#Brainresearch

A groundbreaking international study led by over 150 scientists has produced the most detailed map ever of how visual information moves through the brain, uncovering more than 500 million intricate connections within a speck of mouse brain tissue and bringing the world closer to understanding how we see. Published in the journal Nature on April 9, 2025, the research combines genetic engineering, high-powered electron microscopy, and deep learning to capture not only the physical wiring of over 200,000 brain cells but also their real-time electrical activity in response to visual stimuli. The project—hailed as one of the most complex neuroscience experiments ever attempted—has generated a dataset of unprecedented size and detail: 1.6 petabytes, about the equivalent of 22 years of continuous high-definition video, all representing a single grain-sized fragment of brain.

A new study in Nature Communications challenges the idea that the visual cortex merely records the world. Instead, it actively tunes perception in real time to fit what we’re trying to do at any moment. Researchers highlight that even simple shapes are processed differently depending on our objectives. In practical terms, your brain’s visual system flexes to help you achieve your current goal, whether you’re selecting the right mango at a market or solving a classroom puzzle.

A cutting-edge study from Columbia University reveals how the brain lights up when people view different art styles, underscoring a deeply personal process of meaning-making—especially with abstract works. Using brain imaging, researchers show that art interpretation is not just taste; it’s a neural event that reflects each viewer’s unique experience. The findings are especially relevant for Thai art lovers, educators, and anyone curious about how culture and creativity shape perception.

A new international study identifies a brain region that helps decide how generous we are toward friends versus strangers. Researchers from Germany and South Africa found that damage to the basolateral amygdala (BLA) reduces sharing with anyone outside one’s closest circle, while generosity toward close friends remains relatively intact. The study, recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, sheds light on the biological roots of kindness and self-interest and could inform understanding of social disorders.

A team of scientists in London has made a significant leap in understanding how the human brain solves unfamiliar problems—a discovery that could transform approaches to brain injury diagnosis and rehabilitation worldwide, including in Thailand. The findings, published on April 16, 2025, in the prestigious journal Brain, spotlight the right frontal lobe as a critical hub for logical thinking and problem solving, advancing decades of brain research Source: The Independent.

This development is particularly relevant for Thai readers, given the high incidence of stroke and brain injury in the country and the challenges faced by patients and their families during recovery. With the increased aging population and prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Thailand, understanding how cognitive functions can be impaired—or rehabilitated—after brain injury is essential for both health professionals and the general public.

An international team has produced the first detailed three-dimensional map of a mammal’s brain, revealing unprecedented insight into brain structure and function. Focusing on a tiny fragment of a mouse’s visual cortex, the achievement marks a milestone for neuroscience with potential to improve diagnosis and treatment of brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and autism. For Thai readers, the findings underscore how advances in brain science can influence medicine, education, and future AI applications amid Thailand’s aging society.

A breakthrough study from London researchers reveals how the brain handles unfamiliar challenges, offering new avenues for diagnosis and rehabilitation in Thailand and beyond. Published in Brain, the study highlights the right frontal lobe as a crucial hub for logical thinking and problem solving, building on decades of brain research. According to experts, this insight could improve how clinicians assess and treat cognitive deficits after brain injury.

Thailand faces a high burden from stroke and brain injuries, with an aging population and rising non-communicable diseases adding pressure to healthcare. Understanding cognitive functions after injury helps healthcare professionals guide patients and families through recovery. Data from Thailand’s public health system shows stroke remains a leading cause of death and disability, underscoring the need for comprehensive rehabilitation that includes cognitive assessment.

In a scientific breakthrough once thought impossible, an international team of researchers has created the first detailed three-dimensional map of a mammal’s brain, offering an unprecedented window into the structure and function of the mind. This ambitious feat, achieved by studying a tiny fragment of a mouse’s visual cortex, marks a pivotal advance in neuroscience and holds profound implications for understanding brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and autism (CNN/Yahoo! News).

New scientific findings show our brains shape how we form beliefs, handle evidence, and stay flexible. A recent book by figurehead in political neuroscience, Dr. Leor Zmigrod, explores how biology underpins not just what we think, but how open we are to changing our minds. For Thai readers, these insights connect to everyday debates—from elections to cultural norms—and offer practical ways to foster constructive dialogue.

In Thailand, ideological clashes surface in politics, religion, and social norms. The country’s mix of Buddhist philosophy, hierarchical culture, and rapid social change makes open thinking especially relevant. Research suggests that some brains are more tuned for flexible thinking, while others gravitate toward rigid worldviews. This matters as Thai society navigates polarization, reform, and modernization.

A groundbreaking international study has pinpointed a specific region in the brain responsible for deciding how generous we are with friends versus strangers. Researchers from Germany and South Africa have discovered that damage to the basolateral amygdala (BLA) sharply reduces our willingness to share with anyone outside our closest social circle—while generosity toward close friends stays intact. The findings, published recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, offer intriguing new insights into the biological roots of kindness and selfishness, and may have implications for understanding social disorders.

A wave of research is reshaping the way we understand ideology—not just as a social or political phenomenon, but as a deeply rooted function of the human brain. A recent book by political neuroscientist Dr. Leor Zmigrod, “The Ideological Brain: The Radical Science of Flexible Thinking,” has captured global attention by revealing how our biological wiring underpins not only our convictions but also our openness—or resistance—to evidence and change (Nautilus, NY Times). Why does ideology “taste” so good to the mind, and what makes some of us more likely to become deeply entrenched, even to the point of dogma? The answers emerging from neuroscience offer insight for Thais grappling with political polarization and social change.

A global team of researchers has unveiled the most detailed three‑dimensional map of a mammalian brain to date. Using a tiny mouse brain fragment the size of a grain of sand, scientists at the Allen Institute for Brain Science, Baylor College of Medicine, and Princeton University mapped 84,000 neurons and more than 500 million synapses in a single cubic millimeter. The digital reconstruction, published in Nature, is described as the most comprehensive mammalian brain map yet and is advancing the search for treatments for brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, autism, and schizophrenia. Research by leading institutions shows the potential impact for future Thai medical science and patient care.

A new MIT study upends decades of neuroscience by showing the brain’s object-recognition pathway may also play a crucial role in processing spatial information. This could transform approaches to learning, AI, and brain health, including in Thailand.

For years, scientists have said the ventral visual stream is mainly about identifying objects—think recognizing a coffee cup on a Bangkok Skytrain or a rambutan vendor at Chatuchak. This view guided neuroscience education and powered computer-vision advances used in smartphones and smart cars. Now, MIT researchers led by graduate student Yudi Xie demonstrate that training deep learning models to grasp spatial details like location, rotation, and size yields brain activity in the ventral stream that matches, or even exceeds, traditional object-recognition models. The ventral stream may be a versatile toolkit for seeing and interacting with the world, not just a face- or product-recognition system.

A groundbreaking study from MIT is shaking up decades of neuroscience wisdom, revealing the brain’s “object recognition” pathway may also play a significant role in understanding spatial information—an insight that could revolutionize our approach to learning, artificial intelligence, and brain health around the world, including here in Thailand.

For years, scientists have believed the ventral visual stream, a key pathway in the human brain, is dedicated to recognizing objects—like a Starbucks cup on a Bangkok Skytrain or a rambutan vendor at the Chatuchak Market. This idea shaped not just neuroscience textbooks, but also inspired computer vision systems now used in everything from smartphones to smart cars. Yet, new research led by MIT graduate student Yudi Xie suggests the story is far more nuanced. Their findings, presented at the prestigious International Conference on Learning Representations, show that when deep learning models are trained not only to identify objects, but also to understand spatial features like location, rotation, and size, these models mirror neural activity in the ventral stream just as accurately as traditional object recognition models. In other words, the ventral stream might be wired for much more than recognizing faces or products—it could be a multifaceted toolkit for seeing and interacting with the world.

In a scientific feat once thought to border on the impossible, a global team of researchers has produced the first-ever hyper-detailed, three-dimensional map of a mammalian brain, marking a significant leap forward in neuroscience. Using just a tiny speck of mouse brain matter—the size of a grain of sand—scientists at the Allen Institute for Brain Science, Baylor College of Medicine, and Princeton University meticulously mapped out the intricate web of 84,000 neurons and over 500 million synapses within a cubic millimeter of tissue. This digital reconstruction, now published in the journal Nature, is being hailed as the most comprehensive mammalian brain map ever generated, fueling optimism for breakthroughs in understanding brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, autism, and schizophrenia (CNN).

New research uncovers how the brain quietly governs pain, revealing a natural analgesic system that can dampen pain before it reaches our conscious mind. Central to this process is the periaqueductal gray (PAG), a brain region that can suppress pain signals and alter our experience of injury. This insight helps explain why some severely injured individuals—such as soldiers in past wars—felt little pain and points toward safer, non-opioid pain strategies.

Recent research into the brain’s natural mechanisms for managing pain reveals fascinating insights that could revolutionize the way we approach pain management. At the heart of this discovery is the periaqueductal grey (PAG), a brain region that plays a crucial role in suppressing pain even before it reaches our conscious awareness. This study explains why individuals with severe injuries, such as soldiers during WWII, sometimes feel little to no pain and opens potential pathways for non-opioid pain therapies.

A new study from Johns Hopkins Medicine uses advanced cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to show how the neurotransmitter glutamate activates AMPA receptors in the brain. The work deepens our understanding of neural communication and points to potential new treatments for epilepsy and certain intellectual disabilities. Research by Johns Hopkins in collaboration with UTHealth Houston was published in a leading scientific journal.

Neural communication relies on chemical signals between neurons. Glutamate binds to AMPA receptors, triggering electrical signals that propagate through the brain. In this study, scientists captured highly detailed images of receptor function by warming samples to body temperature, a departure from traditional cold-temperature methods. This approach provides more dynamic snapshots of receptor activity under conditions closer to how the brain operates.

In a significant leap toward understanding brain communication, researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have harnessed cutting-edge cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to reveal how glutamate, a key neurotransmitter, activates brain channels. This discovery not only deepens our understanding of neural communication processes but also paves the way for novel treatments for neurological conditions like epilepsy and specific intellectual disabilities source.

The ability of our brains to engage with the environment and learn is fundamentally dependent on the chemical interplay between neurons. At the heart of this communication network is glutamate, a neurotransmitter that binds to AMPA receptors, triggering electrical signals that pass through neurons like messages along a bustling Thai street during rush hour. This study, spearheaded by Johns Hopkins researchers in collaboration with UTHealth Houston scientists, was recently published in the esteemed journal Nature.

A recent study by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers has used advanced cryo-electron microscopy to reveal how glutamate, a key brain messenger, interacts with AMPA receptors. The collaboration with UTHealth Houston and NIH funding unlocks new possibilities for treating epilepsy and certain intellectual disabilities. By visualizing these receptors at molecular detail, the work lays a foundation for developing targeted therapies.

Glutamate is essential for neuron-to-neuron communication. It binds to AMPA receptors on neuron surfaces, opening channels that allow ions to flow and generate the electrical signals that power thinking, learning, and sensation. According to senior researchers, this chemical dialogue underpins how we experience the world.

A new wave of research from MIT and Harvard shows that immune molecules, specifically cytokines, influence the brain as well as defending the body against infection. Infections trigger cytokine responses, but these molecules can also affect emotions like anxiety and sociability. The findings open pathways for treating neurological conditions such as autism and depression, with potential relevance for Thai patients and caregivers.

Cytokines such as Interleukin-17 (IL-17) drive inflammation and coordinate immune cells. Earlier work noted IL-17’s ability to lessen autism-like symptoms during fever, prompting deeper questions about its brain actions. In studies led by researchers including Gloria Choi of MIT and Jun Huh of Harvard, IL-17’s effects were mapped to brain regions controlling fear and social behavior. Published in Cell, the research shows IL-17 can heighten anxiety in the amygdala while promoting sociability in the cortex, depending on the receptor pair it engages.

Recent groundbreaking research from MIT and Harvard University reveals a fascinating intersection between the immune and nervous systems that may redefine our understanding of illness and behavior. Immune molecules, known as cytokines, have long been recognized for their role in fighting infections; however, these studies unveiled their significant impact on the brain, influencing emotions such as anxiety and sociability. This new insight could have profound implications for treating a range of neurological conditions, including autism and depression.

In a groundbreaking study published recently, scientists from Johns Hopkins Medicine have employed advanced cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to illuminate how glutamate—a key neurotransmitter in the brain—interacts with AMPA receptors. This research, conducted in collaboration with UTHealth Houston and funded by the National Institutes of Health, unlocks new potential pathways for treating neurological conditions such as epilepsy and certain intellectual disabilities. Using this specialized imaging technique, the team has captured molecular-level details of how brain receptors function, providing crucial insights that could drive the development of new therapeutic drugs.

Scientists have unlocked a deeper understanding of brain communication thanks to groundbreaking advancements in microscopy. By visualizing how glutamate, a key neurotransmitter, activates brain receptors, researchers are paving the way for new treatments for neurological conditions like epilepsy and intellectual disabilities. This pioneering study, recently published in the journal Nature, showcases how this critical brain process occurs at the molecular level.

In this innovative research spearheaded by Johns Hopkins Medicine, alongside collaborators from UTHealth Houston, scientists employed a cutting-edge cryo-electron microscope (cryo-EM) to capture high-resolution images of glutamate in action. The study illuminates the intricate dance between glutamate and AMPA receptors, channels which play a vital role in neuron-to-neuron communication—a fundamental aspect of how we perceive our environment and learn. Edward Twomey, Ph.D., a key researcher in the study, highlights that neurons’ ability to communicate through chemical signals is foundational for brain function.