Tübingen scientists have for the first time shown that widely-distributed networks of nerves in the brain can fundamentally reorganize as required.

Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics have for the first time show by experimental stimulation of nerve cells in the hippocampus, that the activity of large areas of the brain can be changed in the long term. Through a combination of functional magnetic resonance imaging with micro stimulation and electrophysiology were able to trace how large populations of nerve cells in the forebrain of rats remesh. This area of ​​the brain is active when we remember something or orient ourselves. The insights gained here represent the first experimental evidence that large parts of the brain change when learning processes take place. (Current Biology, 10. 2009 March)

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Take elderly patients antipsychotics, so increases their risk of suffering a stroke. Then, the German Stroke Society towards the occasion of a recent British study. Antipsychotics act, among other dampening effect on agitation, aggressive behavior and hallucinations. According to the study, the use is especially risky for people with dementia. Therefore, the German Stroke Society demands to reconsider the use of drugs in the elderly new.

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People who suffer from panic attacks and agoraphobia (agoraphobia) may be exempt with a special psychotherapy in a relatively short time of their suffering. This is evidenced by a Germany-wide study that will be completed these days. Also, the Institute of Psychology at the University of Greifswald was involved in the project. Here, the total 47 study participants were treated 360.

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From the rescue program for continuous alarm

Without the spontaneous stress reactions of our body - rapid heartbeat, increased breathing, tense muscles, high waking brain - we would realize some danger too late. A highly useful mechanism so. Our early ancestors responded rule with muscle work: fight or flight. Today's lifestyle but gives us hardly possible to counter the stress as prehistoric times with movement. "Thus has become a dangerous disease-causing From the life-saving emergency program," said Professor Christoph Bamberger, Director of Medical Prevention Centrum Hamburg, in the "Apothekenumschau".

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RWTH researchers involved in the study on the relationship between anxiety and Dopmanin

Coward or cool sock: How fearful or brave a person is depends, among other things, certain processes in the brain. An international team of scientists with the participation of Professor. Dr. med. Gerhard Gründer, head of the teaching and research area Experimental Neuropsychiatry RWTH was able to show for the first time that for anxious people a high concentration of dopamine in the amygdala present. This so-called amygdala is located in the temporal lobe below the cortex. Fueled or reduces the anxiety also is a more or less intensive exchange of this brain region to the anterior cingulate. The new basic research results, which were recently published in the prestigious specialist journal Nature Neuroscience, will help to develop new pharmacological and behavioral therapies for people with panic and other anxiety disorders.

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BMBF supports German-Canadian research project on ethical, socio-cultural and neuropsychiatric aspects of Cognitive Enhancement

The mental abilities of a person playing an increasingly important role in modern knowledge societies. Against this background, the opportunity is becoming increasingly interested in their own mental performance using psychotropic drugs or other methods over the normal level to increase. While neuroscience can always better explain how our brains work and also whether it statistically "normal" work. What causes such judgments, which is considered accurate than normal, and whether, or how closely an improvement with our values ​​and ethical ideas, examined a new research project at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. The project brings together research efforts in Philosophy, Psychiatry, Neuroscience and Medicine Ethics and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) of 2008 to 2011 500.000 with around EUR encouraged.

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