Lifeboat Foundation

Anikeeva added, “Yes, it is a record-breaking particle, but it’s not as record-breaking as it could be.”

Although that is still a work in progress, the team has ideas about how to move forward.

Large-scale safety studies are one of the additional steps that would be necessary to move these nanodiscs from basic research using animal models to clinical use in humans, “which is something academic researchers are not necessarily most well-positioned to do,” according to Anikeeva.

An international team of neuroscientists, led by Duke-NUS Medical School, have uncovered a mechanism that controls the reactivation of neural stem cells, which are crucial for repairing and regenerating brain cells.

The research, published in Nature Communications, offers exciting potential for advancing our understanding and treatment of common neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

Neural stem cells are the source of the brain’s primary functional cells. After the initial development of the brain, neural stem cells typically enter a dormant state, conserving energy and resources. They re-awaken only when the brain needs them, such as after an injury or with physical exercise.

Jeramy Windle

In the context of sensory modalities, eyes work like tiny antennae, picking up light, electromagnetic waves traveling at blistering speeds. When humans look at the world, their eyes catch these waves and convert them into signals the brain reads as colors, shapes, and movement. It’s a seamless process, that allows people to see details clearly even when there’s a lot happening around them.

Researchers have discovered that fungi, despite lacking brains, exhibit forms of intelligence such as memory, learning, and decision-making.

Through experiments, fungi demonstrated strategic growth patterns when exposed to different physical setups, suggesting a form of communication within their mycelial networks. This groundbreaking study reveals the complex and intelligent behaviors of fungi, challenging our understanding of cognition in simple organisms.

Exploring Fungal Intelligence

Scientists have found that a specific protein complex significantly influences brain connectivity and cognitive behaviors.

Their studies on mice revealed that disruptions in this complex affect synapse formation and lead to behavioral changes, such as increased anxiety and impaired social interactions, pointing toward new treatment possibilities for mental health conditions.

Protein complex roles in brain connectivity.

Research on Heliconius butterflies illustrates how variations in brain circuits are aligned with their unique foraging behaviors, enhancing their spatial and visual memory.

A tropical butterfly species with uniquely expanded brain structures shows a fascinating mosaic pattern of neural expansion linked to a key cognitive innovation.

Continue reading “Brain Expansion: How Heliconius Butterflies Outsmart Their Peers” »

R.I.P. Phil Philip George Zimbardo. March 23, 1933 – October 14, 2024.

“Success is not about reaching a destination; it’s about the journey and the person you become along the way.”

Philip G. Zimbardo, one of the world’s most renowned psychologists, died Oct. 14 in his home in San Francisco. He was 91.

Continue reading “Philip Zimbardo, the psychologist behind the ‘Stanford Prison Experiment,’ dies at 91” »

The research focuses on “cellular senescence,” a process where cells stop dividing and enter a state associated with chronic inflammation and aging.

This cellular state, known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), involves the secretion of inflammatory proteins that accelerate aging and disease, such as dementia, diabetes, and atherosclerosis.

Would you like to see more applications for Neuralink in the future? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Elon Musk’s brain technology startup, Neuralink, reported that its implant is functioning well in a second trial patient, identified as Alex. This implant is designed to help paralyzed patients control digital devices through thought alone. Unlike the first patient, Noland Arbaugh, who experienced thread retraction issues post-surgery, Alex has not faced similar problems. Neuralink implemented new measures to prevent such complications, including reducing brain motion during surgery. Both patients have been able to use the implant to perform tasks like playing video games, browsing the internet, and even designing 3D objects.