Nathan E Botts / Friday, December 21, 2018 / Categories: Mental Health Discover NIMH: Delivering Hope Through Research Discover NIMH: Delivering Hope Through ResearchMany important medical advances trace back to basic research. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) funds hundreds of projects focused on discovering how the brain works and how it develops. The path to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for mental disorders starts with basic science. Watch the following NIMH researchers describe their work in basic research: “Observing Neurons in Action” (1:00) – Dr. Mario Penzo gives examples of novel technologies, like optogenetics, which allows scientists to modulate the activity of neurons. This technique has created a revolution in neuroscience. “Exploring the Coordinating Role of the Thalmus” (1:32) – Dr. Susan Koester compares the function of the thalamus—a small structure in the center of the brain that is involved in relaying information from our bodies to the cerebral cortex—to the role of an orchestra conductor who keeps brain signals in tune and in time with one another. “Uncovering Biological Markers for Autism” (2:04) – Dr. Linda Brady describes one project which aims to find biological markers that can help us understand autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Researchers are hopeful that these biological markers will help them find out what interventions for ASD are effective. “Revealing the Role and Impact of Light on the Brain (2:34) – Dr. Samar Hattar notes that the most surprising thing that he discovered in his research is how effective light is in influencing not only what we see, but also how it affects our behaviors like sleep, mood, learning, and memory. For more information, visit www.nimh.nih.gov. o YouTube link: https://youtu.be/9QexrqfcFN0Link to original article Previous Article Discover NIMH: Hope Through Early Prevention and Intervention Next Article Discover NIMH: Diagnosis and Treatment in Children and Adolescents Print 389 Rate this article: No rating 0Upvote 0Downvote Leave a comment Name: Please enter a name. Email: Please enter an email address. Please enter a valid email address. Comment: Please enter comment. Add comment