FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·April 23, 2025·6 min readCan Brain Scans Tell Which Antidepressant Will Work for You?A new study shows that brain connectivity patterns, especially in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, can help predict how patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) will respond to antidepressants. By combining brain imaging with clinical data, researchers developed machine learning models that accurately predicted treatment outcomes across two large trials.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·April 18, 2025·5 min readPotential Depression Risk Linked to Ozempic-Like DrugsA new international study reveals a possible connection between GLP1 receptor agonists—used in drugs like Ozempic—and increased risk of depression and suicidal ideation, especially in people with low dopamine function. Researchers used advanced pharmacogenomic tools to identify genetic pathways that may be vulnerable to dopamine dysregulation when exposed to these medications.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·April 13, 2025·5 min readWhen Obsession Masquerades as Love: Understanding LimerenceLimerence is an intense, involuntary obsession with another person, often marked by intrusive thoughts, emotional dependency, and a fixation on perceived signs of interest or rejection. Coined by psychologist Dorothy Tennov in 1979, limerence differs from love due to its compulsive and often one-sided nature.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·April 13, 2025·4 min readAnxiety Distorts Self-Perception, Even After SuccessA new study reveals that people with anxiety or depression often underestimate their abilities due to a distorted metacognitive process. Even when they perform tasks well, they tend to focus on moments of low confidence and ignore times when they felt assured.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·April 11, 2025·5 min readProbiotics May Reduce Negative FeelingsA new study shows that daily probiotics can significantly reduce negative emotions such as anxiety, stress, and fatigue in healthy adults. Using a mix of mood tracking, emotion-processing tasks, and psychological questionnaires, researchers found that probiotics began improving mood after about two weeks.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·April 4, 2025·3 min readHow Psilocybin Lifts Mood Without the Hallucinogenic TripResearchers have uncovered two key brain mechanisms—specific neurons and a serotonin receptor—that help explain how psilocybin produces long-lasting antidepressant effects. Their study identified pyramidal tract neurons in the medial frontal cortex and the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor as essential to the therapeutic action of psilocybin.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·March 19, 2025·3 min readHigher Depression Risks for Night OwlsA new study finds that staying up late, known as having an “evening chronotype,” is associated with a higher risk of depression. Researchers analyzed data from 546 university students and found that this link is influenced by sleep quality, alcohol consumption, and mindfulness levels.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·February 18, 2025·4 min readDepression Speeds Up Physical IllnessAdults with a history of depression develop long-term physical conditions about 30% faster than those without, according to a large study. Researchers analyzed data from over 172,000 participants and found that those with depression accrued an average of 0.2 additional conditions per year, compared to 0.16 in those without.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·February 14, 2025·4 min readHow Ketamine Binds to Brain Receptors to Alter MoodNew research sheds light on how ketamine affects the brain by targeting a specific NMDA receptor subtype, GluN1-2B-2D. Scientists used electron cryo-microscopy to capture how ketamine binds to this receptor, revealing multiple attachment sites that influence brain activity.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·January 30, 2025·6 min readBlood Test May Predict Postpartum Depression Through Hormone LevelsWomen who develop postpartum depression (PPD) may have distinct neuroactive steroid levels during the third trimester of pregnancy. A study found that those with PPD had lower levels of pregnanolone, which reduces stress, and higher levels of isoallopregnanolone, which increases stress.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·January 27, 2025·3 min readDopamine Clock May Drive Bipolar Mood SwingsNew 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.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·January 22, 2025·7 min readTargeting Reward Pathways to Treat DepressionNew research highlights how the brain's reward-learning system can guide personalized treatments for depression. By studying two brain signals, expected value and prediction error, researchers identified markers that predict recovery potential and tailored responses to rewards and setbacks.Read More
