Author: Julie
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University of Victoria Researchers Find A “Starburst” In The Space-Time Continuum of Motion Sensing
Most people take motion sensing for granted. Our eyes pick up on something moving and our brains are sent a signal to let us know something has occurred in our space-time continuum. Despite the simplicity of the task, the mechanisms allowing us this ability are incredibly complex. They have been studied for over fifty years…
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How the fingertip is teaching scientists about tissue repair
When a newt loses a limb due to injury, it simply grows back. Mammals are not as fortunate as evolution has left us without this useful regenerative capacity. One exception however, is the fingertip which regenerates from the distal tip (farthest end of finger) to the nailbed in both mice and humans. How this occurs…
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This popular painkiller may hamper your ability to notice errors, University of Toronto researchers say
Dan Randles: “We don’t fully understand how acetaminophen affects the brain” It’s been known for more than a century that acetaminophen is an effective painkiller, but a new University of Toronto study shows it could also be impeding error-detection in the brain.
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Alzheimer’s disease : It takes two (proteins) to tango
For years, neuroscientists have puzzled over how two abnormal proteins, called amyloid and tau, accumulate in the brain and damage it to cause Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Which one is the driving force behind dementia? The answer: both of them, according to a new study by researchers at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute. In the…
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New Western neuroscience study shows how we learn from watching others
A new study from Western University shows that the parts of our brain that provide us with our sense of touch are activated when we watch someone else learn a manual skill. The findings by Heather McGregor and Paul Gribble from Western’s Brain and Mind Institute were published by the prestigious journal Current Biology.
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Canadian Researchers Help To Understand How The Brain Copes With Stress
It’s one of the guarantees of life: stress. At its core, it’s a perception of a physical or psychological threat and is designed to help us survive. But the triggers are varied and as such, there is no single way to deal with the impending sensation of harm. For years, researchers have studied the stress…
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Canadian Researchers Reveal The Mental Trap of PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a scourge for anyone who suffers from it. The symptoms are heartbreaking – nightmares, flashbacks, poor sleep quality, irritability, and a lack of concentration. Some will feel disconnected from reality as they perceive being trapped in a mental cage from which they cannot break free.
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Researchers Are Learning How The Brain Tells Us To Stop Moving
In the playground, a popular game for kids of all ages is “Freeze.” The concept is rather simple. A leader tells the participants they are free to move around until everyone is told to freeze in place. Those who don’t suddenly stop are notified they are out and the game continues. It’s a great way…
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Quebec Researchers Are Learning How To Rebuild The Nervous System
Imagine repairing injured spinal cords or brains. Many may relegate this idea to the realms of science fiction yet researchers around the world continue to strive for this goal. They have developed and tested ways to rebuild the damage nervous system and bring back proper function. Some have even shown success in the lab.
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University of Ottawa Researchers Have Found A New “Fate” For Aging Stem Cells
Death is a normal part of the life cycle for cells. They form, grow, perform their expected duties and then, after a while, face a predictable fate. When the time comes, the cell undergoes a programmed process, known as apoptosis http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK26873/ to break down many of the internal components and pave the way for the…