Could targeting Parkinson's outside of the brain improve symptoms?

Parkinson's doesn't just affect movement and the brain -- it may also impact the heart, according to new research. Scientists suggest that targeting a key protein outside of the brain could help manage Parkinson's-related heart issues.

Mouse study identifies shared genes involved in hearing and vision regeneration

The same genes could hold the key to regenerating cells in the ear and eye, according to a new mouse study. Researchers focused on a group of interacting genes called the Hippo pathway, which serve as a 'stop growing' signal that the lab has shown to inhibit cell proliferation in the ear during embryonic development. The scientists demonstrated that the Hippo pathway also suppresses the regeneration of damaged sensory receptors in the ear and eye of adult mice.

Enzyme engineering opens door to novel therapies for Parkinson's, cancers and other hard-to-target protein diseases

Scientists have long struggled to target proteins that lack defined structure and are involved in cancer, neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's disease, and other serious illnesses. Now, a new study demonstrates a proof of concept for a new strategy: engineering proteases -- enzymes that cut proteins at specific sites -- to selectively degrade these elusive targets with high precision in the proteome of human cells.

Postpartum female preference for cooler temperatures linked to brain changes

Mothers experience major metabolic adaptations during pregnancy and lactation to support the development and growth of the new life. Although many metabolic changes have been studied, body temperature regulation and environmental temperature preference during and after pregnancy remain poorly understood. Researchers show that postpartum female mice develop new environmental temperature preferences and reveal brain changes mediating these changes.

Safety and security: Study shines light on factors behind refugees' resilience

A systematic review has identified several strong protective and promotive factors that are associated with better mental health outcomes among refugee adults.

Ancient Andes society used hallucinogens to strengthen social order

Snuff tubes uncovered at Chavin de Huantar in Peru reveal how leaders used mystical experiences to cement their power.

Good karma for me, bad karma for you

Many people around the world believe in karma -- that idea that divine justice will punish people who do bad deeds and reward those who good. But that belief plays out differently for oneself versus others, according to new research.

What happens in the brain when your mind blanks

Mind blanking is a common experience with a wide variety of definitions ranging from feeling 'drowsy' to 'a complete absence of conscious awareness.' Neuroscientists and philosophers compile what we know about mind blanking, including insights from their own work observing people's brain activity.

Is my green your green?

'Do we see colors the same way?' is a fundamentally human question and one of great importance in research into the human mind. While impossible to answer at present, researchers take steps to answering it using a method that can map the experiences of colors between individuals, including those with colorblindness.

Do you see what I see?

As a child, did it ever occur to you that your perception of color differed from that of others? It's quite common to have this thought, but it turns out that the human color experience may be more universal than we previously believed. In psychology and neuroscience, the relationship between subjective experience, such as how we perceive color, and physical brain activity has remained an unresolved problem. Furthermore, due to their limited language abilities, studying conscious experiences in children has posed a particular challenge. This inspired a team of researchers to establish a methodology for evaluating conscious experiences, or qualia, in young children. Focusing on their experience with color, the team developed a touch panel interface that requires only minimal language skills, making it accessible for children as young as 3 years old.

Yawn! Many people are bored by spiritual practice

We commonly consider spiritual practices sources of peace and inspiration. A recent study shows that they can also be experienced differently: Many persons feel bored during these practices -- and this can have far-reaching consequences. The results open up an entirely new field of research and provide fascinating insights into a phenomenon that has received only scant attention so far.

Scientific insights into how humans access deep spiritual states

Two seemingly opposite spiritual practices -- Buddhist jhana meditation and the Christian practice of speaking in tongues -- have more in common than previously thought, a new study suggests. While one is quiet and deeply focused, and the other emotionally charged and expressive, both appear to harness the same cognitive feedback loop to create profound states of joy and surrender.

Meditation induces changes in deep brain areas associated with memory and emotional regulation

Findings provide insight about its potential as a noninvasive therapy.