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Neuroscience News is an independent open access science magazine. Since 2001, we have featured neuroscience research news from labs, universities, hospitals and news departments around the world. Topics include brain research, AI, psychology, neuroscience, mental health and neurotech.

Latest Neuroscience News

Science news articles cover neuroscience, neurology, psychology, AI, mental health, robotics, neurotechnology and cognitive sciences.

Brain Mapping Unveils Secrets to Designing Livable, People-Centric Cities

Researchers have demonstrated how brain activity can predict behavior in urban environments, providing a roadmap for improving urban planning. Using functional MRI scans, the study identified activity in the brain's reward system, specifically the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, as a key predictor of why people visit certain urban areas. Participants rated photos of Lisbon's urban spaces, and their brain responses were linked to visitation patterns, showing that people are drawn to areas of perceived value.

Alcohol Use Predicts Escalating Cannabis Vaping Among Youth

A recent study highlights alcohol as the strongest predictor of cannabis vaping initiation and experimentation among youth and young adults, regardless of demographic factors. Conducted over three years, the research found that alcohol consumption increased the likelihood of transitioning from non-use to cannabis vaping.

Our “Reptilian” Brain Areas’ Role in Emotion and Social Skills

A new study uncovers constant communication between the human brain's social cognitive network, responsible for understanding others' thoughts, and the amygdala, known for processing fear and emotions. High-resolution brain scans revealed that this connection helps the brain integrate emotional importance into social interactions.

Neurology News Articles

Neurology news articles cover neurology, brain cancer, traumatic brain injuries, neurosurgery, neuroanatomy, brain research and neurological disorders.

Maternal Inflammation May Shape Offspring’s Alzheimer’s Risk

Maternal immune activity during pregnancy influences memory circuitry in offspring, with sex-specific effects extending into midlife. Elevated immune markers like IL-6 and TNF-a in mothers were linked to adverse brain activity in memory regions, particularly in postmenopausal women, and lower cognitive performance in children.

This shows chemical imaging of the microbiome.

Parkinson’s Medication Alters Microbiome, Induces Iron Deficiency

The Parkinson's drug entacapone disrupts the gut microbiome by inducing iron deficiency, favoring the growth of potentially harmful bacteria like E. coli. Using advanced molecular techniques, researchers identified that entacapone interferes with iron availability, a critical resource for many gut microbes.

Stimulating the Vagus Nerve to Tackle Gut Inflammation in IBD

Researchers have discovered that vagus nerve stimulation may reduce gut inflammation and improve outcomes for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The study reveals how electrical stimulation of this brain-gut nerve impacts SUMOylation, a cellular process driving immune responses, to alleviate symptoms and promote healing.

AI News Articles

AI news articles cover science articles about artificial intelligence including ChatGPT, Bard, Dalle, neural networks, machine learning, LLMs, AGI and other AI related topics.

AI Summaries Simplify Science, Boosting Public Understanding and Trust

AI-generated summaries make scientific studies more accessible and improve public trust in scientists. Using GPT-4, researchers created simplified summaries that were easier to read and understand than human-written ones.

Human Cell Atlas Transforms Understanding of Disease

The Human Cell Atlas (HCA) consortium has published over 40 studies revealing groundbreaking insights into human biology through large-scale mapping of cells. These studies cover diverse areas such as brain development, gut inflammation, and COVID-19 lung responses, while also showcasing the power of AI in understanding cellular mechanisms.

AI Improves Brain Tumor Detection

AI models trained on MRI data can now distinguish brain tumors from healthy tissue with high accuracy, nearing human performance. Using convolutional neural networks and transfer learning from tasks like camouflage detection, researchers improved the models’ ability to recognize tumors.

Psychology News Articles

Science research articles cover psychology, depression, mental health, schizophrenia, mental disorders, happiness, stress, PTSD, autism, psychiatry and therapy.

This shows a parent walking with their kids.

The Secret to Raising Independent Kids? Let Them Learn on Their Own

Parents are 50% less likely to intervene in their young children’s tasks, such as getting dressed, when these activities are framed as learning opportunities. A new study demonstrated that emphasizing the educational value of everyday tasks promotes children’s independence and resilience by reducing overparenting.

This shows two people, squiggly lines and the words "cause" and "effect".

Why We’re Wired to Love Simple Solutions

People's preference for simple explanations stems from their desire for efficiency in both understanding situations and achieving goals. Researchers found that participants consistently favored explanations involving common, reliable causes over complex or rare ones.

This shows a little girl reading a book, surrounded by cute animals.

Animal Characters in Children’s Books Boost Theory of Mind

Animal characters in children's books can significantly boost their theory of mind skills, which are essential for understanding social cues. The research showed that children exposed to animal characters performed better in theory of mind tests than those with human characters, with younger children scoring similarly to older peers.

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NMDA Stabilizes Brain Activity

Researchers have discovered that the NMDA receptor (NMDAR), known for its role in learning and memory, also stabilizes brain activity by setting baseline neural network activity. This stabilization supports the brain’s adaptability amid constant environmental and physiological changes.

Toddlers Learn Best After Experiencing Impossible Events

Young children grasp possibilities and distinctions between improbable and impossible events well before they can explain them in words. In a new study, two- and three-year-olds were found to learn more effectively after witnessing impossible events, which seem to trigger an intense curiosity.

Cannabis Use Linked to Epigenetic Changes, Cancer Risk

Research indicates that cannabis use causes cellular damage that increases the risk of highly cancerous tumors by disrupting mitochondria and damaging DNA. This genotoxicity can result in mutations, accelerated aging, and birth defects, with potential to be passed on to future generations through egg and sperm. Insights from broader mitochondrial research provide a mechanistic understanding of how cannabis affects genetic stability.

Exercise Spurs Nerve Growth Through Biochemical and Physical Impact

Researchers found that exercise promotes neuron growth through both biochemical signals (myokines) and physical stretching. Muscle cells, when contracted, release myokines that boost neuron growth and maturity.

Ancient Gene Reprograms Stem Cells to Create a Living Mouse

Scientists have reprogrammed mouse cells into pluripotent stem cells using a gene from choanoflagellates, single-celled organisms related to animals. This breakthrough demonstrates that key genes driving stem cell formation existed in unicellular ancestors nearly a billion years ago.