Neuroscience – Science & research news

Surprising ‘fight or flight’ discovery in sleepwalkers paves way to new understanding of phenomenon

June 24, 2021

By Colm Gorey, Frontiers science writer Image: New Africa/Shutterstock.com New research published in the open access journal Frontiers investigating the biological mysteries [...]

Twin study is first to reveal common genetic risk factors for PTSD and migraine

June 22, 2021

By Conn Hastings, science writer Image credit: LanaG/Shutterstock.com While scientists have known that PTSD and migraine often co-occur, no one had studied this link before [...]

Breakthrough study shows defining traits are forged the moment we’re born

June 10, 2021

Functional brain connectivity networks with behavioral relevance are already present in young infants, finds new study in Frontiers in Psychiatry. [...]

Head to toe: Study reveals brain activity behind missed penalty kicks

May 7, 2021

What's the neuroscience behind missing a penalty kick due to overthinking? Frontiers in Computer Science [...]

No longer science fiction: Mind reading through EEG could soon become reality

April 29, 2021

Electroencephalograms could soon be used to read minds: Frontiers in Neuroscience [...]

From ghosts to evil genies: How the world experiences terrifying sleep paralysis very differently

March 29, 2021

By Colm Gorey, Frontiers science writer/Dr Baland Jalal, Harvard University and University of Cambridge Dr Baland Jalal. Image: Dr Bamo Jalal Dr Baland Jalal has spent years [...]

Learning a new language gives your brain a temporary activity boost

March 26, 2021

How do brain activity patterns change when people learn new a language? Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience [...]

Study shows stronger brain activity after writing on paper than on tablet or smartphone

March 24, 2021

Unique, complex information in analog methods likely gives brain more details to trigger memory: Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience [...]

Your favorite music can send your brain into a pleasure overload

November 3, 2020

How are "chills" from music reflected in brain activity? Frontiers in Neuroscience [...]

New webinar series from Frontiers in Neuroergonomics

October 16, 2020

New series of virtual seminars for researchers, students, and practitioners in the field of neuroergonomics and its applications. [...]

Musical training can improve attention and working memory in children – study

October 8, 2020

What are the cognitive benefits of music training on the developing brain of children? Frontiers in Neuroscience [...]

Negative emotions cause stronger appetite responses in emotional eaters

June 3, 2020

Findings on emotional eating may help in the early detection and treatment of eating disorders: Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience [...]

A new potential target for the treatment of alcohol-withdrawal induced depression

May 27, 2020

Alcohol withdrawal impacts the physiology of somatostatin neurons in brain areas associated with emotional processing and addiction: Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience [...]

Video games improve the visual attention of expert players

April 10, 2020

Players of action real-time strategy games better allocate brain resources between competing visual stimuli: Frontiers in Human Neuroscience [...]

Study finds empathy can be detected in people whose brains are at rest

February 20, 2020

Findings may help health care professionals better assess those with autism, schizophrenia: Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience [...]

What goes up may actually be down

January 24, 2020

Researchers use virtual reality to show that people anticipate the force of gravity by “seeing it” through visual cues rather than “feeling it”: Frontiers in Neuroscience [...]

Contaminating a fake rubber hand could help people overcome OCD, study suggests

January 16, 2020

'Rubber hand illusion' could help people overcome OCD condition without stressful exposure therapy: Frontiers in Human Neuroscience [...]

Justified and unjustified movie violence evokes different brain responses

December 11, 2019

The perceived intent of violence in movies activates different centers of the brain: in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience [...]

Self-cannibalizing mitochondria may set the stage for ALS development

November 14, 2019

Powerhouses of the cell ‘eat themselves up’ jumpstart path to neurodegenerative disease; Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience [...]

Is this brain cell your ‘mind’s eye’?

October 1, 2019

Only brain activity involving ‘L5p neurons’ enters conscious awareness, says new theory; Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience [...]

Magnets can help AI get closer to the efficiency of the human brain

May 31, 2019

New brain-like networks could help robots approach human-like efficiency at object recognition tasks; Frontiers in Neuroscience [...]

Gender-biased protein may play role in autism

April 25, 2019

A study suggests that autism-related brain proteins are more tightly regulated in females than in males; Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience [...]

Brain training app improves users’ concentration, study shows

March 15, 2019

Cambridge researchers have developed and tested 'Decoder', a new game that is aimed at helping users improve their attention and concentration; Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience [...]

New method uses AI to screen for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

March 8, 2019

Scientists have developed a new AI tool that can screen children for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder quickly and affordably: Frontiers in Neurology [...]

New target could help protect vision following optic nerve trauma

March 4, 2019

A new study sheds light on the mechanism of prolonged neuronal degeneration following optic nerve injury, which could provide treatment targets for preserving eyesight; Frontiers in Neuroscience [...]

Sleeping safe and sound with new hypnotics

February 14, 2019

Japanese scientists have shown that a new class of sleeping pill preserves the ability to wake in response to threats like earthquakes or intruders – unlike Ambien, Halcion and other market leaders; Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience [...]

So cute you could crush it?

January 18, 2019

A UC Riverside professor's first-of-its-kind study explores the neural underpinnings of cute aggression; Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience [...]

Computer hardware designed for 3D games could hold the key to replicating human brain

January 14, 2019

The group used graphics processing units (GPUs) to run their brain simulation software, which is already powering drones that think like insects and could help pinpoint the disease in the human brain; Frontiers in Neuroscience [...]

Mind control pioneer adds new channels to the brain remote control

January 1, 2019

Bioengineers have created new tools for controlling neurons with light, that allow researchers to probe deeper into the function of the brain; Frontiers in Neuroscience [...]

10 ways your research shaped the last decade

December 17, 2018

As Frontiers celebrates its 10th anniversary, we look back at 10 ways our authors' research has contributed to, and built on, breakthroughs of the past decade. [...]

Autism is associated with zinc deficiency in early development — now a study links the two

December 6, 2018

Frontiers in Neuroscience: Researchers have discovered a mechanistic link between zinc, autism risk genes and abnormal neuronal connections associated with autism spectrum disorders

Researchers have discovered a mechanistic link between zinc, risk genes and abnormal neuronal connections in autism; Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience [...]

Blue Brain Project releases first-ever digital 3D brain cell atlas

November 28, 2018

Frontiers in Neuroinformatics: The Blue Brain Cell Atlas allows anyone to visualize every region in the mouse brain, cell-by-cell – and freely download data for new analyses and modelling.

The Blue Brain Cell Atlas allows anyone to visualize every region in the mouse brain, cell-by-cell; Frontiers in Neuroinformatics [...]

Sex, drugs and estradiol: why cannabis affects women differently

November 26, 2018

Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience: Females use and experience cannabis differently to males -- and neuroscience is beginning to explain why, says a new review

Females use and experience cannabis differently to males -- and neuroscience is beginning to explain why, says new review; Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience [...]

Older adults fitted with cochlear implants exhibit poor brain function

November 13, 2018

Image of an older person's ear: Cochlear implants do not fully compensate for the cognitive decline that has been associated with the loss of hearing in the elderly: Frontiers in Neuroscience

Cochlear implants do not fully compensate for the cognitive decline that has been associated with the loss of hearing in the elderly: Frontiers in Neuroscience [...]

The smell of lavender is relaxing, science confirms

November 6, 2018

Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience: A new study shows that the famous relaxing effects of lavender rely on sense of smell -- and that the active compound linalool could be used medically to treat anxiety

A new study shows that the famous relaxing effects of lavender rely on sense of smell; Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience [...]

Does herpes cause Alzheimer’s?

November 2, 2018

Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience: New evidence of a causal link between herpes viruses and Alzheimer's reinvigorates research into the possible role of infections -- and their treatment -- in the disease

The virus responsible for cold sores has been strongly linked to the development of Alzheimer's disease; Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience [...]

Scientists have built an artificial human brain cell

October 2, 2018

Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience: The most advanced digital replica of human neurons ever made reveals that human brains are unique -- all the way down to their building blocks.

The most advanced digital replica of human neurons ever made reveals that our brain cells are unique; Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience [...]

Contribute your mini-reviews to EPFL’s neuroscience MOOC

September 25, 2018

Ranging from molecular to cognitive and behavioural neuroscience, the course will provide the most up to date, state-of-the-art content and give participants a multi-scale view and understanding of brain function. [...]

Primate study offers clues to evolution of speech

September 21, 2018

Image of baboon with mouth open. A study in Frontiers in Neuroscience suggests primates are incapable of producing speech because they lack the brain mechanisms needed to control and coordinate vocal production

Study suggests primates can't speak because they lack the brain mechanisms needed to control and coordinate vocal production: Frontiers in Neuroscience [...]

Scientists propose a new lead for Alzheimer’s research

September 14, 2018

Abnormalities seen in inherited Alzheimer's disease could result from problems in how neurons handle iron, suggests a new theory: Frontiers in Neuroscience [...]

AI World Cup: Infant-trained simulated robots win ‘RoboCup’

August 24, 2018

Image of robot arm holding a football (soccer ball). Football-playing robots trained to walk using real infant walking paths scored more goals and won more games than robots trained to walk in straight lines, circles or squares: Frontiers in Neurorobotics

Simulated robots trained on infant walking paths won more football (soccer) games than those trained on less varied geometric paths: Frontiers in Neurorobotics [...]

New theory may explain cause of depression and improve treatments

August 23, 2018

Dysfunction in mitochondria could be root cause of depression, providing opportunity for new developments of antidepressant drugs: Frontiers in Neuroscience [...]

Feeling young could mean your brain is aging more slowly

August 9, 2018

The first study to link subjective age to biological age shows that elderly people who feel younger have less signs of brain aging: Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience

The first study to link subjective age to biological age shows elderly people who feel younger have less signs of brain aging: Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience [...]

Breakthrough in construction of computers for mimicking human brain

July 12, 2018

A computer built to mimic the brain’s neural networks produces similar results to that of the best brain-simulation supercomputer software currently used for neural-signaling research, finds a new study published in the open-access journal Frontiers in Neuroscience. [...]