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Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·July 18, 2017·4 min read

Heavy Drinking During Adolescence Has Dire Effects on the Brain

According to a Frontiers in Psychology study, binge drinking in teens is associated with a reduction in brain areas that play key roles in memory, learning, language and attention.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·July 18, 2017·4 min read

Playing in the Dirt As A Kid Makes Later Life Chronic Disease Less Likely

Kids who play in dirt face exposure to germs and parasites that can help reduce risks of suffering certain allergies and illnesses later in life. Early microbial exposures help our bodies to learn how to regulate inflammation, researchers say.

Featured Neurology Psychology

·July 18, 2017·4 min read

Reversing Fetal Alcohol Damage After Birth

Researchers from Northwestern University reveal that, with the aid of two drugs, it may be possible to repair neurological damage caused as a result of prenatal alcohol exposure. The study reports both drugs help normalize genes that control DNA methyl transferase1 expression, an enzyme critical for brain development.

Image shows a diagram of the visual system in the brain.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Visual Neuroscience

·July 18, 2017·6 min read

Blueprint For Adult Visual System Present at Birth

A new study from Harvard researchers reveals that in primates, the blueprint for adult visual organization is in place a few days after birth and 'fills in' with experience. Researchers believe that, as the organization is present so early on in life, it is likely present before birth as a genetically programmed mechanism, and later modified due to experience.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 17, 2017·6 min read

Bacterial Clues in Baby’s Dirty Diapers Helps Predict Cognitive Development

A new study in Biological Psychiatry reports a toddler's cognitive development may be predicted by the types of microbes colonizing the gut when they are a year old. Researchers found infants with high levels of Bacteriodes had better scores in cognitive tests at age 2 than those with lower levels of the bacterial genus.

Featured Psychology

·July 17, 2017·3 min read

Depression in Young Teens Linked to Cannabis Use at 18

According to researchers, young teens who suffer from chronic or severe forms of depression are at an increased risk of developing problems with cannabis by the age of 18.

Featured Neuroscience Neuroscience Videos Psychology

·July 17, 2017·5 min read

Exposing Infants to Foreign Languages Ignites Learning

Researchers from the University of Washington report that with special tuition, babies from monolingual homes can develop bilingual abilities that remain even after their training is complete.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Psychology

·July 17, 2017·1 min read

Brain Connectivity After 30 May Predict Psychological Problems

According to a new Journal of Neuroscience report, an underdeveloped brain network underlying inhibition after the age of 30 is associated with increased self reporting of psychological problems such as anxiety and depression.

Image shows a brain with the amygdala highlighted in red.

Autism Featured Genetics

·July 17, 2017·5 min read

Late Breaking Mutations May Play an Important Role in Autism

A study in Nature Neuroscience reveals mutations that occur after conception could play an important role in autism. The study reports post-zygotic mutations occur disproportionately in genes expressed in the amygdala in those on the autism spectrum.

Featured Neuroscience Videos Psychology

·July 15, 2017·4 min read

Ga-Ga, Goo-Goo, Why a Baby May Like You

According to a new study in Developmental Science, infants at the age of one already tend to prefer speakers of their native language. However, they do not necessarily view those who speak different languages negatively. Findings suggest that positivity toward familiar groups may be innate, while negativity toward unfamiliar groups may be learned.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 15, 2017·4 min read

How Neurons Sense Our Everyday Life

Researchers at King's College London have identified a molecular mechanism that allows neural connections to adapt as a result of experience. This adaptation fuels our ability for memory and learning.

Image shows a stick and ball model of carnitine.

Autism Featured Genetics Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·July 14, 2017·6 min read

Possible Link Between Carnitine Deficiency and Autism

Researchers report a lack of a nutrient required for normal brain development may trigger a mild form of autism. The findings, published in BioEssays, suggests supplementing the diet with carnitine could prevent up to 20% of autism cases.