Neuroscience Research Titbits -- 210530

A new digital app has shown to be successful in detecting one key symptom associated with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) in young children. The appk, which combines gaze tracking computer vision and machine learning to determine whether the child was looking more often at the human in the video, or objects, could be an inexpensive new tool to help with the diagnosis of autism. -- Source: Duke University

Going to sleep and waking one hour earlier than usual was associated with a 23% decreased risk of developing depressive disorders. -- Source: University of Colorado

Intermittent fasting improves long-term memory retention and promotes hippocampal neurogenesis. The findings could help to slow cognitive decline in older adults. -- Source: King’s College London

Research has found a link between depressive symptoms and rapid kidney function decline in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). -- Source: American Society of Nephrology

Physical intervention plans that included exoskeleton-assisted walking may help people with spinal cord injury evacuate more efficiently and improved the consistency of their stool thereby improve the bowel function. -- Source: Kessler Foundation

Simple dietary changes and adopting lifestyle alterations, including improved sleep schedules, taking probiotics, and exercising, can reduce signs of biological aging by three years in just eight weeks, a new study reports. -- Source: Impact Journals

People with myopia (near-sightedness) more likely to experience poorer sleep quality than people with normal vision. -- Source: Flinders University

Functional connectivity was reduced within and between several brain networks resulting in poor cognitive and mental health issues in children raised in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Researchers say a positive home and school environment can mitigate some of the effects. -- Source: Elsevier

Applying AI technology, researchers teach a robot to make appropriate reactive human facial expressions. Scientists say this could help build trust between humans and the humanoid robots they interact with  in locations from nursing homes to warehouses and factories. -- Source: Columbia University

A new deep learning algorithm is superior to human experts in distinguishing between retinal ganglion cells in healthy patients and in those with glaucoma. The AI system could potentially help improve the diagnosis of both eye and brain diseases.-- Source: Duke University

Researchers are raising their concerns about AI biases associated with medical devices and algorithms used to analyze health risks. If left unchecked, they say, the technologies could continue to perpetuate sex, gender, and race biases that could exacerbate health care disparities.-- Source: Stanford

A new brain-computer interface could help thousands of people with neurodegenerative disorders and spinal cord injuries the ability to regain communication skills. The BCI, in combination with a machine learning algorithm, can generate words on a screen, based on a person thinking about writing the word.-- Source: NIH

Combining brain imaging data with machine learning, researchers make new discoveries about how the brain controls the hand. The findings could lead to the development of more advanced neuroprosthetics.-- Source: University of East Anglia

A newly developed artificial intelligence algorithm can accurately detect sarcasm in comments written on social media platforms. -- Source: University of Central Florida

Using naturalistic driving data and machine learning techniques, researchers have developed highly accurate algorithms for detecting mild cognitive impairment and dementia in older drivers. -- Source: Columbia University