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brain research

Research articles and news stories tagged with brain research

·April 22, 2025·4 min read

Energy Starvation Triggers Dangerous Glutamate Surges in the Brain

The brain needs constant energy to function, especially for managing neurotransmitter activity. A new study shows that when energy is depleted—such as during a stroke—neurons begin releasing glutamate in abnormal, self-amplifying bursts that can damage nerve cells.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology Visual Neuroscience

·April 22, 2025·4 min read

Eye Clues to Schizophrenia Risk Found in Retinal Thickness

The retina, as part of the central nervous system, may reflect early signs of brain disorders like schizophrenia. A large-scale genetic study found that people with higher genetic risk for schizophrenia tend to have thinner retinas, even in the absence of symptoms.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 22, 2025·6 min read

Your Brain Learns From Fear, Thanks to Dopamine

New research reveals how dopamine helps the brain learn to avoid unpleasant outcomes by responding differently in distinct brain regions during negative experiences. In a study with mice, scientists tracked dopamine activity over time as animals learned to escape an adverse event, showing that one brain area adapted early in learning while another supported long-term avoidance behavior.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 22, 2025·4 min read

Temporary Anxiety Impairs Threat Recognition and Learning

A brief episode of anxiety can significantly impair a person’s ability to distinguish between safe and dangerous environments, according to new research using a virtual reality flower-picking game. Participants who developed clear spatial memory of which areas contained “stinging bees” (simulated by mild shocks) exhibited lower anxiety, while those who couldn’t differentiate the zones maintained high anxiety—even in safe spaces.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 22, 2025·4 min read

Gestures Help Listeners Predict Speech

Humans use hand gestures during conversation, but until now, it wasn’t clear whether listeners actively use these gestures to anticipate speech. A new study using virtual avatars shows that listeners indeed use iconic gestures—like miming typing—to predict what the speaker will say next.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 22, 2025·7 min read

Reading Brainwaves to Fine-Tune Consciousness in Surgeries

A new clinical trial shows that using EEG to guide anesthesia in children significantly reduces the amount of anesthetic needed while improving post-surgery recovery. By monitoring brain wave patterns, anesthesiologists maintained safe unconsciousness with lower doses of sevoflurane, leading to faster awakening and fewer cases of post-anesthesia delirium.

This shows a woman's face with a digital sticker.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 22, 2025·6 min read

Smart Sticker Reads Real Emotions Beneath the Surface

A new stretchable, rechargeable sticker developed by researchers can detect authentic emotional states by measuring physiological signals like heart rate, skin temperature, and humidity, even when facial expressions are misleading. The wearable patch transmits real-time data to mobile devices, helping health providers assess mental health remotely.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 22, 2025·4 min read

When to Talk Puberty: Parents Split on Best Timing

A national survey reveals that while most parents recognize the importance of discussing puberty, many are uncertain about when or how to start the conversation. Roughly half of parents prefer a proactive approach, while others wait until children ask questions—or avoid the topic altogether.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·April 22, 2025·5 min read

Microglia Reprogrammed to Deliver Precision Alzheimer’s Therapies

Researchers have developed engineered human microglia that detect disease-related brain changes and release therapeutic proteins precisely where needed. Using CRISPR technology, the team programmed these cells to secrete an enzyme that breaks down beta-amyloid plaques only in affected areas.

Featured Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·April 22, 2025·4 min read

Rewiring Retinal Messages to Slow Vision Loss in AMD

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of adult blindness, affects nearly half of Oklahomans over age 80. New research is uncovering how retinal cells communicate using microRNA and extracellular vesicles (EVs), with the goal of slowing AMD progression.

This shows food bowls and weight equipment.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 22, 2025·7 min read

Plant or Meat? Either Fuels Muscle Growth Equally

A new study finds that when it comes to building muscle, the source of dietary protein—whether animal- or plant-based—makes no difference, as long as intake is sufficient. Researchers also discovered that evenly distributing protein across meals doesn't enhance muscle protein synthesis compared to skewed intake later in the day.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·April 21, 2025·6 min read

Early Alzheimer’s Clues Found in Adults as Young as 24

A new study reveals that cognitive changes tied to Alzheimer's risk factors begin far earlier in life than previously thought, some as early as age 24. Researchers found associations between memory performance and cardiovascular risk factors, immune markers, and Alzheimer’s biomarkers (amyloid, tau, and neurodegeneration) in individuals aged 24–44.