/neurosphere/taxonomy/term/7/all en /neurosphere/article/researcher-spotlight/cultivating-business-vitro <p>Neuroscientists use living organisms to simulate, or <i>model</i>, biological processes in the lab. These models allow them to gain insights into the underlying causes of neurological disease. These insights, in turn, inform both clinical studies and drug development. Sometimes animal models are used, but early research often begins by looking at cells grown outside a living organism in a test tube or dish. This method is known as research<i> in vitro</i>—Latin for “in glass.”</p> Wed, 18 Jan 2023 14:40:06 +0000 Dara O'Connor 672 at /neurosphere /neurosphere/article/digital-storytelling-and-video-game-based-interventions-mental-health-care-services-20 <p>Besides offering pure entertainment, video games can provide players with a sense of community and help them with stress management, all while improving skills such as communication, cognitive ability, hand-eye coordination, decision-making and team building.</p> <p>At the same time, video games have been shown to be useful in enhancing health outcomes, specifically with psychological therapy for children and teen.<a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title="" id="_ftnref1">[1]</a>.</p> Mon, 19 Dec 2022 14:30:04 +0000 Roberta Santangelo 670 at /neurosphere /neurosphere/article/researcher-spotlight/new-drug-offers-hope-treatment-anorexia <p>Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia affect up to 10% of the population and are very difficult to treat. Anorexia carries the highest mortality rate of all mental-health disorders, but unlike depression and other mental illnesses, there are currently no medications to treat eating disorders.</p> <p>New research from 91˿����Ƶ professor Salah El Mestikawy at The Douglas Research Centre may change all that.</p> Tue, 29 Nov 2022 18:34:19 +0000 Dara O'Connor 667 at /neurosphere /neurosphere/article/researcher-spotlight/success-story-nancy-mayo <p>The ability to walk easily contributes to quality of life and life expectancy. However, throughout their lifetime, everyone will experience difficulty moving due to illness, injury or aging. Being less active due to a limited ability to walk could contribute to cardiovascular disease and premature death. The senior population is particularly affected by limited mobility, as elderly people tend to develop a poor gait which results in difficulty walking.  </p> Fri, 26 Aug 2022 18:47:35 +0000 Sara Guiza 645 at /neurosphere /neurosphere/article/researcher-spotlight/relief-chronic-pain-patients <p>Around 20% of the world population suffers from chronic pain, and many people turn to opioids as their main source of relief.</p> <p>Opioids can be efficient painkillers but come with considerable downsides. Side-effects like nausea, difficulties breathing or drowsiness have more short-term health implications, while addiction based around the high the drug induces can lead to serious risks, including overdose. There is an urgent need to find new pharmaceutical solutions for chronic pain and tackle the opioid crisis―between 2016 and 2018, over 11,500 Canadians died from opioid use.</p> Thu, 11 Aug 2022 16:01:51 +0000 Sara Guiza 640 at /neurosphere