ScienceDaily: Psychology Research News

Scientists develop worm EEG to test the effects of drugs

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:01:01 EDT

Scientists have developed a device which records the brain activity of worms to help test the effects of drugs. NeuroChip is a microfluidic electrophysiological device, which can trap the microscopic worm Caenorhadbitis elegans and record the activity of discrete neural circuits in its 'brain' - a worm equivalent of the EEG.

Migraine and depression together may be linked with brain size

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:39:39 EDT

Older people with a history of migraines and depression may have smaller brain tissue volumes than people with only one or neither of the conditions, according to a new study.

Insomnia may cause dysfunction in emotional brain circuitry

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:12:12 EDT

A new study provides neurobiological evidence for dysfunction in the neural circuitry underlying emotion regulation in people with insomnia, which may have implications for the risk relationship between insomnia and depression.

Signs of motor disorders can appear years before disease manifestation

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:31:31 EDT

It is known that signs of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease can appear years before the disease becomes manifest; these signs take the form of subtle changes in the brain and behavior of individuals affected. For the first time, scientists have demonstrated the existence of such signatures for motor disorders belonging to the group of "spinocerebellar ataxias."

Schizophrenia symptoms eliminated in animal model

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:31:31 EDT

Overexpression of a gene associated with schizophrenia causes classic symptoms of the disorder that are reversed when gene expression returns to normal, scientists report. They genetically engineered mice so they could turn up levels of neuregulin-1 to mimic high levels found in some patients then return levels to normal.

Addiction as a disorder of decision-making

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:58:58 EDT

New research shows that craving drugs such as nicotine can be visualized in specific regions of the brain that are implicated in determining the value of actions, in planning actions and in motivation. Researchers suggest abnormal interactions between these decision-making brain regions could underlie addiction.

Common brain processes of anesthetic-induced unconsciousness identified

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:50:50 EDT

Feedback from the front region of the brain is a crucial building block for consciousness and that its disruption is associated with unconsciousness.

Antidepressant reduces stress-induced heart condition

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:37:37 EDT

A drug commonly used to treat depression and anxiety may improve a stress-related heart condition in people with stable coronary heart disease, according to researchers at Duke Medicine.

Common food supplement fights degenerative brain disorders, study suggests

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:15:15 EDT

Widely available in pharmacies and health stores, phosphatidylserine is a natural food supplement produced from beef, oysters, and soy. Now scientists have discovered that the supplement improves the functioning of genes involved in degenerative brain disorders, including Parkinson's disease and familial dysautonomia.

Finding a family for a pair of orphan receptors in the brain

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:15:15 EDT

Researchers have identified a protein that stimulates a pair of "orphan receptors" found in the brain, solving a long-standing biological puzzle and possibly leading to future treatments for neurological diseases.

Child maltreatment increases risk of adult obesity

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:57:57 EDT

Children who have suffered maltreatment are 36 percent more likely to be obese in adulthood compared to non-maltreated children, according to a new study. The authors estimate that the prevention or effective treatment of seven cases of child maltreatment could avoid one case of adult obesity.

Clouds in the head: New model of brain's thought processes

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:54:54 EDT

A new model of the brain's thought processes explains the apparently chaotic activity patterns of individual neurons. They do not correspond to a simple stimulus/response linkage, but arise from the networking of different neural circuits.

Genetic predictors of postpartum depression uncovered

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:52:52 EDT

Researchers say they have discovered specific chemical alterations in two genes that, when present during pregnancy, reliably predict whether a woman will develop postpartum depression.

Early-life traffic-related air pollution exposure linked to hyperactivity

Tue, 21 May 2013 01:12:12 EDT

Early-life exposure to traffic-related air pollution was significantly associated with higher hyperactivity scores at age 7, according to new research.

Mediterranean diet seems to boost aging brain power

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:54:54 EDT

A Mediterranean diet with added extra virgin olive oil or mixed nuts seems to improve the brain power of older people better than advising them to follow a low-fat diet, according to new research.

Elusive search for biomarkers in Huntington's disease

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:36:36 EDT

While Huntington's disease (HD) is currently incurable, the HD research community anticipates that new disease-modifying therapies in development may slow or minimize disease progression. The success of HD research depends upon the identification of reliable and sensitive biomarkers to track disease and evaluate therapies, and these biomarkers may eventually be used as outcome measures in clinical trials. Biomarkers could be especially helpful to monitor changes during the time prior to diagnosis and appearance of overt symptomatology.

Premature birth interrupts vital brain development processes leading to reduced cognitive abilities in infants

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:42:42 EDT

Researchers have for the first time used a novel form of MRI to identify crucial developmental processes in the brain that are vulnerable to the effects of premature birth. This new study shows that disruption of these specific processes can have an impact on cognitive function.

Far-reaching, microvascular damage found in uninjured side of brain after stroke

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:37:37 EDT

An animal-model study finds far-reaching microvascular damage in the uninjured side of the brain after a stroke. The findings suggest repair of the protective blood-brain barrier may help prevent this breach in the days following the acute injury.

Novel approach to regulating blood sugar levels in the body

Sun, 19 May 2013 14:56:56 EDT

For the first time, scientists showed that targeting glucagon action in the brain may be a new frontier for regulating diabetes.

Sleep Apnea linked to Alzheimer's

Sun, 19 May 2013 14:56:56 EDT

A new study looking at sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and markers for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and neuroimaging adds to the growing body of research linking the two.

Individuals who drink heavily and smoke may show 'early aging' of the brain

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:34:34 EDT

Alcohol treatment interventions work best when patients understand and are actively involved in the process. A first-of-its-kind study looks at the interactive effects of smoking status and age on neurocognition in one-month-abstinent alcohol dependent (AD) individuals in treatment. Results show that AD individuals who currently smoke have more problems with memory, ability to think quickly and efficiently, and problem-solving skills than those who do not smoke, effects which seem to become greater with increasing age.

For combat veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, 'fear circuitry' in the brain never rests

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:32:32 EDT

Chronic trauma can inflict lasting damage to brain regions associated with fear and anxiety. Previous imaging studies of people with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, have shown that these brain regions can over-or under-react in response to stressful tasks.

Ketamine shows significant therapeutic benefit in people with treatment-resistant depression

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:32:32 EDT

Drug associated with rapid antidepressant effect in largest clinical trial to-date.

New approach to improving treatment for MS and other conditions

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:24:24 EDT

Working with lab mice models of multiple sclerosis (MS), scientists have detected a novel molecular target for the design of drugs that could be safer and more effective than current FDA-approved medications against MS.

Brain makes call on which ear is used for cell phone

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:16:16 EDT

If you're a left-brain thinker, chances are you use your right hand to hold your cell phone up to your right ear, according to a newly published study. The study shows a strong correlation between brain dominance and the ear used to listen to a cell phone.

Fishing for memories: How long-term memories are processed to guide behavior

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:39:39 EDT

In our interaction with our environment we constantly refer to past experiences stored as memories to guide behavioral decisions. But how memories are formed, stored and then retrieved to assist decision-making remains a mystery. By observing whole-brain activity in live zebrafish, researchers have visualized for the first time how information stored as long-term memory in the cerebral cortex is processed to guide behavioral choices.

Faulty energy production in brain cells leads to disorders ranging from Parkinson's to intellectual disability

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:38:38 EDT

Neuroscientists have shown for the first time that dysfunctional mitochondria in brain cells can lead to learning disabilities. The link between dysfunctional mitochondria and Parkinson's disease is known, but this new research shows that it is also present in other brain disorders.

Vicious cycle: Obesity sustained by changes in brain biochemistry

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:55:55 EDT

Scientists have shown that in the brain cells of rats, obesity impedes the production of a hormone that curbs appetite and inspires calorie burning. The root cause appears to be a breakdown in the protein-processing mechanism of the cells. In the lab, the researchers showed they could fix the breakdown with drugs.

Brain rewires itself after damage or injury, life scientists discover

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:50:50 EDT

The brain forms complex new circuits after damage to compensate for lost function, often far from the damaged region, life scientists report. The new study identified the exact regions of the brain that take over when the brain's hippocampus is damaged, and is the first demonstration of such neural circuit plasticity.

Repeat brain injury raises soldiers' suicide risk

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:39:39 EDT

Suicide risk is higher among military personnel with more lifetime TBIs, even after controlling for clinical symptom severity. Results of the study show that multiple TBIs, which are common among military personnel, may contribute to increased risk for suicide.

Novel brain training device to reconnect brain and paralyzed limb after stroke

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:48:48 EDT

The world’s first Brain Training Device has given a ray of new hope to the recovery of survivors after stroke. This novel device can detect brainwave and control the movement of paralyzed limbs.

'Good vibrations:' Brain ultrasound improves mood

Wed, 15 May 2013 09:48:48 EDT

Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques aimed at mental and neurological conditions include transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for depression, and transcranial direct current (electrical) stimulation (tDCS), have been shown to improve memory. Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) has also shown promise.

Fish oil may stall effects of junk food on brain

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:14:14 EDT

Data from more than 180 research papers suggests fish oils could minimize the effects that junk food can have on the brain, a review has shown.

Brain-imaging study links cannabinoid receptors to post-traumatic stress disorder: First pharmaceutical treatment for PTSD within reach

Tue, 14 May 2013 08:50:50 EDT

In a first-of-its-kind effort to illuminate the biochemical impact of trauma, researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center have discovered a connection between the quantity of cannabinoid receptors in the human brain, known as CB1 receptors, and post-traumatic stress disorder, the chronic, disabling condition that can plague trauma victims with flashbacks, nightmares and emotional instability.

Serotonin mediates exercise-induced generation of new neurons

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:09:09 EDT

Mice that exercise in running wheels exhibit increased neurogenesis in the brain. Crucial to this process is serotonin signaling. Surprisingly, mice lacking brain serotonin due to a genetic mutation exhibited normal baseline neurogenesis. However, in these serotonin-deficient mice, activity-induced proliferation was impaired, and wheel running did not induce increased generation of new neurons.

Dynamic behavior of progenitor cells in brain discovered

Thu, 09 May 2013 14:21:21 EDT

By monitoring the behavior of a class of cells in the brains of living mice, neuroscientists have discovered that these cells remain highly dynamic in the adult brain, where they transform into cells that insulate nerve fibers and help form scars that aid in tissue repair.

Advance in tuberous sclerosis brain science

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:34:34 EDT

By manipulating the timing of disease-causing mutations in the brains of developing mice, researchers have found that early genetic deletions in the thalamus may play an important role in course and severity of the developmental disease tuberous sclerosis complex.

Methylphenidate 'normalizes' activation in key brain areas in kids with ADHD, study suggests

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:33:33 EDT

The stimulant drug methylphenidate "normalizes" activation of several brain areas in young patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a new review.

Chronic pain sufferers likely to have anxiety

Wed, 08 May 2013 21:31:31 EDT

Patients coping with chronic pain should also be evaluated for anxiety disorders, according to new research.

Two genes that combine to cause rare syndrome identified

Wed, 08 May 2013 21:31:31 EDT

Mutations in genes that regulate cellular metabolism found in families with ataxia, dementia and reproductive failure.

Scientists identify early predictors of disease progression which could speed Huntington's disease drug trials

Wed, 08 May 2013 21:30:30 EDT

Scientists have identified a set of tests that could help identify whether and how Huntington’s disease (HD) is progressing in groups of people who are not yet showing symptoms.

Missing link in signals contributes to neurodegeneration

Wed, 08 May 2013 15:13:13 EDT

In many neurodegenerative diseases the neurons of the brain are over-stimulated and this leads to their destruction. After many failed attempts and much scepticism this process was finally shown last year to be a possible basis for treatment in some patients with stroke. But very few targets for drugs to block this process are known.

Brain anatomy of dyslexia is not the same in men and women, boys and girls

Wed, 08 May 2013 13:18:18 EDT

Using MRI, neuroscientists have found significant differences in brain anatomy when comparing men and women with dyslexia to their non-dyslexic control groups. Their study is the first to directly compare brain anatomy of females with and without dyslexia.

Enhanced motion perception in autism may point to an underlying cause of the disorder

Wed, 08 May 2013 13:18:18 EDT

Children with autism see simple movement twice as quickly as other children their age, and this hypersensitivity to motion may provide clues to a fundamental cause of the developmental disorder, according to a new study.

Hit a 90 mph baseball? Scientists pinpoint how we see it coming

Wed, 08 May 2013 12:30:30 EDT

How does San Francisco Giants slugger Pablo Sandoval swat a 95 mph fastball, or tennis icon Venus Williams see the oncoming ball, let alone return her sister Serena's 120 mph serves? For the first time, vision scientists have pinpointed how the brain tracks fast-moving objects.

Weeks after stroke, some patients develop chronic, debilitating pain

Wed, 08 May 2013 12:28:28 EDT

Nearly 1 in 10 stroke patients suffer chronic and debilitating pain, typically described as sharp, stabbing or burning. It is treatable with medications and magnetic or electrical stimulation of the brain. But physicians often fail to correctly diagnose the condition.

Theta brainwaves reflect ability to beat built-in bias

Tue, 07 May 2013 19:56:56 EDT

Many animals, including humans, harbor ingrained biases to actively obtain rewards and to remain inactive to avoid punishment. Sometimes, however those biases can steer us wrong. A new study finds that theta brainwave activity in the prefrontal cortex predicts how well people can overcome these biases when they are unwanted.

Turning Alzheimer's fuzzy signals into high definition

Tue, 07 May 2013 19:54:54 EDT

Scientists have discovered that cholinesterase inhibitors allow signals to enter the brain with less background noise. And the drugs work in the sensory cortices, not the more sophisticated processing regions.

Potential therapeutic target for Cushing's disease

Tue, 07 May 2013 16:42:42 EDT

Scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have identified a protein that drives the formation of pituitary tumors in Cushing's disease, a development that may give clinicians a therapeutic target to treat this potentially life-threatening disorder.

Older adults' memory lapses linked to problems processing everyday events

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:46:46 EDT

Some memory problems common to older adults may stem from an inability to segment daily life into discrete experiences, according to a new study.

Restless legs syndrome, insomnia and brain chemistry: A tangled mystery solved?

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:46:46 EDT

Researchers believe they may have discovered an explanation for the sleepless nights associated with restless legs syndrome, a symptom that persists even when the disruptive, overwhelming nocturnal urge to move the legs is treated successfully with medication.

Nerve stimulation for severe depression changes brain function

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:44:44 EDT

For nearly a decade, doctors have used implanted electronic stimulators to treat severe depression in people who don't respond to standard antidepressant treatments. Now, preliminary brain scan studies are revealing that vagus nerve stimulation brings about changes in brain metabolism weeks or even months before patients begin to feel better.

Stem cell researchers move toward treatments for rare genetic nerve disease

Tue, 07 May 2013 11:55:55 EDT

Researchers have used induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) to advance disease-in-a-dish modeling of a rare genetic disorder, Ataxia Telangiectasia. Their discovery shows positive effects of drugs that may lead to effective new treatments for the neurodegenerative disease. iPSC are made from patient skin cells rather than from embryos and can become any type of cells in the laboratory.

Anti-depressant link to Clostridium difficile infection

Tue, 07 May 2013 06:10:10 EDT

Certain types of anti-depressants have been linked to an increase in the risk of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) finds a new study. Awareness of this link should improve identification and early treatment of CDI.

Effects of stress on brain cells offer clues to new anti-depressant drugs

Mon, 06 May 2013 18:14:14 EDT

New research reveals the detailed mechanism behind how stress hormones reduce the number of new brain cells -- a process considered to be linked to depression. The researchers identified a key protein responsible for the long-term detrimental effect of stress on cells, and importantly, successfully used a drug compound to block this effect, offering a potential new avenue for drug discovery.

Critical link in mammalian odor detection identified

Mon, 06 May 2013 16:12:12 EDT

Researchers at the Monell Center have identified a protein that is critical to the ability of mammals to smell. Mice engineered to be lacking the Ggamma13 protein in their olfactory receptors were functionally anosmic – unable to smell. The findings may lend insight into the underlying causes of certain smell disorders in humans.

Epilepsy cured in mice using brain cells

Fri, 03 May 2013 23:03:03 EDT

Epilepsy that does not respond to drugs can be halted in adult mice by transplanting a specific type of cell into the brain, researchers have discovered, raising hope that a similar treatment might work in severe forms of human epilepsy.

Turning human stem cells into brain cells sheds light on neural development

Thu, 02 May 2013 13:19:19 EDT

Medical researchers have manipulated human stem cells into producing types of brain cells known to play important roles in neurodevelopmental disorders such as epilepsy, schizophrenia and autism. The new model cell system allows neuroscientists to investigate normal brain development, as well as to identify specific disruptions in biological signals that may contribute to neuropsychiatric diseases.

Kids with conduct problems may have brains that under-react to painful images: May increase risk of adult psychopathy

Thu, 02 May 2013 13:18:18 EDT

When children with conduct problems see images of others in pain, key parts of their brains don't react in the way they do in most people. This pattern of reduced brain activity upon witnessing pain may serve as a neurobiological risk factor for later adult psychopathy, say researchers.

Persistent pain after stressful events may have a neurobiological basis

Thu, 02 May 2013 11:55:55 EDT

A new study is the first to identify a genetic risk factor for persistent pain after traumatic events such as motor vehicle collision and sexual assault. The study also contributes further evidence that persistent pain after stressful events has a specific biological basis.