Navigation Links
Intense prep for law school admission test alters brain structure
Date:8/22/2012

Mackey and Bunge tested for changes in the white matter of the brain, the brain tissue that contains the connections between the brain's neurons. These connections, called axons, are surrounded by a variety of support cells called glia, some of which form myelin that insulates the axons and speeds the passage of signals. In animal studies, increased myelination and glial support cells are associated with learning, and a recent study found that some of these glial cells provide energy to the axons.

Using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), they followed water movement in the white matter and found differences, on average, between the trained group and the control group. Specifically, the trained group showed a change in the directionality of water diffusion that is consistent with increased myelination. Also, near the boundary between the white matter and gray matter, the trained group showed a reduction in water diffusion, possibly because of more densely packed glial cells. While the real cause of the changes in water diffusion is unclear, the researchers said, it reflects an alteration in the microstructure of the brain associated with a change in cognitive activity.

"One thing that gives us confidence in these data is that a lot of these changes are in the tracts that connect frontal and parietal cortex, or between different hemispheres in those areas, and frontal and parietal regions are absolutely essential for reasoning," Bunge said. "So, we are seeing the changes exactly where we would expect to see them. And we think that they reflect strengthening of the connections between them."

"This work could inspire further research in non-human animals, because there seems to be a resurgence of interest in environmental influences on the brain," Bunge said, noting that, in the 1960s and '70s, UC Berkeley Professors Mark Rosenzweig and Marion Diamond conducted landmark research on the effects of environmental enrichment on behavior and brain ana
'/>"/>

Contact: Robert Sanders
rsanders@berkeley.edu
510-643-6998
University of California - Berkeley
Source:Eurekalert  

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3 4 5

Related biology news :

1. Alnylam and UMass Medical School announce Tuschl I patent upheld in European opposition proceedings
2. NYU School of Medicine presents 2012 Dart/NYU Biotechnology Achievement Awards
3. Poll shows strong voter support for school nutrition standards
4. Gladstone scientist Warner C. Greene receives Washington University School of Medicine Alumni Award
5. Real science in virtual school labs
6. UMass Medical School scientist named 2012 Pew Latin-American Fellow in the Biomedical Sciences
7. UMass Medical School researchers discover a new role for RNAi
8. Recipients of UM Rosenstiel Schools 2012-2013 Alumni Awards announced
9. Interactive eco-schools
10. School food -- on the front line in the fight against childhood obesity
11. Gastric bypass surgery alters gut microbiota profile along the intestine
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
Related Image:
Intense prep for law school admission test alters brain structure
(Date:5/23/2013)... Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, ... Technology, have received a $4 million grant over ... Emory University (Health and Exposome Research Center: Understanding ... center grant awarded in the United States. ... National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) of ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... the overall health, development, and academic success of ... ensuring that all students have opportunities to engage ... vigorous or moderate-intensity physical activity, says a new ... estimates suggest that only about half of school-age ... health and development. The report recommends that ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... cerebral palsy with autologous cord blood. Following a cardiac ... boy had been in a persistent vegetative state ... treatment with the cord blood containing stem cells, the ... learned to speak simple sentences and to move. "Our ... the long-held doubts about the effectiveness of the new ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Emory, Georgia Tech receive first human exposome center grant in US 2Emory, Georgia Tech receive first human exposome center grant in US 3Schools should provide opportunities for 60 minutes of daily physical activity to all students 2Schools should provide opportunities for 60 minutes of daily physical activity to all students 3First successful treatment of pediatric cerebral palsy with autologous cord blood 2
... November 18, 2008 -- Researchers at the University of California, ... been used to block and reverse type 1 diabetes in ... the National Academy of Sciences , was led by Jeffrey ... an expert in the field of autoimmunity. "The findings ...
... at Birmingham (UAB) Center for Education and Research on ... to study the risks and benefits of a newer ... therapies that target the immune system of patients who ... disorders. The award will allow the UAB CERTs ...
... WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Materials engineers have created a ... and, if perfected, might be used for environmental cleanup, ... would last longer than conventional filters for separating oil ... oil, traits that are usually mutually exclusive. Researchers attached ...
Cached Biology News:Musculoskeletal center wins $2.2 million for drug safety 2New filtering technology has environmental, industrial applications 2New filtering technology has environmental, industrial applications 3
(Date:5/24/2013)... Swedesboro, NJ (PRWEB) May 24, 2013 Dr. ... Elmer, NJ and Swedesboro, NJ, are proud to announce an ... event will take place on Saturday, June 8th from 10 ... Dr. Warmuth, Anamaria Newport, MHS, PA-C and staff will be ... dermal fillers, laser and aesthetic treatments, and provide complimentary cosmetic ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... May 24, 2013 In a ... industry suppliers will present technologies with applications in ... annual SPIE Optics and Photonics symposium ... SPIE, the international society for optics and ... multidisciplinary optical sciences and technology meeting in North ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... May 24, 2013 Bed bug cases tend ... themselves from the looming higher risk of becoming the pests' ... new bed bug guideline. In the guide, the company enumerated ... and avoiding them while traveling. , According to My ... increase of bed bug infestation during summer: the warm weather ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... Israel , May 24, 2013 ... leader in embolic protection stents, announced that Alan ... and Craig Shore , the Company,s Chief ... Investor Conference on Thursday May 30, 2013 at The Pfister ... The format of the conference includes a ...
Breaking Biology Technology:See What’s in Earth’s Future ? and Out in Space Now ? at SPIE Optics and Photonics 2See What’s in Earth’s Future ? and Out in Space Now ? at SPIE Optics and Photonics 3See What’s in Earth’s Future ? and Out in Space Now ? at SPIE Optics and Photonics 4Steps for Getting Rid of Bed Bugs without Using Chemicals and Avoiding Them While Traveling Enumerated by My Cleaning Products in Its Latest Post 2Steps for Getting Rid of Bed Bugs without Using Chemicals and Avoiding Them While Traveling Enumerated by My Cleaning Products in Its Latest Post 3InspireMD To Participate In Benchmark Investor Conference On May 30th 2InspireMD To Participate In Benchmark Investor Conference On May 30th 3InspireMD To Participate In Benchmark Investor Conference On May 30th 4
... N.J., Feb. 5 Genta,Incorporated (Nasdaq: GNTA ) ... Dr. Raymond P. Warrell, Jr., will provide a,company overview ... &,Investor Conference. The presentation is scheduled for Wednesday, February,13th ... New York, NY., About Genta, Genta Incorporated ...
... LOUISVILLE, Colo., Feb. 5 Replidyne, Inc.,(Nasdaq: RDYN ) ... February 26, 2008 at 4:45 P.M. ET to report 2007 ... upcoming,investor conference in February 2008., Earnings conference call ... President and CEO, and other members of Replidyne,s ...
... Mass., Feb. 5 Echo Therapeutics,Inc. (OTC Bulletin ... announced today that Patrick T. Mooney, M.D, Chairman,and ... Small-Cap Investor,Conference on February 7, 2008 at 3:50 ... The conference will be held at the Four ...
Cached Biology Technology:Genta Incorporated to Present at the BIO CEO & Investor Conference 2Genta Incorporated to Present at the BIO CEO & Investor Conference 3Replidyne to Report 2007 Fourth Quarter and Year-End Earnings 2Replidyne to Report 2007 Fourth Quarter and Year-End Earnings 3Echo Therapeutics to Present at RedChip Small-Cap Investor Conference 2
... optically clear polystyrene formulation , High antibody-binding ... , Plates are certified for performance ... , Eight-well strips fit snugly in ... in use even if turned upside down ...
...
... an aqueous solution that contains a purified ... in a saline solution, pH 6.5 ... methylisothiazolone and 0.02% bromonitrodioxane as a preservative. ... and stabilizer for biologically active components in ...
... StabilGuard Biomolecule Stabilizer is a bovine protein-free ... is an aqueous solution that contains non-toxic ... saline), pH 6.6 - 7.2, and does ... maintains the activity of antibodies and other ...
Biology Products: