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amygdala

This shows a head and a brain. Caption reads "Past Adversity Rewires the Brain’s Threat Alarm."

·October 1, 2026·7 min read

Why Past Trauma Amplifies Future Stress

A new study discovers a brain circuit in the anterior hypothalamus acting as a "volume knob" that dials up future stress reactivity after trauma.

This shows the outline of a head with the caption "Brain’s Hidden “Panic Engine” Discovered".

Featured Neuroscience

·September 21, 2026·6 min read

Missing Brain Circuit Behind Chronic Fear Identified

Researchers identify the amygdalostriatal transition zone (ASt) as the missing circuit that sustains long-lasting fear and anxiety behaviors.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 14, 2026·11 min read

The Amygdala Predicts Teen Isolation Years in Advance

A new study reveals that childhood amygdala reactivity to emotional faces isolates future social health profiles two years later.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 7, 2026·12 min read

17 New Language Processing Regions in the Brain

A new study uses fMRI data from over 700 people to identify 17 new language-processing regions outside the brain's core canonical network.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·May 29, 2026·10 min read

Unmasking the Epigenetic Disparity in Anxiety Disorders

Can we permanently dismantle post-traumatic stress disorder by erasing the physical marks trauma leaves on our genes? Backed by a five-year, $3.2 million grant researchers are exploring the epigenetic architecture of the amygdala to decode how a single terrifying event creates a long-lasting "molecular memory".

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·May 22, 2026·9 min read

Long COVID Brain Inflammation Decreases Over Time

Does persistent brain inflammation explain the prolonged fatigue and cognitive decline of Long COVID? A neuroimaging clinical trial demonstrates that widespread brain inflammation is not the primary driver of long-term symptoms.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 7, 2026·9 min read

GLP-1 Drugs Found to Directly Rewire Brain’s Reward System

Researchers have discovered a neural pathway connecting the amygdala to dopamine neurons that allows these weight-loss medications to reduce the desire for rewarding foods, offering a new explanation for their effectiveness and their impact on addictive behaviors.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 13, 2026·9 min read

Brain’s Emotion Center Redefines Hazardous Drinking

A reactive amygdala predicts heavy drinking in young men via depressive symptoms, but actually protects young women by fostering "threat avoidance."

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 6, 2026·8 min read

Brain’s Default Setting for Ambiguity Matters for Mental Health

A new study reveals that "valence bias"—how we interpret ambiguous situations—is a key predictor of depression and anxiety. The study highlights a critical "positivity shift" at age 10 that can determine a child's mental health trajectory.

This shows the outline of a stressed person and a brain.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 31, 2026·9 min read

Direct Link Between Stress and Addiction Found

Researchers discovered a brain pathway linking stress centers directly to habit regions. While stress normally promotes flexibility, alcohol disrupts this circuit, explaining why stress leads to compulsive drinking and relapse.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 30, 2026·7 min read

Ultrasound Helps to Unlearn Fear

Researchers used targeted ultrasound to dampen the amygdala, slowing fear formation and speeding up "unlearning." This non-invasive method could revolutionize exposure therapy for PTSD and anxiety.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 25, 2026·8 min read

How the Amygdala Decides Between Freezing and Fleeing

Researchers have identified brain circuits in the central amygdala that decide whether an animal freezes or flees. The study shows that "unlearning" fear is actually a process of recalibrating these circuits, offering new insights into PTSD.