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neurodevelopment

This shows a teenage girl with a cell phone.

·August 26, 2023·7 min read

Debunking the Social Media & Teen Anxiety Myth

Contrary to popular belief, a six-year study reveals that increased use of social media platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok does not lead to higher rates of anxiety and depression among young people. Following 800 children from age 10 to 16, the study found that symptoms of mental health issues remained stable irrespective of social media habits.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·August 24, 2023·4 min read

Revolutionizing Autism Research in Virtual Reality

Autism, an inherently unique and multi-faceted condition, lacks a standardized diagnostic approach, making treatment and research challenges. A new study highlights the potential of mouse models in autism research, offering insights into molecular and physiological mechanisms.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 22, 2023·5 min read

Is Childhood Adversity A Lens for Moral Judgments?

Researchers uncovered how a person's childhood adversity shapes others' judgments of their actions. The study reveals that people perceive negative actions by those with challenging childhoods as less a result of their moral character and more due to their upbringing, thus blaming them less.

This shows a happy child covered in paint.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 22, 2023·7 min read

How Creativity Training Helps Kids Tackle Life’s Hurdles and Boosts Resilience

Training elementary school students in creativity has shown potential in amplifying their resilience against real-world challenges. Researchers equipped third to fifth graders with literary techniques to enhance creativity when addressing problems.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 21, 2023·5 min read

Children’s Views on Inequality: The Power of Explanation

Researchers revealed that children's perceptions of inequality are shaped by how its origins are explained to them. While adults often attribute social inequalities to structural forces, children interpret these structures differently.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·August 11, 2023·4 min read

Baby Gut Microbes: A Link to Early Cognitive Skills?

Researchers discovered associations between specific microbes in infants' guts and early cognitive development performance. This exploratory study examined 56 infants, revealing that certain microbiome compositions corresponded with success in cognitive tests like "point and gaze".

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·August 11, 2023·4 min read

Mini-Brains’ Reveal Autism’s Neuronal Imbalance Origins

Scientists utilized organoids, or "mini-brains," to explore the roots of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Their study highlighted an imbalance of excitatory cortical neurons in the forebrains of ASD patients.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 5, 2023·5 min read

Linking Childhood Trauma to Mental Illness: Astrocytes Key to the Puzzle

The removal of excitatory synapses by astrocytes, triggered by stress hormones, can lead to mental illnesses induced by childhood neglect or abuse. The study reveals that synthetic glucocorticoids, or stress hormones, can boost astrocyte-mediated phagocytosis to abnormal levels.

This shows a pregnant woman holding an apple.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·August 3, 2023·4 min read

Fruitful Discovery: Pregnancy Diet Influences Brain Health across Generations

A new study highlights that a mother's diet during early pregnancy, specifically consumption of apples and herbs, may safeguard the brain health of her offspring and even grandchildren. Using roundworms as a genetic model due to their genetic similarities to humans, the study identified a molecule in apples and herbs known as ursolic acid that helps maintain brain function by preventing the breakdown of axons.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 3, 2023·5 min read

Adolescence’s Impact on Adult Dopamine Function and Impulsivity

In a novel study, researchers reveal a sensitive developmental phase during adolescence that significantly influences adult impulsivity, aggression, and dopamine function in mice. This study highlights the implications of stimulant drug exposure during this period.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·August 1, 2023·5 min read

Charting Infant Minds: Early Brain Development Mapped

Scientists have created a set of infant brain cortex parcellation maps that offer an intricate look into brain development from birth to two years old. Using a combination of high-resolution functional and structural MRI scans, these maps reveal a fine-grained understanding of when different brain functions develop.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 1, 2023·3 min read

Plasma Proteins Predict Mental Health Risk in Teens

Researchers discovered plasma protein-based biomarkers that could predict mental health risks in adolescents. These markers offer a potential for early detection of mental health issues, which currently afflict 10-20% of adolescents, largely undiagnosed and untreated.