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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.

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

What makes someone “cool” appears to be remarkably consistent across cultures, according to a global psychology study. Researchers surveyed nearly 6,000 people from 13 countries and found that cool individuals are consistently described as extraverted, powerful, open-minded, adventurous, and independent.
New research shows that older adults may compensate for age-related cognitive decline by enhancing activity in a specific brain region linked to attention—the locus coeruleus (LC). In a brain imaging study, older participants showed stronger LC responses when interpreting ambiguous facial expressions, compared to younger adults.
New research reveals that sugar metabolism in brain cells may be a crucial defense against Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Scientists found that neurons in both flies and human models of tauopathy accumulate excess glycogen, which disrupts cellular stress management when it can’t be broken down.
A clinical trial has revealed that Ambroxol, a common cough medicine in Europe, may help slow cognitive decline in people with Parkinson’s disease dementia. The 12-month study found that the drug stabilized psychiatric symptoms, protected against brain damage, and even improved cognition in genetically at-risk participants.
New research shows that safe, non-invasive brain stimulation can enhance math learning in young adults with lower natural brain connectivity. Participants who received transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) to the dlPFC performed better during math training than those who received placebo treatment or stimulation elsewhere.

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

New research shows that low-intensity repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can restore key synaptic structures in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease. The study found that axonal boutons—sites where neurons form connections—had reduced turnover in Alzheimer’s mice, indicating impaired brain plasticity. After a single rTMS session, the turnover of one bouton type significantly increased, matching levels seen in healthy mice.
While physical activity is known to slow cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease, many patients are unable to exercise due to frailty or advanced symptoms. A new study identifies a specific gene, ATPPIF1, that is reactivated through exercise and supports neuroplasticity in the brain.
New research reveals that Alzheimer's disease may impair nerve function not by reducing myelin, but by altering the proteins at the critical interface between axons and their myelin sheath. Scientists found structural abnormalities in the paranode region, where myelin attaches to axons, including clogged nutrient channels and protein buildup that could block signal transmission.
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.

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

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.
A new study shows that people rate empathic responses as more supportive and emotionally satisfying when they believe they come from a human—even if the same response is AI-generated. Across nine experiments with over 6,000 participants, responses labeled as human were consistently seen as more genuine, especially when they involved emotional sharing and care.
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.
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.
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.

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

The long-standing belief that left-handed people are more creative has been challenged by a new meta-analysis of over a century of research. After reviewing nearly 1,000 studies, researchers found no consistent advantage in creative thinking for lefties—in fact, right-handers slightly outperformed on some tests.
New research reveals how the brain navigates emotional transitions, using music as a tool to map changing neural patterns. Scientists found that emotional responses in the brain depend heavily on the listener’s prior emotional state.
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.
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.

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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.
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.
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.
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.