Study found genes implicated in cattle temperament contribute to neural developmental functions and are differentially expressed in the human brain. Some ASD related genes are associated with cattle temperament. Read More
Children born to mothers who experienced immune disorders during pregnancy, including allergies, asthma, autoimmune diseases, and autoinflammatory syndromes, are more likely to exhibit behavioral and emotional problems. The child's sex may interact with maternal immune conditions to influence the outcome of ASD symptoms. While maternal immune disorders were associated with emotional and behavioral problems in children on the autism spectrum, there was no association with reduced cognitive function. Read More
Researchers have identified a genetic switch in neurons that can toggle between sex-specific states when necessary. Read More
Prenatal depression can have a significant influence on a child's brain development and behavior. Greater symptoms of prenatal depression were associated with weaker white matter connections between areas of the brain involved in emotional processing. The weakened white matter connectivity was linked to increased aggression and hyperactivity in male children. The change could lead to dysregulated emotional states in children and explain why children whose mothers experienced PND are more prone to developing depression later in life. Read More
High resolution imaging reveals the human cerebellum is 80% of the area of the cortex. The findings indicate this area of the brain likely grew larger as human behavior and cognition evolved. Read More
Cortical thickness and regional brain connectivity pay an equally important role in linking brain and behavior. Read More
Owners who are encouraging increased their dog's showing effort for finding a toy, but decreased their showing accuracy. Read More
Researchers proposed four criteria to understand and investigate animal belief systems. Findings suggest flexible behavior caused by belief is exhibited in the behavior of rats, chimpanzees, and dogs. Read More
Children exposed to maternal antenatal corticosteroids had higher rates of emotional, behavioral, and psychological developmental disorders than their peers whose mothers did not take the drug. Read More
Mouse models with one good copy and one inactive copy of the MEF2C gene showed social deficits, hyperactivity, repetitive behaviors, and significant reductions in vocalization. Read More
A newly developed head-mounted miniature microscope can capture images of all cortical layers of a freely moving rat. Read More
Researchers implicate the inferior frontal junction area in controlling behavior and executive function. Read More
