Researchers discover the brain circuits that rapidly detect friend or foe
Three key components have been identified, which allow for the rapid processing of emotion to assess whether someone is a potential friend or foe. ... Read More...
emotional processing
Happy, angry or neutral expressions? Eyes react just as fast
The initial reaction of the brain is independent of the facial emotional expression we see. It is only after the eye movement is completed that the brain shows strong responses to the emotional expression of a face.... Read More...
AI helps scientists predict depression outcomes
Artificial intelligence technology was able to identify specific brain regions which were most important for predicting whether a person with depression would respond to SSRI antidepressants. ... Read More...
Some children with autism more able to read thoughts and feelings from facial expressions than previously thought
A new study questions the theory that adolescents on the autism spectrum have trouble identifying different emotions expressed on the faces of others. The findings revealed adolescents with ASD have similar accuracy, response times, and fixation on facial features as their neurotypical peers when asked to infer mental states from faces.... Read More...
An island for negative emotions
In mice, the insular cortex processes negative emotions and bodily discomfort. The findings shed light on emotional processing in animals and humans.... Read More...
So cute you could crush it? The neuroscience of “cute aggression”
Some people feel an overwhelming sense of wanting to commit an act of aggression when they see a cute baby animal. Researchers say cute aggression may be a neural mechanism that mediates feelings of being overwhelmed. ... Read More...
Gender impacts brain activity in alcohol use disorder
Men with alcohol use disorder have diminished brain activity in areas associated with emotional processing, memory and social processing, compared to women with AUD. The findings may lead to gender-specific treatments to help relieve addition to alcohol.... Read More...
Gastrointestinal complaints in children could signal future mental health problem
A correlation between gastrointestinal symptoms, adversity and childhood anxiety has been identified by researchers at Columbia University. Studying fMRI data and fecal samples, researchers noted adversity was associated with microbial diversity changes and differences prefrontal cortex activation in response to emotional faces.... Read More...
PAC1R Mutation May Be Linked to Severity of Social Deficits in ASD
Researchers report a mutation of PAC1R may be linked to the severity of social deficits experienced by those on the autism spectrum. The findings could serve as a biomarker to guide interventions and predict better outcomes for children with ASD.... Read More...
People with Schizophrenia Experience Emotions Differently From Others, Body Map Shows
Study reveals those with schizophrenia have an overall reduction of bodily sensations across all emotions, where as those without the disorder show specific patterns of increase arousal and decreased energy across the body for each emotion.... Read More...
Key Differences in Brains of Women and Men with Schizophrenia
Researchers have identified key differences between the way males and females with schizophrenia process the emotional states of others than those without the condition. The study reports those with schizophrenia use less complex brain regions than healthy controls to process other people's emotions.... Read More...
Looking Inside the Brain to Distinguish Bipolar from Depression
A new neuroimaging study reveals those with bipolar depression have less activity in the amygdala and few connections with other areas of the brain than those with clinical depression. ... Read More...