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brain development

·May 21, 2025·9 min read

Tiny Brain Folds Linked to Reasoning Skills in Children

New research reveals that small, shallow grooves in the human brain—called tertiary sulci—are closely tied to reasoning ability and brain connectivity in children and adolescents. These uniquely human folds appear to bring critical brain regions closer together, enhancing communication and cognitive function.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Psychology

·May 21, 2025·3 min read

Long COVID Is Fueling a Mental Health Crisis in Children

A new study reveals that nearly 40% of children with long COVID are experiencing significant symptoms of anxiety or depression, many for the first time. Using validated mental health screening tools, researchers found that 1 in 4 children had new anxiety symptoms and 1 in 7 had new depressive symptoms, despite no prior mental health history.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·May 21, 2025·5 min read

TEAD Proteins Switch Roles in Brain Development

New research shows that TEAD proteins, long known for promoting the growth of neural progenitor cells, also help those same cells mature into neurons and glia—depending on their molecular partners. In early development, TEAD proteins bind with YAP to drive cell proliferation, but later they switch to a different partner, INSM1, which promotes cell differentiation.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 19, 2025·5 min read

Low Newborn Vitamin D Linked to Autism and Schizophrenia

A large population study has found that babies born with low vitamin D levels are more likely to develop mental disorders like ADHD, schizophrenia, and autism later in life. Researchers analyzed data from over 71,000 individuals, linking neonatal vitamin D deficiency to increased risks of several neurodevelopmental conditions.

This shows a sad kid looking at a phone.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 19, 2025·6 min read

Cyberbullying Linked to PTSD Symptoms in Teens

A new national study finds that all forms of cyberbullying—not just direct threats—can cause trauma in teens, suggesting it should be considered a serious childhood adversity. Even subtle behaviors like exclusion from chats or online rumors were found to cause PTSD symptoms as severe as overt harassment. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 2,700 U.S. teens and found 87% had experienced at least one form of online victimization.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·May 18, 2025·7 min read

Parents’ Age, Ancestry, and Habits Shape New DNA Mutations

A massive genomic study has revealed that parental age, ancestry, and smoking habits subtly influence the number of new genetic mutations (de novo mutations) passed from parents to children. By analyzing whole-genome data from 10,000 parent-child trios, researchers found that most variation in mutation rates comes from parental age, especially the father’s.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·May 17, 2025·6 min read

Babies Fight COVID Differently Than Anyone Else

Infants hospitalized with severe COVID-19 mount an immune response that looks entirely different from that of adults or older children. Researchers found both interferon responses and inflammation were elevated simultaneously—something never before observed in other viral infections.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 16, 2025·4 min read

Autistic and Non-Autistic People Communicate Equally Effectively

A new study has debunked the common myth that autistic people are less effective communicators than non-autistic individuals. Researchers found no difference in how well information was shared between autistic-only, non-autistic-only, or mixed groups.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 15, 2025·5 min read

Early Bonding Buffers Kids from Lasting Effects of Maternal Depression

A new study highlights the lasting impact of postpartum maternal depression and mother-to-infant bonding on children’s emotional and behavioral outcomes. Researchers found that early bonding can partially offset the negative effects of maternal depression, reducing future psychosocial difficulties.

This shows a child, a calendar and pill bottles.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 15, 2025·5 min read

Early ADHD Treatment May Mean Years on Medication

A large Finnish registry study reveals that many children, especially boys who begin ADHD medication between ages 6 and 8, remain on treatment for more than seven years. While the average duration of ADHD medication was over three years, a quarter of treated children remained on it for over seven, and some for nearly a decade.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 15, 2025·6 min read

AI Handwriting Analysis May Catch Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Early

A new AI-driven tool developed by researchers could revolutionize how educators and clinicians screen for dyslexia and dysgraphia in children. By analyzing handwriting samples from K–5 students, the system detects behavioral cues, spelling errors, motor difficulties, and cognitive issues with remarkable precision.

Featured Neuroscience Neuroscience Videos Psychology

·May 11, 2025·5 min read

Verbal Abuse in Childhood Rewires the Developing Brain

New neuroscience research highlights how verbal abuse in childhood can alter brain development and increase the risk of mental health issues later in life. Children who are routinely shamed, threatened, or belittled by adults may develop a hyperactive threat system and a blunted reward response, making trust and emotional regulation more difficult in adulthood.