Greater widespread functional connectivity of the caudate in older adults who practice kripalu yoga and vipassana meditation than in controls.

There has been a growing interest in understanding how contemplative practices affect brain functional organization. However, most studies have restricted their exploration to predefined networks. Furthermore, scientific comparisons of different contemplative traditions are largely lacking.

Fluid intelligence and brain functional organization in aging yoga and meditation practitioners.

Numerous studies have documented the normal age-related decline of neural structure, function, and cognitive performance. Preliminary evidence suggests that meditation may reduce decline in specific cognitive domains and in brain structure. Here we extended this research by investigating the relation between age and fluid intelligence and resting state brain functional network architecture using graph theory, in middle-aged yoga and meditation practitioners, and matched controls.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 induces filopodia in differentiated P19 neural cells to facilitate viral spread.

Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) is a neurotropic virus with significant potential as a viral vector for central nervous system (CNS) gene therapy. This study provides visual evidence that recombinant green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing HSV-1 travel down dendrites in differentiated P19 neuronal-like cells to efficiently reach the soma. The virus also promotes cytoskeletal rearrangements which facilitate viral spread in vitro, including often dramatic increases in dendritic filopodia.