brain function Archives

Autoimmune encephalitis and psychiatric disorders

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Daniela Reisz studies the human mind from neurological, psychiatric, and philosophical perspectives, including brain-derived functions like morals, thinking, behaviour and cognition. Here, through the study of a rare case of autoimmune encephalitis, she develops a broader approach to psychiatric disorders including their biological causes.

Despite the latest advances in medical research, the causes of psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia (a long-term illness that affects the person’s perception of reality) remain a puzzle for researchers and doctors around the world. Unlocking the mechanisms behind these diseases is paramount for effectively treating or even preventing them. Through her study of an uncommon case of autoimmune encephalitis, […]

Brain Awareness Week 2022

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March 14 marks the start of Brain Awareness Week! Spearheaded by the Dana Foundation, the importance of brain research is catapulted onto the global platform between 14th–20th March 2022 – and cerebral successes in the field are celebrated. Research into the brain is vital for saving lives, increasing quality of life and explaining how ‘the little grey cells’ control our […]

The way we think is reflected in our brain activity

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People think and act differently. The ability to visualise things, to read newspapers upside down, to mentally rotate objects, to remember faces or phone numbers, or to perform any other daily task, differs from one person to another. Everyone is unique, and yet, despite these individual differences people interact, communicate and understand each other. Professor Kazuo Nishimura at Kobe University, […]

Viral encephalitis and virus-mediated memory disorders

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Prof Klein researches viral infections that target neurons.

Viral encephalitis is a debilitating consequence of viral infections: invasion of the brain by viruses causes an inflammation that, even months or years after recovery from the viral infection, can impair cognitive functions such as learning and memory. Prof Robyn S. Klein from Washington University School of Medicine has developed novel animal models and approaches to study virus-mediated memory disorders, […]