New Atlas

Science Audio available

Brain aging could explain why time feels like it moves faster as we get older

Rich Haridy March 20, 2019

The subjective sense that time moves faster as we get older is a universal one, and over the years scientists have proffered a number of different explanations as to why this happens. A new and strange hypothesis attempts to explain the phenomena, and it has to do with our aging brains.

A new hypothesis suggests as we grow old our brains process less images at a slower ...

Biology Audio available

Researchers home in on the brain’s taste-sensing "sweet spot"

Rich Haridy March 14, 2019

The subjective nature of taste has made pinning down where this sense is processed in the brain difficult. But now researchers have finally homed in on the brain's "sweet spot," revealing the center responsible for processing different types of tastes.

A new study presents the best evidence to date of the exact location in the brain ...

Science Audio available

Unusual strobing light and sound treatment reverses Alzheimer's in mice

Rich Haridy March 14, 2019

Could exposure every day to a specifically calibrated flickering light and droning sound help clear your brain of the toxic proteins that cause Alzheimer’s disease? A new study raises this possibility after mouse experiments showed neurological improvements through visual and auditory stimulation.

A new study suggests light and sound oscillating at 40 Hertz may help the brain clear ...

Medical

The fascinating effect a stroke has on the gut microbiome

Rich Haridy March 12, 2019

A study has revealed distinct changes can be observed in an animal’s microbiome after suffering from an induced stroke. These alterations were found to persist for several weeks following the stroke, adding new evidence to the compelling gut-brain connection.

Changes to the microbiome and intestinal tissue have been seen for up to four weeks following ...

Science Audio available

It takes more brain power to forget something than to remember it

Anthony Wood March 12, 2019

An important part of the human brain has to work harder to actively forget a memory than it does to remember it, according to the results of a newly-published study. The research could one day lead to a treatment designed to remove painful memories.

The team used fMRI and machine learning to track brain function

Health & Wellbeing Audio available

Eating plenty of mushrooms may protect seniors' brains

Ben Coxworth March 12, 2019

We've already heard how the psilocybin from so-called "magic" mushrooms may help to alleviate depression. Well, a new study now suggests that a compound found in all mushrooms could also assist in warding off mild cognitive impairment.

The study was led by Asst. Prof. Feng Lei (left) and Dr. Irwin Cheah

Medical Audio available

Electrically syncing up brain regions improves depression in first-of-its-kind study

Rich Haridy March 11, 2019

In a first-of-its-kind study a new kind of non-invasive electrical brain stimulation has been trialed in patients with major depression. The results show this new technique to be promising in reducing depressive symptoms, with larger trials set to explore this novel treatment in greater detail.

Electrode netting and custom-made technology allows the Frohlich lab at the UNC School of Medicine to ...

Medical Audio available

Green tea and carrot compounds found to reverse Alzheimer's symptoms in mice

Nick Lavars March 7, 2019

Researchers pondering the potential of compounds found in green tea and carrots to treat Alzheimer's have conducted a study with some promising results, with the engineered mice demonstrating unimpaired cognitive function following a carefully designed bout of treatment.

A new study in mice has shown the compounds in green tea and carrot could have ...

Health & Wellbeing Audio available

Potential Parkinson's treatment delivers protein directly to the brain

Ben Coxworth February 27, 2019

It was just last month that we heard about a brain implant which dispenses a protein to stop seizures in epileptic rats. An unrelated study now suggests that a brain implant in humans, which delivers that same protein, could be used to treat and even reverse the effects of Parkinson's disease.

The Convection Enhanced Delivery system consists of four tubes implanted within the brain, all of which ...

Science

Two massive genetic studies home in on the origins of insomnia

Rich Haridy February 25, 2019

Two massive new studies have homed in on the genetic foundations of insomnia. The rigorous analyses reveal novel links between insomnia and certain brain regions, while paving the way for personalized treatments.

The research examined over a million people finding hundreds of genes that could be associated with ...