#Brain

A recent study from a leading university shows that learning can occur faster than previously thought, even in animals. Published in a top scientific journal, the findings reveal that mice quickly learn to discriminate between sounds, prompting a rethink of where and how learning happens in the brain.

Led by a senior neuroscientist, the research tracked neural activity as mice learned to respond to one sound and ignore another. The subjects mastered the task in roughly 20 to 40 attempts. The rapid learning occurred in the sensory cortex, a region traditionally linked to perception rather than higher-level thinking. This challenges existing ideas about learning speed and highlights the role of sensory processing in education.

A new study from researchers at a major U.S. medical school demonstrates that strengthening the brain’s waste-clearing system can improve memory in aging mice. The approach targets the meningeal lymphatic vessels surrounding the brain, which drain waste to the body’s lymph nodes. By enhancing this clearance, older mice showed clearer memory and curiosity toward new objects, suggesting a potential pathway for human therapies against age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

A recent study by researchers at the University of the Basque Country, published in Nature Metabolism, found that marathon running can temporarily reduce myelin content in the brain. Importantly, these changes are fully reversible within two months, offering reassurance to endurance athletes concerned about lasting neural effects.

As Bangkok’s marathon scene grows, this finding is particularly relevant for Thai runners who tackle the 42-kilometer challenge. The study introduces the concept of metabolic myelin plasticity, suggesting that during intense exercise the brain may tap myelin lipids as an additional energy source when glucose is scarce. This aligns with established knowledge that glycogen stores deplete during long efforts, prompting the body to adapt its energy pathways.

A new AI-powered method combined with magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is changing how experts measure brain aging and assess dementia risk. Researchers from the University of Delaware have developed a technique that maps brain stiffness and volume to estimate brain age with impressive accuracy. By integrating AI with MRE, this approach could support earlier detection of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative conditions.

MRE uses gentle vibrations in tandem with MRI to create stiffness maps of brain tissue. These maps serve as health indicators because brain stiffness shifts with age and during the onset of neurodegenerative processes. Over years, a large dataset of stiffness maps has been built, and researchers apply advanced analytics to identify meaningful patterns. The latest findings suggest that evaluating both brain stiffness and volume yields the most precise brain age estimate, as described in a recent report in Biology Methods and Protocols.

A landmark study from Scripps Research reveals structural markers of long-term memory storage, offering new avenues to address memory decline in aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Using cutting-edge genetics, 3D electron microscopy, and AI, researchers map memory traces with unprecedented detail to guide future therapies.

Published in Science, the work redefines memory by identifying engrams—the physical embodiments of memories in the brain. Advanced imaging and AI-driven analysis accelerate mapping of memory-related brain circuits, shortening what used to be years of work.

A groundbreaking study from Ohio State University, published in Nature Neuroscience, shows that memories formed close in time may be stored in dendrites—the branches of neurons—rather than in cell bodies. This finding explains why events on the same day often feel linked and could guide future therapies for memory-related disorders.

Led by Megha Sehgal, the researchers used advanced imaging in mice to demonstrate that the same dendritic branches activate when experiences are encoded in quick succession. The dendritic linkage occurs in the retrosplenial cortex, a brain region integral to contextual memory. The work reveals that memories can be bound together through localized changes in dendritic segments, offering a new lens on how the brain connects related experiences.

A groundbreaking study has unveiled how our brains physically associate memories formed close in time, offering intriguing insights that could impact the understanding of memory-related disorders. Conducted at Ohio State University and recently published in Nature Neuroscience, the research highlights that rather than being encoded in the cell bodies of neurons, memories formed within short timeframes are stored in the dendrites, which are intricate extensions of neurons.

This discovery is significant as it elucidates why events occurring on the same day often feel inherently linked, in contrast to those spaced out over weeks. Dendrites, long overshadowed by the neuron cell bodies in memory studies, are now recognized as playing a crucial role in memory linkage. The researchers, led by Megha Sehgal, utilized advanced imaging techniques on mice, which revealed that the same dendritic branches get activated when closely timed experiences are encoded, thereby binding the memories together.

New findings in Nature Metabolism show that non-caloric sweeteners may influence appetite signals in the brain, and responses vary by body weight. This adds depth to the idea that sugar substitutes are not a universal fix for weight management or diet-related health issues.

The study matters for Thailand, where sweetened beverages and snacks are common. Many people use zero- or low-calorie sweeteners to cut calories, but brain responses to these substitutes appear different among lean, overweight, and obese individuals. Practically, this could mean varying feelings of hunger or fullness after consuming these products, depending on weight status.

A groundbreaking study from Yale University reveals that infants can form and encode memories earlier than previously thought. Using advanced imaging, researchers found that even before speaking, babies show memory-related brain activity when viewing familiar images. Published in Science, the work challenges the long-held belief that infant memories are inaccessible due to a still-developing hippocampus. For Thai educators and parents, the finding underscores how early experiences can shape learning trajectories.

A team of researchers is advancing brain health insights by linking brain stiffness to aging and neurodegenerative risk. Led by a biomedical engineering associate professor and an electrical engineering assistant professor, the group uses magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) together with artificial intelligence to estimate the brain’s biological age. This approach could improve early detection and intervention for conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other neurodegenerative disorders, with potential relevance for Thailand’s aging population.

In a groundbreaking study published this week in Nature Metabolism, researchers have unveiled novel insights into how non-caloric sweeteners influence appetite regulation in the brain across individuals with varying body weights ^1^. This research is notable as it bridges existing gaps in understanding the neural mechanisms underlying the use of these ubiquitous sugar alternatives, especially in the context of global health trends towards combating obesity and diet-related maladies.

Understanding how non-caloric sweeteners affect appetite and food intake regulation is crucial, especially considering the escalating prevalence of obesity in Thailand and globally. For many people, these sweeteners are part of daily consumption as they attempt to reduce caloric intake without sacrificing taste. However, findings from this study suggest that the effects of non-caloric sweeteners are complex and vary significantly depending on an individual’s body weight. The implications of these findings are particularly relevant to Thai society, where dietary habits are changing and the prevalence of obesity is notably rising.

A long-standing mystery in neuroscience centers on how cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) moves through the brain and whether this flow helps clear metabolic waste. New research strengthens the link between sleep and CSF activity, suggesting that restful states may enhance brain waste removal. Yet, the ideas are hotly debated, underscoring the need for rigorous evidence before drawing firm conclusions.

The core question asks how CSF travels in the brain and whether it serves as a waste-removal system. This topic resonates with Thai readers, where sleep quality and overall wellness are central concerns. The emerging view is that CSF flow increases during sleep, potentially helping clear byproducts that accumulate during wakefulness. This aligns with the Thai saying that quality rest is a form of medicine, reflecting cultural emphasis on restorative sleep.

A small, cutting-edge study suggests the brain may temporarily convert its own myelin into fuel during extreme endurance events like marathons. This unexpected mechanism could help protect overall brain function when glucose supply drops during intense exercise.

Researchers in Spain followed 10 marathon runners, scanning their brains with MRI before and after the races. They found that 24 to 48 hours after finishing a grueling 42-kilometer run, myelin levels in key brain regions—those governing movement, coordination, sensation, and emotion—decreased noticeably. Importantly, these changes were not permanent. By two weeks post-race, myelin began to recover, and most participants returned to baseline within about two months.

A small pilot study suggests the brain may tap its own energy reserves during intense endurance efforts. Spanish researchers observed changes in brain white matter among marathon runners, hinting at a form of neuroplasticity that could help preserve function under extreme physical stress.

Researchers conducted MRI scans on ten endurance runners (eight men and two women) before and after a 42-kilometer race. The scans showed a measurable drop in myelin, the fat-rich sheath around nerve fibers that facilitates rapid signaling. The decrease was most evident in brain regions responsible for movement, balance, sensory processing, and emotion. Notably, myelin levels began to recover within 24 to 48 hours after the race and largely returned to baseline within two months for the six participants who had follow-up scans.

A recent study from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria shows sleep actively reshapes memories, not just strengthens them. The research reveals that during non-REM sleep, the brain refines spatial memories and makes room for new information. Scientists tracked hippocampal neuron activity in rats during extended sleep and observed a shift from the learning-phase pattern to a recall-phase pattern. This “representational drift” makes recall more efficient by using fewer neurons to represent the same remembered location.