Artificial intelligence (AI) systems are rapidly becoming more sophisticated and human-like. This raises an intriguing question: could AI systems one day become conscious? A new interdisciplinary paper explores this complex issue, assessing theories about the neural basis of consciousness and their implications for AI. Key takeaways: Current AI systems are not conscious, but there may …
A new study published in Nature Medicine has identified two biological profiles, based on routine blood tests during COVID-19 hospitalization, that can predict patients’ risk of developing post-COVID brain fog months later. Key Facts: The study analyzed data from over 1,800 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the UK. It linked certain patterns of blood biomarkers during …
Researchers have uncovered novel details about a specific population of brain cells that regulate obesity. Their findings provide increased understanding of the intricate neural circuits controlling energy balance and point to potential new therapeutic targets for treating obesity. Key Facts: Researchers identified GABAergic neurons in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) of the brain expressing the …
Groundbreaking new research challenges decades of accepted neuroscience dogma on how memories are formed in the brain. The study provides strong evidence that the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP), widely believed to be the cellular mechanism underlying memory formation, relies on structural changes in neurons rather than enzymatic activity as long thought. Key Takeaways: LTP …
Researchers have reconstructed a recognizable version of the Pink Floyd song “Another Brick in the Wall” directly from recorded brain activity. Using advanced machine learning techniques, the team was able to extract enough acoustic information from listeners’ brain signals to identify the song and recreate an intelligible version. Key highlights: Researchers recorded brain activity via …
Researchers find similarities in brain activity induced by different psychedelic drugs in rats, providing clues to how they alter consciousness. Key facts: Psychedelic drugs like LSD and ketamine induce high-frequency brain waves that synchronize activity across the cortex. This hypersynchrony was seen between the frontal cortex, sensory areas and emotion centers like the ventral striatum. …
A new study provides evidence that supplementing infant formula with compounds found in breastmilk may lead to improved cognitive abilities years later in childhood. Key findings: Children fed formula with added milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) and lactoferrin for their first year scored higher on IQ and executive function tests at ages 5-6 compared to …
A new neurology study provides compelling evidence that retinal imaging can detect Parkinson’s disease years before diagnosis. Researchers found thinning of two inner retinal layers – the ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) and inner nuclear layer (INL) – in people who went on to develop Parkinson’s disease up to 7 years later. These findings suggest …
Researchers are gaining exciting new insights into how the drug ketamine can rapidly treat symptoms of depression, including in people who don’t respond to other antidepressants. Key facts about ketamine for depression: Ketamine is an FDA-approved anesthetic that has been found to quickly improve mood in depressed patients, including those with treatment-resistant depression. It works …
A new study published in the journal Mædica – a Journal of Clinical Medicine compared the antidepressant effects of modafinil versus citalopram for treating major depressive disorder (MDD). The medications were equally effective at reducing depressive symptoms over a 6-week treatment period. Key facts: 30 patients with MDD were treated with either modafinil or citalopram …
