Decades of research has shown that learning causes physical changes to our brain. But just how memory works and how it physically affects the brain is still under investigation and one of the most active fields of neuroscience. Case in point, neuroscientists at New York University have found a vital link in the diminution of…
Category: Neuroscience
The More Familiar a Voice is, The Easier it is to Hear
It takes a lot of concentration to have a conversation at a noisy party or in a crowded store. Sometimes it seems that it is easier to talk to your significant other than to a stranger in those situations. A new study verifies that the familiar voice of a spouse does stand out over other…
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Improves Sleep In Post-polio Syndrome
15 million people around the world have survived poliomyelitis, and up to 80% report progressive deteriorating strength and endurance many years after infection, a condition known as post-polio syndrome (PPS). Researchers in Italy from the National Hospital for Poliomyelitis, the Policlinico G.B. De Rossi, and the University of Milan have found that transcranial direct current…
What Is The Precuneus?
The precuneus is a part of the superior parietal lobule in front of the occipital lobe (cuneus). It is hidden in the medial longitudinal fissure between the two cerebral hemispheres. It is sometimes described as the medial area of the superior parietal cortex. The precuneus is bounded anteriorly by the marginal branch of the cingulate…
Why We Are Hardwired For Friendship And Empathy
Most people would agree that one of the basic traits of being human is the capacity for empathy. Empathy is the ability to put ourselves in others’ shoes, and a recent study from the University of Virginia suggests that we are powerfully hardwired to empathize, for the reason that we closely associate people who are…
A Case of Musical Hallucination of Unfamilar Music
Musical hallucination, hearing music that is not actually being played, happens from time to time among older people. However, usually the music that is “heard” are songs or pieces that the person is familiar with. A unique case is described in a recent issue of the journal Frontiers in Neurology. in which a 60-year-old woman…
Two Different Brain Processes Help Us Remember to Not Forget
That nagging feeling you’ve forgotten something and the sudden remembering of what it was is something we all experience. Remembering to remember, whether it’s taking out the trash, going to an appointment, or refilling a prescription, is all important in daily life. A new study looks at two different brain processes that are behind the…
Blood Sugar Levels And Dementia Risk Are Linked Even In Non-Diabetics
Higher levels of blood sugar are associated with higher risk of dementia, even with people who do not are not diabetics, a University of Washington – Group Health joint study reveals. In people without diabetes, risk for dementia averaged over a five-year period was 18% more for people with average glucose level of 115 milligrams…
How your Brain Keeps Focused on Long Term Goals
The neurotransmitter dopamine may indicate the value of long-term rewards in the brain, says a new study from MIT on how the brain maintains focus on long term goals. The study results could also clarify why patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease, in which dopamine signaling is impaired, typically have trouble keeping motivated to finish tasks.…