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neurodevelopment

This shows a child standing alone and a neural network.

·October 2, 2025·6 min read

Teen Solitude Linked to Measurable Changes in Brain Networks

Adolescents who regularly choose solitude over social connection show measurable differences in brain structure and function, according to a large neuroimaging study. Brain scans revealed altered activity and weaker connections in regions tied to social and emotional processing, with changes spanning multiple cognitive networks.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·October 1, 2025·7 min read

Early vs. Late Autism Diagnoses Linked to Distinct Genetic Profiles

A large-scale international study has revealed that autism diagnosed in early childhood is genetically and developmentally distinct from autism diagnosed later in life. Researchers analyzed data from over 45,000 autistic individuals and found that early-diagnosed children often show social and behavioral difficulties from a very young age.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 30, 2025·7 min read

Income Inequality Reshapes Children’s Brains and Mental Health

A large-scale neuroimaging study of over 10,000 U.S. children reveals that income inequality in society is tied to structural and functional brain changes that predict poorer mental health outcomes. Unlike individual family income, societal inequality impacts children across socioeconomic groups, suggesting that social environments exert powerful biological effects.

This shows a young girl sitting at a table and a shadow of her older self.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 29, 2025·6 min read

Preschool Overeating in Girls Linked to Teen Anxiety and Impulsivity

A study tracking more than 2,000 Quebec children found that girls who regularly overate in the preschool years were more likely to report anxiety, impulsivity, and hyperactivity during adolescence. The association was not found in boys, pointing to possible sociocultural influences such as closer monitoring and restrictive food environments for girls.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 27, 2025·6 min read

Skin-to-Skin Contact Boosts Brain Development

Very preterm infants who received more skin-to-skin contact during their hospital stay showed stronger development in brain regions tied to stress and emotional regulation. Brain scans revealed that longer skin-to-skin sessions were linked to changes in white matter pathways that support attention, memory, and emotional health.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·September 25, 2025·4 min read

Infant Brain Gene Regulator May Predispose Adults to Dementia

A new study reveals that the brain’s vulnerability to disorders like multiple sclerosis and dementia may begin in early life. Researchers identified a developmental “switch” in astrocytes, the brain’s support cells, governed by the NR3C1 gene.

This shows a pregnant woman surrounded by viruses.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 24, 2025·6 min read

Severe Flu in Pregnancy Lets Harmful Molecules Reach Fetal Brain

A new study shows that severe flu infections in pregnant mice compromise both placental and brain barriers, allowing large molecules and fibrinogen to reach the fetal brain. These molecules accumulated in critical regions like the subventricular zone, where neural stem cells develop, raising concerns about long-term impacts on neurodevelopment.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·September 24, 2025·4 min read

Early Clues to Autism and Schizophrenia Risk Found in DNA

Summary: Researchers have built a detailed map of DNA methylation changes in nearly 1,000 human brains from six weeks after...

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·September 24, 2025·3 min read

Unlocking How Early Life Shapes the Brain

The first major data release from the HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study has provided researchers with a groundbreaking resource to study early childhood brain development. This release includes detailed biomedical and behavioral data from more than 1,400 mothers and children, spanning pregnancy through nine months of age.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 22, 2025·3 min read

Prenatal Endocannabinoid Disruption Impacts Brain Wiring, Behavior

A new study shows that prenatal disruption of the endocannabinoid system can have long-lasting effects on brain structure and behavior. When scientists lowered the activity of an endocannabinoid receptor in the developing mouse brain, neurons failed to migrate properly, and key genes involved in brain development were altered.

This shows a boy and girl eating a snack.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 21, 2025·9 min read

Boys Adjust Calorie Intake After Snacks While Girls Keep Eating

A new study found that young boys adjusted their food intake at mealtime when they had already eaten a fruit snack, but girls did not. The findings suggest that boys are more likely to listen to their body’s signals of hunger and fullness, while girls may rely on social or environmental cues.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·September 20, 2025·5 min read

Dementia Prevention Must Begin in Childhood, Not Just Midlife

A large international study shows that the accumulation of social hardships across life—known as the social exposome—has lasting effects on the brain. Adverse exposures, including low education, food insecurity, and limited healthcare, were linked to cognitive decline, mental health issues, and altered brain structure and function.