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When a person's hearing and vision are uncompromised and function at a relatively high level, the human brain is able to take in various sights and sounds from any environment and seamlessly allow said person to perceive what's happening around them. But how does it work? Spoiler alert: There's more than meets the eye.

A new study led by Western researchers is the first to identify a factor that could influence how fast the pocket where human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) hides dormant inside of cells shrinks when treated. HIV is difficult to cure, partly due to the virus' ability to create a "latent reservoir" - where it hides dormant inside of cells, safe from detection.

In a new study, Western researchers have shown just one 20-minute session of moderate intensity aerobic exercise can improve an athlete's executive function and concussion symptoms in the early stages of recovery. Executive function is essential for everyday tasks, from remembering a grocery list to making strategic decisions in sports.

In an international effort, researchers at Western, the University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD) and Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) uncovered how specific patterns in brain activity can predict an individual's sensitivity to pain, expanding opportunities for improved pain management strategies.

A new study led by Western researchers found frequent treatment with intranasal oxytocin - a hormone in the brain associated with empathy - offers promise for addressing a key symptom among patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD): Apathy. It's a common issue among those with FTD which affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, impacting language, behaviour and decision making.

Western researchers have developed a novel technique using math to understand exactly how neural networks make decisions - a widely recognized but poorly understood process in the field of machine learning. Many of today's technologies, from digital assistants like Siri and ChatGPT to medical imaging and self-driving cars, are powered by machine learning.

When Bloomingdale's opened its first "Bloomie's- store in 2021, it seemed like a natural evolution. After all, loyal customers had affectionately used the nickname for years. But new research suggests this marketing strategy - known as nickname branding - might actually harm brand performance and customer perception.

Many people could greatly improve their odds against developing dementia by making four, low-cost lifestyle changes, Western researchers have discovered. In the first study of its kind , researchers at Lawson Research Institute (Lawson) and Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry found about half of dementia cases in Canada can be influenced by 12 lifestyle factors.

Remarkable encounter during 2022 Niagara fireball event leads to discovery of tiniest asteroid known In an international study led by Western University and Lowell Observatory , scientists describe a pioneering, integrative approach for studying near-Earth asteroids based largely on a November 2022 fireball event that dropped meteorites in the Niagara region.

First-of-its-kind Canadian study found 10 Ontario children died of an opioid-related cause between 2017 and 2021 A new study from Western researchers in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario highlights the scope of opioid-related deaths in young children in Ontario, while providing a clearer picture of the risk factors.

Western researchers are taking a unique global approach to finding an effective treatment for people living with long COVID. Led by Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry professor Douglas Fraser, the projects represent the first multi-continental research conducted on long COVID, with study sites in Africa and North and South Americas.

A new study has found that 29 per cent of people in Ontario who undergo a surgical procedure called endometrial ablation will have a subsequent hysterectomy to remove the entire uterus within 15 years. Researchers from the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, known as ICES, Western's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry and Lawson Health Research Institute examined 76,446 patients who were followed for 15 years, addressing the question of surgical interventions after a first endometrial ablation (EA).

Nestled in the Uinta Mountains of northern Utah, a series of pristine lakes are facing a new threat - humans. Geography professor and chair Katrina Moser led a team of researchers in the region this summer to better understand how human activity, like agriculture and warming temperatures because of climate change, is leading to dramatic changes in a water system far from populous areas.

A Western study could help farmers get out of a potential jam by using artificial intelligence (AI) and passive camera monitoring to enhance strawberry cultivation. In a paper published in the international journal Foods , Western engineers describe a new machine-learning approach that yields the highest-ever precision and accuracy rates for ripeness and disease detection in strawberries of any previous attempts.

While there is no denying 'survival of the fittest' still reigns supreme in the animal kingdom, a new study shows being smartest - or at least smarter - is pretty important, too. Western animal behaviour and cognition researcher Carrie Branch and her collaborators at University of Oklahoma and University of Nevada, Reno tracked the spatial cognition and lifespan of 227 mountain chickadees for more than a decade.

Western researchers have discovered a protein with the never-before-seen ability to stop DNA damage in its tracks. The finding could provide the foundation for developing everything from vaccines against cancer to crops that can withstand the increasingly harsh growing conditions brought on by climate change.

An international research team has identified the specific origins of most of the Martian meteorites that are now on Earth. They've traced the meteorites to five craters where they were launched off Mars after impact. The craters are located within two volcanic regions on the red planet called Tharsis (the region containing Olympus Mons, the largest shield volcano in the solar system) and Elysium.

For symptoms like a runny nose and a cough, some might think it's a common cold. It doesn't warrant a doctor's visit, so they turn to Google and WebMD for additional reassurance. Now, with advancements in AI, some might be tempted to switch from "Dr. Google" to "Dr. ChatGPT," but can OpenAI's AI-powered chatbot provide accurate medical advice? Researchers from Western University set out to answer that question and explore whether ChatGPT is capable of becoming a reliable resource in health care and medical education.

At the back of Ingersoll Rural Cemetery sits a grassy field about the size of a soccer pitch. On first glance, it is unremarkable; dappled in sunlight through the towering adjacent trees and filled with the sound of a train hammering by on the nearby tracks. Although it is surrounded by rows and rows of headstones, this field sits empty, except for three faded grave markers.

Study shows compound can mitigate depression, anxiety and 'amotivational syndrome' from chronic cannabis use Researchers at Western have found an over-the-counter natural health product may help counteract the negative effects of heavy cannabis use among adolescents aged 12 to 17, including depression, anxiety and diminished motivation in adulthood.