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stress

·August 27, 2025·4 min read

Brain Map Reveals How Stress and Social Control Interconnect

A new study has identified a key brain hub in the medial prefrontal cortex that regulates stress responses and social behavior, offering critical insights into psychiatric conditions. Using advanced imaging and AI mapping in mice, scientists charted how these regions integrate sensory and bodily signals to control emotional stability.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 21, 2025·4 min read

How Stress Types Differently Impact Brain and Behavior

Stress is a universal experience, but not all stress affects the brain in the same way. A new study in rats reveals that acute stress provokes anxiety-like behaviors, especially in males, while chronic stress is more strongly tied to depressive symptoms.

This shows a man and woman. The woman is surrounded by swirls, implying the release of scent. The man's head has a lit up area of the brain.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 28, 2025·6 min read

Women’s Scent During Ovulation Alters Male Stress and Attraction

Certain scent compounds in female body odor, which increase during ovulation, can subtly influence male perception and stress levels. When these compounds were added to model armpit odors, men found the scents more pleasant and rated images of women as more attractive and feminine.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 22, 2025·4 min read

COVID Stress May Have Aged Brains Faster

Living through the Covid-19 pandemic may have accelerated brain ageing, even in people who were never infected, a new study finds. Brain scans of nearly 1,000 adults showed older, male, and disadvantaged individuals were most affected.

This shows a pregnant woman and gut bacteria.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 21, 2025·7 min read

Pregnancy Stress Disrupts Baby’s Microbiome, Increasing Depression Risk

Prenatal stress in mothers can leave a lasting imprint on their offspring, predisposing them to depression-like behaviors. Researchers found that maternal stress disrupts the gut microbiome and metabolite production, which are vertically transmitted to the young.

This shows a woman holding her head in pain.

Featured Neuroscience Pain

·July 20, 2025·5 min read

How Stress Sounds Amplify Pain and Inflammation

Pain isn’t just physical—it can be socially and emotionally transmitted. New research shows that ultrasonic vocalizations emitted by mice in pain trigger hyperalgesia in nearby mice, even without direct injury.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·July 17, 2025·4 min read

Neurons Store Backup Energy to Power the Brain Under Stress

New research has uncovered that neurons store their own glycogen, acting as “backup batteries” to keep the brain functioning during energy stress. Using worms and advanced biosensors, scientists found that neurons can tap into glycogen reserves, especially when oxygen or mitochondrial function is limited.

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 Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·June 12, 2025·4 min read

Stress Genes Guide Cell Cleanup

New research has uncovered how the body clears dying cells during times of stress, shedding light on the unexpected role of classic stress-response genes. Using the model organism C. elegans, scientists tracked how these genes activate a pathway that helps remove cellular debris, a process essential for immune health and development.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 10, 2025·3 min read

Stress-Linked Brain Pathway Disrupts Sleep and Memory

New research reveals a stress-sensitive neural pathway that impairs both sleep and memory in male mice. Scientists activated neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus, known for their role in stress response, which caused sleep loss and poor memory performance.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 30, 2025·3 min read

How Early Life Shapes the Adolescent Anxiety Surge

Adolescent anxiety is on the rise globally, and a new Perspective argues that its roots may begin long before birth. Researchers highlight how maternal stress, caregiving quality, and early environmental cues influence the development of brain systems that regulate emotion and executive function.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 30, 2025·5 min read

Some Bosses Yell to Feel in Control, Not Just From Stress

New research shows that some supervisors yell at employees not out of stress but intentionally—to boost compliance and reinforce their authority. Unlike those who lash out from burnout and feel remorseful, these bosses report feeling better after the abuse.