A compilation of assorted brain studies explore and expand understanding of brain functionality
Orange County, CA - July 25th 2016 - In the last week, studies have unveiled the brain’s complexities are innumerable. From mapping new temporal territories to social interactions, and stress management, these studies illuminate the anthologized intricacies of the brain.
Understanding Brain FunctionResearchers from the University of California, Davis temporarily shut down the amygdala in primates to investigate the brain’s reaction to losing access to a major region. While regions closest to the amygdala exhibited significantly slower activity, areas of functional connectivity furthest from the hindered region demonstrated slightly impacted processes.
To shut down the amygdala, researchers utilized designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREDDs). Once blocked, brain activity fluctuations were evaluated using fMRI to measure the extent of connectivity. These analyses suggest the possibility of identifying pathologies of mental disabling conditions, such as schizophrenia and autism.
In 2015, researchers from the University Of Virginia School Of Medicine found lymphatic vessels on the meninges, a layer of membrane that protects the brain. Since discovering the immune system extends to the brain, researchers have uncovered that it might be responsible for our behavior in social interactions. With the removal of interferon gamma, a molecule deployed in response to bacteria, viruses, or parasites, from lab mice, the rodents displayed abnormal behavior.
The findings suggest social behavior to be the product of evolutionary rationale. It’s not a stretch to see how pathogens, spread via organisms, vitally influence the evolution of our immune system and inevitably, our social behavior.
Understanding the circuitous complex connection between the central nervous system and the immune system fundamentally alters the way scientists study and physicians treat neurological diseases, like Alzheimer’s or multiple sclerosis.
Updated Atlas of the Cerebral CortexA multi-modal brain parcellation of the human cerebral cortex with 180 compartments—of which, 97 are new—has just been made available to scientists online. The mapping is the result of the Human Connectome Project, a worldwide collaboration with the goal of uncovering how the brain operates.
Composed of images and corresponding detailed descriptions, the demanding endeavor required scientists to create computational software to process data derived from 210 imaging scans. The high resolution rendering is the most precise atlas of the brain to date, and will predominantly be used for research purposes.
Stress On the BrainAfter comparing fMRI results of 30 participants that were shown either violent or neutral images, a group of researchers concluded that increased neuroactivity during times of stress indicate resilience. When stressed, the area responsible for adaptation and behavioral control showed activity, revealing a link between the brain’s stress response and neuroplasticity.
Differences in stress responses can illuminate methods undertaken by individuals to maintain tranquility. Whereas high levels of neural flexibility signals in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex are indicative of a better ability to deal with stress, those with low neural signals are more likely to cope through impulsive strategies, such as substance abuse or through altercations.
