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Open Access

Neuroscience research articles and press releases that cover research published in Open Access journals are listed below. We use Open Access (OA) to mean that the general public has free, open access to research journal articles published online.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·November 27, 2023·6 min read

Decoding Sexual Motivation: Bridging the Gap between Brain and Behavior

A new study delves into the intricate nature of sexual motivation, emphasizing its complexity as both an abstract concept and a tangible physiological phenomenon. It underscores the significant role of gonadal hormones in modulating sexual behavior, particularly highlighting specific brain structures in rats.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·November 25, 2023·5 min read

Brain Brew: How Daily Coffee Habits May Affect Brain Plasticity and Learning

Researchers explore how chronic caffeine consumption potentially impacts brain plasticity and the effectiveness of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). The research indicates that regular caffeine users might experience diminished long-term potentiation (LTP), a crucial process for learning and memory.

This shows two faces. One has a Union Flag painted on it.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 22, 2023·4 min read

Cognitive Skills Linked to Brexit Votes

A new study suggests a correlation between higher cognitive abilities and voting "Remain" in the 2016 Brexit referendum. Analyzing data from 3,183 UK couples, the study found that individuals with higher cognitive skills, as well as those with spouses possessing higher cognitive abilities, were more likely to vote "Remain."

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·November 7, 2023·5 min read

Oral Contraceptives’ Effect on Brain’s Fear Center

Researchers discovered that oral contraceptives may thin the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) in women, potentially influencing emotion regulation, especially fear responses. The study examined both current and former users of combined oral contraceptives (COCs), finding that the cortical thinning appears to be reversible after discontinuing use.

This shows a statue of a head and candy.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·November 7, 2023·4 min read

High-Sugar Diets May Fuel Brain Decline

Research suggests a high-sugar diet, commonly associated with obesity, leads to insulin resistance in the brain and may heighten the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. The study reveals that this insulin resistance impairs glial cells' ability to clear neuronal debris, a crucial process for preventing neurodegeneration.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·November 1, 2023·4 min read

Machine Learning Deciphers News Language to Predict Country’s Peace Level

Researchers devised a machine learning model that gauges a country's peace level by analyzing word frequency in its news media. By studying over 723,000 articles from 18 countries, the team identified distinct linguistic patterns corresponding to varying peace levels.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 29, 2023·6 min read

Do Roosters Recognize Their Own Reflection? Self Awareness Explored

Chickens, often dismissed as simple-minded, are now at the forefront of a study on self-awareness. Researchers have observed roosters potentially recognizing themselves in mirrors. However, the success of this recognition depends greatly on the experimental conditions.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Pain

·October 26, 2023·5 min read

Your Favorite Song Might Just Be Your Pain’s Worst Enemy

Researchers discovered that music, specifically individuals' favorite tracks, can reduce pain perception. In the study, participants felt less pain intensity and unpleasantness when listening to their favorite music compared to unfamiliar relaxing tunes or silence.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·October 25, 2023·4 min read

Unlocking the “D Factor”: A New Measure for General Distractibility in ADHD

Researchers have statistically identified a novel measure, the "d factor", which could indicate a person's general propensity towards distraction and its potential connection to ADHD. By analyzing over 1,000 participants’ responses on distraction tendencies, three core factors emerged: external distraction, unwanted intrusive thoughts, and mind-wandering.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 23, 2023·6 min read

Canine Kings & Feline Pharaohs: Cultural Nuances in Pet Affection

Researchers explored the emotional and financial investment of pet owners toward their cats and dogs across Denmark, Austria, and the UK. Their research indicated that, across these nations, dogs generally receive more emotional attachment and financial care than cats.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·October 19, 2023·4 min read

Genetic Imprints Guide Mouse Parenting

Researchers uncovered a fascinating link between "imprinted genes" and parenting behaviors in mice. Unlike typical genes where both maternal and paternal copies are expressed, imprinted genes allow only one parent's copy to be active.

This shows a woman smelling a rose, surrounded by swirling colors.

Featured Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·October 6, 2023·5 min read

How Odors Warp Our Color Perception

Researchers unveiled an intriguing intersection between our sense of smell and color perception, revealing how particular scents can subtly distort our color experiences. In a meticulous experiment involving six different odors and a neutrally visual task, participants' color perception skewed in alignment with established odor-color associations, such as caramel with brown and yellow or coffee with brown and red.