AutismFeaturedGeneticsNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·April 1, 2025·4 min readProtein Imbalance Triggers Autism-Like BehaviorA new study reveals that autism-like symptoms in mice emerge when two nerve proteins—MDGA2 and BDNF—fall out of balance. MDGA2 typically keeps BDNF/TrkB signaling in check, but when MDGA2 levels drop, heightened neuronal activity and social impairments occur.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
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 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
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
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·November 14, 2024·4 min readHow Decision-Making Improves with AgeAdolescents are known for making less optimal, noisy decisions, but a recent study reveals that these tendencies decrease with age and are linked to improvements in complex decision-making skills. Researchers found that decision noise, or variability in choices, mediates age-related gains in goal-directed behaviors and adaptability.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
AutismFeaturedNeuroscience·October 31, 2024·4 min readHow Autistic Traits Influence Exploration and LearningPeople with stronger autistic traits exhibit distinct and highly effective exploration patterns, according to a new study. These individuals tend to persist longer in curiosity-driven tasks, leading to better overall performance. In the study, participants with higher autistic traits explored consistently, even when faced with challenging learning environments, while those with lower traits engaged more briefly. This prolonged exploration allowed the higher-trait participants to achieve better learning outcomes.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·October 25, 2024·4 min readIndividual Reward-Seeking Predicts Nicotine ResponseA new study finds that individualistic reward-seeking behaviors in mice can predict their responses to nicotine. Conducted in a semi-natural environment called Souris-City, the research observed how male mice developed distinct reward-seeking strategies when isolated from peers.Read More
