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PTSD

·May 20, 2025·4 min read

Body’s Own Cannabinoids May Help Control Trauma-Linked Fear

A new study reveals that a natural cannabinoid in the body, 2-AG, plays a crucial role in regulating fear responses, particularly in individuals with PTSD and anxiety. Researchers found that lower levels of 2-AG in both mice and humans were linked to exaggerated or overgeneralized fear reactions to non-threatening stimuli. This suggests that 2-AG helps the brain distinguish real threats from harmless cues, acting as a natural filter for fear.

This shows a sad kid looking at a phone.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 19, 2025·6 min read

Cyberbullying Linked to PTSD Symptoms in Teens

A new national study finds that all forms of cyberbullying—not just direct threats—can cause trauma in teens, suggesting it should be considered a serious childhood adversity. Even subtle behaviors like exclusion from chats or online rumors were found to cause PTSD symptoms as severe as overt harassment. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 2,700 U.S. teens and found 87% had experienced at least one form of online victimization.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 15, 2025·5 min read

Brain’s Arousal Regulator Found

A new study reveals that a small cluster of cells near the brain's "blue spot"—the locus coeruleus—helps regulate arousal, attention, and stress responses. These peri-LC neurons modulate the locus coeruleus by releasing GABA, which reduces its activity and dampens the release of norepinephrine.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 6, 2025·7 min read

Vagus Nerve Stimulation Erases PTSD

A pioneering clinical study found that pairing vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) with traditional therapy eliminated PTSD diagnoses in all participants up to six months post-treatment. The trial combined prolonged exposure therapy with brief bursts of VNS via an implanted device, enhancing neuroplasticity and sustaining remission.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 29, 2025·3 min read

Noninvasive Sound Wave Therapy Eases Depression and Anxiety

New research shows that low-intensity focused ultrasound can safely target the amygdala and significantly reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. In a double-blind study, patients experienced marked improvements after three weeks of daily, noninvasive ultrasound sessions.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 28, 2025·8 min read

Dopamine Signals Teach the Brain to Unlearn Fear

A new study reveals that dopamine release along a specific brain circuit helps extinguish fear by activating reward-related neurons in the amygdala. Researchers showed that dopamine from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) drives the brain’s positive learning process during fear extinction, rather than simply suppressing fear.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 22, 2025·4 min read

Temporary Anxiety Impairs Threat Recognition and Learning

A brief episode of anxiety can significantly impair a person’s ability to distinguish between safe and dangerous environments, according to new research using a virtual reality flower-picking game. Participants who developed clear spatial memory of which areas contained “stinging bees” (simulated by mild shocks) exhibited lower anxiety, while those who couldn’t differentiate the zones maintained high anxiety—even in safe spaces.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 17, 2025·5 min read

Natural Disaster Trauma Disrupts Brain’s Decision Circuits

Survivors of the 2018 Camp Fire in California exhibit long-term cognitive changes, particularly in decision-making. Participants directly exposed to the wildfire showed reduced ability to choose long-term rewards and displayed hyperactivity in brain regions tied to rumination.

This shows a police officer and a brain.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 14, 2025·9 min read

Police at Greater Risk of Brain Trauma and PTSD

A large new study reveals police officers are more than twice as likely to sustain traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) as the general population, with those injured on duty facing double the risk of developing complex PTSD. The research, which surveyed over 600 UK frontline officers, found that 38% had experienced at least one TBI, often accompanied by symptoms like confusion or memory loss.

This shows the outline of a person and a brain.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 13, 2025·5 min read

The Body Remembers: Trauma Leaves Lasting Biological Imprints

Survivors of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing continue to carry hidden biological imprints of trauma, even decades after the event and in the absence of visible mental health issues. A new study reveals subtle yet significant changes in stress biomarkers, including cortisol levels, heart rate, blood pressure, and inflammatory interleukins.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology Visual Neuroscience

·April 11, 2025·4 min read

Vivid Visual Memory May Raise PTSD Risk

A new study shows that having a vivid imagination—especially for visual details—may increase a person’s risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after trauma. In contrast, strong spatial memory skills, such as understanding where objects are located in space, may protect against PTSD symptoms, particularly in men.

This shows a couple on chairs facing each other.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 31, 2025·7 min read

Fear of Emotions Fuels PTSD-Related Conflict in Romantic Relationships

New research reveals that fear of emotions may explain why individuals with PTSD symptoms often struggle to communicate with romantic partners. The study found that people with higher PTSD symptoms were more likely to fear strong emotions, which led to less constructive and more conflict-driven communication styles.

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PTSD

Body’s Own Cannabinoids May Help Control Trauma-Linked Fear

Cyberbullying Linked to PTSD Symptoms in Teens

Brain’s Arousal Regulator Found

Vagus Nerve Stimulation Erases PTSD

Noninvasive Sound Wave Therapy Eases Depression and Anxiety

Dopamine Signals Teach the Brain to Unlearn Fear

Temporary Anxiety Impairs Threat Recognition and Learning

Natural Disaster Trauma Disrupts Brain’s Decision Circuits

Police at Greater Risk of Brain Trauma and PTSD

The Body Remembers: Trauma Leaves Lasting Biological Imprints

Vivid Visual Memory May Raise PTSD Risk

Fear of Emotions Fuels PTSD-Related Conflict in Romantic Relationships

Cannabis Destroys Sleep Quality

Genetic Risk for Anorexia May Begin Outside the Brain

Higher BMI Linked to Longer Survival After a Dementia Diagnosis

Can We Predict Hearing Loss Long Before Symptoms Ever Start?

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