While watching the World Cup final between Spain and the Netherlands, which featured more penalty cards than points scored, a friend asked me, "How do …
Category: Neurobiology
Injuries from ATV accidents cost $3.24 billion annually
As long as there have been motorized vehicles, there have been competing breeds of outdoor recreationalists: those who tread lightly and those who tread on …
Can a brain parasite found in cats influence soccer talent?
As I mentioned in a previous post, my older brother and I grew up playing soccer from a young age. In the beginning, my …
Using light to better understand mental illness
Earlier this week, my colleague reported on the "optogenetic" technique developed by Stanford psychiatrist/bioengineer Karl Deisseroth, MD, PhD. Now Forbes writer Robert Langreth, in an …
Using unconventional therapies to troubleshoot the brain
Brain scientists are employing a wide range of approaches to diagnose and treat neurological conditions such as depression, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's. An article in …
New radiotracer enables easier diagnosis of Alzheimer's
What, exactly, is going on with grandma? In clinical settings, it’s sometimes difficult to distinguish between Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Most diagnoses …
Dan Brown casualties, neurosurgery edition
Last summer, on a cross-country road trip, I listened to 17 grueling hours of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. The experience had two notable …
Surprise! Warrior immune proteins also help heal injured nerves
It now looks as though antibodies - immune-system-generated molecules famous for fighting infections - may also be critical for the repair of damaged nerves. Many …
Your hands: Not as stubby as you think they are
You'd probably like to think you're blessed with an accurate "position sense" - that if you were to close your eyes, you'd nonetheless know where …
Stanford neuroscientist wins prestigious Kavli Prize
Stanford neuroscientist Thomas Sudhof, MD, is a recipient of the Kavli Prize, called "one of the richest prizes in science" by the New York Times. …
What Einstein taught us about intellect and brain function
Half a century after the death of Albert Einstein, scientists continue to unlock the secrets of his genius and shed new light on how the …
Alzheimer's disease costs to soar over next 40 years
The number of Americans diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease will more than double by 2050, causing cumulative treatment costs to exceed $20 trillion, according to a …
Reprogramming cells in the brain to repair damage from stroke or injury
A team of German researchers have developed a technique for transforming support cells in the brain called astroglia into functioning neurons, according to a study …
New DARPA-funded program aims to develop technology, therapies for brain trauma
Armed with a nearly $15 million grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (no pun intended), a four-university research team has launched an effort …
New ultrathin implant melts onto surface of the brain
Silk-based electrodes that wrap around the folds of the brain could offer a better solution for monitoring and controlling seizures, according to findings published yesterday …
2010 Neuro Film Festival Highlights Winners
The American Academy of Neurology Foundation supports an annual film festival competition aimed at awarding films that highlight neurological disorders and the need for more …