FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·March 29, 2025·5 min readWhy Simply Putting Away Your Phone Won’t Help You FocusA new study reveals that placing your smartphone out of reach doesn’t significantly reduce distraction or boost productivity. While participants used their phones less when they were farther away, they simply shifted their attention to other devices like laptops. The core issue isn’t the phone itself but the deeply ingrained habits and routines we’ve built around it. Smartphones remain the preferred tool for distraction due to their multifunctionality, portability, and tactile design.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·March 21, 2025·4 min readSleep-Deprived Fruit Flies Show Sharper Memory via PKA SignalingFruit flies with genetic mutations that severely reduce sleep show enhanced performance in olfactory memory tasks, challenging assumptions about sleep’s role in cognition. This paradox appears to be driven by increased protein kinase A (PKA) signaling in the mushroom body, a brain region responsible for memory and sleep regulation.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·March 19, 2025·3 min readHigher Depression Risks for Night OwlsA new study finds that staying up late, known as having an “evening chronotype,” is associated with a higher risk of depression. Researchers analyzed data from 546 university students and found that this link is influenced by sleep quality, alcohol consumption, and mindfulness levels.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·February 18, 2025·4 min readDepression Speeds Up Physical IllnessAdults with a history of depression develop long-term physical conditions about 30% faster than those without, according to a large study. Researchers analyzed data from over 172,000 participants and found that those with depression accrued an average of 0.2 additional conditions per year, compared to 0.16 in those without.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·February 12, 2025·5 min readAI vs. Human Therapists: Study Finds ChatGPT Responses Rated HigherA new study suggests that ChatGPT’s responses in psychotherapy scenarios are often rated higher than those written by human therapists. Researchers found that participants struggled to distinguish between AI-generated and therapist-written responses in couple’s therapy vignettes.Read More
Auditory NeuroscienceFeaturedNeuroscience·January 31, 2025·6 min readAncient Ear Muscles Reactivate When We Struggle to ListenHumans have vestigial ear muscles that once helped our ancestors focus on sounds. New research shows these muscles still activate when we strain to hear in noisy environments. Scientists used electromyography to measure auricular muscle activity in people listening to an audiobook with distracting background noise.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·January 23, 2025·7 min readLong COVID Impairs Exercise Capacity and Cognition for YearsA study of nearly 1,000 people with post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) revealed that two-thirds still experienced significant symptoms, including reduced exercise capacity and cognitive performance, two years after infection. Persistent symptom clusters included fatigue, neurocognitive disturbances, and post-exertional malaise, with worse outcomes in individuals with obesity, lower education, or severe initial infections.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·January 17, 2025·6 min readDo Accents Influence Guilt Perceptions?Accents influence perceptions of guilt, with those judged as "lower status" being considered more likely to commit crimes. Researchers analyzed responses from 180 participants who rated voices from 10 UK accents on social traits and likelihood of certain behaviors, including crimes.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesVisual Neuroscience·November 26, 2024·3 min readGreat Apes’ Gaze Reveals Human-Like Event PerceptionGreat apes track events involving agents and patients, like humans, suggesting shared cognitive mechanisms. When watching video clips, apes alternated their gaze between agents (e.g., a cat) and patients (e.g., a mouse), similar to adult humans, though apes paid more attention to background details.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·November 21, 2024·10 min read3D Brain Models Unlock New Insights Into Memory and ConnectivityResearchers have developed the most detailed 3D computational models of key brain regions, including the hippocampus and sensory cortices, to better understand their roles in memory formation and connectivity. These models integrate anatomical and physiological data, capturing synaptic plasticity and long-range interactions. By simulating brain activity, the models enable predictions about cortical processing and provide tools for future experimental validation.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·November 19, 2024·4 min readBirth Spurs a Surge in Brain ConnectivityBrain imaging of fetuses and infants reveals a rapid increase in functional brain connectivity at birth, aiding adaptation to the external world. Researchers observed distinct growth patterns, with subcortical, sensorimotor, and superior frontal regions undergoing major reorganizations.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·November 14, 2024·4 min readTraditional Paranormal Beliefs Linked to StressTraditional paranormal beliefs, such as witchcraft and religious superstition, are linked to higher stress and reduced coping ability, while new age beliefs, like spiritualism and precognition, show no such link. Researchers used an improved scale to analyze responses from over 3,000 participants, revealing that traditional beliefs may reflect anxieties about external control. The findings highlight the psychological differences between belief types but cannot confirm cause-and-effect relationships.Read More
