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McGill University

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·October 21, 2025·5 min read

Tobacco and Cannabis Together Alter Brain’s “Bliss Molecule” System

People who use both cannabis and tobacco show unique brain chemistry linked to higher anxiety, depression, and difficulty quitting. Brain scans revealed increased levels of FAAH, an enzyme that breaks down the brain’s “bliss molecule,” anandamide.

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Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 29, 2025·6 min read

Preschool Overeating in Girls Linked to Teen Anxiety and Impulsivity

A study tracking more than 2,000 Quebec children found that girls who regularly overate in the preschool years were more likely to report anxiety, impulsivity, and hyperactivity during adolescence. The association was not found in boys, pointing to possible sociocultural influences such as closer monitoring and restrictive food environments for girls.

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Featured Neuroscience

·September 11, 2025·5 min read

How the Brain Uses Objects to Find Direction

Scientists discovered how the brain uses objects to anchor our sense of direction, solving part of the mystery of spatial navigation. Experiments in mice showed that cells in the postsubiculum fired strongly when facing an object, while cells for other directions were suppressed, sharpening orientation.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·August 28, 2025·4 min read

Brain Cells Behind Depression Identified

Researchers analyzing post-mortem brain tissue found two cell types altered in people with depression: excitatory neurons that regulate mood and stress, and microglia that manage inflammation. The findings highlight how depression is tied to measurable brain changes, not just emotional symptoms.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 20, 2025·6 min read

Ketamine Plus Therapy Offers Lasting Relief for Severe Depression

A first-of-its-kind clinical trial shows that ketamine treatment for severe, treatment-resistant depression is significantly more effective when paired with psychotherapy and supportive environments. Patients who underwent this combined treatment reported a 30% drop in depression symptoms, with reduced anxiety and suicidal thoughts lasting at least eight weeks.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 18, 2025·4 min read

Teen Sleep Patterns May Shape Brain Disorder Risk

Disrupting circadian rhythms during adolescence may alter how the brain responds to prenatal infections, a known risk factor for disorders like schizophrenia and autism. In a new mouse study, researchers found that each factor alone changed behavior and brain activity, but their combination produced unique effects—sometimes even counteracting one another.

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Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·May 22, 2025·4 min read

Blood Test Identifies Depression Risk in Teenagers

Summary: Researchers have identified nine blood-based microRNAs that are elevated in teens diagnosed with depression, offering a potential biomarker for...

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 14, 2025·4 min read

Incel Culture Links Work Avoidance to Group Loyalty

A new study reveals that many self-identified incels reject employment not only due to mental health challenges, but as a deliberate expression of identity reinforced by online communities. By analyzing over 1,200 forum posts, researchers found that incel spaces often celebrate unemployment and isolation as signs of ideological purity, pressuring others to remain disengaged from work or education.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·May 7, 2025·5 min read

Gut Microbiome Reveals Chronic Pain Risk, AI Study Finds

New research shows that AI can identify complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) with over 90% accuracy by analyzing gut microbiome patterns. Despite differences in geography and diet, a shared "microbiome signature" was detected across patients from Israel and Canada.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 3, 2025·3 min read

Your Brain and Body Literally Sync to Music

A new international study supports Neural Resonance Theory (NRT), which suggests that music perception and enjoyment arise from natural brain and body oscillations that sync with rhythm, melody, and harmony. Unlike prediction-based models, NRT proposes that our brains physically resonate with music, shaping timing, pleasure, and the instinct to move.

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Featured Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·April 25, 2025·5 min read

Eyes Reveal Intentions Faster Than We Think

Humans can detect another person’s intentions just by observing their eyes, even before any movement takes place. In experiments where participants watched video clips of people about to shift their gaze, viewers responded faster when the gaze was self-directed rather than instructed.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·April 23, 2025·4 min read

Clearing Zombie Cells Eases Back Pain

A new preclinical study has found that two drugs—o-Vanillin and RG-7112—can clear “zombie cells” from spinal discs, potentially treating the root cause of chronic low back pain. These senescent cells accumulate with age or injury and cause inflammation, pain, and tissue damage.