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behavior

·February 19, 2025·6 min read

15 Key Motives Drive Human Behavior

Researchers analyzed human motivation from an evolutionary perspective, identifying 15 key motives that drive behavior. These motives, grouped into five categories—environmental, physiological, reproductive, psychological, and social—reflect adaptations that helped early humans survive.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·December 27, 2024·5 min read

Lithium Restores Brain Function and Behavior in Autism

Lithium, a drug widely used for bipolar disorder, may also treat autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to new research. The study found that lithium restored brain function and reduced behavioral symptoms in mice with Dyrk1a gene mutations, a known ASD risk factor.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 14, 2024·5 min read

Neural Flexibility: Prioritizing Memories to Guide Behavior

Male worms can activate two conflicting memories—mating and starvation—when encountering the same odor, but only one influences their behavior.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 11, 2024·7 min read

Stable Bedtime Boosts Kids’ Behavior and Emotional Control

Children with regular bedtimes exhibit better emotional control and behavior than those with irregular sleep patterns. Researchers found that consistency in sleep times helps children handle stress and regulate their actions more effectively.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·November 1, 2024·4 min read

Honeybee Behavior Genetically Programmed

The doublesex (dsx) gene in honeybees determines specific worker bee behaviors like foraging and brood care. By modifying this gene, they found dsx directly affects neural pathways, encoding behaviors essential to colony survival.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·October 7, 2024·7 min read

Salience Network Disruption Tied to Dementia Behavior Changes

Researchers have discovered that disruptions in the brain’s salience network, often tied to tau protein buildup, correlate strongly with behavioral changes in people with early-stage dementia. Using advanced brain imaging on 128 participants, they found that as tau impairs this critical network, behavioral symptoms worsen, adding another layer to understanding dementia beyond memory loss.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 25, 2024·4 min read

Shared Brain Activity Patterns Linked to Behavior Identified

Scientists have uncovered stable patterns of brain activity across more than 300 individuals by reducing the complexity of fMRI data. These shared activity patterns, consistent across participants, may reveal biomarkers for psychiatric disorders and provide insight into individual differences in behavior.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 31, 2024·5 min read

Activating Brain’s Serotonin Center Alters Behavior and Motivation

Stimulating the brain's serotonin center, the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), activates areas responsible for behavior and motivation. This discovery, using opto-functional MRI in awake mice, highlights serotonin's significant role in cognitive functions. The study offers insights into how serotonin influences behavior and mood regulation.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 24, 2024·5 min read

Serotonin Affects Behavior and Motivation

A new study reveals how activating the brain's serotonin center affects behavior and motivation in awake mice. Using optogenetics and high-field MRI, researchers found that stimulating serotonin neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) activates the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia, critical areas for cognitive functions.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 3, 2024·3 min read

Does Omega 3 Boost Kids’ Mental Health and Behavior?

Researchers are conducting a study to explore the impact of omega-3 supplements on children’s behavior, mood, and mental health. Recognizing that UK children consume less than half the recommended omega-3 intake, this study, aims to assess whether these supplements can address dietary deficiencies and improve well-being. The online study will involve children aged 6-12 and include assessments of behavior changes through parental questionnaires. This research could inform broader educational and health strategies by identifying which children benefit most from increased omega-3 intake.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 3, 2024·7 min read

Predicting Human Behavior and How We Can Change It

Researchers identify effective behavior change interventions across different crises, such as pandemics and climate change. The study found that common approaches focusing on changing knowledge or beliefs are often ineffective.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·March 21, 2024·8 min read

Lungs Communicate with Brain To Report Infection, Change Behavior

Researchers unveiled a groundbreaking mechanism where the lungs directly inform the brain of infections, altering traditional views on sickness response. This study, conducted in mice, demonstrates that neurological pathways, rather than just immune responses, are responsible for symptoms of illness.