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circadian rhythm

This shows a person standing in sunlight.

·May 26, 2025·3 min read

Daylight Boosts Immune Defense

Researchers have discovered that daylight enhances the infection-fighting power of neutrophils, the most abundant white blood cells in the body. Using transparent zebrafish, scientists observed that these immune cells contain internal circadian clocks that are activated by light, boosting their bacterial-killing ability during the day.

This shows the outline of a teen, a clock and a brain.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·February 18, 2025·5 min read

How the Body’s Clock Influences Eating and Weight Gain in Teens

A new study reveals that the body’s internal clock plays a key role in eating behavior, influencing when and how much adolescents eat. Researchers found that teens with overweight or obesity consumed significantly more calories later in the day compared to those with a healthy weight. By isolating circadian influences from environmental and behavioral factors, they confirmed that food intake peaks in the late afternoon and evening regardless of sleep duration or external time cues.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 27, 2025·3 min read

Dopamine Clock May Drive Bipolar Mood Swings

New research suggests that mood swings in bipolar disorder are regulated by two clocks: the body’s 24-hour circadian rhythm and a dopamine-based clock that influences alertness. When these clocks align at specific intervals, they may trigger shifts between mania and depression.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·December 18, 2024·4 min read

Circadian Clock Influences Inflammation and Disease

New research reveals how the body’s circadian clock regulates macrophage activity, influencing immune system inflammation throughout the day. Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, a key component in the immune response, peaks during the morning when macrophages are most efficient.

Brain Cancer Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·December 12, 2024·8 min read

Glioblastoma Syncs With the Body’s Internal Clock

Glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, syncs its internal clock to the host’s circadian rhythms, leveraging daily hormone cycles for growth. Blocking these signals slowed tumor progression in mice and revealed that the timing of treatments like dexamethasone (DEX) critically influences outcomes.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 5, 2024·5 min read

Mapping the Brain’s 24-Hour Clock

Researchers have created the first complete map of the circadian clock in the Drosophila brain, revealing it consists of at least 240 neurons—far more than previously thought. This detailed map shows similarities between the clock mechanisms of insects and vertebrates, offering new insights into how rhythms like sleep, feeding, and hormone release are coordinated.

This shows a brain and a person sleeping.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 25, 2024·6 min read

Brain’s Locus Coeruleus Revealed as Key to Sleep Transitions

A new study uncovers the role of the brain's locus coeruleus (LC) in regulating sleep cycles, managing transitions between NREM and REM sleep. This brainstem region alternates between activity peaks and troughs during sleep, acting like a clock to control sleep-state shifts.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 9, 2024·4 min read

Disrupted Eating Cycles? Liver-Brain Signals Hold Key to Balance

A new study highlights how signals from the liver to the brain influence eating patterns tied to our circadian rhythms. This liver-brain communication can become disrupted in people working night shifts or irregular hours, leading to weight gain and metabolic issues.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 5, 2024·5 min read

Gut Bacteria Modulate Stress Responses Over Time

New research has unveiled how gut bacteria play a key role in regulating stress by interacting with circadian rhythms, opening possibilities for microbiome-based therapies for mental health. Researchers found that depletion of certain gut bacteria can lead to time-specific increases in stress responses through the HPA axis, the body's central stress response system. Specific bacteria, such as Limosilactobacillus reuteri, were identified as crucial to modulating stress hormones throughout the day.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·August 28, 2024·5 min read

How Moths Evolve Through Time-Based Speciation

Researchers have uncovered how two closely related moth species in the southeastern U.S. evolved into separate species by shifting their active periods. Instead of a physical barrier, the key difference lies in their circadian rhythms, regulated by clock genes. This discovery provides a rare glimpse into speciation at the molecular level and highlights the importance of studying diverse species to understand broader biological patterns.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 15, 2024·5 min read

Night Owls Have Higher Cognitive Aptitude

A recent study links sleep preferences to brain performance, finding that "night owls" often score higher on cognitive tests than "morning larks." Researchers analyzed data from over 26,000 people, highlighting that sleeping 7-9 hours a night optimizes brain function.

This shows a young woman working on a computer.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·April 6, 2024·5 min read

Early Career Work Schedules Tied to Midlife Health Risks

Nonstandard work schedules early in life correlate with poorer health outcomes at middle age. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth-1979, the research examines over 30 years of employment patterns and their impacts on sleep quality, physical, and mental health by age 50.

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circadian rhythm

Daylight Boosts Immune Defense

How the Body’s Clock Influences Eating and Weight Gain in Teens

Dopamine Clock May Drive Bipolar Mood Swings

Circadian Clock Influences Inflammation and Disease

Glioblastoma Syncs With the Body’s Internal Clock

Mapping the Brain’s 24-Hour Clock

Brain’s Locus Coeruleus Revealed as Key to Sleep Transitions

Disrupted Eating Cycles? Liver-Brain Signals Hold Key to Balance

Gut Bacteria Modulate Stress Responses Over Time

How Moths Evolve Through Time-Based Speciation

Night Owls Have Higher Cognitive Aptitude

Early Career Work Schedules Tied to Midlife Health Risks

Schizophrenia Risk Gene Linked to Hyper-Excitable Neurons

Healthy Weight and Quitting Smoking Reduce Dementia Risk

Using Physics Equations to Map Memory Distortions

Real-Time Memory Test Created to Spot Alcohol Blackouts

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