AI SummaryA recent study conducted by scientists at MIT’s Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, the Karolinska Institute, and the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden explains how the brain manages general and specific components of working memory tasks. The study reveals that the brain creates distinct spaces in the cortex for general… Continue reading “Spatial computing” enables flexible working memory
Tag: Neurotransmission and Signaling
Sparse, small, but diverse neural connections help make perception reliable, efficient
AI SummaryThe thalamus, a region in the brain, plays a crucial role in communication with the cerebral cortex, but little is known about how this process works due to the lack of observed connections between the two regions. However, a new study by researchers at MIT has discovered that while the connections between the thalamus… Continue reading Sparse, small, but diverse neural connections help make perception reliable, efficient
How Huntington’s disease affects different neurons
AI SummaryIn patients with Huntington’s disease, neurodegeneration of two distinct cell populations in the striatum, the striosomes and the matrix, contribute to motor impairments and mood disorders, respectively. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, researchers at MIT have mapped these cell populations and their vulnerability to Huntington’s disease, hoping to develop new treatments that target specific cells.… Continue reading How Huntington’s disease affects different neurons
Professor Emeritus Richard Wurtman, influential figure in translational research, dies at 86
AI SummaryRichard Wurtman, a prominent neurochemist and neuropharmacologist who was a member of the MIT faculty for 44 years, has died at the age of 86. Wurtman’s research on neurotransmitters and the impact of nutrition on brain function has made significant contributions to our understanding of conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and premenstrual syndrome. He… Continue reading Professor Emeritus Richard Wurtman, influential figure in translational research, dies at 86
This is your brain. This is your brain on code
AI SummaryFunctional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been used to study the brain activity of programmers as they comprehend and process code. The research found that different parts of the brain are activated when programmers evaluate code involving loops or branches, words or math, and code or descriptions. The study also showed that dynamic analysis… Continue reading This is your brain. This is your brain on code
Small studies of 40-hertz sensory stimulation confirm safety, suggest Alzheimer’s benefits
AI SummaryEarly-stage clinical studies have found that 40-hertz sensory stimulation was well-tolerated, with no serious adverse effects and produced neurological and behavioral benefits among participants with Alzheimer’s disease. The studies are preliminary and more extensive research is needed to determine the efficacy of 40-hertz sensory stimulation as a potential therapeutic for Alzheimer’s.A pair of early-stage… Continue reading Small studies of 40-hertz sensory stimulation confirm safety, suggest Alzheimer’s benefits
Silent synapses are abundant in the adult brain
AI SummaryMIT neuroscientists have discovered that the adult brain contains silent synapses, immature connections between neurons that remain inactive until they are recruited to help form new memories. About 30% of synapses in the adult mouse brain are silent, and the researchers believe this helps the brain continuously form new memories without modifying existing synapses.… Continue reading Silent synapses are abundant in the adult brain
Are Covid-19 “comas” signs of a protective hibernation state?
AI SummaryMany Covid-19 patients who have been treated with mechanical ventilation are slow to regain consciousness even after being taken off sedation, and a new study suggests that this could be due to a hibernation-like state induced by the brain to protect cells during periods of oxygen scarcity. This state has been observed in other… Continue reading Are Covid-19 “comas” signs of a protective hibernation state?