Executive Function

Serotonin loss may contribute to cognitive decline in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease

Comparing PET scans of more than 90 adults with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI), researchers say relatively lower levels of the so-called 'happiness' chemical, serotonin, in parts of the brain of those with MCI may play a role in memory problems including Alzheimer's disease....
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Salty immune cells surrounding the brain linked to hypertension-induced dementia

A study suggests that the response of immune system cells inside the protective covering surrounding the brain may contribute to the cognitive decline that can occur in a person with chronic high blood pressure. This finding may shed light on new ways to counteract the effects of high blood pressure...
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New atrial fibrillation diagnosis may increase risk of memory decline

Atrial fibrillation (AF) diagnosis was associated with a 45% increased risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among a cohort of 4.3 million individuals in the UK, according to a new study.

Parental perceived immigration threat and children’s mental health, self-regulation and executive functioning in pre-Kindergarten.

Many children in immigrant households endure unique stressors shaped by national, state, and local immigration policies and enforcement activity in the United States. Qualitative studies find that during times of heightened immigration enforcement, children as young as 3 years of age show signs of b...
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Suicidal ideation in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with mental health conditions at risk for homelessness.

Suicide prevention among Veterans is a national priority. Overlap exists between conditions that may increase risk for suicide (e.g., mental health conditions, financial stressors, lack of social support) and homelessness among Veterans. We examined predictors of variance in suicidal ideation (SI) a...
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A novel model of obesity prediction: Neurobehaviors as targets for treatment.

Obesity is a worldwide epidemic that is on the rise, with approximately 30% of the world population classified as either overweight or obese. The United States has some of the highest rates of obesity, and in most countries in the world, obesity now poses more of a serious health concern than malnut...
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The rodent lateral orbitofrontal cortex as an arbitrator selecting between model-based and model-free learning systems.

Our understanding of orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) function has progressed remarkably over the past decades in part due to theoretical advances in associative and reinforcement learning theories. These theoretical accounts of OFC function have implicated the region in progressively more psychologically...
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Alzheimer’s gene triggers early breakdowns in blood-brain barrier, predicting cognitive decline

New USC research reveals how APOE4, a genetic culprit for Alzheimer's disease, triggers leaks in the brain's plumbing system, allowing toxic substances to seep into the brain areas responsible for memory encoding and other cognitive functions.
The damage is linked to future problems i...
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Implant-free optogenetics minimizes brain damage during neuronal stimulation

A minimally invasive optogenetic technique that does not require brain implants successfully manipulated the activity of neurons in mice and monkeys, researchers report April 29th in the journal . The researchers first genetically engineered neurons to produce a newly developed, extremely light-s...
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Molecular switch plays crucial role in learning from negative experiences

Neurobiologists at KU Leuven have discovered how the signalling molecule Neuromedin U plays a crucial role in our learning process. The protein allows the brain to recall negative memories and, as such, learn from the past. The findings of their study on roundworms have been published in the jour...
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