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Neuroplasticity

All articles tagged with #neuroplasticity

Precision Brain Stimulation Aims to Accelerate Skill Acquisition
science-tech10 days ago

Precision Brain Stimulation Aims to Accelerate Skill Acquisition

Researchers are advancing non-invasive brain stimulation techniques to enhance neuroplasticity and accelerate the learning of physical and cognitive skills. While early studies showed mixed results due to individual variability and lack of targeted precision, new methods using focused ultrasound and computational modeling aim to stimulate specific neural circuits at optimal times. The field faces challenges in standardizing outcomes and regulating consumer devices, which are increasingly available for performance enhancement without medical oversight.

via The Conversation|
#brain-stimulation#motor-learning#neuroplasticity
Menopause May Temporarily Slow the Brain's Aging, Scans Show
science19 days ago

Menopause May Temporarily Slow the Brain's Aging, Scans Show

A large, multi-year MRI study tracking more than 1,000 women through puberty, pregnancy and menopause found that the onset of menopause temporarily slows the typical age-related loss of cortical gray matter, in contrast to accelerated loss during puberty and pregnancy. The pattern suggests menopause involves brain plasticity influenced by hormonal changes, but causation remains unproven and links to estrogen hormones are not yet clear; findings are reported in Nature Communications (2026).

via ScienceAlert|
#aging#brain#gray-matter
A New Language, a Stronger Brain: How Language Learning Might Help Aging Minds
health21 days ago

A New Language, a Stronger Brain: How Language Learning Might Help Aging Minds

Learning a language engages memory, auditory discrimination, grammar and social interaction, acting as a rich cognitive workout. Research links bilingualism to structural brain differences (more gray matter density and stronger white matter), which may bolster cognitive reserve and help aging brains cope with changes, though it doesn’t guarantee dementia prevention. Adults can learn new languages throughout life, with differences in pace and skills between children and adults; benefits tend to come from sustained, challenging practice and social connection rather than fluency alone, offering cognitive resilience and broader cultural empathy.

via The Conversation|
#aging#bilingualism#cognitive-reserve
Female brain shows convergent remodeling in puberty and pregnancy, with menopause taking a different path
science1 month ago

Female brain shows convergent remodeling in puberty and pregnancy, with menopause taking a different path

Longitudinal MRI across three female hormonal transitions (puberty, pregnancy, menopause) reveals puberty and pregnancy both accelerate cortical gray matter loss with convergence in prefrontal, parietal, and temporal cortex but divergent sensorimotor regions; menopause shows no significant cortical gray matter loss during the transition, indicating a qualitatively distinct pattern. Subcortical changes appear mainly during puberty. Overall, puberty and pregnancy share directional brain remodeling linked to hormonal increases, while menopause reflects attenuation of age-related decline, suggesting both shared and distinct neuroplastic mechanisms across the female lifespan.

via Nature|
#brain-structure#menopause#neuroplasticity
Celebrity Brain Coach Jim Kwik Reveals 5 Memory-Boosting Tricks
health1 month ago

Celebrity Brain Coach Jim Kwik Reveals 5 Memory-Boosting Tricks

Celebrity brain coach Jim Kwik—who has trained Alex Rodríguez and Elon Musk’s SpaceX team—shares five memory-boosting tricks: make information vivid, build a memory palace, learn as if you’ll teach it, practice active retrieval, and seek novelty while protecting attention with habits like mindful mornings and regular movement; he also notes that neuroplasticity persists with age and emphasizes sleep, hydration and nutrition to support learning.

via New York Post|
#brain-training#elon-musk#health
Move, Munch, Mind-Wander: Outsmart the Brain Cliff in Midlife
health-and-wellbeing1 month ago

Move, Munch, Mind-Wander: Outsmart the Brain Cliff in Midlife

Dr. Swan reframes cognitive decline as cognitive change and explains the brain’s scaffolding—the neural networks that preserve thinking—can be strengthened in midlife through regular exercise, an anti-inflammatory diet, stress management, and ongoing learning and social engagement. Mind-wandering and mental time travel may support this scaffolding, while retirement without active engagement can hasten decline; it’s never too late to start protecting your brain.

via The Guardian|
#aging#cognition#diet-and-exercise
Acupuncture May Rewire Depression Brain Circuits, New Imaging Sheds Light
science1 month ago

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
Seven-Day Meditation Retreat Triggers Broad Brain and Body Changes
science1 month ago

Seven-Day Meditation Retreat Triggers Broad Brain and Body Changes

A small, observational study of 20 adults at a seven-day meditation retreat found brain and blood changes: fMRI showed reduced activity in the default mode and salience networks and greater whole-brain integration; post-retreat plasma caused neurons in a dish to grow longer neurites; blood tests indicated metabolic, immune, and endogenous-opioid shifts; MEQ-30 scores rose, suggesting heightened mystical experiences akin to psychedelic effects, though causality can't be established due to lack of a control group; one co-author is the retreat's CEO, and researchers call for more rigorous, controlled studies to confirm these results.

via ScienceAlert|
#fmri#meditation#mystical-experiences
A Week of Intensive Meditation Rewires Brain and Body
science2 months ago

A Week of Intensive Meditation Rewires Brain and Body

A seven-day meditation retreat in healthy adults produced broad brain, metabolic, immune, and pain-regulation changes, with brain activity showing reduced internal mental chatter, evidence of increased neuroplasticity, altered metabolism, higher endogenous opioid levels, and shifts in immune signaling; brain connectivity patterns resembled those seen with psychedelic states, though the study cannot separate which components caused the effects and further trials are needed to assess durability and clinical relevance.

via ScienceDaily|
#brain-connectivity#endogenous-opioids#immune-system
Tiny daily brain workouts can boost cognition at any age, study finds
science2 months ago

Tiny daily brain workouts can boost cognition at any age, study finds

A three-year study of nearly 4,000 adults aged 19–94 shows brain health can improve at any age through brief, daily, targeted practices and coaching, with the BrainHealth Index measuring cognitive health, connectedness, and emotional balance; those with lower starting scores improved the most, and consistent micro-training boosted brain health scores, challenging the idea that cognitive decline is inevitable.

via BBC Science Focus Magazine|
#aging#brain-health#cognitive-training
Brain can rebound after stopping alcohol, new research shows
health2 months ago

Brain can rebound after stopping alcohol, new research shows

A Washington Post summary of neuroscience experts explains that alcohol initially elevates mood through endorphins and dopamine, but chronic use alters brain chemistry and reduces gray matter in frontal regions, potentially increasing dementia risk and other health problems. Importantly, evidence also shows the brain can recover with reduced or stopped drinking: cognitive functions like attention and memory improve within 6–12 months, gray matter can increase, and frontal regions show growth, especially early in abstinence. Even low-to-moderate drinking can affect brain structure, but abstinence or reduction may restore function and compensatory pathways. Practical takeaways include Dry January/Sober October, recovery-support tools, and seeking professional help if drinking is problematic; the brain’s plasticity offers a path to recovery for many (though full recovery isn’t guaranteed for everyone).

via Yahoo|
#abstinence#alcohol#brain
The Brain’s Comeback: What Happens When You Stop Drinking Alcohol
health2 months ago

The Brain’s Comeback: What Happens When You Stop Drinking Alcohol

Alcohol can shrink gray matter and dysregulate stress and reward systems, raising anxiety, sleep disruption and dementia risk with heavier, long‑term use. But the brain is highly plastic: reducing or stopping alcohol can restore function and structure, with cognitive improvements and gray‑matter gains often seen after 6–12 months of abstinence, especially in frontal regions. Even lower levels of drinking can impact the brain, while reductions can still yield cortical growth. Recovery varies by how much and how long one drank, but many people feel better when they cut back or quit, aided by evidence‑based therapies and tools like Dry January, sobriety apps, and professional help if needed.

via nz.news.yahoo.com|
#abstinence#alcohol#brain