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RIKEN

·May 24, 2025·4 min read

Placebo Triggers Brain’s Opioid System to Relieve Pain

Researchers have successfully induced the placebo effect in rats, uncovering the neural mechanisms behind how belief in pain relief can reduce the perception of pain. Using conditioning, rats learned to associate injections with pain relief, and later exhibited reduced pain responses even when injected with saline.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 20, 2025·5 min read

Acetate and Bacteria Team Up to Burn Fat

A new study reveals that acetate—when paired with specific gut bacteria—can significantly reduce fat and liver mass in both normal and obese mice. Researchers used a supplement called AceCel, which delivers acetate directly to the large intestine, promoting the growth of Bacteroides bacteria.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 15, 2025·5 min read

The Brain Learns to Fear Through Inference, Not Just Experience

A new study reveals how rats can learn to fear through inference, offering insights into the neural basis of higher-order emotions. By pairing a neutral sound and image, then associating the image with an unpleasant experience, researchers showed that rats later feared the sound alone—demonstrating inferred emotional learning.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·April 14, 2025·4 min read

One Gene Mutation Disrupts Both Immunity and Brain Development

Researchers have uncovered a surprising mechanism by which a single genetic mutation in the BCL11B gene causes both immune dysfunction and brain development issues. Instead of merely disabling the protein’s normal function, the mutated BCL11B protein interferes with other healthy proteins, such as BCL11A, causing broader damage.

Featured Neuroscience

·February 6, 2025·5 min read

Sleep Strengthens Emotionally Charged Memories During Non-REM Phase

Researchers have discovered that positive emotions enhance perceptual memories during sleep, particularly in the non-REM stage. Using mice, they found that memories linked to rewarding experiences lasted longer than neutral ones.

This shows people connected in a network.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 29, 2025·5 min read

How Large Social Circles Foster Trust

A new study challenges the belief that larger groups reduce cooperation, showing instead that flexible social connections enhance teamwork. Researchers found that in a prisoner’s dilemma game, participants in bigger groups cooperated more frequently, despite memory limitations.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·November 18, 2024·4 min read

Unique Brain Plaques Linked to Alzheimer’s Mutation Decoded

Researchers have identified the structure of amyloid beta fibrils linked to a rare inherited form of Alzheimer’s disease caused by the Arctic mutation. Using cryo-electron microscopy and NMR, they revealed a W-shaped fibril structure that explains the formation of cottonwool plaques—large, spherical brain structures unique to this mutation.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·September 9, 2024·4 min read

Study Sheds Light on Stem Cell Aging Process

Scientists identified key changes in chromosome structure and gene expression that contribute to stem cell exhaustion during aging. Using fruit flies, they discovered that blocking the gene ced-6 led to stem cell depletion, even in young organisms.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·August 6, 2024·5 min read

Dopamine Treatment Reduces Alzheimer’s Plaques

Researchers uncovered a promising approach to treating Alzheimer’s disease by using dopamine to enhance brain enzyme activity that reduces harmful plaques. Conducted on mice, the study shows that dopamine increases neprilysin production, which breaks down beta-amyloid plaques linked to Alzheimer's.

Autism Featured Genetics

·January 27, 2024·5 min read

Indirect Genetic Influences of Autism Revealed

Researchers made a significant breakthrough in understanding the genetics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by focusing on special genetic mutations and their impact on neighboring genes. The study shows that mutations within promoters in certain genome regions can indirectly affect ASD-related genes due to the three-dimensional structure of the genome.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 7, 2023·4 min read

Negative Memory Replay Offers PTSD Insight

Scientists discovered that rats intensify their memories of negative experiences in familiar places by repetitively replaying them. This mental map, generated by specific neurons known as place cells, can be altered when the animal encounters a negative experience.