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mental health

·July 11, 2025·5 min read

Oxytocin Boosts Mother-Infant Bond in Postpartum Depression

A new study shows that oxytocin nasal spray helps mothers with postpartum depression interact more positively with their babies. After receiving oxytocin, mothers expressed more warmth, affection, and physical contact, reporting a greater sense of positivity during playtime.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 10, 2025·7 min read

Most Antidepressant Users Don’t Face Severe Withdrawal

The largest review of antidepressant withdrawal studies shows most people don’t experience severe symptoms when stopping these medications. Analyzing data from nearly 18,000 participants, researchers found the most common withdrawal symptoms were mild, including dizziness, nausea, and nervousness.

This shows a teen watching a video on a laptop.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 9, 2025·3 min read

Short Video Fosters Growth-Oriented Thinking in Adolescents

A brief online intervention may help teenagers see themselves as capable of change, according to a new study. Researchers found that watching a single ten-minute video based on growth mindset principles shifted young people’s beliefs about their own personality traits.

This shows a brain and people exercising.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 8, 2025·6 min read

Mental Health Benefits of Exercise Depend on Context

A new study reveals that the mental health benefits of exercise depend not just on the amount of physical activity, but also on the context in which it occurs. Researchers found that leisure-time activities like yoga or team sports tend to improve mood more than obligatory tasks like housework.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 7, 2025·5 min read

Timing of Prozac Treatment Shapes Lasting Mood, Brain Changes

New research reveals that the developmental timing of fluoxetine (Prozac) treatment profoundly influences long-term mood and brain function. In a rodent model, early postnatal treatment in males led to persistent anxiety and depression-like behaviors, while adolescent treatment reduced these behaviors.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 7, 2025·3 min read

Emotional Neglect in Childhood Undermines Trust in One’s Own Body

A new meta-analysis links childhood emotional abuse and neglect to reduced trust in one’s bodily signals, highlighting the long-term mental health risks. Researchers analyzed 17 studies with 3,705 participants, finding that while maltreatment did not generally impair interoception, emotional maltreatment was strongly tied to lower body trust.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 7, 2025·4 min read

Anxious Mondays Leave Lasting Mark on Stress

A new study reveals that anxiety felt on Mondays uniquely elevates stress hormones, even in retirees, with potential consequences for heart health. Researchers found older adults who reported Monday anxiety had 23% higher long-term cortisol levels than peers anxious on other days.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 2, 2025·6 min read

TikTok ADHD Misinformation Can Mislead Young Minds

College students increasingly turn to TikTok for information, including on mental health. A new study found that exposure to misinformation about ADHD on the platform reduced students’ factual knowledge but increased their confidence in that knowledge. Participants who viewed misleading content were also more likely to seek both scientifically supported and unproven treatments.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 1, 2025·5 min read

AI Facial Analysis Detects PTSD

Diagnosing PTSD in children is often hindered by limited communication and emotional awareness, but new research is using AI to bridge that gap. By analyzing facial movements during interviews, researchers created a privacy-preserving tool that can identify PTSD-related expression patterns. Their system does not use raw video but instead tracks non-identifying facial cues such as eye gaze and mouth movement.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·June 30, 2025·3 min read

Tiny RNA Mark Helps Explain Brain Wiring and Mental Disorders

New research reveals how a tiny chemical mark on RNA helps wire the brain during development. Scientists discovered that m6A methylation regulates the production of proteins essential for axon growth, including APC and β-actin.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·June 28, 2025·6 min read

One Gene Rewires Fear Circuits and Fuels Anxiety

Researchers have uncovered how losing the autism-linked gene PTEN in a specific set of inhibitory neurons reshapes brain circuits tied to fear and anxiety. Using advanced circuit-mapping techniques, they found that deleting PTEN in somatostatin-expressing neurons of the amygdala disrupted local inhibition by 50% while strengthening excitatory input from nearby brain regions.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 28, 2025·5 min read

Exercise Proven to Boost Kids’ Mental Health

A massive analysis of over 375 trials shows that structured exercise significantly reduces depression and anxiety in children and teens. Low-intensity resistance activities like light weights were most effective for easing anxiety, while moderate mixed-mode programs worked best for depression—especially when lasting under 12 weeks.