Deep brain stimulation in a relatively novel target area has been demonstrated to alleviate involuntary tremors in Parkinson’s disease and Essential Tremor for at least five and ten years respectively, following therapy beginning. Furthermore, by using this target area, the operation might be performed under general anesthesia. This is demonstrated in Rasmus Stenmark Persson’s thesis…
Brain–machine interfaces (BMIs) can read brain activity and transform that activity to control an electronic device like a prosthetic arm or computer cursor. They have the potential to let people with paralysis move prosthetic devices with their thoughts. Many BMIs necessitate invasive brain procedures for electrode implantation in order to monitor neural activity. However, in…
A new study of the brain activity of people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the first to show that traumatic memories are represented in the brain in a completely different way than sad autobiographical memories. This finding supports the idea that traumatic memories in PTSD are a distinct cognitive entity distinct from regular…
According to a recent study from Massachusetts Eye and Ear, auditory nerve loss that is undetectable by standard hearing tests affects more than one in ten adults worldwide who report having tinnitus, which manifests as ringing in the ears. The authors of this study are researchers affiliated with the Eaton-Peabody Laboratories (EPL), who are investigating…
Optimistic thinking has long been immortalized in self-help books as the key to happiness, good health and longevity, but it can also lead to poor decision-making, with particularly serious implications for people’s financial wellbeing. According to research from the University of Bath, excessive optimism is connected with lower cognitive abilities such as verbal fluency, fluid…
Neuropsychiatric symptoms that doctors commonly see in Alzheimer’s disease patients stem from brain inflammation rather than amyloid and tau proteins, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers report. The discovery adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the role of neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease progression and suggests new avenues for the development of therapies…
Our ability to pay attention to tasks, which is essential in our daily lives, is highly influenced by characteristics such as motivation, arousal, and alertness. Maintaining focus can be especially difficult when the activity at hand is tedious or repetitive. “In many activities, it is difficult to maintain a high level of focus over time.…
A new study suggests that reading books is more effective than watching images and stories unfold on screen at stimulating the imagination. Screen time has long been thought to have an impact on the brain’s imaginative powers, with stories being interpreted and delivered through images for the viewer to consume rather than created in the…
Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have revealed how Lactobacillus, a bacterium found in fermented foods and yogurt, helps the body manage stress and may help prevent depression and anxiety. The findings pave the way for new therapies to treat anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. According to UVA researcher Alban…