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brain research

Research articles and news stories tagged with brain research

This shows a brain made of trees and a cityscape.

·April 3, 2026·10 min read

How Your Neighborhood and Nation Shape Your Brain’s Age

A 34-country study reveals that the "exposome"—the combination of pollution, social inequality, and political context—is 15 times more predictive of brain aging than any single risk factor. The research calls for a shift from individual "lifestyle" advice to broad structural policy changes to protect global brain health.

Featured Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·April 2, 2026·8 min read

How the Brain Builds Images Step-by-Step

How does the brain see edges and shapes? A new study confirms the Hubel and Wiesel model, showing that orientation selectivity is constructed in the visual cortex. Discover how the brain turns raw thalamic signals into visual perception.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 2, 2026·6 min read

Aggression Switch: Brain Path That Turns Threats into Attacks Found

Researchers have identified a neural pathway (LH to DRN) that controls physical attacks in mice without affecting threat displays. The study suggests that maladaptive aggression may be driven by an internal "aversive" state linked to early-life stress.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·April 2, 2026·7 min read

Mono Linked to a Threefold Increase in MS Risk

A study of nearly 19,000 people reveals that a history of infectious mononucleosis (mono) triples the risk of developing Multiple Sclerosis. The findings suggest that preventing Epstein-Barr virus infections could be a key strategy in reducing MS cases.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·April 2, 2026·8 min read

Poised Genes Time the Brain’s Growth

How does the brain time its own development? A new study explores histone bivalency—an epigenetic "red and green light" system that prevents premature neuron maturation and helps adult brains respond to stress and injury.

This shows a woman with her hair flowing and a clock.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·April 1, 2026·9 min read

Test Maps Circadian Rhythm Via Hair Sample

Researchers developed a non-invasive hair-follicle test to determine a person's internal clock. Analyzing 17 genes, the study reveals how age, gender, and especially lifestyle synchronize our biological rhythms.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 31, 2026·10 min read

How Slow Waves During Sleep Take Over to Clear Metabolic Trash

Researchers have developed a non-invasive MRI method to measure the brain’s self-cleansing process. The study reveals that during sleep, vascular pulsations take control of brain dynamics to accelerate waste removal.

This shows a DNA double helix and a pair of twins.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·March 31, 2026·8 min read

High IQ and High Status Share the Same Genes

A new study reveals that genetics explain up to 98% of the correlation between IQ and socioeconomic status. Researchers found that while upbringing matters, innate intelligence—driven largely by heredity—is the primary predictor of adult success.

This shows an abstract image of a brain and an imaginary scene of birds, trees, and nature.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 31, 2026·9 min read

Imagination Lives in the Brain’s “Meaning Centers”

Researchers have found that imagination is not just a "copy" of sensation. Instead, mental imagery relies on high-level association networks that process meaning and holistically organize scenes and language.

This shows a person laying awake in bed.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·March 30, 2026·7 min read

Irregular Bedtime Doubles Cardiac Risk

Does an irregular sleep schedule cause heart disease? New research links inconsistent bedtimes to a 2x higher risk of cardiovascular events. Discover why your "bedtime window" is a key predictor of heart health.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 30, 2026·6 min read

Perfect Timing for Memory Identified

Researchers used sea slug neurons to find the optimal interval for learning. Their findings suggest that a 24-hour gap between learning sessions triggers a unique cellular mechanism that solidifies long-term memory.

This shows cells moving through the gut.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·March 28, 2026·9 min read

How Intestinal Cells Trigger Multiple Sclerosis

Researchers have discovered that gut lining cells trigger the neuroinflammation seen in Multiple Sclerosis. By mistakenly "presenting" antigens, these cells create pathogenic Th17 cells that migrate to the brain and spinal cord.