BrainWork

Stroke Researchers Aim to Stem the “Ischemic Cascade”

by Carl Sherman

Much of the damage caused by stroke results from gradual processes, which might be reversible. Scientists are trying compounds that block receptors and methods of cooling the overtaxed brain.

The Arts of Neuroscientists

Stanley Froehner

by Caitlin Schneider

Froehner_mug_feature
When Stanley Froehner isn’t in the lab teasing out the finer points of dystrophin, a protein complex implicated in muscular dystrophies, he enjoys taking photos of everything from jazz performers to Alaskan fjords. His work has appeared on the covers of Journal of Neurophysiology and  Seattle Real Change newspaper.

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News

Bodies Inert, They Moved a Robot With Their Minds

by Benedict Carey

The New York Times | May 16, 2012

Scientists reported that a tiny brain implant allowed two quadriplegic people to manipulate a robotic arm with just their thoughts.

See also

New site

New Reference Website, BrainFacts.org, Launches

The site covers neuroscience basics as well as getting into more detail on topics like disease, memory, and language. Sections of the site are geared towards educators, policymakers, and the press, and all content is reviewed by scientists for accuracy. The Society for Neuroscience, The Kavli Foundation, and the Gatsby Charitable Foundation are founding partners, and several organizations, including the Dana Foundation, are content partners, providing information and articles.

News

Smoking’s Ties to Schizophrenia

by Dirk Hanson

Treatment for smoking cessation is not a priority in psychiatric care, forcing many schizophrenics—who often smoke to manage their symptoms or the side-effects of their medication—to quit cold turkey just when they are having trouble managing their illness.

Primer

Stroke—A Primer

by Carl Sherman

A stroke—disrupted circulation that kills brain tissue—can devastate the brain, leaving neurological impairments including paralysis, partial or total language loss, and severe cognitive deficits. Prompt, effective treatment can mean the difference between an optimal recovery and permanent disability or death.

Previous primers have looked at hormones and the brain, brain receptors, neuroanatomy, the synapse, and biomarkers.

The Role of Stress in Brain Development

The Gestational Environment’s Long-Term Effects on the Brain

by Claudia Buss, Ph.D., Sonja Entringer, Ph.D., James M. Swanson, Ph.D., and Pathik D. Wadhwa, M.D., Ph.D.

Cerebrum

Cerebrum April 2012_pregnancy - feature

During gestation, the fetal brain develops dramatically as structures and connections form, providing the foundation for all future development. Exposure to maternal stress can sometimes have deleterious effects on the fetus, depending on the cause, timing, duration, and intensity of stress. Fortunately, postnatal interventions, such as a secure parent-infant bond and an enriched environment, can buffer the potential negative consequences. 

Hope for Head Injuries
Column

Hope for Head Injuries

by Guy McKhann, M.D.

Brain in the News

A look at the past, present, and future of treating brain injuries.

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News

Electroconvulsive Therapy Seems to Stem Excess Connectivity

by Tom Valeo

Scottish researchers find ECT quiets the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. This and other recent research might help doctors find an alternate treatment that also relieves depression but without producing memory troubles.

News

Rett Syndrome Study Implicates Brain’s Immune Cells

by Jim Schnabel

A bone marrow transplant prevents symptoms in young mice.

Upcoming Neuroscience Events


One Mind for Research Annual Conference: This meeting will include a report on the progress of the ten-year One Mind campaign to cure brain disease, and a discussion on how to support the next generation of innovative neuroscience discoveries - May 23-25 in Los Angeles.

Staying Sharp: Questions about how memory works? Want to learn how to lead a brain healthy life? A panel of experts will discuss these topics and more at this free Staying Sharp forum, co-sponsored by the Dana Alliance. Registration is required - June 2 in Lexington, KY.

Event: The Aging Brain: What's New in Brain Research, Treatment and Policy? Part of the AAAS-Dana Foundation Neuroscience and Society series. At AAAS auditorium, free but please RSVP; address and details will be on your confirmation - June 13 in Washington, DC.

The New York Academy of Sciences:


12th International Conference on Myasthenia Gravis and Related Disorders: Review the most recent advances in basic, translational, and clinical research on the rare, acquired disorder, Myasthenia Gravis, with implications for a range of additional autoimmune and neuromuscular diseases - May 21-23 in New York City.

Imaging and Neurodegeneration and Repair in Multiple Sclerosis: This 1.5-day conference will provide an overview of the currently accepted and newly emerging imaging techniques for diagnosis and monitoring of MS - June 15-16 in New York City.

Cracking the Neural Code: Third Annual Aspen Brain Forum: This meeting will bring together leading researchers working at the forefront of systems and computational neuroscience to discuss cutting-edge developments in our quest to crack the neural code. Plenary talks will include advances in tools, technologies, imaging, informatics, and computational models for mapping neural networks - August 23-25 in Aspen, CO.

NIH Announces First National Research Study Recruitment Registry 

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has launched ResearchMatch.org, which seeks to connect people who want to participate in clinical trials with researchers conducting the studies. The user-friendly site will cover an array of diseases.

The NIH also is sponsoring the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study. Doctors at 59 research centers are looking for people with the very earliest complaints of memory problems that affect their daily activities. See a list of locations and how to contact the researchers.  

The Alzheimer's Association hosts a more-general Find a Clinical Trial page for patients, healthy volunteers, doctors, and others.