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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 Signals Reveal How Aggression and Arousal Are Encoded

New research has uncovered that brain signals for aggression in male mice and sexual arousal in female mice are encoded by similar neural mechanisms. The studies found that a specific type of neural signal, called a line attractor, represents the intensity and persistence of these emotional states.

Stem Cell Mini-Brains Unlock Insights into Autism

Researchers have created "mini-brains" using stem cells from patients with a rare form of autism, allowing them to study brain development in detail. These organoids revealed how a genetic mutation in MEF2C disrupts the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurons, leading to autism.

Infant Sleep Loss Linked to Brain Development Problems

New research shows that sleep deprivation during early development disrupts brain function, impacting neuron growth and synapse formation. The study found that young mice lacking sleep did not experience the “sleep rebound” seen in adults, leading to lasting deficits in social behavior and memory.

Neurology News Articles

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

Penicillin Use Linked to Lower Parkinson’s Risk

A new study found that people who took multiple courses of penicillin antibiotics had a 15% lower risk of developing Parkinson's disease. Researchers analyzed medical records of over 93,000 individuals and discovered a connection between gut health and the disease, suggesting that altering the gut microbiome may influence Parkinson’s risk.

Gene Discovery Boosts CNS Regeneration for Spinal Injury Repair

A recent study highlights a novel gene, lipin1, that regulates axon regeneration in the central nervous system, offering new hope for treating spinal cord injuries. The research shows that inhibiting lipin1 enhances lipid metabolism in neurons, activating crucial pathways like mTOR and STAT3 that promote nerve regeneration.

Bilingualism Boosts Brain Resilience, Delaying Alzheimer’s Onset

Bilingualism has been shown to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease by up to five years. A new study reveals that bilingual individuals with Alzheimer’s have larger hippocampi, a critical brain region for memory, compared to monolinguals.

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.

This shows computer code and a molecule.

AI Predicts Chemical Compounds for Dual-Target Medications

Researchers have developed an AI system that predicts chemical compounds capable of targeting two proteins simultaneously, potentially creating more effective medications. By training the AI with a chemical language model, it was able to generate novel molecular structures with dual-target activity, an essential feature for treating complex diseases like cancer.

This shows a brain and a network of images.

How AI is Reshaping Human Thought and Decision-Making

A new study introduces "System 0," a cognitive framework where artificial intelligence (AI) enhances human thinking by processing vast data, complementing our natural intuition (System 1) and analytical thinking (System 2). However, this external thinking system poses risks, such as over-reliance on AI and a potential loss of cognitive autonomy.

This shows robotic hands using a keyboard.

AI-Written Stories Rated Lower Due to Bias, Not Quality

New research shows that stories generated by AI, such as ChatGPT, are almost as good as those written by humans. However, when people are told a story is AI-generated, they rate it more negatively, revealing a bias against AI-created content.

Psychology News Articles

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

How Social Learning Guides Decisions When Preferences Differ

A new study shows that humans use social information to guide their decisions, even when others’ preferences differ from their own. Researchers found that people treat social cues as helpful but less reliable than their personal experiences, using them as a tool to explore decision options.

Youth Face Rising Risks of Harassment and Exploitation in the Metaverse

A new study reveals that youth are vulnerable to various forms of harm in the metaverse, including bullying, harassment, and sexual exploitation. Using data from over 5,000 U.S. teens, researchers found significant incidents of hate speech, sexual harassment, and grooming behavior in virtual reality (VR) spaces.

Social Media Verification Drives Polarization and Echo Chambers

A new study shows that X's verification system, which gives verified users priority in algorithms, can increase polarization and trigger the formation of echo chambers. Researchers used computational modeling to simulate how verified users affect the spread of political opinions on social media. They found that when verified users with entrenched opinions post, their influence can drive polarization, while centrist ideologues can reduce it if present in sufficient numbers.

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Key Brain Protein Tied to Motivation and Mood Identified

A new study has identified a brain protein, vesicular nucleotide transporter (Vnut), as essential for regulating mood and motivation in mice. When Vnut was removed from brain cells called astrocytes, the mice displayed higher anxiety, depression-like behavior, and decreased motivation, especially in females.

Gut Microbiome and Aspirin May Reverse Hormonal Issues

Researchers found that mutations in the Sox3 gene cause hypopituitarism, a condition where the pituitary gland produces insufficient hormones, leading to growth issues and infertility. In a study on mice, they discovered that Sox3 mutations affect brain cells called NG2 glia, which are essential for hormone production.

This shows a child thinking about a traumatic event.

Child Trauma Recovery Tied to Thoughts, Not Event Severity

A new study reveals that how children mentally process traumatic events is the most significant factor in predicting their mental health outcomes, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Cognitive factors—like how children remember the event and view themselves afterward—play a more critical role than the event’s objective severity. Researchers found that children with more negative self-perceptions or distorted memories were at higher risk for long-term psychological impacts.

Targeting Glucose May Spark Neurogenesis

Neural stem cells, which create new neurons in the brain, become less active with age due to elevated glucose levels. Researchers found that by knocking out the glucose transporter gene GLUT4 in older mice, they could significantly increase the production of new neurons.

Cannabis Leaves Molecular Marks on DNA Linked to Psychosis

Frequent use of high-potency cannabis leaves unique molecular marks on DNA, particularly affecting genes related to energy and immune function. Researchers found that DNA methylation—an epigenetic modification—differed between frequent cannabis users who had experienced psychosis and those who had not, suggesting a possible genetic link to psychosis risk.