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woman entering MRI machine on platform
Researchers Report Decoding Thoughts from fMRI Data
A method appears to be the first to noninvasively reconstruct language from brain activity.
Researchers Report Decoding Thoughts from fMRI Data
Researchers Report Decoding Thoughts from fMRI Data

A method appears to be the first to noninvasively reconstruct language from brain activity.

A method appears to be the first to noninvasively reconstruct language from brain activity.

techniques, neuroscience

Images from a novel brain imaging technique, DIANA
New MRI Technique Tracks Brain Activity at Millisecond Timescales
Catherine Offord | Oct 14, 2022 | 4 min read
The method, dubbed “DIANA,” could transform neuroscientists’ understanding of how the brain works, researchers say—though for now, it’s only been tested in anesthetized mice.
Conceptual image of blue neurons with glowing segments over blue background.
CRACK Method Reveals Novel Neuron Type in Mouse Brain
Dan Robitzski | Apr 18, 2022 | 3 min read
A new technique reveals cells’ precise locations and functions in the brain. Its developers have already used it to identify a previously unknown neuron type.
Illustration showing how calcium imaging and HCR-FISH combined is a technique called comprehensive readout of activity and cell type markers (CRACK)
Infographic: Simultaneously Studying Neuron Structure and Function
Dan Robitzski | Apr 18, 2022 | 1 min read
A new methodology combines existing techniques to reveal the specific function and location of multiple types of neurons at once.
colorful parrot-like bird riding a tiny bicycle on a tightrope
Reptiles are the Real Bird Brains
Sophie Fessl, PhD | Mar 22, 2022 | 4 min read
A research group argues that a species’ number of neurons, rather than brain volume, should serve as indicator of cognitive capacity when studying brain evolution, but some experts voice doubts.
Histological stain of motor neurons in purple and green
Researchers Use Ultrasound to Control Neurons in Mice
Natalia Mesa, PhD | Feb 9, 2022 | 4 min read
A study shows “sonogenetics” could be a useful new tool in neuroscience and other fields.
ethics, bioethics, brain organoid, chimera, cell transplant, Q&A, report, NIH, NAS, neuroscience, Techniques, disease & medicine, immunology, psychiatric conditions
New Report Dissects Ethics of Emerging Human Brain Cell Models
Amanda Heidt | Apr 12, 2021 | 5 min read
The National Academies’ report touches on ethical issues raised by new technologies such as brain organoids and human-animal chimeras, and suggests that current regulatory oversight is sufficient.
rugby, concussion, brain injury, concussion, trauma, saliva, spit, test, noninvasive, diagnostic, microRNA, small noncoding RNA, PCR, RNA
Simple Spit Test Could Diagnose Concussions
Asher Jones | Mar 24, 2021 | 2 min read
A noninvasive saliva test accurately identified concussions in a study of hundreds of rugby players.
neurological disorder, brain disease, Q&A, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, motor neuron disease, neurodegeneration, blood-brain barrier, sex
Sex of Human Cells Matters in Studying Neurological Disease
Amanda Heidt | Mar 18, 2021 | 5 min read
Authors of a new review urge researchers to consider how the chromosomal sex of a cell affects experiments in research on neurodegeneration.
Questions Raised About Widely Used Blood-Brain Barrier Model
Catherine Offord | Feb 16, 2021 | 6 min read
A study has sparked controversy by suggesting that cells made using a popular lab protocol have been misidentified, with potentially serious repercussions for brain research. Critics say the significance of the findings has been overstated.
See Pigs Master a Joystick Video Game
Lisa Winter | Feb 12, 2021 | 1 min read
Directing an object on a screen to a target provided a tasty reward.
neuroscience, mice, fear, pain, empathy, social transmission, emotion contagion, optogenetics, analgesia, Stanford University
Mice Share Each Other’s Pain and Fear
Amanda Heidt | Jan 14, 2021 | 5 min read
The animals adopt the emotional state of their cagemates, and the parts of the brain engaged during the process are different for pain and fear, according to a new study.
tau pet scan tracer tauopathy alzheimer's disease progressive supranuclear palsy corticobasal degeneration pick's disease frontotemporal lobal degeneration ftd alzheimer's disease neurodegeneration
New Tracer Gives Clear Picture of Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias
Ian Le Guillou | Oct 29, 2020 | 3 min read
An imaging agent reveals aggregated tau protein in the brain during PET scans and could improve the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly tauopathies.
disease & medicine, neuroscience, microelectrode, techniques, dopamine, serotonin, neuromodulator, neurotransmitter, neuropsychiatric disorders
Serotonin and Dopamine Linked to Decision-Making: Study
Amanda Heidt | Oct 16, 2020 | 5 min read
In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers monitored subsecond changes in levels of the neurotransmitters in the human brain, unlocking new insight into their function.
The Rise of BCI Enables Advances in Neuroscience
Jef Akst | Oct 1, 2020 | 10+ min read
A nascent but growing consumer market for brain-computer interface technology is driving the development of sleek new tools for decoding brain activity.
tau p-tau217 amyloid amyloid-beta alzheimer's disease blood test
Experimental Blood Test Could Flag Alzheimer’s
Kerry Grens | Jul 29, 2020 | 2 min read
New studies show that elevated levels of a form of tau called p-tau217 can accurately distinguish Alzheimer’s disease from other forms of dementia, and perhaps even predict it.
Early Detection of Dementia with Smart Devices
Rachael Moeller Gorman | May 1, 2020 | 10+ min read
Digital biomarkers of cognitive decline could alert us to the early stages of dementia before irreversible damage occurs.
Can Zapping the Brain Boost Memory?
Diana Kwon | May 1, 2020 | 5 min read
The California-based company Humm has developed a “bioelectric memory patch” to improve working memory, but some experts question the efficacy of the device.
Facial Expressions Decoded in Mice
Ruth Williams | Apr 2, 2020 | 3 min read
A combination of videography, machine learning, and brain imaging has identified facial expressions and neural activity patterns in mice that are associated with their emotions.
c. elegans sleep microfluidics
Microfluidic Chambers Trigger Sleep in C. elegans
Alejandra Manjarrez, PhD | Nov 19, 2019 | 4 min read
This newly described behavior occurs spontaneously, but can be modulated by food availability, temperature, and the size of the chambers.
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