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depression

This shows a map, half Is red and covered in negative emojis, the other is blue and covered with positive emojis, symbolizing the effect heat has on mood.

·August 31, 2025·6 min read

Extreme Heat Makes People More Negative

A large-scale global study shows that extreme heat affects not just our bodies, but also our emotions. Researchers analyzed over a billion social media posts and found that when temperatures exceeded 95°F (35°C), expressed sentiments became more negative, particularly in lower-income countries where effects were three times stronger.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·August 28, 2025·4 min read

Brain Cells Behind Depression Identified

Researchers analyzing post-mortem brain tissue found two cell types altered in people with depression: excitatory neurons that regulate mood and stress, and microglia that manage inflammation. The findings highlight how depression is tied to measurable brain changes, not just emotional symptoms.

This shows people walking up and down hills.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·August 28, 2025·3 min read

The Midlife “Unhappiness Hump” Has Vanished, But at a Cost

A new large-scale study finds that the long-observed “unhappiness hump,” where mental distress peaked in midlife, has disappeared. Instead, younger people now report the highest levels of anxiety, depression, and stress, with ill-being declining across the lifespan.

This shows a brain and people walking under it.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 25, 2025·3 min read

Brain Activity Pattern Linked to Self-Preoccupation and Anxiety

A new study identifies a brain activity pattern that signals self-preoccupied thinking, a trait associated with anxiety and depression. In experiments, the pattern appeared during mental breaks and predicted when people would soon turn their thoughts inward.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 22, 2025·2 min read

Brain Study Reveals Circuit Controlling Depression and Anxiety

A new study identifies brain area 46 in the marmoset dorsolateral prefrontal cortex as a key regulator of mood-related behavior. When this region was inactivated, the animals showed less interest in rewards and heightened sensitivity to threats, mimicking depression and anxiety symptoms.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 21, 2025·4 min read

How Stress Types Differently Impact Brain and Behavior

Stress is a universal experience, but not all stress affects the brain in the same way. A new study in rats reveals that acute stress provokes anxiety-like behaviors, especially in males, while chronic stress is more strongly tied to depressive symptoms.

This shows the outline of a person in a mix of haze and clouds.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 16, 2025·4 min read

Highly Sensitive People Face Greater Mental Health Risks

A large-scale meta-analysis of 33 studies has shown that highly sensitive individuals are more prone to common mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and avoidant personality disorder. Sensitivity was defined as a heightened responsiveness to environmental and emotional cues, making people more vulnerable but also more receptive to positive experiences and therapy.

This shows the outline of two heads and brains. One brain is foggy, as though representing depression.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 3, 2025·5 min read

Brain Reward Signals Blunted by Genetic Depression Risk

A new imaging study reveals that young adults with a higher genetic risk for depression show diminished brain activity when processing rewards and punishments. Using data from nearly 900 healthy twins and siblings, researchers found altered activation in brain regions linked to attention and decision-making—well before any symptoms of depression appeared.

This is a visual representation of the 5-HT1A serotonin receptor.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 2, 2025·6 min read

Fat Molecule May Control How You Feel Emotion

Scientists have uncovered how the brain’s 5-HT1A serotonin receptor—vital in mood regulation—functions at the molecular level. This receptor, a common target of antidepressants and psychedelics, prefers certain signaling pathways no matter the drug, but drugs can still vary in how strongly they activate them.

This shows the outline of two heads and smoke.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 23, 2025·4 min read

Tobacco Use Linked to Higher Depression and Anxiety

Adolescents who use e-cigarettes or conventional tobacco products are significantly more likely to report symptoms of depression and anxiety than non-users, a new study finds. Researchers analyzed data from over 60,000 U.S. middle and high school students surveyed between 2021 and 2023.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·July 21, 2025·7 min read

Most Mental Illnesses Arise Without Family History

A massive Danish study shows that most mental illnesses—like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression—occur in people with no close family history of the condition. Analyzing data from over 3 million individuals, researchers found that while heredity increases risk, most diagnosed individuals do not have affected relatives.

This shows a pregnant woman and gut bacteria.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 21, 2025·7 min read

Pregnancy Stress Disrupts Baby’s Microbiome, Increasing Depression Risk

Prenatal stress in mothers can leave a lasting imprint on their offspring, predisposing them to depression-like behaviors. Researchers found that maternal stress disrupts the gut microbiome and metabolite production, which are vertically transmitted to the young.

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depression

Extreme Heat Makes People More Negative

Brain Cells Behind Depression Identified

The Midlife “Unhappiness Hump” Has Vanished, But at a Cost

Brain Activity Pattern Linked to Self-Preoccupation and Anxiety

Brain Study Reveals Circuit Controlling Depression and Anxiety

How Stress Types Differently Impact Brain and Behavior

Highly Sensitive People Face Greater Mental Health Risks

Brain Reward Signals Blunted by Genetic Depression Risk

Fat Molecule May Control How You Feel Emotion

Tobacco Use Linked to Higher Depression and Anxiety

Most Mental Illnesses Arise Without Family History

Pregnancy Stress Disrupts Baby’s Microbiome, Increasing Depression Risk

Brain Conductors Find Precise Connection to Target Cells via Protein Handshake

Multilingualism Calculator Reveals True Language Strengths

Brain Blends Fast and Slow Signals to Shape Human Thought

Immune Signal Ratio May Predict Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

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