FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·August 26, 2020·6 min readGot Fatigue? Study Further Pinpoints Brain Regions That May Control ItNeuroimaging pinpoints areas of the brain that regulate efforts to deal with fatigue. The study reveals the neural mechanisms that contribute to feelings of fatigue.Read More
FeaturedOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·August 21, 2020·4 min readWhy Obeying Orders Can Make Us Do Terrible ThingsCoercion to perform detrimental actions against others reduces empathy and guilt, a new study reports. The findings may explain why people are able to commit immoral acts that go against their ethical stance when coerced.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·April 4, 2020·4 min readAnterior insula activation restores prosocial behavior in animal model of opioid addictionUsing chemogenetic methods, researchers activated neurons in the anterior insular and increased prosocial behavior in rodent models of opioid addiction.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·February 21, 2020·4 min readThe practice of meditation leaves marks in the brainThree months of transcendental meditation reduced anxiety and resulted in marked changes in connectivity between the precuneus, left parietal lobe, and insula.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·November 25, 2019·5 min readHow our dreams prepare us to face our fearsStudy identified the neural correlates of fear during dreaming and reports similar areas are activated when experiencing fear during wakeful states.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·October 29, 2019·5 min readWhich came first: Brain size or drinking propensity?Reduced gray matter volume in the insula and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex may represent a genetically conferred predispositional risk factor for alcohol use disorder.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·September 25, 2019·5 min readBrain anatomy changes with maturation to adolescenceWhite matter tracts show increasing maturation with age from the back to the front of the brain. The maturations begin as a child reaches 9-12 years of age. The maturity correlates with a critical and formative period of development.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·August 28, 2019·4 min readAn island for negative emotionsIn mice, the insular cortex processes negative emotions and bodily discomfort. The findings shed light on emotional processing in animals and humans.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·July 28, 2019·4 min readFrog in your throat? Stress might be to blame for vocal issuesStress can have an impact on voice disorders. Researchers found those with higher salivary cortisol levels also exhibited brain activity that impacted the larynx. Those who were more introverted were more likely to have stress reactions related to speech.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeurosciencePainPsychology·May 21, 2019·2 min readMultiple brain regions moderate and link depressive mood and painPeople with higher levels of depressive moods exhibited heightened sensitivity to pain, and had greater activation in the prefrontal cortex, insula and somatosensory cortex.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·May 20, 2019·4 min readAnxious people quicker to flee dangerThose with anxiety escape from non-imminent threats of danger sooner than those who are not anxious.Read More
FeaturedNeurology·January 31, 2019·3 min readExercise Benefits Brains and Blood Flow Changes in Older AdultsExercise is associated with improved brain function and a decrease in cerebral blood flow in older people with mild cognitive impairment, a new study reports.Read More
