Latest

neurobiology

·May 29, 2025·6 min read

Sleep Aid May Protect Brain from Alzheimer’s Damage

A common sleep medication, lemborexant, may do more than promote rest—it appears to reduce harmful tau buildup and protect the brain from neurodegeneration in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers found that this orexin receptor antagonist not only restored healthier sleep patterns but also preserved brain structure and reduced inflammation.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 29, 2025·8 min read

Astrocytes May Hold the Key to Brain’s Vast Memory Capacity

New research proposes that astrocytes—long thought to be merely supportive cells—may significantly enhance the brain’s ability to store memories. Unlike neurons, astrocytes cannot fire electrical signals but can influence synaptic activity through calcium signaling and gliotransmitters.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·May 29, 2025·7 min read

Decoding Brain Aging: A 10-Year Study Opens Data for Discovery

A decade-long brain health study has released its full dataset, offering rare longitudinal insights into how cognition and brain structure change across adulthood. The Dallas Lifespan Brain Study tracked nearly 500 individuals from age 21 to 89 over three timepoints using brain scans, cognitive tests, and health surveys.

Autism Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·May 29, 2025·5 min read

Link Found Between Autism and Early-Onset Parkinson’s Risk

A large-scale Swedish study has found that individuals with autism are at significantly higher risk of developing early-onset Parkinson’s disease. Researchers followed over two million people and discovered that those with autism were four times more likely to develop the neurodegenerative condition before age 50.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 29, 2025·7 min read

Singing to Infants Boosts Mood and Bonding

A new randomized study found that when parents sing more frequently to their infants, both babies and caregivers experience measurable improvements in mood and wellbeing. The study involved 110 caregiver-infant pairs who participated in a four-week music enrichment intervention via smartphone.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 28, 2025·4 min read

LLMs Mimic Human Cognitive Dissonance

A new study reveals that GPT-4o, a leading large language model, displays behavior resembling cognitive dissonance—a core human psychological trait. When asked to write essays either supporting or opposing Vladimir Putin, GPT-4o’s subsequent “opinions” shifted to align with its written stance, especially when it “believed” the choice was its own.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 28, 2025·4 min read

Cats Can Recognize Their Owners by Smell Alone

A new study has found that domestic cats can distinguish between their owner’s scent and that of a stranger using their sense of smell alone. When presented with scent samples from familiar and unfamiliar humans, cats consistently spent more time sniffing the unfamiliar scent.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 28, 2025·6 min read

Brain Neurons Act Like Traffic Lights to Control Every Move

New research reveals that neurons in the basal ganglia not only initiate movement but also suppress it with remarkable precision, challenging the traditional view that they merely act as a brake. Scientists studying mice found that individual neurons in the Substantia Nigra pars reticulata (SNr) switch dynamically between activation and inhibition based on the phase of a movement.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·May 27, 2025·6 min read

Early Autism Traits Show No Sex Differences in Toddlers

A large-scale study of over 2,500 toddlers found no significant clinical differences in autistic traits between males and females at the time of early diagnosis. Conducted over two decades, the study used comprehensive assessments across language, motor skills, cognitive traits, and social behaviors.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 27, 2025·3 min read

Amygdala Shapes Social Choices in Song-Learning Young Birds

Young zebra finches learn their birdsong by observing and imitating adult "tutor" birds, but they don’t follow just anyone. A new study shows that juvenile finches prefer tutors who sing longer but less often, suggesting social cues guide their choices.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·May 26, 2025·5 min read

Nitrous Oxide Unlocks Blood-Brain Barrier for Safer Gene Delivery

Researchers have discovered that nitrous oxide can safely enhance the delivery of gene therapy to the brain by making the blood-brain barrier (BBB) more permeable when paired with focused ultrasound (FUS). This method required significantly lower concentrations of microbubbles and ultrasound pressure than conventional techniques, reducing the risk of tissue damage.

This shows a person standing in sunlight.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·May 26, 2025·3 min read

Daylight Boosts Immune Defense

Researchers have discovered that daylight enhances the infection-fighting power of neutrophils, the most abundant white blood cells in the body. Using transparent zebrafish, scientists observed that these immune cells contain internal circadian clocks that are activated by light, boosting their bacterial-killing ability during the day.