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behavioral neuroscience

·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 Genetics Neuroscience

·August 14, 2025·4 min read

Single Gene Edit Transfers Behaviors Across Species

Scientists in Japan have used genetic engineering to make a species of fruit fly perform a courtship ritual it had never done before. By turning on the “fruitless” gene in insulin-producing neurons, they rewired the brains of Drosophila melanogaster to offer regurgitated food to potential mates—a behavior seen in a different species, D. subobscura.

This shows a couple at a crossroads. One way shows a bright future, the other, a darker future.

Featured Neuroscience

·August 10, 2025·6 min read

How Upbringing Shapes Risk Decisions

A new study suggests that the way you take risks as an adult may depend less on how risky you are by nature and more on the types of resources you had growing up. Researchers found that people who were “socially rich” (strong social support, less money) and “economically rich” (more money, less social support) took similar risks but used different brain regions to get there.

This shows a woman with two french bulldogs.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 5, 2025·6 min read

Do Dog Faces Shape Behavior?

Short-nosed dog breeds like Pugs and French Bulldogs are often perceived as calm, affectionate companions—but their behavior is influenced by more than just head shape. A new study of over 5,000 dogs reveals that small body size, lack of training, and pampering by inexperienced owners contribute to many of their less favorable behaviors.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 16, 2025·5 min read

How Dopamine Shapes Risky Reward Behaviors

Not all animals respond to reward cues the same way — some fixate on the cue itself, while others head straight for the reward. New research reveals that “sign trackers,” animals drawn to the cue, rely on dopamine in a specific brain region to form these associations, unlike “goal trackers,” who use a dopamine-independent mechanism.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 18, 2025·5 min read

Most People Overestimate Their Moral Courage Under Pressure

A new study reveals that most people believe they would defy immoral orders from authority figures more than others would. This cognitive bias, known as the “better-than-average effect,” causes individuals to underestimate their own susceptibility to social pressure.

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.

This shows a robot yawning with chimps in the background.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 7, 2025·4 min read

Robot Yawns Spark Contagious Yawning in Chimps

Chimpanzees have been observed yawning and lying down after seeing a humanoid android mimic a yawning facial expression, indicating contagious yawning triggered by an artificial agent. This study is the first to show yawn contagion in response to an inanimate model, suggesting that yawns may serve as a rest cue in addition to a social reflex.

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.