All articles tagged with #neuropsychiatric conditions
Researchers have discovered genetic links between sleep patterns and neuropsychiatric conditions such as autism, ADHD, and bipolar disorder. Polygenic risk score analysis shows that autism and schizophrenia are associated with an evening chronotype, while ADHD, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder are linked to insomnia. These findings could lead to new treatments for sleep disturbances in these patients.
Dopamine and acetylcholine, two hormones crucial for memory and learning, were found to maintain a dynamic balance in the brain, fostering an environment for continuous learning even without external rewards. The study challenges the traditional understanding that rewards trigger dopamine release for learning, revealing that dopamine and acetylcholine levels naturally oscillate in the brain, creating a conducive environment for ongoing learning. These findings could provide insights into neuropsychiatric conditions associated with dopamine imbalances, such as schizophrenia and depression.
A meta-analysis of over 100 studies on transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) has found that it can improve cognitive function, particularly executive function, attention, and memory, in both healthy individuals and those with neuropsychiatric conditions. The study also found that a specialized type of tACS that can target two brain regions at the same time can both enhance or reduce cognitive function, making it a potentially useful tool in treating specific clinical needs. However, the effectiveness of tACS is still being debated, and further research is needed to improve its design and produce stronger, long-lasting changes in mental function.
A meta-analysis of over 100 studies on transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) has concluded that the technique, which applies an oscillating current to the brain, brings about moderate improvements in attention, long-term memory, working memory, the ability to process new information and solve problems, and other high-level cognitive processes. However, some researchers have questioned the efficacy of TES, saying that the studies included in the meta-analysis differed vastly from one another in terms of which parts of the brain were targeted, the arrangement of the electrodes on the scalp and the frequency and intensity of the electrical current.
A meta-analysis of over 100 studies on transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) has found that it can improve cognitive function, particularly executive function, attention, and memory, in both healthy individuals and those with neuropsychiatric conditions. The study also found that a specialized type of tACS can have a bidirectional effect on mental function, which could be useful in developing targeted treatments for specific clinical needs. Improving the design of tACS could lead to stronger and longer-lasting changes in mental function without medication.