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Elsevier

This shows a brain with a neutral network spreading from the PFC. A drink glass is behind the brain.

·August 16, 2025·5 min read

Boosting Prefrontal Dopamine Shows Promise in Cutting Alcohol Use

A new study reveals that tolcapone, a dopamine-enhancing drug, strengthens brain circuits involved in self-control while reducing alcohol intake in people with alcohol use disorder (AUD). The drug boosts activity in the inferior frontal gyrus, part of the prefrontal cortex, which supports inhibitory control.

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.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 7, 2025·5 min read

Timing of Prozac Treatment Shapes Lasting Mood, Brain Changes

New research reveals that the developmental timing of fluoxetine (Prozac) treatment profoundly influences long-term mood and brain function. In a rodent model, early postnatal treatment in males led to persistent anxiety and depression-like behaviors, while adolescent treatment reduced these behaviors.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 28, 2025·4 min read

Lingering Brain Changes May Raise Depression Relapse Risk

Even after symptoms subside, people who’ve experienced depression may retain a heightened sensitivity to punishment and negative feedback. A new study found that the brain's habenula—key to processing aversive signals—remains hyperactive in those with remitted depression, particularly during the anticipation of unpleasant outcomes.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 19, 2025·5 min read

Multiple Brain Profiles May Underlie the Same Depressive Symptoms

A new study reveals that the same clinical signs of depression may stem from different brain profiles, highlighting both one-to-one and many-to-one brain-symptom mappings. Using brain imaging data from the UK Biobank, researchers found that even when patients experience similar symptoms, their underlying neurobiology may differ significantly.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 2, 2025·5 min read

Motivation Struggles Persist After Depression Recovery

People who have recovered from depression show reduced motivation to pursue rewards unless the incentives are large and highly certain. Although mood improves post-recovery, hidden deficits in reward processing and decision-making linger, potentially contributing to relapse vulnerability.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 29, 2025·5 min read

Ultraprocessed Foods Linked to Rising Premature Deaths Worldwide

A new study across eight countries shows that higher consumption of ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) is significantly linked to increased premature deaths. Researchers found that each 10% rise in UPFs' share of total energy intake raises all-cause mortality risk by 3%.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·April 12, 2025·5 min read

Brain Enzyme Limits Risk of Drug Relapse

New research reveals that the enzyme HDAC5 plays a critical role in suppressing a gene (Scn4b) that regulates brain activity associated with drug-related memories, which are central to relapse in substance use disorders (SUDs). By limiting expression of Scn4b, HDAC5 reduces the excitability of neurons in the brain’s reward system, weakening the formation of powerful drug-environment associations.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 17, 2024·5 min read

Teen Brain’s Blunted Reward Response Predicts Depression Onset

A new study reveals that a reduced neural response to rewards in teens predicts the first onset of depression, but not anxiety or suicidality. Researchers used EEG scans to measure "reward positivity" in at-risk adolescents and found that those with blunted responses were more likely to develop depression.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 2, 2024·5 min read

Violence Exposure and Firearms Linked to Teen Suicide Risks

A study of U.S. high school students reveals a strong link between suicidal behavior, externalizing behaviors (such as physical violence), and exposure to violence. Adolescents with a history of weapon carrying or engaging in violent acts were found to have a higher risk of injurious suicide attempts, particularly when firearms are accessible.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 22, 2024·4 min read

Psychosis Cognitive Impairment Linked to Brain Network

New research reveals that cognitive impairments in psychotic disorders, like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, are connected to brain network organization. This connection is evident even before the first psychotic break in at-risk individuals, offering potential for early diagnosis and intervention. The study highlights a novel brain network-cognition relationship that could lead to targeted treatments for these often treatment-resistant symptoms.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·July 30, 2024·6 min read

MRI Scan Predicts Alzheimer’s Risk Before Symptoms Appear

A novel study finds that specialized MRI scans can detect early brain changes that indicate a higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) before significant cognitive decline occurs. Researchers discovered that cortical microstructural changes in the brain closely resemble patterns seen in AD pathology.

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Elsevier

Boosting Prefrontal Dopamine Shows Promise in Cutting Alcohol Use

Brain Reward Signals Blunted by Genetic Depression Risk

Timing of Prozac Treatment Shapes Lasting Mood, Brain Changes

Lingering Brain Changes May Raise Depression Relapse Risk

Multiple Brain Profiles May Underlie the Same Depressive Symptoms

Motivation Struggles Persist After Depression Recovery

Ultraprocessed Foods Linked to Rising Premature Deaths Worldwide

Brain Enzyme Limits Risk of Drug Relapse

Teen Brain’s Blunted Reward Response Predicts Depression Onset

Violence Exposure and Firearms Linked to Teen Suicide Risks

Psychosis Cognitive Impairment Linked to Brain Network

MRI Scan Predicts Alzheimer’s Risk Before Symptoms Appear

Multilingualism Calculator Reveals True Language Strengths

Brain Blends Fast and Slow Signals to Shape Human Thought

Immune Signal Ratio May Predict Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

Early Screen Time Linked to Long-Term Brain Changes, Teen Anxiety

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