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Emory University

This shows a psychedelic brain and mushrooms.

·July 9, 2025·4 min read

Psilocybin Shows Promise as Anti-Aging Therapy

Psilocybin, the active compound derived from psychedelic mushrooms, significantly delayed cellular aging and extended lifespan in a preclinical study. Researchers observed a 50% increase in the lifespan of human skin and lung cells and a 30% increase in survival in aged mice treated with psilocybin.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 17, 2025·5 min read

Inflammation Tied to Motivation Loss in Schizophrenia

A new study has uncovered a biological link between inflammation and motivational deficits in people with schizophrenia, identifying a promising treatment target for symptoms that current medications fail to address. Higher levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein were associated with reduced activity in brain regions involved in reward and motivation, such as the ventral striatum and ventromedial prefrontal cortex.

This shows a child navigating a virtual city and a brain.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 11, 2025·9 min read

Five-Year-Olds Can Navigate Maps Using Adultlike Brain Systems

New research shows that the brain region supporting map-based navigation is active in children as young as five years old. Using a child-friendly virtual environment called Tiny Town, researchers demonstrated that young children can build and mentally hold maps to guide navigation.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 13, 2024·4 min read

Psychedelic Therapy Could Benefit 5.6 Million People with Depression

Psilocybin-assisted therapy could potentially benefit up to 5.6 million Americans with major depressive disorder or treatment-resistant depression, offering a powerful alternative to traditional treatments. Researchers applied medical criteria to a national pool of patients and found that over half might be eligible for psilocybin therapy, pending FDA approval. If approved, this therapy could significantly impact public health policies, insurance frameworks, and economic costs by reducing reliance on long-term antidepressant prescriptions.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 24, 2024·4 min read

Anti-inflammatory Drug Boosts Motivation in Depression

A new study reveals that infliximab, an anti-inflammatory drug, can improve motivation in patients with depression and high inflammation. Researchers found that patients receiving infliximab showed greater effort in reward-based tasks, correlating with changes in brain activity in key motivation regions.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 11, 2024·9 min read

Neural Circuitry Behind Social Group Preferences Discovered

Scientists have identified the brain circuitry that drives spiny mice to prefer larger social groups. The study shows that neural signaling from the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) to the lateral septum (LS) promotes social group-size preference. When this circuit was turned off, male mice preferred smaller groups, while female mice showed no preference. This research opens up new models for studying complex social behaviors and may provide insights into human social interactions.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·August 21, 2023·5 min read

Unlocking Schizophrenia: Mitochondria Dysfunction at the Forefront

Researchers have identified a pivotal role of impaired mitochondrial function in the development of schizophrenia by examining the genetic risk factor 3q29 deletion syndrome. The genetic condition, known to amplify schizophrenia risk by 40 times, displayed alterations in mitochondrial activity in both mice models and human brain organoids.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 15, 2023·8 min read

Oxytocin’s Role in Learning Birdsong Revealed

The study offers insights into the neurochemistry of social learning and draws parallels with language acquisition in humans. The researchers suggest these findings might contribute to understanding autism, as they shed light on the neurochemistry of early social bonds during language learning.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·February 11, 2023·6 min read

Extracts From Two Wild Plants Inhibit COVID-19 Virus

Extracts from two common wildflowers, tall goldenrod and eagle fern blocked SARS_CoV_2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, from entering human cells. Researchers warn the public they should not consume the plants as a means of self-treatment against coronavirus as they can be toxic. However, the findings could provide a new avenue to develop pharmaceutical treatments for COVID-19.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 27, 2023·4 min read

A Drug That Increases Dopamine Can Reverse the Effects of Inflammation on the Brain in Depression

Levodopa, a drug commonly prescribed for the treatment of Parkinson's disease that increases dopamine in the brain was found to reverse the effects of neuroinflammation on the reward system and improve symptoms associated with depression.

Autism Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·November 19, 2022·3 min read

Visualizing Brain Effects of Alzheimer’s Disease and Autism Spectrum Disorder

Novel PET imaging probes will show real-time brain activity that occurs during disease progression in autism and Alzheimer's disease.

This shows a gerbil and the chemical structure of testosterone

Featured Neuroscience

·August 12, 2022·7 min read

Testosterone Promotes ‘Cuddling,’ Not Just Aggression

While more commonly associated with promoting aggressive behaviors, testosterone can also promote social affection and prosocial behaviors in males, a new study on gerbils finds.