Autonomic nervous system is key driver of global fMRI signal, study finds

The activity of the human brain is known to be closely connected to other physiological signals, such as heart rate and breathing. A study by researchers at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and other institutes reveals that a global spatiotemporal pattern in the brain (i.e. a pattern in brain activity that repeats itself across the brain and over time) is a central component of these brain-body interactions.

Algorithm streamlines vascular system design for 3D printed hearts

There are more than 100,000 people on organ transplant lists in the U.S., some of whom will wait years to receive one—and some may not survive the wait. Even with a good match, there is a chance that a person’s body will reject the organ. To shorten waiting periods and reduce the possibility of rejection, researchers in regenerative medicine are developing methods to use a patient’s own cells to fabricate personalized hearts, kidneys, livers, and other organs on demand.