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mental health

·July 7, 2025·5 min read

Timing of Prozac Treatment Shapes Lasting Mood, Brain Changes

New research reveals that the developmental timing of fluoxetine (Prozac) treatment profoundly influences long-term mood and brain function. In a rodent model, early postnatal treatment in males led to persistent anxiety and depression-like behaviors, while adolescent treatment reduced these behaviors.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 7, 2025·3 min read

Emotional Neglect in Childhood Undermines Trust in One’s Own Body

A new meta-analysis links childhood emotional abuse and neglect to reduced trust in one’s bodily signals, highlighting the long-term mental health risks. Researchers analyzed 17 studies with 3,705 participants, finding that while maltreatment did not generally impair interoception, emotional maltreatment was strongly tied to lower body trust.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 7, 2025·4 min read

Anxious Mondays Leave Lasting Mark on Stress

A new study reveals that anxiety felt on Mondays uniquely elevates stress hormones, even in retirees, with potential consequences for heart health. Researchers found older adults who reported Monday anxiety had 23% higher long-term cortisol levels than peers anxious on other days.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 2, 2025·6 min read

TikTok ADHD Misinformation Can Mislead Young Minds

College students increasingly turn to TikTok for information, including on mental health. A new study found that exposure to misinformation about ADHD on the platform reduced students’ factual knowledge but increased their confidence in that knowledge. Participants who viewed misleading content were also more likely to seek both scientifically supported and unproven treatments.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 1, 2025·5 min read

AI Facial Analysis Detects PTSD

Diagnosing PTSD in children is often hindered by limited communication and emotional awareness, but new research is using AI to bridge that gap. By analyzing facial movements during interviews, researchers created a privacy-preserving tool that can identify PTSD-related expression patterns. Their system does not use raw video but instead tracks non-identifying facial cues such as eye gaze and mouth movement.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·June 30, 2025·3 min read

Tiny RNA Mark Helps Explain Brain Wiring and Mental Disorders

New research reveals how a tiny chemical mark on RNA helps wire the brain during development. Scientists discovered that m6A methylation regulates the production of proteins essential for axon growth, including APC and β-actin.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·June 28, 2025·6 min read

One Gene Rewires Fear Circuits and Fuels Anxiety

Researchers have uncovered how losing the autism-linked gene PTEN in a specific set of inhibitory neurons reshapes brain circuits tied to fear and anxiety. Using advanced circuit-mapping techniques, they found that deleting PTEN in somatostatin-expressing neurons of the amygdala disrupted local inhibition by 50% while strengthening excitatory input from nearby brain regions.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 28, 2025·5 min read

Exercise Proven to Boost Kids’ Mental Health

A massive analysis of over 375 trials shows that structured exercise significantly reduces depression and anxiety in children and teens. Low-intensity resistance activities like light weights were most effective for easing anxiety, while moderate mixed-mode programs worked best for depression—especially when lasting under 12 weeks.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 28, 2025·4 min read

Lingering Brain Changes May Raise Depression Relapse Risk

Even after symptoms subside, people who’ve experienced depression may retain a heightened sensitivity to punishment and negative feedback. A new study found that the brain's habenula—key to processing aversive signals—remains hyperactive in those with remitted depression, particularly during the anticipation of unpleasant outcomes.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 27, 2025·5 min read

Brain Injury Could Explain Sudden Criminal Behavior

A new study has found that damage to a specific white matter pathway in the brain—the right uncinate fasciculus—may increase the likelihood of criminal or violent behavior following brain injury. Researchers analyzed scans from individuals who began committing crimes after suffering strokes, tumors, or traumatic injuries and found consistent damage to this region.

This shows the outline of a head and a brain.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 26, 2025·4 min read

Brain Structure Differences Linked to Antisocial Traits in Psychopathy

A new neuroimaging study has identified distinct structural brain differences in individuals with psychopathy, particularly those with high antisocial traits. Reduced volumes were found in subcortical and cortical areas involved in emotion, decision-making, and social behavior.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 25, 2025·6 min read

Grip Strength Reveals Brain Clues Behind Early Psychosis

Psychosis may start not with hallucinations, but with subtle motor changes like reduced grip strength. A new study reveals that lower grip strength in people with early psychosis is linked to altered brain connectivity, particularly in networks that govern both movement and cognition.