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brain research

Research articles and news stories tagged with brain research

·March 2, 2026·6 min read

Brain’s Family Tree: A New Theory of Neural Self-Organization

A new theory of brain development suggests that neurons find their place by staying near their relatives, rather than following distant chemical signals.

Featured Neuroscience

·February 27, 2026·8 min read

Dopamine Surprise Gives Human Movements a Measurable Speed Boost

Unexpected rewards can make people move faster in just milliseconds. The findings show that movement vigor mirrors dopamine-based reward prediction signals and could provide a simple way to track brain health in disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and depression.

This shows a brain and a stressed person holding their head.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 23, 2026·7 min read

The Brain Ignores Itching When You’re Stressed

In a crisis, the last thing you want to do is scratch. Scientists discover the brain's "mute button" that silences itch during stress—and why it fails in chronic conditions.

This illustration shows two people chatting. Above them is the oxytocin molecular structure.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 19, 2026·8 min read

The Oxytocin Switch That Controls Your Social Vibe

It’s the brain’s social thermostat. Scientists have discovered the protein that controls the slow, steady drip of oxytocin that works alongside serotonin to prime us for human connection.

This shows the outline of a father and child. The father's head is clouded.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·February 18, 2026·9 min read

Social Competition Can Turn Nurturing Dads into Neglectful Ones

Is neglect a molecular choice? Scientists have discovered a brain switch that can turn a "Dad-of-the-Year" into a neglectful parent based on his environment.

This shows a representation of a hippocampal neuron.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·February 18, 2026·9 min read

Mapping Technology Reveals the Brain’s Secret Protein Factories

DNA is just the beginning. A new mapping technology reveals that brain cells produce proteins at wildly different rates, providing a missing link in our understanding of neurological disease.

This shows the serotonin molecular structure and a brain.

Featured Neuroscience

·February 17, 2026·8 min read

DMT Myth? Study Finds No Evidence of “Spirit Molecule” Rat Brains

"The Spirit Molecule" might be a ghost. A new study finds no evidence that the brain naturally produces or stores DMT, debunking a long-held theory in psychedelic science.

Brain Cancer Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·February 14, 2026·9 min read

Brain Tumor Pressure Triggers Neuron Death Pathways

It's not just the cancer that kills, it's the pressure. Scientists have discovered that physical force on the brain triggers a genetic "suicide" switch in healthy neurons.

This shows a diagram of a brain with the areas identified as part of the compulsion network highlighted.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 14, 2026·6 min read

Brain Signal Linked to OCD Compulsions Identified

A newly identified high-frequency brain signal in the frontal cortex appears to drive compulsive behaviors in OCD. In three severe cases, briefly disrupting this activity through targeted deep brain stimulation rapidly reduced symptoms, offering hope for more precise and responsive treatments.

This shows a couple in love with an overlay of neurons connecting them.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 14, 2026·5 min read

What Falling in Love Does to Your Brain

Falling in love activates the brain’s reward system much like food or addictive substances. Dopamine surges create euphoria and obsessive focus, while stress hormones intensify the experience. Meanwhile, brain regions tied to critical judgment quiet down, allowing emotional bonding to take precedence over skepticism. As relationships mature, bonding hormones reshape that initial spark into lasting attachment.

Featured Neuroscience

·February 11, 2026·8 min read

AI “Mind Control” Can Stop Animal Behaviors in a Split Second

Researchers developed an advanced AI system named YORU that can identify specific animal behaviors with over 90% accuracy across multiple species. By combining this high-speed recognition with optogenetics, the team successfully demonstrated the ability to shut down specific brain circuits in real-time using targeted light.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 5, 2026·5 min read

Multilingualism Calculator Reveals True Language Strengths

A new study introduces a multilingualism calculator that quantifies how multilingual a person truly is, offering a clearer alternative to vague labels like “bilingual.” By combining age of acquisition with self-rated listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills across languages, the tool generates both a multilingualism score and a language-dominance profile.