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New research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology led by Massachusetts General Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham Healthcare System indicates that physical activity lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease, in part, by reducing stress-related signaling in the brain, finding that those with stress-related conditions such as depression …
It’s no surprise that hard physical labor wears you out, but what about hard mental labor? Sitting around thinking hard for hours makes one feel worn out, too. Now, researchers have new evidence to explain why this is, and, based on their findings, the reason you feel mentally exhausted (as opposed to drowsy) from intense …
Mount Sinai scientists have discovered a neural mechanism that is believed to support advanced cognitive abilities such as planning and problem-solving. It does so by distributing information from single neurons to larger populations of neurons in the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain that temporarily stores and manipulates information. It is well established that …
Researchers at the University of Tsukuba show that increased activation of the bilateral prefrontal cortex accompanies improvements to mood and cognitive function after only a brief bout of moderate-intensity running. Running may be a useful activity to undertake for better mental health. University of Tsukuba researchers have found that only ten minutes of moderate-intensity running …
We remember things longer if we take breaks during learning, referred to as the spacing effect. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology gained deeper insight into the neuronal basis for this phenomenon in mice. With longer intervals between learning repetitions, mice reuse more of the same neurons as before – instead of activating …
To quickly express genes needed for learning and memory, brain cells snap both strands of DNA in many more places and cell types than previously realized, a new study shows The urgency to remember a dangerous experience requires the brain to make a series of potentially dangerous moves: Neurons and other brain cells snap open …
Specific subpopulations of brain cells in the prefrontal cortex, which is a key part of the brain that regulates social behaviour, have been identified by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai that are required for normal sociability in adulthood and they are profoundly vulnerable to juvenile isolation in animal studies. Loneliness …
In one of the largest functional brain imaging studies conducted specific brain differences between men and women have been identified by the Amen Clinics using images provided by 9 clinics as published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. 46, 034 brain single photon emission computed tomography images provided by 9 clinics were analyzed …
Chronic stress may lead to memory problems by interfering with glutamate signaling in the prefrontal cortex, in a lab animal model. Chronic stress can impair executive functions, such as memory and attention, and has been shown to trigger maladaptive changes associated with stress-related mental disorders. Some previous studies have suggested that stress hormones impair behaviors …
The medial prefrontal cortex region of the brain responds positively to social alliances. In that kinship, friendship alliances, and perceptions of others’ beliefs guide social interactions and are central to cohesive group behavior, Fenna M. Krienen, from Harvard University (Massachusetts, USA), and colleagues studied how the medial prefrontal cortex region of the brain processes social …