By Edward Musole, University of New England Recent trends show Australians are increasingly buying wearables such as smartwatches and fitness trackers. These electronics track our body movements or vital signs to provide data throughout the day, with or without the help of … [Read more...]
Brain Mechanisms Behind Sleep Apnea-Induced Hypertension ID’d
Summary: A University of Missouri study has uncovered that two neurochemicals, oxytocin and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), cause overactivity in the brainstem during sleep apnea, which may lead to hypertension over time. The researchers say this discovery could lead to … [Read more...]
Night Owls and Brain Function: The Surprising Connection
Summary: A study by Imperial College London, utilizing data from over 26,000 participants in the UK Biobank, has discovered a correlation between individuals’ chronotypes (preference for morning or evening activity) and their cognitive performance. The research found that “night … [Read more...]
Hidden Phenomenon: Brain Awake and Asleep States Explored
Summary: A study by researchers at Washington University and UC Santa Cruz found that brain waves during sleep and wake states can be detected by patterns of neuronal activity lasting just milliseconds. This discovery reveals that small regions of the brain can “flicker” between … [Read more...]
From Diagnosing Brain Disorders to Cognitive Enhancement, 100 Years of EEG Have Transformed Neuroscience
By Erika Nyhus, Bowdoin College Electroencephalography, or EEG, was invented 100 years ago. In the years since the invention of this device to monitor brain electricity, it has had an incredible impact on how scientists study the human brain. Since its first use, the EEG has … [Read more...]
Somnics Earns Spot in AHA’s Heart and Brain Health Program
Summary: Somnics Health, focused on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatments, has been selected by the American Heart Association (AHA) for the Heart and Brain Health Accelerator. This program, part of the MedTech Innovator Accelerator, involves over 60 companies gaining access … [Read more...]
Discovery of Infant Brain Rhythm May Explain Sleep Disorders
Summary: University of Iowa researchers discovered a brain rhythm in the brain stem of sleeping infant rats that mirrors the rhythm in the cerebral cortex, a finding that reveals the origin of long-distance brain communication and suggests a link between brain rhythms and … [Read more...]
FDA Clears EEG Brain Monitoring Headset
Summary: The US Food and Drug Administration has granted 510(k) clearance to Zeto Inc’s next-generation electroencephalography (EEG) brain monitoring device, ONE, for use in various settings including hospitals, homes, ambulances, and air transport. The device, which features 21 … [Read more...]
Sleep-Like Brain Ripples Underlie Mind’s Wandering Thoughts
Summary: Researchers from Osaka University uncovered that brain wandering, primarily when involving vivid and imaginative self-created views, is joined to a distinct mind exercise pattern identified as sharp-wave ripples, which are usually witnessed throughout non-REM snooze and … [Read more...]
Sleep May Not Clear Brain Toxins After All, Surprising Study Finds
Summary: A new study from the UK Dementia Research Institute reveals that sleep may not enhance the brain’s ability to clear toxins, contrary to long-held beliefs. Using a fluorescent dye to track fluid movement in mice brains, researchers found that toxin clearance decreased by … [Read more...]