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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.

Sleep Learning: How Synapses Strengthen While We Rest

New research reveals how synaptic connections in the cerebral cortex can strengthen during sleep, offering insight into how the brain continues learning even while we rest. Using computer simulations, researchers demonstrated that synaptic activity during sleep follows known "synaptic learning rules" when neural activity reaches specific thresholds.

Regular Sex May Ease Painful Menopause Symptoms

A new study reveals that women who engage in regular sexual activity experience fewer symptoms of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), such as vaginal dryness, irritation, and pain. In a survey of over 900 women aged 40 to 79, researchers found that while sexual desire and lubrication declined with age, orgasm and satisfaction remained stable.

Lingering Brain Changes May Raise Depression Relapse Risk

Even after symptoms subside, people who’ve experienced depression may retain a heightened sensitivity to punishment and negative feedback. A new study found that the brain's habenula—key to processing aversive signals—remains hyperactive in those with remitted depression, particularly during the anticipation of unpleasant outcomes.

How the Brain Forms Indirect Associations to Guide Complex Decisions

A new study reveals how the brain can make decisions based not only on direct experiences, but also on indirect associations between seemingly unrelated stimuli. In experiments with mice, researchers showed that a sweet taste could be rejected after it was indirectly linked to an aversive event through a shared scent.

Brain Fatigue: How the Mind Decides When to Push or Quit

A new study reveals how the brain responds to mental exhaustion, identifying two key regions—the right insula and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex—that become more active as cognitive fatigue builds. Using functional MRI, researchers observed how volunteers responded to demanding memory tasks and how their willingness to continue changed based on internal fatigue and external rewards.

Neurology News Articles

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

Robotic Heart Transplant Marks Surgical Breakthrough

Surgeons have performed the first fully robotic heart transplant in the U.S., using advanced robotic tools to avoid opening the chest. This technique involved precise incisions and accessing the heart through the preperitoneal space, preserving the chest wall.

This shows an older person walking in a street and a brain.

Neighborhood Disadvantage Linked to Alzheimer’s Biomarkers and Inflammation

Living in disadvantaged neighborhoods may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by elevating biomarkers associated with inflammation and neurodegeneration. A long-term study of 334 older adults found higher levels of tau and YKL-40, biomarkers linked to Alzheimer’s and brain inflammation, in people from less advantaged areas.

Staying Active Slows Cognitive Decline

Regular physical activity isn’t just good for the body—it protects the brain as we age. A 16-year study of over 13,000 adults found that sustained physical activity significantly slowed cognitive decline.

Shared Genetic Roots of Autism and Heart Disease Found

New research reveals that autism and congenital heart disease may share a common biological basis—tiny cellular structures called cilia. Scientists found that mutations in genes affecting cilia formation disrupt both brain and heart development, helping explain why the two conditions often co-occur.

Newborns and Alzheimer’s Patients Share a Brain Protein Spike

A new study has revealed that newborn babies and Alzheimer’s patients both have elevated levels of the same protein, p-tau217, in their blood. While this protein is a key marker of brain degeneration in Alzheimer’s, in newborns it appears to support healthy brain growth and development.

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.

Death Isn’t the End: AI Brings Lost Voices Back to Life

A new paper explores how generative AI is transforming the way we interact with the dead, from virtual reality reunions to lifelike digital avatars. These “generative ghosts” can remember, plan, and even evolve—offering real-time conversations that go far beyond pre-recorded memorials.

AI Reveals How Your Words Reflect Personality

Researchers have shown that AI can detect personality traits from written text and, crucially, now understand how these models make decisions. By applying explainable AI techniques like integrated gradients, the team uncovered how specific words and linguistic patterns contribute to predictions based on major psychological frameworks.

This shows a child, AI, and speech bubbles.

Why Children Learn Language Faster Than AI

Despite AI’s massive processing power, children still far outperform machines in learning language—and a new framework helps explain why. Unlike AI systems that passively absorb text, children learn through multisensory exploration, social interaction, and self-driven curiosity.

AI Generates Relatable Empathy Experiences

Researchers have developed an AI tool called EmoSync that boosts empathy by tailoring emotional analogies to each user’s personality and life experiences. Unlike traditional empathy tech that assumes uniform emotional responses, EmoSync uses a large language model (LLM) to map personal traits and generate custom scenarios that resonate more deeply. In a study of over 100 participants, those using EmoSync showed significantly better understanding of others’ emotions than with conventional methods. The technology represents a new frontier in emotion-aware AI, aiming to foster authentic interpersonal understanding in complex social environments.

AI Reveals Key Predictors of Lifelong Brain Health

A new study used machine learning to pinpoint the lifestyle and health factors most strongly associated with cognitive performance across the lifespan. Among 374 adults aged 19 to 82, age, blood pressure, and BMI were the top predictors of success on a focus-and-speed-based attention test.

Psychology News Articles

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

Brain Injury Could Explain Sudden Criminal Behavior

A new study has found that damage to a specific white matter pathway in the brain—the right uncinate fasciculus—may increase the likelihood of criminal or violent behavior following brain injury. Researchers analyzed scans from individuals who began committing crimes after suffering strokes, tumors, or traumatic injuries and found consistent damage to this region.

This shows the outline of a head and a brain.

Brain Structure Differences Linked to Antisocial Traits in Psychopathy

A new neuroimaging study has identified distinct structural brain differences in individuals with psychopathy, particularly those with high antisocial traits. Reduced volumes were found in subcortical and cortical areas involved in emotion, decision-making, and social behavior.

Grip Strength Reveals Brain Clues Behind Early Psychosis

Psychosis may start not with hallucinations, but with subtle motor changes like reduced grip strength. A new study reveals that lower grip strength in people with early psychosis is linked to altered brain connectivity, particularly in networks that govern both movement and cognition.

Joy Delay: How Longing Turns into Procrastination

Despite longing to return to enjoyable activities, people often delay doing so—hoping the moment will feel more special. A new study finds that the longer individuals perceive their time away, the more likely they are to postpone reengagement, even with things they enjoy like visiting friends or dining out.

Autoimmune Disease Doubles Risk of Depression and Anxiety

People living with autoimmune diseases face nearly twice the risk of developing persistent mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, according to a massive UK-based study. Researchers suggest chronic inflammation may play a key role in this connection, especially in women who showed significantly higher risk levels than men.

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Alzheimer’s Risk Linked to Increased Social Activity, Not Isolation

Contrary to popular belief, a new study suggests that people with a higher genetic risk for Alzheimer’s may become more socially engaged—not less. Researchers analyzed data from over 500,000 individuals and found that higher-risk participants reported lower social isolation and more positive family interactions.

Facial Stimulation Clears Brain Waste and Boosts Aging Minds

Researchers have discovered a safe, non-invasive way to enhance the brain’s waste clearance system by mechanically stimulating lymphatic vessels just beneath the facial skin. This gentle technique significantly improves cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage—a critical function that declines with age and contributes to cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s.

Early Baby Behavior Predicts Adult Cognition and Intelligence

A new study reveals that cognitive tests in infancy can modestly predict intelligence three decades later. Researchers followed over 1,000 twins from seven months of age, measuring behaviors like vocalization and novelty preference to assess early cognition.

This shows the outline of a child and a brain.

Childhood Trauma Rewires the Brain Through Inflammation

Childhood trauma doesn't just leave psychological scars—it biologically reshapes the brain through chronic neuroinflammation and structural changes, increasing vulnerability to psychiatric disorders later in life. New research shows that early adversity can reprogram immune responses, altering lifelong mental health outcomes.

Nanowire Retinal Implant Restores Vision and Sees Infrared

Researchers have developed a retinal prosthesis made of tellurium nanowires that restores partial vision in blind mice and enables near-infrared vision in primates. The implant, woven into a lattice of light-sensitive nanowires, converts both visible and near-infrared light into electrical signals for the brain.

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