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Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·August 28, 2025·3 min read

The Midlife “Unhappiness Hump” Has Vanished, But at a Cost

A new large-scale study finds that the long-observed “unhappiness hump,” where mental distress peaked in midlife, has disappeared. Instead, younger people now report the highest levels of anxiety, depression, and stress, with ill-being declining across the lifespan.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·August 27, 2025·3 min read

Cannabis Linked to Reduced Insomnia and Anxiety

A new study suggests cannabis-based medical products may help people with insomnia sleep better over the long term. Across 124 patients followed for up to 18 months, participants consistently reported improved sleep quality, less anxiety and depression, and a better overall quality of life.

This shows a person listening to music in a meditative pose, surrounded by psychedelic swirls.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 27, 2025·5 min read

Breathwork and Music Trigger Psychedelic-Like Bliss in the Brain

New research shows that practicing breathwork while listening to music can induce profound altered states of consciousness similar to those caused by psychedelics. Using self-reports and brain imaging, scientists found that HVB both activated the body’s stress response and increased blood flow to emotion-processing regions like the amygdala and hippocampus.

This shows a man with headphones on and musical notes swirling around him.

Auditory Neuroscience Featured Neuroscience

·August 20, 2025·5 min read

Songs Don’t Just Move Us, They Shape Memories

A new study reveals that different types of music shape the emotional tone of the memories they evoke. Acoustic, lower-energy songs often triggered personal memories filled with calmness, romance, and sadness, while energetic, less acoustic songs sparked memories of social fun, excitement, and amusement.

This shows a brain and online forum chat bubbles.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 29, 2025·6 min read

Online Hate Speech Resembles Mental Health Disorder Language

A new study using AI tools found that posts in online hate speech communities closely resemble the speech patterns seen in forums for certain personality disorders. While it doesn’t imply that people with psychiatric diagnoses are more prone to hate, the overlap suggests that online hate speech may cultivate traits like low empathy and emotional instability.

This shows the outline of two heads and smoke.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 23, 2025·4 min read

Tobacco Use Linked to Higher Depression and Anxiety

Adolescents who use e-cigarettes or conventional tobacco products are significantly more likely to report symptoms of depression and anxiety than non-users, a new study finds. Researchers analyzed data from over 60,000 U.S. middle and high school students surveyed between 2021 and 2023.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 16, 2025·5 min read

When Tears Seem Honest: Context Shapes How We Judge Crying

New research reveals that our perception of others’ tears as sincere or manipulative depends heavily on context. Tears were judged more honest when shed in non-manipulative situations and by those less expected to cry, such as men or individuals perceived as less warm.

This shows an older man playing piano and a brain.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 15, 2025·5 min read

Playing Music Helps Older Brains Stay Sharp

Long-term musical training may help older adults maintain youthful brain patterns and better speech perception in noisy environments, according to new research. Scientists found that older musicians showed more efficient brain connectivity and better performance than non-musicians of the same age.

This shows a person sleeping and a brain.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 26, 2025·5 min read

Short Naps Linked to “Aha” Moments and Creative Insight

A new study suggests that a short nap, especially one reaching deeper N2 sleep, can significantly boost problem-solving insight. Participants who achieved N2 sleep were far more likely to discover a hidden shortcut in a task after napping.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 5, 2025·6 min read

Mice Experience Rubber Hand Illusion

A new study shows that mice, like humans, can experience a sense of embodiment toward an artificial limb—similar to the famous rubber-hand illusion. When their real limb was hidden and both real and fake limbs were brushed in sync, mice visually tracked a threat to the fake limb, indicating perceived ownership.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·May 29, 2025·4 min read

How Personality and Family Shape Athletic Self-Perception

A new study of Japanese undergraduates finds that students' perceptions of their own athletic ability are shaped by a mix of personality traits, childhood environment, and social feedback. Those who rated themselves as more athletic also tended to display grit, resilience, and a growth mindset. Factors like early walking age, athletic parents, frequent sports participation, and being called athletic by others were also linked to higher self-ratings.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 28, 2025·4 min read

Cats Can Recognize Their Owners by Smell Alone

A new study has found that domestic cats can distinguish between their owner’s scent and that of a stranger using their sense of smell alone. When presented with scent samples from familiar and unfamiliar humans, cats consistently spent more time sniffing the unfamiliar scent.