disorder that makes people lose more weight than what is considered healthy. According to the The National Association of…
Read More
Long-term heavy use of alcohol in adolescence alters cortical excitability and functional connectivity in the brain, according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital. These alterations were observed in physically and mentally healthy but heavy-drinking adolescents, who nevertheless did not fulfil the diagnostic criteria for a substance abuse…
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Measuring the brain activity of healthy, older adults while they walk and talk at the same time may help predict their risk of falls later, according to a study in the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. “In older people who had no signs of disease that would make them prone to falls,…
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It is no secret that as we age, our brain function declines. However, studies have suggested that keeping mentally active – particularly when older – can help to maintain cognitive functioning. Brain training apps are considered a useful aid for mental stimulation, but which one is right for you? We present our pick of five…
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