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neurobiology

·June 11, 2025·5 min read

Fast-Track to Happiness: One Week of Micro-Acts Makes a Difference

A new study has shown that just seven days of small, daily acts of kindness and gratitude can significantly improve emotional wellbeing. In the web-based Big Joy Project, nearly 17,600 participants from around the world performed micro-acts like sharing joyful moments and listing things they’re grateful for.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·June 11, 2025·7 min read

New Map Reveals First Steps of Protein Clumping in Alzheimer’s

Scientists have mapped how over 140,000 mutations affect the formation of amyloid beta fibrils, offering an unprecedented look at early events in Alzheimer’s disease. By combining DNA synthesis, genetically engineered yeast, and machine learning, they built a detailed energy landscape of the protein’s transition state—an elusive moment before plaque formation begins.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 11, 2025·7 min read

Brain Maps of Reward Adapt Fast to New Experiences

A new study reveals that the brain rapidly rewires itself to map rewarding experiences like food, even when the location of those rewards changes. Using virtual reality and real-time brain imaging, researchers observed how mice formed flexible "reward maps" in the hippocampus that updated within moments of reward relocation.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 11, 2025·8 min read

How the Brain Solves Problems When It Can’t Be Perfect

A new study reveals how humans use flexible problem-solving strategies like hierarchical and counterfactual reasoning when faced with complex tasks. Researchers had participants predict a hidden ball’s path through a maze, requiring them to make real-time decisions based on sound cues and memory.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 11, 2025·5 min read

“Meal Memory” Neurons Found to Curb Overeating

Researchers have identified neurons in the hippocampus that store "meal memories," encoding both what and when food was consumed. These specialized memory traces, or meal engrams, form during pauses between bites, helping the brain log eating experiences.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·June 11, 2025·5 min read

Hidden Protein Defects Behind Autism Identified

Researchers have created a standardized mouse stem cell library containing 63 genetic variants strongly linked to autism spectrum disorder. Using CRISPR gene editing, the team generated mice and diverse tissues from these modified cells, allowing them to model autism at both the cellular and organismal level.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·June 10, 2025·4 min read

How the Brain’s RNA Rings Are Formed

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are stable, ring-shaped molecules that play crucial roles in brain development, cognition, and long-term cellular regulation. Unlike typical RNA, they form closed loops that resist degradation, making them ideal for neurons.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 10, 2025·6 min read

Baby Talk Enhances Infant Speech Learning

A new meta-analysis confirms that adults exaggerate vowel sounds when speaking to infants, a feature known as vowel hyperarticulation in infant-directed speech (IDS). By analyzing 55 studies across at least 10 languages, researchers found consistent evidence for this speech pattern, though its strength varied depending on language, method, and sample size.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·June 10, 2025·6 min read

Genetic Sensitivity to Environment May Shape Mental Health Traits

A large international study of over 21,000 identical twins has identified genetic variants that influence how individuals respond to life experiences, affecting traits such as anxiety, depression, and autistic traits. By analyzing genetic differences in identical twins, researchers discovered that certain genes make people more or less sensitive to environmental exposures.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·June 10, 2025·3 min read

How Acetaminophen Silences Pain Before It Reaches the Brain

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) doesn’t just work in the brain—it also shuts off pain at its source in the peripheral nerves. The study found that after taking paracetamol, the body produces a compound called AM404 directly in pain-sensing nerve endings.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 10, 2025·3 min read

Stress-Linked Brain Pathway Disrupts Sleep and Memory

New research reveals a stress-sensitive neural pathway that impairs both sleep and memory in male mice. Scientists activated neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus, known for their role in stress response, which caused sleep loss and poor memory performance.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 10, 2025·4 min read

Psilocybin Elevates Spiritual Awareness

Psilocybin significantly enhances psychological well-being and spiritual insight among clergy members across major world religions. Participants reported lasting positive changes in religious practice, personal beliefs, and vocational effectiveness after two guided psilocybin sessions.

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neurobiology

Fast-Track to Happiness: One Week of Micro-Acts Makes a Difference

New Map Reveals First Steps of Protein Clumping in Alzheimer’s

Brain Maps of Reward Adapt Fast to New Experiences

How the Brain Solves Problems When It Can’t Be Perfect

“Meal Memory” Neurons Found to Curb Overeating

Hidden Protein Defects Behind Autism Identified

How the Brain’s RNA Rings Are Formed

Baby Talk Enhances Infant Speech Learning

Genetic Sensitivity to Environment May Shape Mental Health Traits

How Acetaminophen Silences Pain Before It Reaches the Brain

Stress-Linked Brain Pathway Disrupts Sleep and Memory

Psilocybin Elevates Spiritual Awareness

Alcohol Alters Brain Flexibility Based on Hidden Dementia Markings

Ketogenic Diet Eases Schizophrenia and Bipolar Symptoms

Tears Can Be Used to Detect Dopamine Levels

Air Pollution Drives Parkinson’s Risk

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