News Releases

SfN news releases are listed below. For previous years, view archive.

August
Memory-Boosting Drug May Help Cocaine Addicts Avoid Relapse
08/03/10, Washington, DC — A memory-boosting medication paired with behavioral therapy might help addicts stay clean, according to new animal research in the Aug. 4 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. The study suggests D-cycloserine, previously used in the lab to treat fear and anxiety disorders, could help an addict resist drugs even when confronted with drug-related cues outside of rehab.

June
Brain’s Energy Restored During Sleep, Suggests Animal Study
06/30/10, Washington, DC — In the initial stages of sleep, energy levels increase dramatically in brain regions found to be active during waking hours, according to new research in the June 30 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. These results suggest that a surge of cellular energy may replenish brain processes needed to function normally while awake.

Second Language Learners Recall Native Language When Reading
06/01/10, Washington, DC — Adults fluent in English whose first language is Chinese retrieve their native language when reading in English, according to new research in the June 2 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. This study suggests that people who learn a second language in adolescence or later recall the sounds of words from their native language.

May
Actress and Advocate Glenn Close Will Address Stigma of Mental Illness at World’s Largest Brain Science Meeting
05/10/10, Washington, DC — Neuroscience 2010, the 40th annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience (SfN), will showcase distinguished speakers and new research findings on the brain, nervous system, and related disorders Nov. 13-17 in San Diego. The Society’s annual meeting is the world's largest source of emerging news on brain science and health.

Problem Gamblers Provoked by “Near Misses” to Gamble More
05/04/10, Washington, DC — The brains of problem gamblers react more intensely to “near misses” than casual gamblers, possibly spurring them on to play more, according to new research in the May 5 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. The researchers found the brain region that responds to rewards by delivering a dose of the chemical dopamine was especially active in these individuals.

April 
Blood Protein Triggers Scars in the Brain After Injury
04/27/10, Washington, DC — A protein called fibrinogen that is known to help form blood clots also triggers scar formation in the brain and spinal cord, according to new research in the April 28 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. Researchers found that fibrinogen carries a dormant factor that activates when it enters the brain after an injury, prompting brain cells to form a scar. Scars in the brain or spinal cord can block connections between nerve cells and often keep injury patients from reaching full recovery.

Gene Identified for Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy
04/13/10, Washington, DC — A mutation in a brain protein gene may trigger irregular heart beat and sudden death in people with epilepsy, according to new research in the April 14 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. People with epilepsy who are otherwise healthy are more than 10 times more likely to die suddenly and unexpectedly than the general population.

March
Disease-Causing Mutation Disrupts Movement of Cell’s “Power House”
03/23/10, Washington, DC — New research shows how a mutation causes a common inherited neurodegenerative disease, according to a study in the March 24 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. The study shows that the mutation of a specific protein known to cause Charcot-Marie-Tooth disrupts the movement of mitochondria, the energy-supplying machines inside each cell. The regulated movement of mitochondria along nerve cell fibers is vital to normal communication between the brain and muscles.

Brain Abnormalities Identified that Result from Prenatal Meth Exposure
03/16/10, Washington, DC — Children whose mothers abused methamphetamine (meth) during pregnancy show brain abnormalities that may be more severe than that of children exposed to alcohol prenatally, according to a study in the March 17 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. While researchers have long known that drug abuse during pregnancy can alter fetal brain development, this finding shows the potential impact of meth. Identifying vulnerable brain structures may help predict particular learning and behavioral problems in meth-exposed children. 

Researchers Reconstruct 3-D Hand Movement Using Brain Signals
03/02/10, Washington, DC — Researchers have successfully reconstructed 3-D hand motions from brain signals recorded in a non-invasive way, according to a study in the March 3 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. This finding uses a technique that may open new doors for portable brain-computer interface systems. Such a non-invasive system could potentially operate a robotic arm or motorized wheelchair — a huge advance for people with disabilities or paralysis. 

February
Washington, DC High School Students Compete in 2010 Brain Bee
02/16/10, Washington, DC — Students from 18 area high schools will compete in the Washington, DC Brain Bee tomorrow, February 17, vying for cash prizes and the opportunity to represent the area in the National Brain Bee during Brain Awareness Week, March 15-21, 2010.

January
Transplanted Stem Cells Form Proper Brain Connections
01/20/10, Washington, DC  — Transplanted neurons grown from embryonic stem cells can fully integrate into the brains of young animals, according to new research in the Jan. 20 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. Healthy brains have stable and precise connections between cells that are necessary for normal behavior. This new finding is the first to show that stem cells can be directed not only to become specific brain cells, but to link correctly.

For past news releases, view archive.

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