#neurology

Brain's "Math Neurons" Fire Specifically When You're Doing Math CalculationsA recent study conducted by the Universities of Tübingen and Bonn in Germany showed that the brain has specific neurons that operate when a person performs different mathematical operations. Some neurons were active only during addition, while some were only active during subtraction. The researchers further discovered that these neurons fire on specific operations even if the calculation instruction was written down as a word or a symbol.Five women and four men who participated in the study had electrodes implanted in their brains to record the activity of nerve cells. During analysis of the participants’ brain activity, the researchers found that aside from specific neurons being active during addition or subtraction, other neurons also became active during one and the same arithmetic task. This phenomenon was referred to by researchers as “dynamic coding.” Image credits: Christian Burkert/Volkswagen-Stiftung/University of Bonn #neurology #brain #neurons #science #research

New Brain and Memory Study: Learning Cause Synapses to Proliferate in Some Areas and Disappear in OthersResearchers from the University of Southern California managed to record the physical changes that occur in the brain when a memory is made. This incredible feat was done by inducing a memory in a larval zebrafish. In order to record the changes that were made after the memory was created, researchers mapped the changes in the animal’s transparent head– which had brain cells that lit up like lights in a city.The groundbreaking research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, discovered that synapses (the connections between neurons) appear and disappear in some areas after learning. This was way different than the initial assumption that synapses only weaken or strengthen, not disappear completely. The memory induced caused the synapses in one part of the zebrafish’s brain to be destroyed and caused completely new ones to form in a different region. Image credit: Don Arnold, University of Southern California#neurology #synapses #brain #science #research

Paralyzed Man Posted First Ever "Direct Thought" Tweet Using a Brain ChipSilicon Valley startup Synchron Inc. has developed a unique brain chip. The chip can help people suffering from movement issues, or disabilities, do tasks that require movement by analyzing their brain activity. The company gave the sensor to Phil O’Keefe, a 60-year-old suffering from mobility issues to test its efficiency. According to O’Keefe, he agreed to join the trial to help others with his condition. “If it wasn’t for the trial, I’d be going stir crazy big time,” he said.When he wants to open a document or click a link on his screen, all O’Keefe has to do is to think about tapping his left ankle. That thought will be collected by the sensors in his brain and relayed to a computer through devices in his chest. The signals collected by the brain chip are converted to a mouse click or any other action with the help of machine-learning software. Synchron’s brain chip, called the Stentrode, has the potential to cater to more mobility-related tasks in the future. The technology is in early stages, and its long-term safety still needs to be assessed. According to the company, it has done safety testing to mitigate risks. Image credit: Synchron #science #technology #machinelearning #brainsensor #brainchip #neurology

Researchers Developed a 'Speech Neuroprosthesis' That Converts a Paralyzed Man's Brain Waves to SpeechUCSF neurosurgeon Edward Chang has spent the last decade working on a technology that would allow people with paralysis to communicate even though they're incapable of speech on their own.Now, Chang and his team has succeeded in decoding full words from the brain activity. "It shows strong promise to restore communication by tapping into the brain's natural speech machinery," he said.The first patient in the trial of the study suffered a devastating brainstem stroke 15 years ago which left him paralyzed and unable to speak. Since his injury, he communicated by using a pointer attached to a baseball cap to poke at letters on a computer screen.Chang surgically implanted a high-density electrode array over the patient's speech motor cortex. Then, he and neurology professor Karunesh Ganguly and colleagues recorded 22 hours of neural activity in the patient's brain over several months while the patient attempted to vocalize some words many times.The data was fed into custom neural network models, a form of artificial intelligence, to distinguish and identify specific subtle patterns in the brain activity to detect speech and identify which word the patient was trying to say.The UCSF team found that their system was able to decode words from brain waves of the patient at a rate of up to 18 words per minute with up to 93 percent accuracy.#speech #brain #brainwave #electrode #neurology #artificialintelligence #AI #neuroprosthesis #paralysis #stroke #neuralnetwork #UCSF