Tag

Visual Cortex

All articles tagged with #visual cortex

science29 days ago•4 min saved

Psychedelics Turn Awake Vision into Memory-Derived Imagery in Mice

A mouse study found that activating the 5-HT2A receptor with psychedelic-like compounds amplified theta rhythms in the visual cortex and synchronized it with the retrosplenial memory region, dampening responses to real visuals and causing the brain to fill in images from memory—a state akin to dreaming while awake. The researchers caution that while insightful, these results may not directly translate to humans and have limitations to consider when mapping to human experiences and neuroplasticity applications.

via The Conversation|

#dreaming #memory #neuroscience

neuroscience3 months ago•109 min saved

Astrocyte CCN1 Enhances Stability of Adult Neural Circuits

The study identifies astrocyte-secreted CCN1 as a key factor in maintaining neural circuit stability in the adult brain, particularly in the visual cortex, by regulating synaptic maturation, inhibitory neuron development, and oligodendrocyte maturation, thereby restricting plasticity and preserving functional connectivity.

via Nature|

#astrocytes #ccn1 #neural-circuit-stability

science5 months ago•140 min saved

Mouse Visual Cortex Develops Diverse Cell Types Continuously

The study provides a comprehensive transcriptomic and epigenomic atlas of mouse visual cortex development, revealing continuous cell-type diversification from embryonic to postnatal stages, with detailed trajectories for neuronal and glial cell types, enhancing understanding of cortical circuit formation.

via Nature|

#cell-development #mouse #neural-circuits

science6 months ago•1 min saved

Neurons Responsible for Imaginary Visuals Identified

Researchers have identified a specific subpopulation of neurons in the primary visual cortex that are involved in local pattern completion and may play a role in perceiving illusory contours, although behavioral confirmation is still needed. Future studies aim to stimulate these neurons more extensively to observe potential behavioral responses in animals.

via Ars Technica|

#behavioral-tests #illusory-contours #neurons

science8 months ago•6 min saved

Brain Distinguishes 'Stuff' from 'Things' with Different Neural Circuits

A study by MIT reveals that the brain uses separate neural circuits to process 'things' like objects and 'stuff' like liquids, with distinct regions in the visual cortex responding to each, which may help in planning physical interactions with different materials.

via Neuroscience News|

#brain #fmri #materials-processing

science9 months ago•5 min saved

The Brain Benefits of Aimless Wandering

New research shows that the brain can learn during unstructured exploration, with neurons in the visual cortex encoding environmental features to build internal models, which helps animals learn tasks faster later. This process involves both unsupervised and supervised learning operating in parallel, reshaping our understanding of how knowledge is acquired.

via Neuroscience News|

#brain #learning #neuroscience

science9 months ago•4 min saved

Zoning Out and In: How Mind Wandering Boosts Brain Learning

New research suggests that zoning out or exploring without specific goals can still promote brain plasticity and learning, as the visual cortex encodes visual features even without task training, potentially speeding up future learning and revealing different types of neural learning mechanisms.

via Medical Xpress|

#brain #learning #neuroscience

science10 months ago•4 min saved

Brain Balances Learning and Stability Through Separate Synapses

New research from the University of Pittsburgh reveals that the brain uses separate synaptic sites for spontaneous and evoked signaling, allowing it to balance stability with adaptability, which has implications for understanding learning, memory, and neurological disorders.

via Neuroscience News|

#brain-plasticity #neurological-disorders #neuroscience

science10 months ago•5 min saved

Decoding Words Without Vowels

The human brain can read words without vowels by recognizing patterns, using context, and making predictions based on past experience and common letter combinations, particularly in the visual word form area of the brain, which helps in identifying familiar letter patterns and reconstructing words even when vowels are missing.

via Live Science|

#brain #pattern-recognition #reading

neuroscience1 year ago•4 min saved

"Charting the Brain's Vast Network"

Researchers have enhanced the BARseq technique to map millions of neurons, revealing how vision loss alters the visual cortex to resemble neighboring brain areas. This advancement could inform treatments for brain disorders like Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia by providing deeper insights into neural connections.

via Neuroscience News|

#barseq #brain-mapping #gene-expression

neuroscience2 years ago•7 min saved

The Impact of Daydreams on Brain Plasticity and Visual Response

Researchers at Harvard Medical School have made progress in understanding how daydreaming affects the brain by studying mice. They found that neurons in the visual cortex fire in patterns similar to when viewing actual images, indicating daydream-like activity. This suggests that daydreams may influence how the brain processes visual information over time, potentially contributing to brain plasticity. The study highlights the importance of quiet wakefulness and its possible role in learning and memory.

via Neuroscience News|

#brain-plasticity #daydreaming #learning

neuroscience2 years ago•6 min saved

The Crucial Role of the Thalamus in Adult Brain Adaptability

The thalamus, traditionally seen as a relay station, has been found to play a crucial role in adult brain plasticity, challenging the belief that adaptability mainly occurs in the cortex. Through mouse models in vision studies, researchers discovered that the thalamus actively participates in adaptive processes, particularly in sensory and motor information. These findings could lead to innovative therapeutic approaches for conditions like lazy eye, shifting the focus from the cortex to also include the thalamus.

via Neuroscience News|

#brain-plasticity #lazy-eye #neuroscience

neuroscience2 years ago•2 min saved

Unveiling the Location of Conscious Experience in the Brain

Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and UC Berkeley have identified sustained brain activity in the occipitotemporal area of the visual cortex, suggesting it may be the region responsible for conscious awareness. This stable representation allows for stable perception over time, despite changing levels of activity. The findings could contribute to a better understanding of consciousness and potentially help in treating conditions such as unilateral neglect.

via ScienceAlert|

#brain-activity #consciousness #neuroscience