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Revista de noticias sobre Biología, Biotecnología, Neurociencias, Medioambiente, etc. de la Biblioteca de la Facultad de Biología de la Universidad de Salamanca.
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Universidad de Salamanca
Facultad de Biología
Biblioteca
Bionoticias Septiembre (4ª) de 2014
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índice
Biología 7
Biomedicina 12
Biotecnología 15
Neurociencia 27
.Biología
El pez cebra permite investigar el mecanismo del ébola y el dengue
Un trabajo del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas muestra
que la transparencia del pez cebra facilita la observación de la respuesta
inmune celular. El estudio se publica en la revista Journal of Virology.
Descubren una nueva especie marina en Argentina
Las profundidades del mar siempre resultaron un misterio, tal es así que
los científicos creían que no había vida en estas regiones gobernadas por
la oscuridad. A partir de numerosos hallazgos y campañas se demostró
lo contrario y desde entonces se siguen registrando y describiendo
Arañas que prosperan más en áreas urbanas que en el campo
A algunas arañas les va mejor conviviendo con nosotros en las ciudades
que en espacios naturales con poca presencia humana. Así se ha
constatado en una investigación, cuyos resultados indican
concretamente que un tipo de arañas, las que tejen las típicas telarañas
Anfibios capaces de cruzar grandes extensiones oceánicas
Se ha venido creyendo que la dispersión de especies de anfibios de un
continente a otro a través de grandes extensiones de mar es
esencialmente imposible, debido a la intolerancia de estos animales a la
sal. Sin embargo, los resultados de un reciente análisis biogeográfico a
Bandadas de pterodáctilos
Entrega del podcast Zoo de Fósiles, a cargo de Germán Fernández
Sánchez, en Ciencia para Escuchar, que recomendamos por su
interés. Hace unos 120 millones de años, la región desértica de
Sinkiang, en el noroeste de China, era mucho más húmeda que en la
actualidad. Ríos y lagos...
Descubierto el primer dinosaurio semiacuático
El Spinosaurus aegyptiacus –un dinosaurio carnívoro más grande que el
Tyrannosaurus rex– era un fantástico nadador, según un estudio que
publica la revista Science. Desde que el paleontólogo alemán Ernst
Stromer descubriera los primeros fósiles de esta especie en Egipto
(África)...
La mano humana apenas ha evolucionado en el último millón de años
El Equipo de Investigación de Atapuerca acaba de publicar en la revista
Journal of Human Evolution un estudio basado en el análisis de una
falange humana hallada en 2008 en la Sima del Elefante, en Atapuerca
(Burgos), en España, de 1,3 millones de años de antigüedad. Este fósil
demuestra que la...
Las hembras de papamoscas tienen manchas blancas que indican su
jerarquía
Los machos de papamoscas exhiben marcas blancas en el plumaje de la
frente, un indicador de carácter sexual secundario que señala su
categoría dentro de la población. Solo las hembras del sur de Europa,
donde los recursos son más limitados, muestran esta mancha que señala
una posición de dominación frente a otras, según un estudio del Museo
La capa de ozono muestra signos de recuperación
La capa de ozono de la estratosfera, una frágil capa de gas que protege a
la Tierra de los dañinos rayos de sol ultravioleta, está en el buen camino
para su recuperación. Esto es lo que concluye la ‘Evaluación científica
del agotamiento del ozono de 2014’, elaborada por cerca de 300
científicos de 36 países distintos incluido España.
Descubren bacterias capaces de prosperar en cementerios nucleares
La eliminación de desechos nucleares es muy complicada, con
volúmenes muy grandes destinados a ser enterrados a gran profundidad.
El mayor volumen de desechos radiactivos, corresponde a los del tipo
catalogado como de “nivel intermedio”, que deben ser encerrados en
sarcófagos de hormigón antes de...
La mano humana apenas ha evolucionado en el último millón de años
Un reciente estudio publicado en el Journal of Human Evolution por un
equipo científico español ha demostrado que la morfología de las
falanges, y por tanto de la mano, ha permanecido estable desde hace 1,3
millones de años.
La salud de los humedales a vista de satélite
Conocer la evolución de los humedales resulta esencial para determinar
su estado actual y predecir amenazas. Un equipo de investigadores de la
Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia y la Universidad
Autónoma de Madrid han estudiado mediante técnicas de teledetección
el comportamiento del humedal de Arreo en el País Vasco. Para ello, se
han valido del archivo histórico de imágenes del satéli
Retrasar el envejecimiento de todo el cuerpo activando un gen en el
intestino
Se ha identificado un gen que, cuando es activado en el intestino o en
otros órganos o sistemas principales del cuerpo, puede hacer más lento
el proceso de envejecimiento en todo el cuerpo. Trabajando con
moscas de la fruta, el equipo de David Walker, de la Universidad de
California en...
Bordados de tema microbiológico: Placas de Petri en Punto de Cruz
Artículo de Serafín G. León, en el blog "Ciencia y Cultura", que
recomendamos por su interés. Alicia Watkins nos muestra sus
curiosos bordados en punto de cruz. Entre ellos, los bordados
microbiológicos: unas simpáticas “placas de Petri” con todo tipo de
cultivos de células y...
El genoma del gibón completa la secuenciación de todos los simios
Investigadores del Instituto de Biología Evolutiva y del Centro Nacional
de Análisis Genómico participan en un consorcio internacional que ha
secuenciado el genoma del gibón (Hylobatidae), el último simio en ser
secuenciado. El estudio de estos primates proporciona pistas para la
investigación en salud humana.
El cambio climático podría reducir el área de distribución de los seres
vivos tres veces más de lo previsto
La distribución de especies prevista ante el cambio climático empeora al
tener en cuenta su variabilidad poblacional. Un nuevo modelo de
cálculo, que han publicado investigadores del Museo Nacional de
Ciencias Naturales, contempla las barreras geográficas y humanas a las
que se enfrentarán la dispersión de las especies.
La radiación ultravioleta ayudó a las plantas a conquistar la tierra
La radiación ultravioleta (UV) ha sido un factor evolutivo importante en
la conquista del medio terrestre por parte de las plantas. Según un
estudio de la Universidad de La Rioja, en España, provocó la aparición
de diferentes adaptaciones que les permitieron especializarse en la
colonización de...
Nuevo máximo sin precedentes de los gases de efecto invernadero en
2013
Los niveles de dióxido de carbono, causantes del efecto invernadero,
han aumentado más entre 2012 y 2013 que durante cualquier otro año
desde 1984, según se indica en el Boletín anual de la Organización
Meteorológica Mundial.
La radiación ultravioleta ayudó a las plantas a conquistar la tierra
Una investigación de la Universidad de La Rioja concluye que la
radiación ultravioleta (UV) provocó en las plantas la aparición de
adaptaciones que les permitieron especializarse en distintos ambientes.
Extrañas criaturas marinas con forma de hongo
Una descripción científica pionera de extraños seres marinos con forma
de hongo los sitúa como dos especies hasta ahora desconocidas de una
nueva familia. Los nuevos organismos son multicelulares y
básicamente no simétricos, con una densa capa de material gelatinoso
entre la capa...
Descubierta una nueva especie de titanosaurio en Tanzania
Paleontólogos de la Universidad de Ohio (EE UU) han identificado una
nueva especie de titanosaurio en Tanzania, Rukwatitan bisepultus.
Aunque se han descubierto muchos fósiles de estos reptiles en todo el
mundo –sobre todo en América del Sur–, son pocos los que se han
recuperado en el continente africano.
Técnica capaz de “engañar” a las plantas para que su conducta no
dependa tanto de la luz solar
¿Plantas veraniegas floreciendo en pleno invierno? ¿Crecimiento
frondoso de maíz en parcelas de estrechos patios traseros donde casi
nunca da la luz del sol directamente? Gracias a una nueva tecnología
que el equipo de Richard Vierstra, de la Universidad de Wisconsin-
El efecto Doppler explicaría una de las etapas de la formación
embrionaria en vertebrados
Un equipo interdisciplinario de biólogos y físicos de Argentina, Europa
y Estados Unidos estudió en peces cebra el proceso que, durante el
desarrollo embrionario, da lugar a los segmentos – llamados somitos –
que forman la estructura de los vertebrados. Los resultados, publicados
Un estudio regula un receptor neuronal con moléculas activables por luz
El desarrollo de medicamentos regulados por la luz (optofarmacología)
tiene un claro potencial terapéutico. Utiliza un fármaco sensible a la luz
que puede emplearse en organismos para controlar la actividad de un
receptor o proteína específicos con fines terapéuticos sin necesidad de
alterar los...
.Biomedicina
Somos adictos a comer, no a la comida
Científicos españoles consideran que ‘adicción a comer’ define con
mayor rigor la conducta alimentaria de tipo adictivo ya que no existe, de
momento, evidencia sobre las propiedades adictivas de ciertos
alimentos. El estudio no señala como culpable directo a la industria de
La resonancia magnética detecta y cuantifica la grasa en el hígado
La grasa que se acumula en el hígado en determinadas circunstancias
produce inflamación, fibrosis y, finalmente, cirrosis. Hasta ahora, el
método más fiable para su determinación era la biopsia hepática. Un
nuevo estudio muestra ahora cómo la resonancia magnética es una
Los corticoides inhalados pueden retirarse de forma gradual en
pacientes con EPOC avanzada
En pacientes con EPOC grave o muy grave en situación clínica estable
se pueden retirar los corticoides inhalados de manera escalonada. Una
nueva investigación revela que en los 12 meses de seguimiento, los
pacientes a los que se les retiró esta medicación no empeoraron los
síntomas ni su calidad de vida con respecto a los que mantuvieron el
Un estudio relaciona el uso a largo plazo de benzodiazepinas con el
alzhéimer
El 50% de las personas adultas toma benzodiazepinas para combatir la
ansiedad y los problemas de sueño. Ahora, un nuevo trabajo conecta
este tratamiento a largo plazo con la enfermedad de Alzheimer. Para
paliar dicha relación, los investigadores apuntan que la terapia debe
“cumplir con las directrices de buenas prácticas y ser lo más corta
posible”.
Un medicamento experimental consigue la remisión en el 50% de
pacientes con cáncer de mama
Un estudio desarrollado por expertos del Centro Nacional de
Investigaciones Oncológicas revela que la combinación de dos
fármacos, nintedanib y paclitaxel, provoca una remisión total de los
tumores en un 50% de las pacientes con cáncer de mama temprano tipo
HER-2-negativo, que representa el 85% de los casos. Se trata de los
primeros ensayos clínicos promovidos por la institución.
Un nuevo estudio destaca el potencial de los medicamentos biosimilares
Los medicamentos biosimilares son los equivalentes complejos de los
genéricos. Son copias, aunque no exactas, de medicamentos de origen
biotecnológico, muy costosos de producir y, por lo tanto, caros para los
sistemas sanitarios. La expiración de las patentes ha abierto el mercado
a la producción de copias más baratas, y se espera que la entrada estos
medicamentos en el mercado favorezca el acceso
Hombres y mujeres aceptan el dolor de forma similar
La resiliencia, la capacidad de las personas para sobreponerse a
situaciones adversas, es la primera cualidad relacionada con el manejo
adecuado del dolor y la adaptación del paciente a sentirlo de forma
crónica. Así concluye un nuevo estudio realizado en la Universidad de
Málaga, que muestra cómo el género no influye tanto como se pensaba
en esta capacidad.
.Biotecnología
Evolutionary tools improve prospects for sustainable development
Solving societal challenges in food security, emerging diseases and
biodiversity loss will require evolutionary thinking in order to be
effective in the long run. Inattention to this will only lead to greater
Fat gene and mitochondria: Surprising cellular connection sheds new
light on energy control
An unusual biochemical connection has been discovered by researchers,
which has implications for diseases linked to mitochondria, which are
the primary sources of energy production within our cells.
Discovery paves way for new generation of chemotherapies
A new mechanism to inhibit proteasomes, protein complexes that are a
target for cancer therapy, has been discovered by an international team
of researchers. A member of the category of enzymes known as
Microbes evolve faster than ocean can disperse them
Scientists have created an advanced model aimed at exploring the role
of neutral evolution in the biogeographic distribution of ocean microbes.
Over the past several decades, ecologists have come to understand that
Molecular mechanisms of birth defects among older women: Why older
women can have babies with Down Syndrome
Researchers studying cell division in fruit flies have discovered a
pathway that may improve understanding of molecular mistakes that
cause older women to have babies with Down syndrome.
New defense mechanism against viruses discovered
A known quality control mechanism in human, animal and plant cells is
active against viruses, researchers have discovered. They think it might
represent one of the oldest defense mechanisms against viruses in
Cells put off protein production during times of stress
When a stressed cell recognizes the buildup of misfolded proteins, it
responds by reshuffling its workload, much like a stressed out employee
might temporarily move papers from an overflowing inbox into a junk
Our microbes are a rich source of drugs
Bacteria that normally live in and upon us have genetic blueprints that
enable them to make thousands of molecules that act like drugs, and
some of these molecules might serve as the basis for new human
New superfoods could help key protein keep bodies healthy
A new generation of new superfoods that tackle heart disease and
diabetes could be developed following research into a protein that helps
keep cells in our bodies healthy. The beneficial substances comprise
Microfluidics: Lab on a breathing chip
Human nasal epithelial cells, cultured on a microchip, react to air
pollutants just like they would in the upper airway. The upper
respiratory tract is the first line of defense against air pollutants,
World's largest DNA origami created
Researchers have created the world's largest DNA origami, which are
nanoscale constructions with applications ranging from biomedical
Using plants to produce enzyme may provide treatment for high blood
pressure in lungs
Using plant leaves to produce and deliver a key enzyme may someday
improve treatment for life-threatening high blood pressure in the lungs.
This plant-based therapy would be less expensive and easier to take than
For some traits, just a single gene moves evolution along
When it comes to evolving some traits -- especially simple ones -- there
may be a shared gene that's the source, researchers report. The scientists
were able to pinpoint the single gene responsible for two different
Microalgae: Factories of the future
A biology professor is making microalgae fit for industry. The
microorganisms could produce a variety of products from carbon
dioxide and light, he says. These potential saviors of the world's climate
New 3-D imaging techniques may improve understanding of biofuel
plant material: Never-before-seen details
A comparison of 3-D transmission electron microscopy imaging
techniques reveals never-seen-before details of plant cell walls.
Gulf killifishes' biological responses to oil spills similar in field,
laboratory studies
Gulf killifish biological responses to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
detected by researchers in the field are similar to those in controlled
laboratory studies.
Gibbon genome sequence deepens understanding of primates rapid
chromosomal rearrangements
With the completion of the sequencing and analysis of the gibbon
genome, scientists now know more about why this small ape has a rapid
rate of chromosomal rearrangements, providing information that
Less effective DNA repair process takes over as mice age
One reason for increasing DNA damage in older vertebrates has been
uncovered by researchers: the primary repair process begins to fail with
increasing age and is replaced by one that is less accurate.
In directing stem cells, study shows context matters
A new wrinkle to the cell differentiation equation has been added by
researchers, showing that the stiffness of the surfaces on which stem
cells are grown can exert a profound influence on cell fate. To fully
explore the idea that surface matters to a stem cell, the research team
Researchers unlock genetic code of cancer-causing liver fluke parasite
The genetic code of the liver fluke parasite, Opisthorchis viverrini, has
been cracked by an international team of researchers using a unique
DNA analysis technique. Opisthorchis viverrini is a trematode that
Why humans don't suffer from chimpanzee malaria: DNA region
controlling red blood cell invasion holds genetic key to infection
By comparing the genomes of malaria parasites that affect chimpanzees
and those that affect humans, researchers discovered that it is the
difference in the parasites’ surface proteins that determine which host it
Artificial membranes on silicon
Artificial membranes mimicking those found in living organisms have
many potential applications ranging from detecting bacterial
contaminants in food to toxic pollution in the environment to dangerous
Why do mushrooms turn brown?
Researchers explore the mechanisms behind the 'browning reaction'
during the spoilage of mushrooms. The researchers were able to
demonstrate that the enzyme responsible is already formed prior to
Bacteria harbor secret weapons against antibiotics
The ability of pathogenic bacteria to evolve resistance to antibiotic
drugs poses a growing threat to human health worldwide, and scientists
have now discovered that some of our microscopic enemies may be
Tracing water channels in cell surface receptors
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) mediate most of our
physiological responses to external stimuli and are involved in many
diseases. Scientists have now used computer modeling to uncover
Nuclear waste eaters: Scientists discover hazardous waste-eating
bacteria
Tiny single-cell organisms discovered living underground could help
with the problem of nuclear waste disposal, say researchers. Although
bacteria with waste-eating properties have been discovered in relatively
Weakness in malaria parasite fats suggests new treatments
A new study has revealed a weak spot in the complex life cycle of
malaria, which could be exploited to prevent the spread of the deadly
disease, and may even lead to a vaccine. It found female malaria
parasites put on fat differently to male ones, a process that can be used
to develop drug targets.
Milestone reached in work to build replacement kidneys in the lab
Working with human-sized pig kidneys, researchers have developed the
most successful method to date to keep blood vessels in the new organs
open and flowing with blood. This is a significant hurdle in the quest to
New cancer drug for dogs benefits human research, drug development
A new cancer drug for ‘man’s best friend’ is helping advance cancer
therapies for humans, too. The drug, Verdinexor, works by preventing
powerful tumor suppressing proteins from leaving the nucleus of cells,
Body's infection fighters chatter a lot: Scientists reveal cell secret
potentially useful for vaccines
Researchers open a new page in the immune system's playbook,
discovering more chatter goes on among the body's infection fighters
Ovarian cancer oncogene found in 'junk DNA'
A research team has mined 'junk DNA' sequences to identify a non-
protein-coding RNA whose expression is linked to ovarian cancer.
Using clinical, genetic, and gene expression data as filters to distinguish
In one of nature's innovations, a single cell smashes and rebuilds its own
genome
A pond-dwelling, single-celled organism has the remarkable ability to
break its own DNA into nearly a quarter-million pieces and rapidly
reassemble those pieces when it's time to mate. This elaborate process
New genetic target for a different kind of cancer drug found
The protein RBM4, a molecule crucial to the process of gene splicing, is
drastically decreased in multiple forms of human cancer, including lung
and breast cancers, researchers have discovered. The finding offers a
Unusual immune cell needed to prevent oral thrush, researchers find
An unusual kind of immune cell in the tongue appears to play a pivotal
role in the prevention of thrush, according to the researchers who
discovered them. The findings might shed light on why people infected
Plant diversity in China vital for global food security
With climate change threatening global food supplies, new research
claims the rich flora of China could be crucial to underpin food security
in the future. A team has identified 871 wild plant species native to
China that have the potential to adapt and maintain 28 globally
New antimicrobial strategy silences NDM-1 resistance gene in
pathogens
A molecule that can silence the gene responsible for severe antibiotic
resistance in some bacteria has been synthesized by researchers. "There
is a critical need to find new treatments for antibiotic-resistant
New compound inhibits enzyme crucial to MERS, SARS viruses -- with
a catch
A compound that effectively inhibits an enzyme crucial to the viruses
that cause Middle East respiratory syndrome and severe acute
respiratory syndrome has been identified by researchers. The compound
New knowledge of cannabis paves way for drug development
Revolutionary nanotechnology method could help improve the
development of new medicine and reduce costs. Researchers have
developed a new screening method that makes it possible to study cell
membrane proteins that bind drugs, such as cannabis and adrenaline,
while reducing the consumption of precious samples by a billion times.
Thousands of nuclear loci via target enrichment, genome skimming
A new approach in next-generation sequencing, called Hyb-Seq, uses
targeted sequence capture via hybridization-based enrichment and
makes it possible to sequence hundreds of genes at one time. The new
protocol is poised to become the standard for efficiently producing
genome-scale data sets to advance our understanding of the
evolutionary history of plants.
Glanville fritillary butterfly genome sequenced
The Glanville fritillary has long been an internationally known model
species for ecology and evolutionary biology, whose population biology
has been studied on the Aland Islands for more than 20 years. Now the
species has become even more significant. Researchers have sequenced
the full genome of the Glanville fritillary.
New mechanism in gene regulation revealed
The information encoded in our genes is translated into proteins, which
ultimately mediate biological functions in an organism. Messenger
RNA (mRNA) plays an important role, as it is the molecular template
used for translation. Scientist have now unraveled a molecular
mechanism of mRNA recognition, which is essential for understanding
differential gene regulation in male and female organisms.
Targeting protein-making machinery to stop harmful bacteria
In an effort to kill harmful bacteria -- including so-called super-bugs --
many scientists have been focusing on the ribosomes, which
New protagonist in cell reprogramming discovered
The role of a protein that is crucial for cell reprogramming has been
defined by researchers. The discovery also details the dynamics of this
Peptoid nanosheets at the oil-water interface
Researchers have developed peptoid nanosheets that form at the
interface between oil and water, opening the door to increased structural
complexity and chemical functionality for a broad range of applications.
Cellular RNA can template DNA repair in yeast
RNA produced within cells of a common budding yeast can serve as a
template for repairing the most devastating DNA damage – a break in
both strands of a DNA helix, scientists have found
.Neurociencia
Brain inflammation dramatically disrupts memory retrieval networks,
study finds
Brain inflammation can rapidly disrupt our ability to retrieve complex
memories of similar but distinct experiences, according to scientists.
The study specifically identifies how immune system signaling
Gray matter matters when measuring risk tolerance: May explain why
risk tolerance decreases with age
The gray matter volume of a region in the right posterior parietal cortex
is significantly predictive of individual risk attitudes, new research has
found. Using a whole-brain analysis, scientists found that the grey
Nicotine withdrawal reduces response to rewards across species
While more than half of US smokers try to quit every year, less than 10
percent are able to remain smoke-free, and relapse commonly occurs
within 48 hours of smoking cessation. In a first of its kind study on
Tipping the balance of behavior: Neurons found that control social
behavior may have implications for autism
Antagonistic neuron populations in the mouse amygdala that control
whether the animal engages in social behaviors or asocial repetitive self-
grooming have been recently discovered by researchers. Dubbed a
Yogic breathing shows promise in reducing symptoms of PTSD
New research offers hope for those suffering from post-traumatic stress
disorder. Researchers there have shown that a breathing-based
meditation practice called Sudarshan Kriya Yoga can be an effective
treatment for PTSD.
Novel class of NAMPT activators for neurodegenerative disease
discovered
A new collaboration has been announced to advance research and drug
development for neurodegenerative disorders caused by the aging and
death of nerve cells. Death of nerve cells is the key mechanism in many
Compound protects brain cells after traumatic brain injury
A new class of compounds, given orally, protects brain cells from the
damage caused by blast-induced traumatic brain injury and preserves
normal brain functions, even when the compound is given 24 to 36
Structure of enzyme seen as target for ALS drugs
The first high-resolution structure of an enzyme has been determined
that, if partially inhibited, could represent a new way to treat most cases
of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also called Lou Gehrig's disease).
Babies born in winter start crawling earlier than those born in summer
The season of a baby’s birth influences its motor development during its
first year of life, researchers report. "The difference in crawling onset of
four weeks constitutes 14 percent of a seven-month-old's life and is
significant," the researchers note.
More needed to protect our sportspeople from brain injury, say experts
Academics are calling for more research to be carried out looking at
how the brains of sportspeople -- including children -- react when they
receive a blow to the head.
More evidence that sleep apnea is hurting your brain
Employing a measure rarely used in sleep apnea studies, researchers
have uncovered evidence of what may be damaging the brain in people
with the sleep disorder -- weaker brain blood flow.
Cells put off protein production during times of stress
When a stressed cell recognizes the buildup of misfolded proteins, it
responds by reshuffling its workload, much like a stressed out employee
might temporarily move papers from an overflowing inbox into a junk
drawer. The study could lend insight into misfolded protein diseases
such as Alzheimer's, ALS, Huntington's, Parkinson's, and type 2
diabetes.
You can classify words in your sleep
When people practice simple word classification tasks before nodding
off -- knowing that a 'cat' is an animal or that 'flipu' isn't found in the
dictionary, for example -- their brains will unconsciously continue to
Brain differences: Sometimes, adolescents just can't resist
A new study finds teenagers are far more sensitive than adults to the
immediate effect or reward of their behaviors. Even when a behavior is
no longer in a teenager’s best interest to continue, they will because the
Not enough vitamin B1 can cause brain damage
A deficiency of a single vitamin, B1 (thiamine), can cause a potentially
fatal brain disorder called Wernicke encephalopathy. Symptoms can
include confusion, hallucinations, loss of muscle coordination and
Neurochemical imbalance in schizophrenia discovered
Using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), researchers have
discovered that neurons from patients with schizophrenia secrete higher
amounts of three neurotransmitters broadly implicated in a range of
Owls provides clues on how humans focus attention
Research with barn owls reveals how the brain decides what it should
pay attention to among competing external events.
Breast milk reveals a correlation between dietary fats and academic
success
You are what you eat, the saying goes, and now a study suggests that
the oft-repeated adage applies not just to physical health, but to brain
power as well. Researchers compared the fatty acid profiles of breast
milk from women in over two dozen countries with how well children
from those same countries performed on academic tests. Their findings
show that the amount of omega-3 docosahexaenoic aci
New 'Click' antenatal classes prepare children for school
Children whose parents attended a one-off antenatal class called 'Click’
are at a significant advantage in their cognitive and motor skills
compared to children whose parents attended routine antenatal care,
Is the pattern of brain folding a 'fingerprint' for schizophrenia?
Anyone who has seen pictures or models of the human brain is aware
that the outside layer, or cortex, of the brain is folded in an intricate
pattern of “hills”, called gyri, and “valleys”, called sulci. It turns out that
Neuroscientists decode brain maps to discover how we take aim
A new brain map shows how the brain encodes allocentric and
egocentric space in different ways during activities that involve manual
aiming. The study finding will help healthcare providers to develop
Can your blood type affect your memory in later years?
People with blood type AB may be more likely to develop memory loss
in later years than people with other blood types, according to a study.
AB is the least common blood type, found in about 4 percent of the U.S.
Impact of violent media on the brain: Depends on each individual's
brain circuitry, study finds
With the longstanding debate over whether violent movies cause real
world violence as a backstop, a study has found that each person's
reaction to violent images depends on that individual's brain circuitry,
Missing piece found to help solve concussion puzzle
A new, 5- to 10-minute test that could be added to a clinician's
concussion evaluation toolkit for a more comprehensive assessment of
the injury has been developed by scientists. "For the past five to 10
How brain can tell magnitude of errors
Researchers have made another advance in understanding how the brain
detects errors caused by unexpected sensory events. This type of error
detection is what allows the brain to learn from its mistakes, which is
Nerve impulses can collide, continue unaffected
According to the traditional theory of nerves, two nerve impulses sent
from opposite ends of a nerve annihilate when they collide. New
research now shows that two colliding nerve impulses simply pass
through each other and continue unaffected. This supports the theory
that nerves function as sound pulses.
Air pollution harmful to young brains, study finds
Pollution in many cities threatens the brain development in children.
Findings from a recent study reveal that children living in megacities
are at increased risk for brain inflammation and neurodegenerative
Gray matter myelin loss strongly related to multiple sclerosis disability,
MRI shows
People with multiple sclerosis lose myelin in the gray matter of their
brains and the loss is closely correlated with the severity of the disease,
according to a new magnetic resonance imaging study. Researchers said
New device to control seizures proving its worth
The first patient in the southeast United States who had the NeuroPace
responsive neurostimulator implanted in her brain to control seizures
shows marked improvement in just 30 days. The RNS system is for
patients who have severe seizures but do not respond to medications and
Broken brain signals lead to neurodegeneration
A cell receptor widely involved in intracellular calcium signaling -- the
IP3R receptor -- can be locked into a closed state by enzyme action, and
that this locking may potentially play a role in the reduction of neuron
Targeted immune system booster removes toxic proteins in mouse
model of Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer’s disease experts are reporting success in specifically
harnessing a mouse’s immune system to attack and remove the buildup
of toxic proteins in the brain that are markers of the deadly
Brain structure could predict risky behavior
Some people avoid risks at all costs, while others will put their wealth,
health, and safety at risk without a thought. Researchers have found that
the volume of the parietal cortex in the brain could predict where people
Multiple sclerosis researchers find role for working memory in
cognitive reserve
Working memory may be an underlying mechanism of cognitive
reserve in multiple sclerosis, research shows. This finding informs the
relationships between working memory, intellectual enrichment and
long-term memory in this population.
New molecular target key to enhanced brain plasticity
As Alzheimer's disease progresses, it kills brain cells mainly in the
hippocampus and cortex, leading to impairments in 'neuroplasticity,' the
mechanism that affects learning, memory, and thinking.
Eating habits, body fat related to differences in brain chemistry
People who are obese may be more susceptible to environmental food
cues than their lean counterparts due to differences in brain chemistry
that make eating more habitual and less rewarding, according to new
Estrogen receptor expression may help explain why more males have
autism
The same sex hormone that helps protect females from stroke may also
reduce their risk of autism, scientists say. In the first look at a potential
role of the female sex hormone in autism, researchers have found
Eating is addictive but sugar, fat are not like drugs, study says
People can become addicted to eating for its own sake but not to
consuming specific foods such as those high in sugar or fat, research
suggests. An international team of scientists has found no strong
Xenon gas protects brain after head injury, research shows
Treatment with xenon gas after a head injury reduces the extent of brain
damage, according to a study in mice. Head injury is the leading cause
of death and disability in people aged under 45 in developed countries,
Lipid deficiency linked to neuron degeneration in lab study
A type of lipid that naturally declines in the aging brain impacts –
within laboratory models used to study Parkinson’s disease – a protein
associated with the disease, according to a study. "This gets right to the
Brain injuries no match for sPIF treatment
A new pathway to help treat perinatal brain injuries has been uncovered.
This research could also lead to treatments for traumatic brain injuries
and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Brain damage caused by severe sleep apnea is reversible
A neuroimaging study is the first to show that white matter damage
caused by severe obstructive sleep apnea can be reversed by continuous
positive airway pressure therapy. The results underscore the importance
Food craving is stronger, but controllable, for kids
Children show stronger food craving than adolescents and adults, but
they are also able to use a cognitive strategy that reduces craving,
according to new research. "These findings are important because they
suggest that we may have another tool in our toolbox to combat
childhood obesity," says psychological scientist and the study's lead
researcher.
Brain mechanism underlying recognition of hand gestures develops
even when blind
Researchers have discovered that activated brain regions of congenitally
blind individuals and activated brain regions of sighted individuals
share common regions when recognizing human hand gestures. They
Researchers identify new rare neuromuscular disease
A new, inherited neuromuscular disorder has been discovered by
researchers. The rare condition is the result of a genetic mutation that
interferes with the communication between nerves and muscles, l.
Disease in a dish approach could aid Huntington's disease discovery
Scientists have applied iPS technology to a model of Huntington's
disease in transgenic nonhuman primates, allowing them to
conveniently assess the efficacy of potential therapies on neuronal cells
E-cigarettes may promote illicit drug use, addiction
Like conventional cigarettes, e-cigarettes may function as a “gateway
drug” -— a drug that lowers the threshold for addiction to other
substances, such as marijuana and cocaine -— according to research.
Researchers isolate inflammatory process that damages lungs of donors
with traumatic brain injury
Researchers have isolated the inflammatory process that causes lung
damage to individual who suffered traumatic brain injury, many of
whom could have been lung transplanat donors. The majority of lungs
used in transplantation are procured from brain dead donors, of which
between 40 and 70 percent have sustained traumatic brain injury. Since
only 15 to 20 percent of all lungs evaluated are deemed a
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Universidad de Salamanca. Campus Miguel de Unamuno
c/Donantes de Sangre s/n 37007 Salamanca
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