Experts call the technology a “significant achievement,” but critics say the risks may not be justified.
- By R. Douglas Fields on November 17, 2016
Category: neuroscience – Page 1,237
Test of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the brain shows improved multitasking performance
Placement of five anode electrodes (left) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the cathode (right) over the right shoulder (to avoid spurious cognitive effects from cortical excitability) (credit: Justin Nelson et al./ Front. Hum. Neurosci.)
In an experiment at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, researchers have found that transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) of the brain can improve people’s multitasking skills and help avoid the drop in performance that comes with information overload.
The study was reported in a pre-publication paper in the open-access journal Frontiers of Human Neuroscience. It was motivated by the observation that various Air Force operations such as remotely piloted and manned aircraft operations require a human operator to monitor and respond to multiple events simultaneously over a long period of time. “With the monotonous nature of these tasks, the operator’s performance may decline shortly after their work shift commences,” according to the researchers.
DNA-editing breakthrough could fix ‘broken genes’ in the brain, delay ageing and cure incurable diseases
Scientists have discovered a new way to edit DNA that could fix “broken genes” in the brain, cure previously incurable diseases and potentially even extend the human lifespan.
The breakthrough – described as a “holy grail” of genetics – was used to partially restore the sight of rats blinded by a condition which also affects humans.
Previously researchers were not able to make changes to DNA in eye, brain, heart and liver tissues.
This World-First Brain Implant Is Letting a ‘Locked-In’ Woman Communicate
A paralysed woman in the Netherlands is the first to be fitted with a new type of brain implant that allows patients who cannot speak or move to communicate using nothing but their thoughts.
The new implant, which works with a computer interface to help her spell out words and sentences, can be used anywhere, allowing her to communicate with people in the outside world, without medical experts on hand to help.
“This is a world first,” neuroscientist and lead researcher Nick Ramsay, from the University Medical School Utrecht, told CNN. “It’s a fully implantable system that works at home without need for any experts to make it work.”
Primates Regain Control of Paralyzed Limb with Wireless Bridge Between Brain and Spine
It won’t be long now for humans.
A site dedicated to the sciences, recent scientific discoveries and advances.
Semantic Scholar search engine is expanded into neuroscience
Bio Intelligence-based search engine; coming soon. Building blocks if you think about it with the whole Synthetic DNA storage, connected cell circuitry to make buildings, machines, devices, etc. living. We needed quantum in the infrastructure to ensure things like bio-intelligence, autonomous machines, and connected super humans could eventually happen while reducing risks and threats. Now, we’re watching the ramp up of synthetic bio systems. Definitely exciting especially when we could see in our lifetime mobile devices no longer needed.
(Tech Xplore)—Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence is in the news with its smart search engine, Semantic Scholar.
Namely, they are expanding their intelligence-based search engine service into neuroscience research.
Nicola Jones said Friday in Nature that Semantic Scholar “is expanding its corpus of papers to cover some 10 million research articles in computer science and neuroscience.”
Paralyzed Monkeys Able to Walk Again With Brain Implant. Human Trials Are Next
In Brief:
- Using a system of electrodes, transmitters, receivers, scientists were able to restore leg function in a primate, completely bypassing damaged nerves.
- While this remarkable feat may be decades away from human use, it is a promising development for the hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. with spinal cord injuries
.
Steve Aoki Throws a Party For Science
Party for Science with Steve Aoki and help raise awareness and funds for the SENS Research Foundation.
Hang with DJ Steve Aoki at a nightclub and you can expect an earful of his electronic bangers and confetti in your hair. Cozy up to Steve Aoki at Brooklyn Bowl on November 15 and you’ll get to hit pins alongside neuroscientists, bid on one-of-a-kind experiences in live and silent auctions (think jumping into the foam pit at Aoki’s Las Vegas “playhouse”) and catch him outside the booth as he hosts the Aoki Foundation’s Bowling for Brains fundraiser. The inaugural event supports the Buck Institute on Aging, SENS Research Foundation and Las Vegas’ own Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, continuing the foundation’s ongoing support of regenerative science.
Tailored carbon nanomaterials could help treating neurological diseases
Tomi Laurila’s research topic has many quirky names.
‘Nanodiamond, nanohorn, nano-onion…’ lists off the Aalto University Professor, recounting the many nano-shapes of carbon. Laurila is using these shapes to build new materials: tiny sensors, only a few hundred nanometres across, that can achieve great things due to their special characteristics.
Tl.pngFor one, the sensors can be used to enhance the treatment of neurological conditions. That is why Laurila, University of Helsinki Professor Tomi Taira and experts from HUS (the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa) are looking for ways to use the sensors for taking electrochemical measurements of biomolecules. Biomolecules are e.g. neurotransmitters such as glutamate, dopamine and opioids, which are used by nerve cells to communicate with each other.