Survivors of a recent earthquake who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have greater cortical thickness and reduced volume in specific regions of their brains when compared to other survivors with no reported symptoms, according to results of a study published online March 1 in the journal Radiology.

Warning labels on cigarette packaging featuring graphic images have a significant impact on the brains of young adult smokers, particularly in neural regions responsible for emotion, memory and decision-making, according to results of study published on in the journal Addictive Behavior Reports.

A new review of the literature suggests that a breakdown in the integrity of the locus coeruleus (LC), the small region of the brain that releases the key neurotransmitter norepinephrine (NE), may figure more prominently in late-onset Alzheimer’s than previously suspected.  

Despite recent research and positive historical trends signaling an overall decline in instances of dementia in certain populations, persistence is needed to ensure that progress against the disease does not reverse course, according to a historical perspective published online Feb. 11 by the New England Journal of Medicine.

Some people think they’re always right. Others seem to find themselves on the wrong side of every argument. But neuroscientists have discovered that some people simply agree with others to avoid the mental stress of an ongoing disagreement.

New research suggests that fMRI may have a role to play in evaluating the effectiveness of potential new painkillers and could allow “more effective and safer pain medications to reach patients who suffer from chronic pain sooner,” according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists.  

CHICAGO—This year’s winners of the Alexander R. Margulis Award for Scientific Excellence, presented annually by the RSNA to recognize the best scientific article published in Radiology, are Jeffry W. Prescott, MD, PhD, and his colleagues for their work investigating the brain’s structural connectome in the context of Alzheimer’s disease.

For some, happiness comes from time with family. Others look for happiness in their bank accounts or among material possessions. Researchers from Kyoto University, however, have taken a different tactic in the search for happiness, leveraging structural MRI to address the issue from a neurological perspective.