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Osaka University

This shows a sign with arrows pointing to the "right" and "wrong" ways

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 9, 2022·3 min read

Are We Born With a Moral Compass?

Study reports young infants can make and act on moral judgments, shedding new light on the origins of human morality.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 22, 2024·3 min read

Brain Ripples Reveal Daydreams’ Origins

Researchers discovered a link between "sharp-wave ripples" in the hippocampus and self-generated thoughts like daydreaming. These ripples, originating in the memory center of the brain, were more frequent during sleep and associated with vivid, imaginative thoughts. Understanding this brain activity could shed light on various mental conditions.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 2, 2024·4 min read

Environmental Toxins Shorten Happy Lifespans

Researchers made a groundbreaking discovery linking environmental contaminants to a reduced span of emotional wellbeing. By utilizing a novel risk assessment tool, the study calculates the loss of happy life expectancy (LHpLE) due to exposure to environmental carcinogens like radon, arsenic, and fine particulate matter, and psychological distress.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·August 18, 2025·3 min read

Enzyme Repairs DNA to Prevent Brain Disorders

A new study shows that the DNA repair enzyme Polβ plays a vital role in protecting the developing brain from harmful mutations. Researchers found that without Polβ, insertion-deletion mutations near CpG sites rose sharply, threatening genetic stability during crucial stages of brain growth.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·December 29, 2016·3 min read

Genes and the Environment Equally Affect Language Related Brain Activity

A new study reports both the environment and genetics affect brain activity related to language in the brain.

This shows a little girl in a field of flowers

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 23, 2023·5 min read

Getting Kids Outdoors Can Reduce the Negative Effects of Screen Time

Exposure to excessive screen time at age two is associated with poorer communication and daily living skills at age four, however, spending time outdoors can mitigate some of the negative effects of screen time.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·March 12, 2020·3 min read

How dangerous news spreads: What makes Twitter users retweet risk-related information

Study uncovers how misinformation and fake news can spread via social media platforms like Twitter. Those with high numbers of mutual followers are more likely to spread "dreadful" misinformation. Findings could offer solutions to prevent fake news dissemination.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·May 2, 2024·4 min read

How the Flu Virus Invades the Brain

Researchers uncovered how the influenza virus may infiltrate the brain, leading to a serious condition known as influenza-associated encephalopathy (IAE). The study identifies endothelial cells, which form the blood-brain barrier, as the primary entry points for the virus.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 23, 2024·4 min read

Ketamine’s Key to Unlocking Social Bonding in Depression

Researchers made a significant breakthrough in understanding how ketamine treats depression-related social impairments, focusing on the drug's effects in the mouse model. Their study shows that (R)-ketamine, as opposed to (S)-ketamine, effectively restores neuronal activity in the anterior insular cortex, a region crucial for emotional regulation and social cognition.

This shows a woman's face and brain scans from the study

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology Visual Neuroscience

·April 19, 2021·3 min read

Mirror, Mirror…Viewing Your Own Face, Even Subconsciously, Is Rewarding

Viewing a subliminal image of their own faces, participants showed an increase in activity in the dopamine reward pathway in the brain. Findings shed new light on the underlying neural processes of self facial recognition.