FeaturedNeuroscience·April 2, 2025·6 min readScreen Time in Bed Linked to Less Sleep, Higher Insomnia RiskA new study of over 45,000 young adults found that using screens in bed increases the risk of insomnia by 59% and cuts sleep by 24 minutes. Surprisingly, the type of activity—whether social media, movies, or studying—didn’t make a difference; it was the screen time itself that mattered most.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·March 21, 2025·4 min readSleep-Deprived Fruit Flies Show Sharper Memory via PKA SignalingFruit flies with genetic mutations that severely reduce sleep show enhanced performance in olfactory memory tasks, challenging assumptions about sleep’s role in cognition. This paradox appears to be driven by increased protein kinase A (PKA) signaling in the mushroom body, a brain region responsible for memory and sleep regulation.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·January 2, 2025·4 min readPoor Sleep Linked to Difficulty Controlling Unwanted ThoughtsSleep deprivation impairs brain regions responsible for suppressing unwanted thoughts, contributing to mental health challenges. Functional neuroimaging revealed reduced activation in the prefrontal cortex and increased hippocampal activity in sleep-deprived individuals, suggesting memory control deficits.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·May 8, 2024·6 min readLack of Sleep in Childhood Linked to Increased Psychosis RiskChildren who consistently experience insufficient sleep from infancy through early childhood are significantly more likely to develop psychosis as young adults. Analyzing data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, researchers found that chronic sleep deprivation is a strong predictor of both psychotic disorders and psychotic episodes later in life.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·May 7, 2024·5 min readCaffeine’s Double-Edged Sword: Boosting Energy or Risking Health?The caffeinated beverage industry continues to thrive, with the coffee sector alone generating significant economic activity. Yet, despite its popularity for boosting alertness and physical performance, caffeine, a powerful stimulant, can lead to dependence and exacerbate health issues.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·April 8, 2024·6 min readInsomnia Begins in Childhood and Persists Through LifeChildren and teens from racial and ethnic minority groups, especially Black children, are more likely to suffer from insomnia that begins in childhood and persists into adulthood. The study underscores the chronic nature of insomnia symptoms starting from a young age and their link to significant health issues, including cardiometabolic diseases and mental health disorders.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·March 28, 2024·4 min readSleeplessness Makes You Feel Up To Ten Years OlderResearchers unveiled a link between sleep quality and subjective age, demonstrating that insufficient sleep can make individuals feel significantly older. Through two studies involving over 600 participants, they found that each night of inadequate sleep contributed to feeling 0.23 years older, with sleep restriction causing participants to feel on average 4.4 years older.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·March 12, 2024·6 min readDistinct Sleep Patterns Linked to Health OutcomesResearchers have identified four distinct sleep patterns linked to long-term health outcomes, revealing the profound impact of sleep habits on chronic health conditions. Utilizing data from the Midlife in the United States study, the team found that "insomnia sleepers" and "nappers" dominate the population, with insomnia sleepers facing a higher risk of chronic illnesses like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and depression over a decade.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·November 2, 2023·7 min readSleepless Nights: The Brain’s Surprising Reaction to All-Nightersunveiled the science behind the buoyant mood many feel after acute sleep deprivation, like pulling an all-nighter. The study in mice showed that not only does dopamine release rise during these short periods without sleep, but the brain also rewires itself, enhancing synaptic plasticity for several days.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeurosciencePain·October 25, 2023·3 min readHow Sleep Loss Amplifies PainResearchers discovered how sleep deprivation can exacerbate pain. Their study demonstrates that a neurotransmitter, N-arachidonoyl dopamine (NADA), decreases in a brain region called the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) due to sleep loss.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·October 20, 2023·5 min readLinking Sleep Deficits to DepressionResearchers find a connection between consistently sleeping less than five hours nightly and an increased risk of developing depressive symptoms. Initially believed that poor sleep was a mere side effect of mental illness, the study suggests sleep might precede the onset of depression.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·October 2, 2023·6 min readSleep Struggles Link to Elevated Risk of HypertensionResearchers have found a notable link between insomnia symptoms and hypertension in women. Drawing from a 16-year study involving over 66,000 participants, the study showed women with sleep difficulties were more prone to high blood pressure.Read More
