The power of music to evoke strong emotions is known to anyone who hears it – but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Using sound manipulation tools that could elicit emotional responses, the EU-funded CREAM project has yielded insights into the brain. The work is also already inspiring novel clinical applications, from diagnosing speech problems to assessing brain surgery patients.
The answer to treating neurological disorders could be tucked away in our head. That’s why the EU-funded TwinBrain project developed novel technology to monitor a patient’s brain activity while they move around their environment. Not only does this advance our understanding of brain function, it could open the door to treating neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s.
Mental health issues, many of which are stress-induced, are a significant healthcare challenge. The EU-funded STRESNET project developed techniques to help patients reduce the impact of stress-related memories. The work could lead to preventive interventions that increase our resilience to stress, reducing the burden of mental illness and disease.
Synaesthesia, a neurological condition associated with anxiety disorders and autism, is difficult to identify in children. The EU-funded SYN-TOOLKIT project developed a new method to gather evidence of this perceptual phenomenon. The research has led to the development of a diagnostic smartphone app that could help these individuals access support.
While the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease continues to grow at an alarming rate, advances in treatment and prevention have stalled. The EU-industry funded ADAPTED project worked to better understand how the presence of a specific gene significantly increases the risk of disease. This research could open the door to new treatment for patients.
Understanding how the brain regulates bodily functions is critical for tackling metabolic disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. The EU-funded WATCH project is shedding light on the molecular mechanisms that underpin this process. The work supports novel therapies that could benefit citizens affected by Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and COVID-19.
Millions of people suffer from brain diseases. To better understand what happens in the brains of these patients, the EU-funded RobustSynapses project focused on synapses, where many brain conditions often first develop. By identifying key things that can go wrong, the project team has opened the door to potential new targets for life-saving treatments that would benefit everyone.
Probiotics are used by many citizens as a means to preserve or restore the 'good' bacteria in the gut. The EU-funded MetaBiota project has gone one step further by demonstrating how these beneficial bacteria - the microbiota - also have a positive impact on helping stroke patients make a better recovery. This could open the door to a number of new and exciting treatment options.
Your father's exercise routine may have made you smarter according to EU-funded researchers studying how lifestyle choices affect brain function and memory. The findings could lead to new treatments for neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.
Although being stuck in a brain scanner while being exposed to a horror film may not be everyone's idea of fun, monitoring volunteers' grey cells throughout this process can tell scientists a lot. EU-funded research using this and other memorable techniques has generated new knowledge on the way we process and transmit social information.
