Latest

amgydala

This shows the outline of a head and brain. Behind are two people fighting.

·September 8, 2025·2 min read

Aggression Is Contagious: Observing Violence Primes the Brain for Aggression

A new study shows that observing violence can make individuals more likely to act aggressively later, but the effect depends on familiarity. Male mice who watched familiar peers attack others became more violent afterward, driven by amygdala neurons that “prime” aggression.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 3, 2025·5 min read

How the Brain Extinguishes Fear Memories

Scientists have, for the first time, identified the brain signals linked to extinguishing fear memories in humans. Using implanted electrodes and advanced Representational Similarity Analysis, they showed that theta activity in the amygdala increases when previously unpleasant cues are re-learned as safe.

This shows a person walking down a path.

Featured Neuroscience

·August 28, 2025·5 min read

How the Brain Weighs Risks

A new study shows that the brain uses two distinct mechanisms to drive exploration under uncertainty. Recording single-neuron activity during a learning task, researchers found that amygdala and temporal cortex neurons modulate their firing before exploration in both gain and loss situations.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·March 27, 2022·5 min read

Scientists Hunt for Neurons Responsible for Alcohol Withdrawal

Researchers reveal the role corticotropin-releasing factor produced by neurons plays in alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

This is a painting of a child with a cloud above his head

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 22, 2021·5 min read

Does ‘Harsh Parenting’ Lead to Smaller Brains?

Children whose parents use "harsh" punishments, such as spanking, have smaller brain structures during adolescence. The decreased size was most noticeable in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, two areas of the brain associated with emotional processing and the emergence of depression.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·March 15, 2019·3 min read

Negative emotions can reduce our capacity to trust

The activity of the temporoparietal junction becomes significantly suppressed during trust decisions when people feel threatened, a new study reports.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 2, 2018·1 min read

Danger Changes How Rat Brains Store Information

According to researchers, the ability of a male rat's brain to store memory changes depending on whether the environment in which they acquire information is safe or dangerous.