Temporally Dissociable Neural Representations of Pitch Height and Chroma

The extraction and analysis of pitch underpin speech and music recognition, sound segregation, and other auditory tasks. Perceptually, pitch can be represented as a helix composed of two factors: height monotonically aligns with frequency, while chroma cyclically repeats at doubled frequencies. Although the early perceptual and neurophysiological mechanisms for extracting pitch from acoustic signals have… Continue reading Temporally Dissociable Neural Representations of Pitch Height and Chroma

Distinct Roles of Astrocytes and GABAergic Neurons in the Paraventricular Thalamic Nucleus in Modulating Diabetic Neuropathic Pain

Diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) is a common chronic complication of diabetes mellitus and a clinically common form of neuropathic pain. The thalamus is an important center for the conduction and modulation of nociceptive signals. The paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PVT) is an important midline nucleus of the thalamus involved in sensory processing, but the specific role… Continue reading Distinct Roles of Astrocytes and GABAergic Neurons in the Paraventricular Thalamic Nucleus in Modulating Diabetic Neuropathic Pain

Bio-hybrid drone uses silkworm moth antennae to navigate using smell

Conventional drones use visual sensors for navigation. However, environmental conditions like dampness, low light, and dust can hinder their effectiveness, limiting their use in disaster-stricken areas. Researchers have now developed a novel bio-hybrid drone by combining robotic elements with odor-sensing antennae from silkworm moths. Their innovation, which integrates the agility and precision of robots with… Continue reading Bio-hybrid drone uses silkworm moth antennae to navigate using smell

How nature organizes itself, from brain cells to ecosystems

McGovern Associate Investigator Ila Fiete. Photo: Caitlin Cunningham Look around, and you’ll see it everywhere: the way trees form branches, the way cities divide into neighborhoods, the way the brain organizes into regions. Nature loves modularity—a limited number of self-contained units that combine in different ways to perform many functions. But how does this organization… Continue reading How nature organizes itself, from brain cells to ecosystems

Infant exposure to herpes virus may cause memory problems later in life

Very early exposure to even a very small dose of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in infant mice can lead to cognitive decline later in life, according to findings from a new Dartmouth-led study, in collaboration with Harvard Medical School and published in the journal PLoS Pathogens. This is significant because of emerging data in human studies showing… Continue reading Infant exposure to herpes virus may cause memory problems later in life

New research shows neonatal HSV infections may lead to long-term cognitive impairment

Very early exposure to even a very small dose of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in infant mice can lead to cognitive decline later in life, according to new findings. This is significant because of emerging data in human studies showing an association between HSV and Alzheimer’s disease in humans.

Lower vitamin B12 levels could impact brain function in older adults

Meeting the minimum requirement for vitamin B12, needed to make DNA, red blood cells and nerve tissue, may not actually be enough – particularly if you are older. It may even put you at risk for cognitive impairment. A new study, led by UC San Francisco researchers, found that older, healthy volunteers, with lower concentrations… Continue reading Lower vitamin B12 levels could impact brain function in older adults

Trial By Error: GET Ideologues Try to Rebut Muscle Abnormality Study–and Fail

By David Tuller, DrPH It is a pleasure to read a pointed and effective smack-down of an ill-informed argument, especially when the argument is pushing the graded exercise therapy/cognitive behavior therapy (GET/CBT) paradigm for ME/CFS, Long Covid and related illnesses. That’s how I felt about the excellent rebuttal this week to a letter from some… Continue reading Trial By Error: GET Ideologues Try to Rebut Muscle Abnormality Study–and Fail