Two new UCSF studies reveal how the brain learns to divide sentences into words. Scientists have thought that when we hear language, the brain processes it the same way, whether it's familiar or foreign. A new study reveals that exposure to a language changes how certain clusters of neurons respond to the familiar sounds. From those changes, we develop the understanding of syllables, words, and syntax.
Scanning the brains of children with sensory processing disorder, scientists see in some a struggle to gain self-control and minimize outside stimulation. New research shows how brain networks differ in neurodiverse children who are and aren't resilient in the face of sensory overload.
New testing in maternal hyperoxia — giving extra oxygen to pregnant people — shows that prenatal interventions might yield better outcomes for babies with congenital heart disease.
Neurologist Dr. Ptacek explains how "falling back" disrupts the 24-hour circadian clock, affecting mood and performance, with mitigation tips.
Martin Kampmann’s work, supported by the National Institutes of Science (NIH), maps cellular “decision points” that determine whether brain cells survive or die, laying the groundwork for treatments that intervene before irreversible brain damage occurs from dementia.
UCSF radiation oncologist David Raleigh, MD, PhD, studies the link between brain tumors and injectable birth control.
Chronic pain reroutes circuits in our nerves to the spinal cord and the brain. Understanding how this happens could help us reverse it. UCSF neurologist Dr. Shirvalkar studies nerve-to-brain connections to find new ways to treat chronic back pain.
Vikram Rao, director of the UCSF Epilepsy Center, discusses why a third of seizure patients don’t respond to medication and the promising new surgical and technological treatments available.
UCSF scientists discovered that an overlooked cell type in the brain plays a central role in healing traumatic brain injury. Understanding how it does this will lead to treatments for injuries that currently have only minimal interventions.
From curing Alzheimer’s to preventing cancer and pneumonia, UCSF postdoctoral scholars tackle complex medical conditions at annual Postdoc Slam competition. A TED Talk-style presentation on the effects of tangled DNA strands took first place at this year's Postdoc Slam competition, which is held in celebration of National Postdoc Appreciation Week.