Motor neuron connections are refined in the weeks before and just after birth, and they are crucial for normal development later, University of Queensland research suggests. The discovery could lead to a better understanding of developmental disorders such as autism and epilepsy, say two School of Biomedical Sciences neuroscientists, Associate Professors Peter Noakes and Mark…
Can Mindful Eating Help Lower Type 2 Diabetes Risk?
Given the high stress levels, extended periods of screen time, and regular social outings many Americans experience day-to-day in environments where high-calorie foods are readily available, it can be easy to fall into the habit of mindless eating, where we’re too distracted to pay attention to how much, what and why we’re eating. Research suggests…
Waiting Impulsivity (Drinkers Tend To Jump The Gun)
Why do people make bad choices by rushing into decisions? The tendency to have low behavioral control is one of the hallmarks of people prone to alcohol use disorders. A new study from researchers at the University of Cambridge sheds light on why people with alcohol use disorders make one form of maladaptive decision-making, the…
Microbes Implicated As Major Cause Of Alzheimer’s Disease
A worldwide team of senior scientists and clinicians have come together to produce an editorial which indicates that certain microbes, a specific virus and two specific types of bacteria, (herpes simplex virus type 1, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and several types of spirochaete) ,are major causes of Alzheimer’s disease. Their paper stresses the urgent need for further…
The Brain Region That Motivates Violent Attacks
The ominous behaviors that often precede violent acts, such as stalking, bullying, and possibly sexual aggression, are tied to a distinct part of the hypothalamus, the brain region that also controls body temperature, hunger, and sleep in mammals, new research shows. The structure is anatomically known as the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial hypothalamus, or…
Neural Networks Learn To Link Temporally Dispersed Stimuli
In the animal world, dangers are frequently preceded by warning signs: telltale sounds, movements and odors may be clues of an imminent attack. If a mouse survives an attack by a cat, its future will be brighter if it learns from the failed attempt and reads the clues early next time round. However, mice are…
Cause Of Insulin Resistance In Type 2 Diabetes Found
More than 29 million Americans are currently living with diabetes. The majority have type 2 diabetes, and for them insulin resistance, the body’s inability to effectively process sugar, is a part of daily life. Therefore, understanding the cause of insulin resistance is critical to tackling this chronic disease. A new link between high levels of…
Video Games Boost Brain Connections In Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Playing “brain-training” video games may help improve some cognitive abilities of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) by strengthening neural connections in an important part of their brains, according to a new study. MS is a disease of the central nervous system that results in damage to the protective covering of nerve fibers. Symptoms include weakness,…
Could Some Types Of Sugar Actually Be Good For You?
Not all sugar is created equal. While we tend to think of sugar as the white foodstuff we buy in bags, and that’s a major contributor to conditions such as obesity and diabetes, there are actually many types of sugar molecules with different properties and effects. Now scientists have found that one naturally-occurring kind of…