MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences UnitFrontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects regions of the brain involved in key cognitive functions, such as abstract reasoning and emotion regulation. Apathy—a multifaceted construct that describes a range of behavioural and cognitive impairments—has been associated with worse outcomes in FTD. In this study, researchers aimed to understand whether apathy begins to […]
Keeping the beat: how the brain processes the rhythms of speech
When the brain encounters a rhythm—for instance, through music, or direct electrical stimulation—it aligns its oscillation patterns (‘brainwaves’) to the beat. However, it is unclear if these stimulus-aligned brain responses are internally driven—through the brain’s own underlying patterns of activity—or if they are evoked by the rhythm of the stimulus itself. In this study, researchers […]
Mind over Matter: how hippocampal GABA enables inhibitory control over unwanted thoughts
We can’t always control what we think, for those with psychiatric disorders, this is especially challenging. Intrusive memories, flashbacks, and hallucinations are hallmark symptoms of a variety of mental health conditions. Although these symptoms are often attributed to problems with brain regions that help us inhibit unwanted thoughts—such as the prefrontal cortex—difficulties in controlling intrusive […]
How does the brain help us remember?
Past theoretical models of memory have stressed the importance of schematic representations of memory: information that is congruent with existing knowledge (a schema) is usually remembered better than less congruent information. Only recently, however, have memory schemas been studied from the perspective of systems neuroscience. Additionally, schematic models fail to account for the fact that […]
Neural networks help explain object perception
Recent advances in Deep convolutional Neural Networks (DNNs) have enabled researchers to create accurate computation models of brain activity. DNNs present an exciting opportunity to understand how the brain coordinates various cognitive functions, such as visual processing and object recognition—indeed, some DNNs can achieve human-level performance on object categorisation. In this study, researchers aimed to […]
Age-related slowing of the brain is caused by structural decline
As we age, it’s common for our thinking to become slower as a result of changes in the brain. But how, exactly, does this happen? In this study, researchers aimed to establish a direct relationship between neural slowing and brain atrophy. They combined magnetoencephalographic (MEG) measures of brain processing speed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) […]
Researchers discover how key protein spreads in Alzheimer’s and PSP
Alzheimer’s disease and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) are neurodegenerative diseases that affect different parts of the brain. Past research has established a strong link between neurodegenerative diseases and heightened levels of tau proteins in the brain. While Alzheimer’s primarily affects densely-connected brain regions in the cortex, PSP is characterised by the accumulation of tau proteins […]
Is it just a phase? How mental health struggles change as kids grow up
Early intervention is a powerful weapon in the fight against rising rates of mental illness. But in order to intervene before problems become serious, we must accurately predict which children will struggle later in adolescence and what symptoms they are likely to experience. Toward that end, this study followed nearly seven thousand participants from the […]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- …
- 53
- Next Page »
