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brain development

·May 30, 2024·4 min read

Prenatal Amphetamine Exposure Impacts Brain Development

A new study used C. elegans to study the long-term effects of amphetamine exposure during embryogenesis, finding significant alterations in dopamine-related genes and proteins. These changes lead to increased sensitivity to amphetamines in adulthood, highlighting potential risks for humans. The study emphasizes the need for careful consideration of amphetamine use during pregnancy due to its lasting impact on brain function.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 29, 2024·4 min read

Babies’ Squeals and Growls Show Early Vocal Practice Patterns

Infants' vocalizations, like squeals and growls, appear in significant clusters, suggesting active noisemaking play and sound practice. Researchers analyzed recordings from 130 infants and found 40% of squeals and growls clustered significantly.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·May 25, 2024·4 min read

Maternal Immune Response Affects Fetal Brain Development

Immune responses during pregnancy can alter gene regulation in the developing brain of mice embryos. Researchers found that maternal immune reactions are detected by microglia, brain cells that then affect surrounding neurons.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·May 24, 2024·7 min read

Study Links Genetic Risk of Autism to Brain Cell Activity

revealed the most detailed view yet of the biological mechanisms underlying autism, linking genetic risk to cellular and genetic activity in the brain. Researchers used single-cell assays to analyze over 800,000 nuclei from post-mortem brain tissue of individuals with autism and neurotypical controls.

This shows the shadow of a teenage girl.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 23, 2024·5 min read

Teen Social Networks Influence Mental Health Disorder Spread

Researchers found that mental disorders can spread within school social networks. By analyzing data from over 700,000 Finnish ninth-graders, they discovered that having classmates with mental disorders increased the risk of being diagnosed with similar conditions later in life.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·May 23, 2024·6 min read

Key Brain Differences in Autistic Boys and Girls Identified

Researchers discovered significant sex-specific differences in brain development between autistic boys and girls aged 2-13. The study found that autistic girls have a thicker cortex at age 3 and faster cortical thinning into middle childhood compared to boys.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 23, 2024·5 min read

School Readiness at 4 Predicts Teen Outcomes

A new study finds that children not deemed "school ready" at age 4 are significantly more likely to be unemployed or out of education by 16. This early disadvantage also predicts lower GCSE achievement. Researchers used data from over 8,000 Bradford young people to identify this link. This highlights the need for early intervention in schools to reduce later disadvantage.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·May 23, 2024·5 min read

Brain Patterns Predict Autism Risk in Infants

A new study study found distinct brain connectivity patterns in 6-week-old infants at risk for autism. Differences in the Salience Network, responsible for filtering important stimuli, may predict later sensory and social behaviors. Infants with stronger sensory connections showed sensory over-responsivity at age one, while those with stronger social connections demonstrated better shared attention.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 22, 2024·4 min read

Strong Link Between Teen Cannabis Use and Psychosis Risk

A new study finds a strong association between teen cannabis use and a significantly increased risk of developing psychotic disorders. This risk appears to be age-dependent, with adolescents being particularly vulnerable to the effects of cannabis on their developing brains. While further research is needed, these findings raise concerns about early cannabis use and highlight the importance of prevention strategies.

Auditory Neuroscience Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 22, 2024·6 min read

Bilingual Babies’ Brains Adapt Early

Newborns exposed to multiple languages before birth show distinct brain responses to speech sounds. Unlike monolingual babies who are more attuned to a specific language's pitch, bilingual babies show greater sensitivity to a wider range of sounds. This study highlights the impact of prenatal linguistic environments on early brain development and sound processing.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·May 21, 2024·5 min read

Parental Distraction Negatively Impacts Child-Parent Interactions

A new study finds that any form of parental distraction, whether from screens or non-digital activities, negatively impacts parent-child interaction. Both digital and non-digital distractions led to reduced parental sensitivity and child engagement. This suggests that it's not the screens themselves, but rather the divided attention, that hinders parent-child communication.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 21, 2024·3 min read

Brain’s Self-Organization is Key to Development

A new study reveals that the brain's cortex can self-organize during development, transforming unorganized inputs into highly structured activity patterns. This self-organization is guided by mathematical rules similar to those found in other natural systems. Disruptions in these patterns could impact sensory perception and contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders like autism.