Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common form of inherited mental retardation, is caused by a lack of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), which regulates protein translation in the brain. Lack of FMRP leads to defects in protein translation, but until now, the mechanism underlying this relationship was not known. Simpson Joseph (University ofContinueContinue reading “Mechanistic insight into fragile X”
Tag Archives: cognition
Fisetin protects cognitive function in Alzheimer’s
Fisetin is a compound found in food plants that has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and can improve memory and protect neurons from the effects of aging. Pamela Maher (Salk Institute for Biological Sciences, La Jolla, CA) and her colleagues surmised that many of these attributes could potentially be useful in treating Alzheimer’s disease, the mostContinueContinue reading “Fisetin protects cognitive function in Alzheimer’s”
Evidence for sophisticated memory in rats
Memory is a complex phenomenon involving the encoding, storage and retrieval of information. Different types of memory can be defined by the particulars of these steps and of the information in question. For example, ‘source’ memory is a representation of the origin of a piece of information or the conditions surrounding its acquisition. Source memoryContinueContinue reading “Evidence for sophisticated memory in rats”
Clarifying the cause of chemotherapy ‘fog’
Up to 70% of cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy report experiencing a mental ‘fog,’ with up to 50% of them suffering measurable deficits in attention, working memory and mental processing speed. Despite its high incidence, the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying this chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment or ‘chemo-brain’ have not been well defined. New research from theContinueContinue reading “Clarifying the cause of chemotherapy ‘fog’”
Piglets offer a peek at early brain development
Stress during early life can affect human cognitive development, but characterizing these effects is challenging, in part because of a lack of appropriate research subjects. A suitable model would be one whose brain development is similar to that of humans and whose cognitive abilities can be evaluated objectively. Rodney Johnson and his colleagues at UniversityContinueContinue reading “Piglets offer a peek at early brain development”
The link between methylation and memory
Alterations in epigenetic regulation, processes that affect the availability of genes for transcription and hence their expression levels, are known to have a role in diseases such as cancer. Growing evidence suggests that epigenetic changes are also involved in aging. DNA methylation is one form of epigenetic regulation. Several studies have reported that methylation declinesContinueContinue reading “The link between methylation and memory”
Synchronicity belies simplicity in short-term memory
Most of us draw on our visual recognition and short-term memory abilities many times a day and with relatively little fanfare, but these seemingly mundane activities have rather complex underpinnings within our brains. The tasks involve different, non-adjacent brain regions: short-term memory formation occurs in the lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC), and visual information processing primarilyContinueContinue reading “Synchronicity belies simplicity in short-term memory”
Synapse dysfunction linked to mental illness
Although mental illnesses are primarily considered human disorders, investigators have attempted to model certain aspects of these disorders in animals to facilitate study of the underlying mechanisms. In such studies, researchers have noted that gene mutations can elicit certain abnormal behaviors in rodents that are very similar to isolated symptoms of mental illness in humans.ContinueContinue reading “Synapse dysfunction linked to mental illness”
Passive spatial learning in rats
Results of a new study by scientists at Ruhr University Bochum (Germany) suggest that passive viewing of spatial information (such as on television or computer screens) can activate learning mechanisms and may interfere with consolidation of information learned via active exploration. Anne Kemp and Denise Manahan-Vaughan, who carried out the study, speculate that increasing useContinueContinue reading “Passive spatial learning in rats”
They may laugh, but can they count?
Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta), or laughing hyenas, live in complex clans in which subgroups form and dissolve frequently and inter-group conflicts are common. This type of social structure is believed by some researchers to encourage the development of cognitive skills and has led them to wonder about cognition in hyenas. Sarah Benson-Amram (Michigan State University,ContinueContinue reading “They may laugh, but can they count?”
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