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neurodevelopment

·May 24, 2025·7 min read

Scientists Decode Key Motions Behind Brain’s Transport

Cells depend on motor proteins like dynein to shuttle materials along microscopic highways, and dysfunction in these proteins can lead to serious neurological disorders. New research captured real-time, high-resolution “movies” of dynein being activated by its partner protein, Lis1, illuminating the step-by-step process.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 23, 2025·6 min read

Overimitation May Not Signal Social Bonding in Toddlers Just Yet

Overimitation, the tendency to copy unnecessary actions, has been observed in older children but was previously unstudied in toddlers under two. A new study found that 16–21-month-olds showed low rates of overimitation, and it wasn’t driven by a desire to affiliate with people similar to themselves.

This shows a drawing of a hand, symbolizing the blood test.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·May 22, 2025·4 min read

Blood Test Identifies Depression Risk in Teenagers

Summary: Researchers have identified nine blood-based microRNAs that are elevated in teens diagnosed with depression, offering a potential biomarker for...

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 22, 2025·6 min read

More Social Media, More Depression: Study Links Cause and Effect

A new study has found that as preteens increase their social media use, depressive symptoms also rise—but not the other way around. Researchers tracked nearly 12,000 youth over three years and discovered that increased screen time predicted later depression, while depressive symptoms did not predict more social media use.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·May 22, 2025·5 min read

DNA Methylation in Serotonin Center Offers New Clues to Autism

A new study has uncovered abnormal DNA methylation patterns in the dorsal raphe—an area of the brain critical for serotonin signaling—in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). By analyzing postmortem brain samples, researchers identified epigenetic changes in key genes linked to sensory perception, serotonin regulation, and synaptic function.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 22, 2025·4 min read

Parental Mental Illness Raises Risk of Childhood Psychopathology

A new long-term study confirms that children of parents with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder face a higher risk of developing mental health issues compared to peers without parental psychiatric diagnoses. Over four years, researchers tracked 238 children and found distinct patterns of symptoms depending on whether a parent had schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

Neuroscience

·May 21, 2025·9 min read

Tiny Brain Folds Linked to Reasoning Skills in Children

New research reveals that small, shallow grooves in the human brain—called tertiary sulci—are closely tied to reasoning ability and brain connectivity in children and adolescents. These uniquely human folds appear to bring critical brain regions closer together, enhancing communication and cognitive function.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Psychology

·May 21, 2025·3 min read

Long COVID Is Fueling a Mental Health Crisis in Children

A new study reveals that nearly 40% of children with long COVID are experiencing significant symptoms of anxiety or depression, many for the first time. Using validated mental health screening tools, researchers found that 1 in 4 children had new anxiety symptoms and 1 in 7 had new depressive symptoms, despite no prior mental health history.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·May 21, 2025·5 min read

TEAD Proteins Switch Roles in Brain Development

New research shows that TEAD proteins, long known for promoting the growth of neural progenitor cells, also help those same cells mature into neurons and glia—depending on their molecular partners. In early development, TEAD proteins bind with YAP to drive cell proliferation, but later they switch to a different partner, INSM1, which promotes cell differentiation.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 19, 2025·5 min read

Low Newborn Vitamin D Linked to Autism and Schizophrenia

A large population study has found that babies born with low vitamin D levels are more likely to develop mental disorders like ADHD, schizophrenia, and autism later in life. Researchers analyzed data from over 71,000 individuals, linking neonatal vitamin D deficiency to increased risks of several neurodevelopmental conditions.

This shows a sad kid looking at a phone.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 19, 2025·6 min read

Cyberbullying Linked to PTSD Symptoms in Teens

A new national study finds that all forms of cyberbullying—not just direct threats—can cause trauma in teens, suggesting it should be considered a serious childhood adversity. Even subtle behaviors like exclusion from chats or online rumors were found to cause PTSD symptoms as severe as overt harassment. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 2,700 U.S. teens and found 87% had experienced at least one form of online victimization.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·May 18, 2025·7 min read

Parents’ Age, Ancestry, and Habits Shape New DNA Mutations

A massive genomic study has revealed that parental age, ancestry, and smoking habits subtly influence the number of new genetic mutations (de novo mutations) passed from parents to children. By analyzing whole-genome data from 10,000 parent-child trios, researchers found that most variation in mutation rates comes from parental age, especially the father’s.