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neurodevelopment

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·October 28, 2024·5 min read

Childhood Attention Problems and Genes Linked to Psychosis Risk

Childhood attention issues, coupled with genetic predispositions, increase the likelihood of experiencing psychotic-like symptoms in adolescence. By analyzing data from 10,000 youths, researchers discovered that variability in attention spans partially explains how genetic risk factors translate into psychotic-like symptoms.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 28, 2024·5 min read

Prenatal Cannabis Use Linked to Child Aggression and Cognitive Deficits

Prenatal exposure to cannabis can negatively impact children’s thinking and behavioral skills, including impulse control, attention, and aggression, which are key for academic and social success. The study observed preschool-aged children with prenatal cannabis exposure and found they showed poorer control over impulses and emotions.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·October 25, 2024·8 min read

Autistic Children’s Fascination with Letters Offers Learning Clues

A recent study highlights that many autistic children show an intense interest in letters and numbers, which may play a distinct role in their language development. By analyzing clinical records and interviewing parents, researchers found that 37% of autistic children had a strong interest in letters, in contrast to just 3% of non-autistic peers. This interest often emerges around 30 months, aligning with typical development timelines but diverging in how it's applied.

This shows a baby surrounded by musical notes.

Auditory Neuroscience Featured Neuroscience

·October 25, 2024·5 min read

Newborns’ Brains Recognize Complex Sound Patterns

New research shows that newborns can detect complex sound patterns that follow non-adjacent, language-like rules, suggesting that the ability to process such sequences is innate. Using near-infrared spectroscopy, researchers observed newborn brain responses to sequences of tones, finding that infants could distinguish between correct and incorrect patterns. The study found that this early ability activates language-related networks, particularly in the left hemisphere, highlighting a foundation for future language skills.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·October 24, 2024·6 min read

In-Utero Gene Editing Could Halt Neurodevelopmental Disorders

A new study has developed a breakthrough biomedical tool that can deliver genetic material to edit faulty genes in fetal brain cells. Tested in mice, this technology offers the potential to stop the progression of neurodevelopmental conditions, like Angelman and Rett syndromes, before birth.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·October 24, 2024·6 min read

Stem Cell Mini-Brains Unlock Insights into Autism

Researchers have created "mini-brains" using stem cells from patients with a rare form of autism, allowing them to study brain development in detail. These organoids revealed how a genetic mutation in MEF2C disrupts the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurons, leading to autism.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·October 24, 2024·6 min read

Infant Sleep Loss Linked to Brain Development Problems

New research shows that sleep deprivation during early development disrupts brain function, impacting neuron growth and synapse formation. The study found that young mice lacking sleep did not experience the “sleep rebound” seen in adults, leading to lasting deficits in social behavior and memory.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·October 23, 2024·5 min read

Cannabis Use Linked to Thinner Cortex in Adolescents

Cannabis use in adolescents may lead to thinning of the cerebral cortex, a key brain region for cognitive function. Researchers found that THC, the active ingredient in cannabis, causes the shrinking of dendrites, which are crucial for neuron communication.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 23, 2024·6 min read

Youth Face Rising Risks of Harassment and Exploitation in the Metaverse

A new study reveals that youth are vulnerable to various forms of harm in the metaverse, including bullying, harassment, and sexual exploitation. Using data from over 5,000 U.S. teens, researchers found significant incidents of hate speech, sexual harassment, and grooming behavior in virtual reality (VR) spaces.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 23, 2024·5 min read

Removing Pre-Bed Screen Time Improves Toddler Sleep

A world-first trial shows that eliminating screen time in the hour before bed significantly improves toddlers' sleep quality. The study involved 105 families and found that toddlers who replaced screen time with calming, non-screen activities slept more efficiently and woke up less during the night.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 21, 2024·6 min read

3D Brain Atlas Maps Key Stages of Brain Development

Researchers have created a 3D atlas of the developing mouse brain, offering a dynamic, high-resolution view of brain structures during embryonic and post-natal stages. This new tool allows scientists to explore how brain cells, such as GABAergic neurons linked to neurological disorders, emerge and interact during development.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 21, 2024·5 min read

Parent-Child Play Shapes Social Skills for Interacting with Peers

How parents and toddlers play together can predict children's future social interactions. By observing over 120 mother-child pairs, researchers found that responsive and assertive behaviors during play were linked to better social competence with peers.