Category: Scientific Advances
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NIH Toolbox App Provides Access to Tests for Cognition, Motor, Sensation and Emotion
An iPad app developed by Northwestern Medicine investigators that helps measure specific aspects of cognitive, motor, sensory and emotional function in five minutes or less is now available for doctors to screen people ages 3 to 85+ for a wide range of neurological diseases and syndromes.
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Understanding the Role of Octopamine in Neurodegeneration
Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered how octopamine, the major “fight-or-flight” neurotransmitter in invertebrates, communicates with other cells to prevent cell death in mammalian brains, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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Graphene ‘Tattoo’ Treats Cardiac Arrhythmia With Light
Scientists led by Northwestern University and the University of Texas at Austin (UT) have developed the first cardiac implant made from graphene, a two-dimensional super material with ultra-strong, lightweight and conductive properties, described in a study published in Advanced Materials.
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Investigating Protein’s Role in Hearing Loss
The fast motor function of prestin, a protein found in the inner ear, is essential for mammalian hearing, according to a Northwestern Medicine study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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How ChatGPT Has, and Will Continue to, Transform Scientific Research
Northwestern experts weigh in on how ChatGPT has and will continue impact biomedical research, and how artificial intelligence can be used to support the advancement of science and medicine.
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Humans are Not Just Big Mice: Identifying Science’s Muscle-Scaling Problem
A new study is the first to show that extrapolating physiological findings from small animals can produce incorrect predictions in humans.
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Understanding How Exercise Induces Systemic Metabolic Benefits
Northwestern Medicine scientists have uncovered a mechanism by which exercise activates metabolic benefits in the body, according to a new study published in Cell Metabolism.
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Sex Differences in Neural Mechanisms of Decision-Making
Investigators have discovered novel neural mechanisms that influence sex differences in the motivation based on past experiences, according to findings published in Nature Neuroscience.
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First Wearable Device for Vocal Fatigue Senses When Your Voice Needs a Break
Scientists have developed the first wearable device to track how much people use their voices, alerting them to overuse before fatigue and potential injury set in.
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First COVID-19 Vaccination Can ‘Hurt’ Subsequent Boosters
A new Northwestern Medicine study shows antibodies generated by prior vaccinations or infections can actually “hurt” subsequent COVID-19 booster shots.
