Annual Review 2012: Challenge 2 - Understanding the brain

We support research to improve understanding of how the brain functions and to find improved approaches for treating brain and mental health disorders.

In this year's ‘Annual Review’, you can read about basic research into deafness that was recognised with an international neuroscience prize, while a stem cell treatment restored hearing in gerbils, raising the prospect of a new therapy for some forms of human hearing loss. Other highlights include the hugely popular Brains exhibition at Wellcome Collection, research measuring the activity of thousands of zebrafish brain cells simultaneously, a study on the links between mental health and life expectancy, and a book about the deployment of the psychological sciences in World War II..

Further resources

Here are links to information relating to each of this year's 'Annual Review' stories in challenge 2:

Deafness (page 25)

• News: Sanger Institute researcher scoops the Brain Prize
• Sanger Institute: Professor Karen Steel
• The Brain Prize website
• News: Stem cell treatment restores hearing in deaf gerbils
• 2012 ‘Nature’ paper

Brains: The mind as matter (page 26)

• Press release: Brains: the mind as matter
• Wellcome Collection: Brains exhibition
• New Statesman: Much more than just grey matter
• Guardian: Mind as matter: the brain on display
• Play the ‘Axon’ game

High-resolution brain activity (page 27)

• Press release: Virtual reality allows researchers to measure brain activity during behaviour
• 2012 ‘Nature’ paper
• About Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowships

Mental health and life expectancy (page 27)

• Press release: Poor mental health linked to reduced life expectancy
• 2012 ‘BMJ’ paper
• Health Survey for England

Analysing the Nazi mind (page 27)

• Feature: Analysing the Nazi mind
• Birkbeck: Professor Daniel Pick

Image: Professor Karen Steel. Credit: Wellcome Images