Latest news with #brain
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Robert Boyle summer school to explore the human brain and intersection with creativity
The Robert Boyle Summer School returns from June 5th to 8th with an invitation to science enthusiasts, curious minds and culture lovers alike to explore the brain; it's the most complex and wonderful instrument known in the universe and every human has one. Celebrated as a science festival for everyone, not just scientists, the 13th summer school blends thought-provoking talks with cultural activities in Waterford City and Lismore, including a garden party in the magnificent surroundings of Lismore Castle, the birthplace in 1627 of Boyle, one of the founders of modern science. 'Building on the success of January's winter school at the RDS, this year's programme features a stellar line-up of leading thinkers from neuroscience, psychology, psychiatry and the arts promising a weekend of inspiring dialogue, discovery and connection,' said festival director Dr Eoin Gill of Calmast in the South East Technological University (SETU). One of the world's foremost experts on neuroscience and behaviour, Prof Ray Dolan of University College London, will reflect on the late Irish neuroscientist Eleanor Maguire 's groundbreaking study of London taxi drivers. Her research famously showed that navigation experience physically reshapes the adult brain – a landmark finding in neuroscience. READ MORE Prof Colin Doherty, a consultant neurologist at St James's Hospital and head of TCD School of Medicine, will explore 'the neurobiology of drawing'; blending his expertise in neurology and his lifelong passion for art to reveal how the brain processes creativity and expression. Prof Luke Gibbons of Maynooth University will investigate how critical responses to Darwin were shaped by cultural as well as religious and scientific factors. This will include Irish responses, notably in James Joyce's Ulysses and related 'Celtic' interventions, which emphasised co-operation rather than competition as driving forces in evolution. The Science of the Superhuman will be presented by Dr David Delany of SETU, unveiling a radical new theory of intelligence and how we might train ourselves to unlock extraordinary cognitive potential. Clinical psychiatrist Prof Veronica O'Keane will explore the neuroscience of human memory and conscious experience, while Dr Nora Salaberry of Calmast will host an interactive session on perception, offering an interesting insight into how our brains interpret the world. SETU president Prof Veronica Campbell will open the academic sessions on June 6th. She has had a distinguished career in neuropharmacology. In 1998, she joined TCD, where, in addition to working in cell biology, pharmacology and tissue engineering, she was inaugural chair of its Global Brain Health Institute. Booking and further information is at
News.com.au
24-05-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
The truth about how hidden sugar is damaging your health
COMMENT Ah sugar, we all love it! It enhances flavour in sauces, adds texture to biscuits, and creates that golden caramelisation in cakes. But while sugar makes food more enjoyable, excess consumption can have serious health consequences - and many of us are unknowingly eating far more than we realise. How does sugar affect our health? It was once thought that the only concern with eating too much sugar was cavities or that it might crowd out healthier foods. However, recent research suggests that sugar's effects on the body go far beyond this. Sugar and the brain Research has discovered that regular sugar consumption can rewire the brain, altering memory, impulse control, and emotional regulation. • Cognitive function: Consumption of high sugar diets can lead to increased neuroinflammation, which is linked to memory deficits. High-sugar diets interfere with the brain's ability to form new connections, making it harder to learn, retain information, and adapt to new information. • Mood and mental health: Sugar disrupts dopamine signalling, altering the brain's reward system and making cravings harder to resist. It also interferes with m ood regulation and emotional stability, increasing the risk of depression, stress-related eating, and mood swings. Over time, these brain chemistry changes weaken emotional control, fuelling cravings for ultra-processed foods. But sugar doesn't just impact the brain - it also has profound effects on the body's metabolism. Sugar and metabolic health Excess sugar disrupts metabolic health, increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic inflammation. High added sugar intake raises blood pressure, promotes insulin resistance, and has been linked to poorer heart health and a higher risk of cardiovascular complications. Beyond metabolic health, some research suggests that excessive sugar intake may also create conditions that promote cancer growth. But does sugar feed cancer? There is a common misconception that eating sugar directly feeds cancer cells. In reality, all carbohydrates - whether from table sugar, oats, or vegetables - are broken down into glucose, which the body uses for energy. The body doesn't distinguish between glucose from a spoonful of sugar and glucose from a bowl of oats. However, some research suggests excessive sugar consumption may increase cancer risk indirectly by: • Raising blood sugar and insulin levels - Chronically high blood sugar stimulates the release of insulin and growth hormones, which promote cell growth, including in damaged or pre-cancerous cells. • Increasing oxidative stress - High sugar intake triggers oxidation, leading to DNA damage and inflammation, both of which can contribute to cancer development. • Fuelling metabolic shifts - Some research suggests high-sugar diets may accelerate cancer development by altering how cells use energy, enhancing growth signalling pathways, and suppressing immune defences. How much sugar is too much? The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends limiting added sugar to 50g per day (about 12 teaspoons) but for optimal health the target is even lower - 25g per day (about 6 teaspoons). However, it's important to note that these guidelines apply only to added sugars. Not all sugars are created equal. Naturally occurring sugars - like those in fruit, vegetables and dairy - contain fibre, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytonutrients that help regulate blood sugar levels and protect against oxidative stress. In contrast, added sugars, commonly found in ultra-processed foods, are added during manufacturing and they are the ones linked with adverse health outcomes. But how do you know if you're exceeding these limits? The answer lies in reading food labels - but manufacturers don't always make it easy. Manufacturers use clever tricks to disguise just how much sugar is in a product. From misleading serving sizes to hiding sugar under multiple names, food labels aren't always as straightforward as they seem. Here's how to spot the deception and make smarter choices: • Check the 'per 100g' column Companies set their own serving sizes, which can make a product appear lower in sugar than it really is. I mean, who really stops at just one Tim Tam when the serving size is listed as a single biscuit? To compare products fairly, always look at the 'sugar per 100g' column. Aim for products with less than 10g of sugar per 100g. Even better look for the 'low sugar' claim on the label as, by law, it must contain less than 5g per 100g. But be wary - products labelled 'low sugar' may contain artificial sweeteners, some of which are controversial and may have unwanted health effects. * Note for drinks, many contain less than 10g of sugar per 100g, however, their large serving sizes mean you may be consuming much more sugar than expected. • Watch out for multiple sugars in the ingredients list Ingredients are listed by weight, meaning the first few items make up most of the product. To avoid listing sugar as the first ingredient, companies add multiple types of sugar under different names - making it seem like there's less sugar than there actually is. • Common hidden sugar names High-fructose corn syrup, rice malt syrup, golden syrup, coconut nectar syrup, agave syrup, date syrup, honey, molasses, cane sugar, coconut sugar, palm sugar, brown sugar, raw sugar, demerara sugar, beet sugar, dextrose, maltose, fructose, sucrose, glucose. • Added vs. naturally occurring sugar Australia does not require food labels to distinguish between naturally occurring and added sugars on labels. This means you will have to read the ingredient list to work it out. If sugar (or one of its many names) is listed, it has been added during processing. • Be wary of deceptive marketing Manufacturers use misleading labels like 'reduced sugar' to make products seem healthier than they really are. Take MasterFoods Reduced Salt & Sugar Barbecue Sauce as an example. While the label suggests a healthier choice, it still contains a whopping 29.4g of sugar per 100g - almost 30 per cent sugar by weight! 18 surprisingly sweet foods A recent supermarket audit revealed just how easy it is to exceed the daily recommended sugar intake - without even reaching the dessert aisle. From sports drinks and protein bars to sauces and cereals, sugar is often hidden making it difficult to spot. The following 18 major offenders highlight some of the biggest sources of sneaky added sugars lurking in supermarket aisles along with better lower-sugar options that are readily available. The bottom line: Small changes, big impact Excess sugar hides in foods we least expect. Cutting back may seem overwhelming, but small swaps can make a big difference. Learning to read labels, spot hidden sugars, and choose smarter alternatives puts you in control. You don't need to eliminate sugar entirely - just being more mindful helps reduce intake without sacrificing taste.
Forbes
19-05-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Music Triggers Rhythm And Reward Signals In The Brain
In two separate studies, researchers learned more about the way that our brains respond to music. One study found that brain neurons synchronize with musical rhythms, while the other showed how favorite music triggers a chemical pleasure signal in the brain. Brain regions where favorite music affected opioid release. In the first study, researchers in Finland studied what happens in the brain when people hear their favorite music. They asked fifteen volunteers to listen to their music of choice while they had their brain scanned with positron emission tomography (PET). WIth this method, the researchers could study how opioids were released in the brain in response to the music. As the name suggests, the opioid signalling pathway in the brain is responsible for how opioids, like certain painkillers, act on the brain. Besides numbing pain, opioids are also mood-altering. It's what makes opioid drugs so addictive, but opioids aren't just found in drugs. They also naturally occur in the brain, and internal signals in the body can release opioids. This is what seems to be happening when we listen to our favorite music, according to this new study. It could also partly be responsible for why we feel happy chills when music really moves us. 'These results show for the first time directly that listening to music activates the brain's opioid system. The release of opioids explains why music can produce such strong feelings of pleasure, even though it is not a primary reward necessary for survival or reproduction, like food or sexual pleasure,' Vesa Putkinen, who carried out this study, told the University of Turku. Because the opioid signalling pathway is also involved in pain relief, this could explain why some people have noticed that music also helps to reduce pain. In the second study, a different group of researchers combed through existing research papers about the neuroscience of music. They noticed that several of these older studies support the idea that the brain's natural rhythm is closely linked to our experience of music. Music has a rhythm, but our bodies also experience a natural rhythm of their own. Brainwaves, or neural oscillations, are regular patterns created by firing neurons or groups of neurons. Some researchers have suspected for a while that these rhythms can synchronize with the rhythm of music. In this new study, researchers collected some of that evidence to further support this idea. 'This theory suggests that music is powerful not just because we hear it, but because our brains and bodies become it,' study author Caroline Palmer told McGill University. 'That has big implications for therapy, education and technology.' Together, these two studies reveal that music affects our brains in a number of different ways. If listening to music has such an effect on the brain's rhythm and reward systems, this could support the use of music therapy. For some conditions, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, there already is a lot of evidence that music therapy works, but these new studies could help open the door to even more music therapy opportunities.
Arab News
13-05-2025
- Science
- Arab News
Book Review: ‘The Brain' by Alison George
Imagine having a manual for the brain, the remarkable, mysterious machine that powers thoughts, dreams, and creativity, and stands as the force behind human civilization, setting our species apart from all others on Earth. 'The Brain: Everything You Need to Know' by Alison George, published by New Scientist, breaks down consciousness, memory, intelligence, and even why we dream, in a way that is light and easy to follow. It avoids scientific jargon, making it a good choice for readers who are curious about the brain but don't want to get lost in technical details. Along the way, the book asks a fundamental question: How can we understand, and even improve, the way our minds function? The book argues that the brain is far more complex than we tend to assume. Many of its processes happen outside of conscious awareness, and even the ways we make decisions, form memories, or dream are shaped by forces we barely notice. Understanding the brain, the book suggests, requires accepting that much of what drives us happens invisibly. One chapter that stands out takes a closer look at the unconscious mind, described as the brain's 'unsung hero.' It's where habits live and decisions form long before they reach awareness. Everyday actions like walking, typing, or even choosing what to eat are often driven by this autopilot system. The book explores how deeply the unconscious shapes behavior, challenging the idea that we are always fully in control of our actions. Some of the chapters are short and punchy, which keeps the pace moving, but this also means the book doesn't spend enough time exploring some of the topics. It can feel more like an introduction to neuroscience than a true exploration of it. For readers seeking a light, engaging overview of the mind's mysteries, this approach may work well. Those hoping for deeper engagement, however, might be left wanting more.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Sleep Helps Your Brain Prepare For The Future, And Now We Know How
Not only must your brain maintain a vast archive of existing memories, but it also has to keep track of new stuff each day. That requires getting ready to deal with new memories before they occur, even while processing old ones. It's well-known that sleep is important for memory and learning, among other things, but we're still figuring out many of the precise mechanisms involved. Traditionally, it's seen as a backwards-facing process: We experience something, the memory of it is then processed and preserved during subsequent nights of sleep, and we can recall it at will later. According to a new study, however, sleep seems to help us process not just past memories, but also future ones. In addition to consolidating and conserving memories while we sleep, the study suggests our brains are also actively preparing us to record upcoming events. Memory is a broad, multifaceted phenomenon that helps make us who we are, and from our subjective perspective it can seem almost magical, somehow beyond discrete components. It's not, though. At a cellular level, groups of specialized neurons known as engram cells physically encode our life experiences in a format we can recall later. Previous research has made it clear sleep is crucial for this process to work properly, but many physiological details remain unclear. On top of merely storing memories, our brains also perform incredible feats of processing and organization, much of which occurs during mental downtime. For the new study, researchers in Japan sought to learn more about the role sleep plays in memory processing, including the preparation for memorable experiences that haven't happened yet. The authors used an imaging system for freely moving mice that can reveal both engram and non-engram cells across the stages of memory processing. They were able to track neuronal activity before, during, and after memorable events the mice experienced. This shed new light on the behavior of specific neuron populations under various cognitive conditions, including while mice slept both before and after learning experiences. The results highlighted two parallel processes unfolding in post-learning slumber. First, engram cells that initially encoded a memory showed predictable reactivation patterns, part of the brain's well-documented procedure for consolidating memories during sleep. The study also revealed another interesting population of neurons, which weren't yet associated with specific memories. These "engram-to-be cells," as the researchers call them, grew increasingly synchronized as mice slept after learning. Later, the same neuron groups went on to encode new, different memories. "Engram-to-be cells exhibited increased coactivity with existing engram cells during sleep, suggesting that this interaction helps shape new memory networks," says co-author Kaoru Inokuchi, a professor of biochemistry at the University of Toyama in Japan. The researchers also developed a neural network model to simulate activity in the hippocampus, hoping to further illuminate the underlying mechanics. The model pointed to synaptic depression and scaling, phenomena known to modify neuronal connections during sleep, as likely important for organizing these engram-to-be cells – a service that dwindled in the model when those mechanisms were disabled. Engram and engram-to-be cells showed intriguing co-activation in post-learning sleep, the study found, hinting at some coordination or even data transfer between the neural networks for past and upcoming memories. This suggests sleep quality between learning events may influence not only our retention of what we've learned so far, but also how well we'll retain new information in the near future. While more research is needed, this could be valuable insight for education and treatment of memory disorders, and it could help uncover novel ways to help people maximize their cognitive performance. "We believe that manipulating brain activity during sleep or sleep patterns may uncover methods to enhance memory by unlocking the brain's latent potential," Inokuchi says. Above all, however, these findings add to the mountain of existing evidence that we should all take sleep seriously. "We want people to understand that sleep is not just about rest – it plays a crucial role in how the brain processes information," Inokuchi says. "With that in mind, we hope everyone will begin to value sleep more and use it as a way to improve their overall quality of life." The study was published in Nature Communications. Your Fridge May Be an Incubator For Bacteria – Here's How to Prevent It New Study Reveals an Easier Alternative to Intermittent Fasting Drinking And Insomnia Often Go Together, And This Could Be Why
