All articles tagged with #neural plasticity
Recent scientific studies reveal a new supernova caused by a star's explosion due to black hole interaction, demonstrate that biological brains learn faster than machine algorithms, and highlight increased depression risk among vitiligo patients, especially in Black and Hispanic populations.
Research shows that retinal neurons can rewire themselves to maintain vision in retinitis pigmentosa, with rod bipolar cells forming new connections with cone cells as rods degenerate, a process triggered by degeneration itself and not just light response loss, offering potential targets for therapies to slow vision loss.
Research in mice shows that the brain can develop complex pattern recognition skills through passive exposure without rewards, suggesting that humans may also learn unconsciously during everyday activities, which could influence future AI training methods.
Researchers have developed a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called Patterned Low-Intensity Low-Frequency Ultrasound (LILFUS) that can precisely target and modulate specific brain regions, offering a promising alternative to traditional methods with fewer risks. LILFUS activates mechanosensitive calcium channels in astrocytes, influencing neural plasticity and enabling the control of brain function for improved motor skills and potential treatment applications in various neurological disorders. This advancement represents a significant leap in neurotherapy, with broad therapeutic potential and the ability to enhance cognitive functions without invasive procedures.
A new non-invasive brain stimulation technique called Patterned Low-Intensity Low-Frequency Ultrasound (LILFUS) has been developed by researchers, showing promise for treating brain disorders. This technique, which uses ultrasound to stimulate specific brain areas, has the potential to induce long-lasting changes in brain function by modulating neural plasticity. The study found that LILFUS can improve motor skill learning and may have applications in treating conditions such as depression. The researchers plan to continue studying the technology for the treatment of brain disorders and the enhancement of cognitive functions.
A new study published in NeuroImage: Clinical explored the relationship between exercise, brain functioning, and major depressive disorder. The findings indicate that individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) who also exercise tend to have better brain functioning than those with MDD who do not exercise. The study suggests that physical fitness may enhance cognitive functioning in individuals with MDD by increasing neural plasticity in the brain. This has important implications for the treatment of depression, as it suggests that exercise may be an effective adjunct therapy for individuals with depression.
A study conducted on mice has found that the psychedelic substance 5-MeO-DMT causes a long-lasting increase in the number of dendritic spines in the brain, which are tiny protrusions that play a crucial role in neural plasticity. The study sheds light on the behavioral and neural mechanisms of 5-MeO-DMT, which is found in the Sonoran Desert toad and has unique pharmacological properties. The researchers found that 5-MeO-DMT elicited acute behavioral effects that were more transient than those of psilocybin, consistent with human data.