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anxiety

·April 7, 2025·8 min read

Immune Signals Shape Social Behavior and Anxiety in the Brain

New research reveals that the immune molecule IL-17 can influence behavior by acting directly on specific regions of the brain. IL-17 reduces neuron excitability in the cortex to enhance sociability, while in the amygdala, it increases excitability and induces anxiety.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 5, 2025·4 min read

Anxiety and Apathy Affect Decision-Making in Opposite Ways

A new study reveals that anxiety and apathy lead to fundamentally different patterns in decision-making under uncertainty. Anxious individuals perceive their environment as highly volatile, leading them to explore more options, especially after negative outcomes.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 10, 2025·2 min read

Cerebellar Serotonin Acts as a Brake to Reduce Anxiety

New research reveals that serotonin in the cerebellum plays a crucial role in anxiety regulation. Scientists found that mice with lower cerebellar serotonin levels displayed increased anxiety-like behaviors, while those with higher serotonin levels were less anxious.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 6, 2025·5 min read

How the Brain Overcomes Instinctive Fear and Adapts to New Threats

Researchers have identified brain mechanisms that help animals suppress instinctive fear responses when threats prove harmless over time. Using a visual threat model in mice, they found that specific areas of the visual cortex are necessary for learning to override fear, but not for storing the memory. Instead, the ventrolateral geniculate nucleus (vLGN) retains these learning-induced memories, regulating fear suppression.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 30, 2024·7 min read

Masculine Ideals Double Suicide Risk in Men

Men who strongly adhere to traditional masculine ideologies, such as suppressing emotions and valuing independence, are more than twice as likely to attempt suicide compared to those with more egalitarian views. The study identified three groups of men—Egalitarians, Players, and Stoics—with Stoics being at the highest risk due to their attitudes and behaviors, especially during mental health crises.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 25, 2024·3 min read

Can Cannabis Help ADHD?

Researchers are investigating how cannabis affects ADHD symptoms, focusing on its interactions with the body's endocannabinoid system. Evidence suggests cannabis influences attention, hyperactivity, and anxiety, but the findings are limited due to legal restrictions and the complexity of ADHD presentations.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 23, 2024·5 min read

Our “Reptilian” Brain Areas’ Role in Emotion and Social Skills

A new study uncovers constant communication between the human brain's social cognitive network, responsible for understanding others' thoughts, and the amygdala, known for processing fear and emotions. High-resolution brain scans revealed that this connection helps the brain integrate emotional importance into social interactions.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 19, 2024·6 min read

Breath and Emotion Connected by Newly Identified Brain Circuit

Researchers have identified a specific brain circuit that allows voluntary control of breathing, linking it to emotional and behavioral states. This circuit, spanning the anterior cingulate cortex, pons, and medulla, slows breathing during calm states and accelerates it under anxiety. Experiments in mice showed activating this circuit reduced anxiety, while shutting it off increased stress.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 14, 2024·6 min read

Brain Circuits Behind Psychedelics’ Anti-Anxiety Power Decoded

New research has identified distinct neural circuits for the anti-anxiety and hallucinogenic effects of psychedelics. Using the psychedelic DOI in mice, researchers demonstrated that anxiety reduction persists long after hallucinatory effects subside.

This shows an older couple sitting on a bench.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 11, 2024·7 min read

Emotional Sensitivity Linked to Anxiety and Depression Risks

A recent study reveals that seniors who are more susceptible to “emotional contagion”—feeling emotions from others—are significantly more likely to experience anxiety or depression. Researchers found that emotional sensitivity, when unmanaged, could increase the risk of psychological distress in seniors by up to tenfold. Emotional contagion, often triggered unconsciously, helps foster empathy but may strain mental health in communal living settings.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 2, 2024·6 min read

Amygdala Cells Linked to Anxiety

Researchers have identified specific cell types in the amygdala linked to anxiety, revealing potential new targets for treatment. By analyzing gene expression in human and macaque brains, scientists discovered clusters of cells with unique roles, including “gatekeeper” cells that help control emotional responses.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 21, 2024·3 min read

Why PTSD Develops in Some but Not Others

Fear memories initially form broad associations, but over time, they shift to become episodic memories tied to specific timelines. This process involves the hippocampus early on, with the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex integrating the event sequence later.