Tag

Neuroimaging

All articles tagged with #neuroimaging

health-and-science2 days ago•17 min saved

Neuroimaging Meta-Analysis Shows Opposite Brain Activity Patterns for Reward Processing in ADHD and Autism

A new meta-analysis of 29 brain imaging studies reveals that ADHD and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) involve opposite patterns of brain activity in the same deep brain regions when processing rewards. While ADHD is associated with heightened activity in the amygdala and putamen, ASD shows reduced activity in these areas. These divergent neural responses help explain why individuals with ADHD often struggle with impulse control due to over-sensitivity to immediate rewards, whereas those with ASD may exhibit reduced drive for social rewards. The findings, published in Molecular Psychiatry, provide a biological framework for understanding the distinct behavioral challenges associated with each condition, despite their frequent co-occurrence and overlapping symptoms.

via PsyPost|

#adhd #autism-spectrum-disorder #health-and-science

health15 days ago•3 min saved

MEG Scans Reveal Five Distinct Brain Profiles for Depression, Challenging Uniform Diagnosis

A University of Helsinki study using magnetoencephalography (MEG) identified five distinct neurophysiological subtypes of major depressive disorder. By analyzing functional brain connectivity in 263 patients, researchers found that individuals with the same clinical diagnosis can exhibit opposite brain activity patterns, ranging from hyper-connectivity linked to substance abuse to hypo-connectivity associated with PTSD. This suggests depression is biologically heterogeneous, potentially explaining conflicting prior research and paving the way for personalized treatment, though clinical application is not yet immediate.

via Neuroscience News|

#brain-connectivity #depression #health

memory1 month ago•29 min saved

Aging reshapes memory replay: older brains misbind details, study finds

A new neuroimaging study across three age groups shows aging alters how the hippocampus replays memories: younger adults’ patterns reinstating precise details predict better recall, while older adults’ similar patterns are linked to category-level mistakes (e.g., choosing a scene instead of an object). Middle age shows a transitional pattern. Memory accuracy declines with age, with hippocampal pattern stability explaining about 30% of the decline, independent of hippocampal size. The researchers say these changes are due to functional shifts in memory processing and suggest future work in neurofeedback and neurostimulation to boost memory in aging.

via PsyPost|

#aging #fmri #hippocampus

science1 month ago•5 min saved

Shared brain network disruptions link schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, study finds

Resting-state fMRI shows both schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder patients have reduced coordination between distant brain regions compared with healthy controls, with broader network changes in schizophrenia; the results hint at overlapping brain network disturbances but do not yet serve as a diagnostic test.

via ScienceAlert|

#bipolar-disorder #functional-connectivity #neuroimaging

science1 month ago•5 min saved

Acupuncture May Rewire Depression Brain Circuits, New Imaging Sheds Light

A meta-analysis of seven trials (357 adults with major depressive disorder) finds acupuncture produces distinct neuroplastic changes in emotion and reward circuits, differing from antidepressants by activating the right cingulum and caudate and, with more sessions, changes in the left amygdala. Acupuncture also showed greater reductions in depression and anxiety scores than antidepressants, though many participants were also on meds. The study suggests acupuncture could offer complementary mechanisms for treatment-resistant depression, but larger, longer-term, standardized trials and studies of underlying molecular pathways are needed.

via ScienceAlert|

#acupuncture #depression #mental-health

science1 month ago•13 min saved

Seven Days of Silence Quieted the Brain's Inner Narrator, Study Finds

A seven-day residential silent retreat sharply reduced connectivity in the brain's default mode network—the self-talk hub—and boosted mystical experiences to levels usually associated with psilocybin, all without any drugs. The finding comes from an observational study and cannot prove causation or medical treatment claims, but suggests that simply removing external inputs and extending quiet can rewire self-talk networks.

via Space Daily|

#default-mode-network #meditation #mindfulness

neuroscience2 months ago•25 min saved

MRI Review Finds COVID-19 Ties to Widespread Brain Changes

A systematic review of 49 brain-imaging studies finds that COVID-19 is associated with widespread structural and functional brain changes, including reduced gray matter in frontal/temporal/parietal regions, white-matter integrity loss, altered resting-state connectivity in limbic networks, and reduced cerebral blood flow, changes that may relate to brain fog and fatigue. However, most studies are cross-sectional with no pre-infection baselines, making causality and persistence uncertain; long-term, whole-brain research is needed to determine if these changes are permanent or reversible.

via PsyPost|

#brain #covid-19 #gray-matter

science2 months ago•6 min saved

Prolonged Exhale May Boost Risk-Taking, Brain Scans Suggest

A small Neuron study found that a slow, prolonged exhale can nudge people toward riskier gambles by heightening reward sensitivity, with brain activity shifting in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and precuneus. The effect appeared only in a lab-based, 41-participant task and did not increase sensitivity to losses, and researchers caution that the sample is small and results need replication before drawing broad conclusions about real-world decision making.

via ScienceAlert|

#breathwork #neuroimaging #neurovisceral-integration

science2 months ago•5 min saved

Midlife Vitamin D Linked to Lower Alzheimer's Tau Deposits Later

A midlife Framingham Heart Study analysis found that higher vitamin D levels at about age 39 were associated with lower brain tau protein deposits 16 years later, a potential protective marker against Alzheimer's disease; there was no observed link with amyloid beta. The study is observational, so causation can’t be established, and clinical trials are needed to test whether vitamin D supplementation could help prevent dementia.

via sciencealert.com|

#alzheimers-disease #midlife #neuroimaging

health-and-medicine2 months ago•7 min saved

Midlife TV binge may foreshadow later brain changes, USC study finds

A USC-led study of about 1,700 adults found that watching TV very often in midlife is linked to smaller brain regions involved in memory and decision-making and more white-matter damage decades later, independent of overall sitting time. In contrast, long hours of mentally engaging sitting jobs did not show the same pattern, suggesting the content of sedentary time matters. The effects were more pronounced in men. Limitations include self-reported TV viewing and lack of baseline MRI data. Researchers suggest doctors may eventually advise reducing TV time and choosing cognitively engaging activities to protect brain health.

via ScienceDaily|

#brain-health #health-and-medicine #midlife

science-and-technology2 months ago•6 min saved

Mescaline Dampens the Brain’s Gatekeeper, Hinting at Hallucinations

Northeastern researchers using MRI in rodents show mescaline uniquely dampens the cerebellum—the brain’s sensory filter—while increasing cross-brain connectivity, potentially driving hallucinatory experiences and linking to sensory-disruption seen in some psychiatric conditions; findings differ from LSD/psilocybin and point to translational steps toward human studies and clinical relevance.

via Northeastern Global News|

#cerebellum #mescaline #neuroimaging

science3 months ago•7 min saved

Exhale Slowly, Decide Boldly: Breath Controls Brain Rewards

A Neuron study shows that consciously extending the exhale increases heart-rate variability and boosts reward-related brain activity, making people more likely to take risks. Brain regions like the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and precuneus showed greater activation, linking bodily state to decision-making. The findings suggest simple breathing techniques could aid self-regulation and have potential clinical use for anxiety, depression, and eating behavior.

via SciTechDaily|

#breathwork #decision-making #neuroimaging

health3 months ago•5 min saved

Tapeworms Masquerade as Brain Cancer in Spain

A 60-year-old man in Spain with persistent headaches and multiple brain lesions was initially suspected to have metastatic cancer, but MRI revealed encapsulated tapeworm larvae (neurocysticercosis) caused by Taenia solium; no cancer was found after extensive testing, and he recovered after antiparasitic treatment, underscoring that NCC can mimic metastatic disease even without travel history.

via Ars Technica|

#health #metastasis #misdiagnosis

science3 months ago•7 min saved

Vitamin C Linked to Preserved Brain Structure in Aging, Study Finds

A large cohort study of 2,044 Japanese adults aged 64+ found that lower plasma vitamin C levels were associated with reduced gray matter volume and weaker connectivity in the brain’s default mode network, suggesting nutrition may influence brain aging. The findings show associations, not causation, and the researchers call for longer-term, more diverse studies to understand underlying mechanisms.

via SciTechDaily|

#brain-aging #default-mode-network #neuroimaging

health3 months ago•49 min saved

Brain Entrapment: New Study Links Depression to Sticky Brain States

A Mount Sinai study using functional MRI found that people with major depressive disorder often get stuck in specific brain states and have difficulty transitioning between them, creating a self-reinforcing negative thought loop. This cognitive rigidity, described as mental entrapment, suggests depression may be a dynamic disorder driven by abnormal brain-state transitions rather than solely a chemical imbalance.

via Deccan Herald|

#brain-states #cognitive-rigidity #depression