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behavior

·December 19, 2025·7 min read

Guilt and Shame Shape Behavior Through Separate Brain Pathways

uilt and shame arise from different cognitive triggers and rely on distinct neural systems to guide compensatory behavior. Using a controlled game that manipulated both harm and responsibility, researchers showed that guilt is more strongly driven by the severity of harm caused, while shame is more strongly shaped by how responsible someone feels for that harm. Guilt also more reliably translated into financial compensation, whereas shame required greater cognitive control to influence behavior.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 2, 2025·6 min read

Tiny Cells Shape Memory, Mood, and Behavior

Scientists have uncovered a biological “blueprint” that shows how the brain’s smallest building blocks create the large networks that drive thought, emotion, and behavior. By combining brain imaging with genetic and molecular data, the team demonstrated that cellular and chemical patterns directly shape functional brain networks.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·November 25, 2025·7 min read

Genes Behind Dog Behaviors Also Shape Human Emotions

Researchers analyzed the genomes and behavioral profiles of 1,300 golden retrievers and found that several behavioral traits—such as trainability, fear of strangers, and aggression toward other dogs—are shaped by specific genetic variants. Remarkably, a dozen of these same genes also influence emotional and cognitive traits in humans, revealing shared biological roots across species.

This shows a dog and toys like balls and ropes.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 19, 2025·5 min read

Dogs Can Classify Objects by Function, Not Just Appearance

A new study demonstrates that some highly gifted dogs can categorize objects not just by appearance, but by how they are used. When taught words like “pull” or “fetch,” these dogs later applied the concepts to brand-new toys through natural play, without training or explicit labeling.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 4, 2025·5 min read

Astrocyte Disruption Tied to Depression After Childhood Stress

Researchers have shown that astrocytes in the lateral hypothalamus play a pivotal role in how stress shapes behavior, particularly after early-life adversity. In mice, stress led to smaller, less branched astrocytes and abnormal orexin neuron activity, with sex-specific patterns in activity levels.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 27, 2025·4 min read

Brain Map Reveals How Stress and Social Control Interconnect

A new study has identified a key brain hub in the medial prefrontal cortex that regulates stress responses and social behavior, offering critical insights into psychiatric conditions. Using advanced imaging and AI mapping in mice, scientists charted how these regions integrate sensory and bodily signals to control emotional stability.

This shows a man sitting in a room full of post-it notes.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 18, 2025·6 min read

How Memory and Habits Shape Mental Health Outcomes

Despite being rooted in science, evidence-based psychological treatments often fail to deliver lasting results because people forget much of what they learn and struggle to build new habits. A new study highlights the disconnect between what patients remember from therapy sessions and what they implement in real life.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·June 13, 2025·3 min read

Different Autism Genes, Same Brain Signature

New research shows that different genetic forms of autism may produce a shared brain activity pattern, revealing a potential common neural signature despite distinct genetic origins. Using brain-wide recordings in preclinical models, scientists observed that autism-linked mutations affected how expectations are updated during decision-making.

This shows a baby and a child at an incubator.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 13, 2025·4 min read

No Link Found Between Preterm Siblings and Child Behavior Issues

A large-scale European study found no evidence that having a sibling born preterm leads to more behavioral problems in children born at term. Researchers analyzed data from over 65,000 children and found no significant differences in behavior between children with preterm versus term-born siblings.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 3, 2025·3 min read

AI Links Early Life Risks to Behavioral Challenges at Age Five

A new study reveals that emotional and behavioral difficulties in five-year-old children can be predicted using prenatal and early-life risk factors, including maternal smoking, low birth weight, and lack of breastfeeding. Researchers used AI to analyze data from nearly 6,000 UK children, uncovering gender-specific vulnerabilities—boys were more impacted by smoking during pregnancy, while girls were more affected by early fussiness.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·May 23, 2025·5 min read

Tiny Genetic Code Disruption Alters Brain Wiring and Behavior

A small genetic sequence called mini-exon B plays a surprisingly crucial role in how neurons form synaptic connections, according to new research. Scientists found that deleting this four–amino acid segment from a synapse-building protein, PTPδ, disrupted neural activity and led to anxiety-like behaviors in mice.

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Featured Neuroscience

·May 20, 2025·4 min read

Modeling Human Behavior with Math

A new study shows that mathematical models can shape human decisions more effectively than traditional psychological strategies. Researchers introduced “choice engineering,” a data-driven alternative to “choice architecture,” which relies on heuristics and intuition. In a global academic challenge, models like CATIE—designed to reflect real behavioral trends—outperformed both intuitive strategies and standard machine learning tools.