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Headlines 19 From deciphering the pictures people see in their mind when they imagine something, to identifying specific genes that could play important roles in schizophrenia, neuroscientists around the world have been busy expanding our collective knowledge of the human brain. While the Neurological Foundation doesn’t contribute funding to these projects, we hope you enjoy reading about these interesting advances we are following overseas: India Researchers at JamiaMillia Islamia’s Multidisciplinary Centre for Advanced Research andStudies (MCARS) have developed an optogenetic tool that has the potential to be used to understand neurological disorders likeAlzheimer’s disease, depression, and schizophrenia. Optogenetics is the use of light and genetic engineering to control neurons. “Understanding themolecular details of these diseaseswill help to develop targeted therapies, in particular viral andmRNA-basedmethods, which are specific to a particular targetmolecule in the cells,” Assistant Professor Tanveer Ahmad fromMCARS said. Australia A study at the University of Queensland has found that hereditary factors are partly responsible for childhood anxiety and depression that persists into adulthood. This study, the largest of its kind in theworld, analysed the genetics of 64,641 children, aged between 3 and 18 years. “These findings are important because they help identify peoplemost at risk of symptoms continuing across the lifespan, so intense treatment can be providedwhere needed,” said Professor Christel M. Middeldorp from the Child Health Research Centre, University of Queensland. Japan Researchers fromOsaka University have figured out a way to decipher the pictures people see in their mind when they imagine something. This has been done using electrocorticogram technology to capture brain wave patterns. The technology could potentially be used to develop a communication device for severely paralysed patients, the researchers said, such as sufferers of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). References neurological.org.nz/aroundtheglobe