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neurobiology

This shows a brain and people exercising.

·July 8, 2025·6 min read

Mental Health Benefits of Exercise Depend on Context

A new study reveals that the mental health benefits of exercise depend not just on the amount of physical activity, but also on the context in which it occurs. Researchers found that leisure-time activities like yoga or team sports tend to improve mood more than obligatory tasks like housework.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·July 8, 2025·5 min read

Later-Born Neurons Mature Faster to Keep Networks in Balance

The brain depends on a delicate balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurons to function properly. A new study reveals that inhibitory neurons born later in development mature more quickly than earlier ones, allowing them to catch up and integrate evenly into neural networks.

This shows a brain and exercise symbols.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 8, 2025·6 min read

Find Exercise You Enjoy: Personality Shapes Fitness Success

A new study shows matching your personality to the type of exercise you enjoy may help you stick with it and reduce stress. Researchers found extroverts preferred high-intensity workouts, while people high in neuroticism favored short bursts of activity and saw greater stress reduction from exercise.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 8, 2025·8 min read

The Brain Weaves Time Into Memories With Unique Neural Bookmarks

Our brain doesn’t just record time—it organizes our lives into distinct, memorable moments. New research reveals that neurons in the lateral entorhinal cortex generate unique “jumps” in activity when something meaningful happens, creating bookmarks that structure our experiences.

This shows a child and an adult in a surgical mask.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 8, 2025·6 min read

Masks Don’t Muffle Word Learning: Toddlers Learn Without Seeing Mouths

Toddlers as young as two can successfully learn new words even when a speaker’s mouth or eyes are covered, a study shows. Researchers found that children’s ability to follow the speaker’s gaze and link words to objects drives vocabulary learning, not reliance on seeing mouth movements.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 8, 2025·7 min read

One Neuron, Two Behaviors

New research shows a single neuron in fruit flies can trigger two distinct behaviors in response to the same smell. When detecting rotting fruit, one downstream pathway drives the flies toward the source, while another pathway controls their walking speed.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·July 7, 2025·6 min read

Why Your Baby Cries: It’s Largely Written in Their Genes

A new twin study reveals that how much an infant cries is strongly influenced by genetics, leaving parents with limited control over this behavior. Researchers found that at two months, genetics accounted for around 50% of crying duration, rising to 70% by five months.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·July 7, 2025·4 min read

Side of Parkinson’s Onset Shapes Cognitive and Emotional Decline

Parkinson’s disease often starts on one side of the body, and new research shows this asymmetry influences how non-motor symptoms progress. Patients whose symptoms begin on the right side tend to experience greater cognitive decline and higher dementia risk.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·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

·July 7, 2025·3 min read

Astrocytes in Obesity: Brain Cells That Control Metabolism & Cognition

A new study reveals that astrocytes, star-shaped brain cells in the striatum, are key players in how obesity alters brain function and metabolism. Researchers showed that manipulating astrocyte activity in obese mice improved their cognitive flexibility and metabolic regulation.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·July 7, 2025·6 min read

Stem Cell Grafts Show Promise in Repairing Myelin in MS

A new study reveals that neural stem cell grafts can generate new myelin in the central nervous system, offering hope for treating progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Researchers showed that induced neural stem cells matured into myelin-producing oligodendrocytes and safely integrated into damaged regions in a mouse model.