Neuroscience

Following years of controversy, including whistleblowers reporting of rushed experimental “hack jobs” that resulted in as many as 1,500 animal fatalities, Elon Musk's brain-chip implant company has begun recruiting for its landmark first human trial.

Physicists have combined nanotechnology, artificial intelligence and molecular biology to design a novel method that can detect Alzheimer’s disease protein markers in blood that are the tell-tale signs of early neurodegeneration.

Two studies have used focused ultrasound to open up the blood-brain barrier, generating a positive immune response and allowing for the admission of gene-editing technology. The technique could be a non-invasive way of treating neurodegenerative diseases.

Using brain imaging, researchers have found that obsessive-compulsive disorder affects particular areas of the brain involved in processing certainty during the decision-making process, providing greater insight into this enigmatic condition.

Scientists have discovered how a unique kind of cell death, due to iron toxicity, creates a snowball effect that advances cognitive decline. With this finding, a whole new approach to treatment could be developed.

Scientists have discovered that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is largely inherited, directly increases the risk of sufferers also developing major depression, post-traumatic stress, anorexia nervosa and attempting suicide.

Believe it or not, male sexual desire actually begins in the brain. Scientists have found the neural circuit that triggers mating behaviors and the ensuing pleasure and reward feedback in mice. They hope it can lead to new drugs to treat dysfunction.

Multiple sclerosis sufferers can experience long periods of remission, but increasingly damaged nerves make relapses more frequent and severe. Scientists now believe, with a little molecular encouragement, those damaged nerves can heal themselves.

Normally, staying up for extended time periods leads to the need for extra sleep. But researchers have just found that activating astrocyte cells in mice caused the rodents to stay awake for six hours longer than usual, with no noticeable sleep debt.

While fans of Another Brick in the Wall (Part 1) may be horrified, researchers have recreated the song from brain activity. In the process, they discovered the way brains process rhythm and melody, which has huge implications for therapies.

While completing an important task with other distraction such as TV can seem like it’s a battle of willpower, scientists have discovered how it's not you but your brain that keeps you on the right track. Or at least it tries to.

Last year, Monash University scientists created the "DishBrain" – a semi-biological computer chip with some 800,000 human and mouse brain cells lab-grown into its electrodes. Demonstrating something like sentience, it learned to play Pong within five minutes.