News tagged with brain mechanism

Related topics: brain

Immortal worms defy aging

Researchers from The University of Nottingham have demonstrated how a species of flatworm overcomes the ageing process to be potentially immortal.

Biology / Cell & Microbiology

created Feb 27, 2012 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (38) | comments 22 | with audio podcast

Archer fish can see like mammals (w/ Video)

(PhysOrg.com) -- The ability to see objects oriented differently to the background, which is known as orientation-based saliency, has long been thought to be confined to mammals, but a new study has found ...

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Sep 15, 2010 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (7) | comments 0 | with audio podcast report

Mathematical model of a simple circuit in a chicken brain raises fundamental questions

(PhysOrg.com) -- The Web site Neuroanthropology asks visitors to complete this quote, "One of the difficulties in understanding the brain is ...". In addition to the typical facetious remarks, such as "so ...

Physics / General Physics

created Dec 01, 2009 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (28) | comments 17

Researchers document how brain computes language

A study by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine reports a significant breakthrough in explaining gaps in scientists' understanding of human brain function. The study - ...

Medicine & Health / Neuroscience

created Oct 15, 2009 | popularity 4.9 / 5 (19) | comments 1

Like humans, monkeys fall into the 'uncanny valley'

(PhysOrg.com) -- Princeton University researchers have come up with a new twist on the mysterious visual phenomenon experienced by humans known as the "uncanny valley." The scientists have found that monkeys ...

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Oct 13, 2009 | popularity 4.4 / 5 (18) | comments 1

Schizophrenia gene linked with abnormal neurogenesis in adult and postnatal brain

Scientists now have a better understanding of a perplexing gene that is associated with susceptibility for a wide spectrum of severely debilitating mental illnesses. Two independent research studies published by Cell Press ...

Medicine & Health / Neuroscience

created Sep 23, 2009 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (5) | comments 0

Small evolutionary shifts make big impacts, study finds

(PhysOrg.com) -- In the developing fetus, cell growth follows a very specific schedule. In the eye's retina, for example, cones -- which help distinguish color during the day -- develop before the more light-sensitive ...

Biology / Evolution

created May 20, 2009 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (8) | comments 0

Brain cell mechanism for decision making also underlies judgment about certainty

(PhysOrg.com) -- Countless times a day people judge their confidence in a choice they are about to make -- that they now can safely turn left at this intersection, that they aren't sure of their answer on ...

Medicine & Health / Neuroscience

created May 07, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 1

Birds can dance, really

Researchers at Harvard University have found that humans aren't the only ones who can groove to a beat -- some other species can dance, too. This capability was previously believed to be specific to humans. ...

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Apr 30, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (8) | comments 6

Tiny eye motions help us find where Waldo is

(PhysOrg.com) -- To recognize faces in a crowd, the brain employs tiny eye movements called saccades and microsaccades to help us search for objects of interest. While researchers know that these movements ...

Medicine & Health / Medical research

created Feb 20, 2009 | popularity 4 / 5 (3) | comments 1 weblog

New model of whiskers provides insight into sense of touch

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a model that will allow them to simulate how rats use their whiskers to sense objects around them. The model enables further research that may provide insight into the ...

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Apr 07, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Researchers discover molecular determinant of cell identity

If a big bunch of your brain cells suddenly went rogue and decided to become fat cells, it could cloud your decision-making capacity a bit. Fortunately, early in an organism's development, cells make firm and more-or-less ...

Medicine & Health / Genetics

created Mar 21, 2011 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (3) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Metabolism models may explain why Alzheimer's disease kills some neuron types first

Bioengineers from the University of California, San Diego developed an explanation for why some types of neurons die sooner than others in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. These insights, published ...

Biology / Biotechnology

created Dec 06, 2010 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Understanding brain function could lead to breakthrough Alzheimer's treatment

Synaptic plasticity, one of the neurochemical foundations of learning and memory, is predominantly controlled by NMDA receptors.  One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological dysfunction caused ...

Medicine & Health / Medical research

created Sep 20, 2010 | popularity 5 / 5 (4) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Brain cells determine obesity -- not lack of willpower: study

An international study has discovered the reason why some people who eat a high-fat diet remain slim, yet others pile on the weight.

Medicine & Health / Medical research

created Sep 08, 2010 | popularity 3.9 / 5 (11) | comments 16 | with audio podcast