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McGill University

·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.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 9, 2025·5 min read

Elevated Dopamine in Cannabis Users May Explain Psychosis Risk

New research reveals that people with cannabis use disorder (CUD) have elevated dopamine levels in a brain region associated with psychosis, such as schizophrenia. This may help explain why frequent cannabis use can increase the risk of hallucinations and delusions.

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Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 19, 2025·4 min read

Spiritual Practices Share a Common Mental Pathway to Deep Bliss

Researchers found that Buddhist jhāna meditation and Christian speaking in tongues, despite their differences, share a common cognitive feedback loop. This process, called the Attention, Arousal, and Release Spiral, creates a cycle where focused attention leads to joy, making concentration effortless and deepening the experience.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 27, 2025·3 min read

Dopamine Clock May Drive Bipolar Mood Swings

New research suggests that mood swings in bipolar disorder are regulated by two clocks: the body’s 24-hour circadian rhythm and a dopamine-based clock that influences alertness. When these clocks align at specific intervals, they may trigger shifts between mania and depression.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 21, 2024·4 min read

Cannabis Worsens Brain Connectivity Deficits in Psychosis Risk

Young adults at risk of psychosis show reduced synaptic density, a critical brain connectivity deficit that cannabis use appears to exacerbate, according to new research. The study revealed lower synaptic density linked to social withdrawal and motivational deficits, symptoms poorly addressed by current medications.

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Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·October 21, 2024·4 min read

Vitamin D Deficiency in Childhood Linked to Higher Autoimmune Risk

A recent study found that vitamin D deficiency during childhood accelerates the aging of the thymus, a crucial organ in training immune cells. As the thymus ages, it becomes less effective at filtering out cells that could mistakenly attack the body's own tissues, increasing the risk of autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 10, 2024·3 min read

Bilingual Brains Build Stronger Connections

New research demonstrates that learning a second language enhances brain connectivity, particularly when started in childhood. Scientists found that bilingual individuals have more efficient communication between brain regions, notably between the cerebellum and left frontal cortex.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·October 8, 2024·4 min read

Immune Response Linked to Lewy Body Formation

New research reveals that immune responses play a crucial role in the formation of Lewy bodies, protein aggregates that mark Parkinson's disease and other neurological conditions. Using human stem cells, scientists recreated Lewy bodies in dopaminergic neurons by combining alpha-synuclein protein buildup with immune stimulation.