Studies

Scientists observe decreased motor function in rodents exposed to microplastics

The latent circuit model identifies low-dimensional mechanisms of task execution from heterogenous neural responses. This approach reveals a latent inhibitory mechanism for context-dependent decisions in neural network models and the prefrontal cortex.

Dementia is a syndrome associated with an ongoing decline of the brain - and there are a number of early signs to look out for, including a peculiar fridge habit

Researchers at Stony Brook University used genetic manipulation in a laboratory brain model to demonstrate that neurosteroids, signals involved in mood regulation and stress, can reduce the sensitivity and preference for sweet tastes when elevated within the gustatory cortex—a region in the brain most involved with taste. Their findings are published in Current Biology.

New research provides direct evidence that the gut microbiome communicates with the brain through the vagus nerve.

A new study shows that the cerebral cortex acts as a "memory machine," constantly detecting novel stimuli to refine its predictions of the future.

A study links life-changing religious experiences, like being “born again,” with atrophy in the hippocampus

A new study reveals that older adults experience the least attention difficulties when home temperatures remain between 68–75 ˚F (20–24 ˚C).

Childhood stress may leave lasting marks on sperm, altering epigenetic profiles and potentially influencing brain development in offspring.

Publication of press release regarding Surgeon General’s Advisory on Alcohol and Cancer Risk

A psychological study has revealed that surveillance increases a person's subconscious awareness of being watched, which affects how the brain processes sensory information. The research demonstrated that participants could detect faces quicker under surveillance without being consciously aware o

A recent study explores how connections across the entire brain predict human intelligence, moving beyond traditional focus on specific brain areas like the prefrontal cortex.

Exercise can have benefits at the level of neurons, through chemical and mechanical effects, MIT researchers find. The discovery could inform exercise-related therapies for repairing damaged and deteriorating nerves.

Gen Z consumes more content than any other generation, according to recent research.

Researchers have developed a promising nasal spray therapy targeting neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease, potentially delaying its progression by over a decade.

Excessive stress during adolescence can cause alterations in the profile of genes expressed in the brain, especially those associated with bioenergy functions. These alterations may affect cell respiration, resulting in behavioral problems and psychiatric disorders in adulthood, according to a study in rats conducted by researchers at the University of São Paulo's Ribeirão Preto Medical School (FMRP-USP) in Brazil.

Using non-invasive techniques to manipulate our emotions, it might be possible to curtail the screaming horrors that plague our sleep. A study conducted on 36 patients diagnosed with a nightmare disorder showed that a combination of two simple therapies reduced the frequency of their bad dreams. Scientists invited the volunteers to rewrite their most frequent nightmares in a positive light and then played sound associated with positive experienc

Diet-related chronic diseases have reached a critical juncture in the U.S. Nearly half the population has prediabetes or diabetes. Over 40% are overweight or obese. One in nine people over the age of 65 has Alzheimer’s disease, the development of which researchers are exploring the potential role of diet. Poor diet is also linked to poor mental health, cardiovascular disease and cancer. It was responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths in the U.S. and...

Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, or neglect, either alone or combined with other types of childhood trauma, increases the risk of chronic pain and related disability in adulthood, according to new research.

Childhood trauma can raise the risk of developing major diseases later in life that vary based on a person's unique experiences and even their sex, new research concludes. Why it matters: Although it's widely understood that trauma early in life has biological and real-world health impacts, the findings shed light on how different life experiences can shape the way the body functions and make a person susceptible to chronic diseases....

Einstein had dyslexia. Hemmingway had it, too. It can affect people their whole lives. New findings may lead to a fresh approach to the learning difficulty.

A new study suggests that using marijuana before sleep has minimal if any effect on a range of performance measures the next day. These include simulated driving, cognitive and psychomotor function tasks, subjective effects and mood. The study involved 20 adults with physician-diagnosed insomnia who rarely used marijuana. “The results of this study indicate that a single oral dose of 10 mg THC (in combination with 200 mg CBD) does not notably impair ‘next day’ cognitive function or driving performance relative to placebo in adults with insomnia who infrequently use marijuana,” said the researchers at Macquarie University in Sydney, the University of Sydney, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, Gold Coast-based Griffith University and Johns Hopkins University. While cannabis is often used as a sleep aid and there are concerns about next-day impairment, particularly on safety sensitive tasks such as driving. However, the results showed no differences in 27 out of 28 cognitive and psychomotor function and simulated driving tests compared to the placebo. “Almost all of the cognitive tests conducted, involving attention, working memory, speed of information processing, and other domains, showed no ‘next day’ effects of THC/CBD,” the report says. Some cannabis users report feeling residual effects the next day, but a recent study found no evidence that marijuana causes a hangover. “Unlike long-acting sedatives and alcohol, cannabis was not associated with a ‘hangover’ effect, although individuals reported some lingering effects such as sleepiness and changes in mood,” a Washington State University study found.

Exposure to higher levels of light can help people feel more awake and increase cognitive performance, probably by influencing the activity of parts of a brain region called the hypothalamus, according to new research.

Researchers have made significant strides towards restoring brain function after someone has suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. The advancements came after Chinese scientists revived the brains of pigs that had gone without blood circulation for nearly an hour, and the secret to their success came from an unexpected source – the liver. Sudden cardia...

People with stronger autistic traits exhibit distinct and highly effective exploration patterns, according to a new study.

Imagine a busy restaurant: dishes clattering, music playing, people talking loudly over one another. It's a wonder that anyone in that kind of environment can focus enough to have a conversation. A new study by researchers at Brown University's Carney Institute for Brain Science provides some of the most detailed insights yet into the brain mechanisms that help people pay attention amid such distraction, as well as what's happening when they...

Scientists found that the molecule KIBRA helps stabilize memory by binding to PKMζ, an enzyme that strengthens brain connections, allowing memories to last for years despite the constant turnover of proteins in the brain.

Scientists at NTNU's Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience in Norway have discovered a pattern of activity in the brain that serves as a template for building sequential experiences.

Food sold in shrink wrap, on cardboard trays or in paper containers might contain any of nearly 200 chemicals linked to breast cancer, a new study warns.