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mental health

This shows a glass of soda and a brain floating above it.

·February 16, 2026·7 min read

Study Links Sugary Drinks to Adolescent Anxiety

We know sugar is bad for the body, but what about the mind? A new study finds a troubling link between sugary drinks and the rising tide of anxiety in young people.

This illustration shows a head made up of cannabis leaves, implying the affect of cannabis on the aging brain.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 16, 2026·13 min read

Moderate Cannabis Use May Protect the Aging Brain

A massive study of over 26,000 middle aged and older adults reveals that those who use cannabis in moderation have larger brain volumes and sharper cognitive skills than non-users.

This shows two heads, one shows symbols of diminished rewards, the other an abundance of rewards.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 14, 2026·7 min read

How the Brain Distinguishes Instant Treats from Long-Term Triumphs

Is your brain chasing a reward or checking off a goal? Scientists have found a specific electrical signal that could explain why depression dulls pleasure and how to fix it.

This shows a diagram of a brain with the areas identified as part of the compulsion network highlighted.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 14, 2026·6 min read

Brain Signal Linked to OCD Compulsions Identified

A newly identified high-frequency brain signal in the frontal cortex appears to drive compulsive behaviors in OCD. In three severe cases, briefly disrupting this activity through targeted deep brain stimulation rapidly reduced symptoms, offering hope for more precise and responsive treatments.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 13, 2026·8 min read

Antidepressants May Safeguard Against Preterm Birth Risks

Does treating depression with antidepressants during pregnancy harm the baby? A massive new study reveals that while SSRIs increase gestational diabetes risk, they also protect against preterm birth.

This shows a brain with the nucleus accumbens highlighted, showing where the drug activates to prevent opioid relapse behaviors.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 13, 2026·7 min read

Glaucoma Drug Repurposed to Block Opioid Cravings and Relapse

An old drug for glaucoma might be the key to stopping opioid relapse. New research shows acetazolamide "resets" the brain's reward center to block cravings.

This shows a person looking at a cloud covered, digital head, symbolizing a human connection with AI chatbots.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 13, 2026·7 min read

When AI Becomes a Co-Author of Your Delusions

Generative AI doesn’t just hallucinate at us, it can shape how we hallucinate with it. By affirming and elaborating on users’ beliefs, conversational systems may help false narratives take root and grow.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Psychology

·December 30, 2025·8 min read

Early Screen Time Linked to Long-Term Brain Changes, Teen Anxiety

New research following children for more than a decade links high screen exposure before age two to accelerated brain maturation, slower decision-making, and increased anxiety by adolescence. Infants with more screen time showed premature specialization in brain networks involved in visual processing and cognitive control, which later reduced flexibility during thinking tasks.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 18, 2025·7 min read

Depression Quietly Damages the Heart Through Stress Circuits

Depression and anxiety may heighten cardiovascular disease risk through chronic stress pathways in the brain and body. In a large analysis of more than 85,000 adults, those with depression or anxiety — especially both — were significantly more likely to experience heart attack, stroke or heart failure.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 11, 2025·7 min read

Stress Levels Predict Cannabis Use

New research shows that rats with naturally higher baseline stress hormone levels are significantly more likely to self-administer cannabis vapor. Over several weeks, rats were allowed to nose-poke for cannabis, and those with elevated corticosterone displayed the strongest drug-seeking behavior.

Neuroscience

·December 10, 2025·7 min read

Anti-Inflammatory Treatments Show Promise for Depression

A new analysis shows that anti-inflammatory medications may help reduce symptoms for a subset of people with depression who also have chronic, low-grade inflammation. By reviewing randomized controlled trials that specifically enrolled individuals with elevated inflammatory markers, researchers found that anti-inflammatory treatments significantly reduced both overall depressive symptoms and anhedonia.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 8, 2025·5 min read

PTSD Linked to Accelerated Brain Aging

A new study using advanced deep-learning brain age estimation shows that World Trade Center responders with PTSD exhibit signs of accelerated brain aging. Using BrainAgeNeXt, a model trained on more than 11,000 MRI scans, researchers found that responders with PTSD had “older” appearing brains than those without the disorder, especially among individuals with longer exposure at Ground Zero.