Topic description and stories

Neuroscience has transformed our understanding of the brain and promises treatments for devastating disorders that affect millions.

Charts map rapid growth and slow decline of brains

06 April 2022

An international team of researchers has created a series of brain charts spanning our entire lifespan – from a 15 week old fetus to 100 year old adult – that show how our brains expand rapidly in early life and slowly shrink as we age. 

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Carol

Study of learning and memory problems in OCD helps young people unlock their potential at school

22 Jan 2018

Adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have widespread learning and memory problems, according to research published today. The...

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Three mitochondria surrounded by cytoplasm

How incurable mitochondrial diseases strike previously unaffected families

15 Jan 2018

Researchers have shown for the first time how children can inherit a severe – potentially fatal – mitochondrial disease from a healthy mother. The...

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Alzheimer's patients & carers

Advances in brain imaging settle debate over spread of key protein in Alzheimer’s

05 Jan 2018

Recent advances in brain imaging have enabled scientists to show for the first time that a key protein which causes nerve cell death spreads...

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"Mini Stack" Interchange of Interstate 10, Loop 202, and State Route 51 at Night (2)

New brain mapping technique highlights relationship between connectivity and IQ

02 Jan 2018

A new and relatively simple technique for mapping the wiring of the brain has shown a correlation between how well connected an individual’s brain...

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Students studying

Mindfulness training reduces stress during exam time

18 Dec 2017

Mindfulness training can help support students at risk of mental health problems, concludes a randomised controlled trial carried out by researchers...

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Darwin Lecture Series

Genetics study adds further evidence that education reduces risk of Alzheimer’s disease

07 Dec 2017

̽»¨Ö±²¥theory that education protects against Alzheimer’s disease has been given further weight by new research from the ̽»¨Ö±²¥ of Cambridge, funded...

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Lucy Kivlin and her baby Ginny

Eye contact with your baby helps synchronise your brainwaves

29 Nov 2017

Making eye contact with an infant makes adults’ and babies’ brainwaves ‘get in sync’ with each other – which is likely to support communication and...

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Car crash rescue 3

Cambridge expert jointly leads international push to reduce global burden of traumatic brain injury

07 Nov 2017

Substantial reductions in the global burden of traumatic brain injury (TBI) could be achieved with improved policies for prevention, new directions...

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Scientists identify mechanism that helps us inhibit unwanted thoughts

03 Nov 2017

Scientists have identified a key chemical within the ‘memory’ region of the brain that allows us to suppress unwanted thoughts, helping explain why...

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Driving a car

Running on autopilot: scientists find important new role for ‘daydreaming’ network

23 Oct 2017

A brain network previously associated with daydreaming has been found to play an important role in allowing us to perform tasks on autopilot...

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Toddler

Experts express concerns over infant mental health assessment

11 Oct 2017

Forty world experts on child development and mental health have released a joint statement calling for caution when applying an influential...

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Winner takes all: Success enhances taste for luxury goods, study suggests

19 Sep 2017

Footballers in flashy cars, City workers in Armani suits, reality TV celebrities sipping expensive champagne while sitting in hot tubs: what drives...

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