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Schizophrenia

·February 27, 2025·4 min read

Schizophrenia Symptoms Linked to Unique Brain Structures

A new international study reveals that schizophrenia manifests differently in the brain, reflecting the wide range of symptoms among patients. Researchers analyzed imaging data from over 6,000 individuals and found that while some brain structures vary significantly, others remain highly uniform.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·February 23, 2025·6 min read

Genetic Mutation Linked to Schizophrenia Alters Brain Function

Researchers identified a rare genetic mutation in two schizophrenia patients that increased schizophrenia-related behaviors in mice. The mutation led to higher levels of glycine decarboxylase (GLDC), an enzyme that degrades glycine, reducing NMDA receptor activation.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 28, 2025·5 min read

Study Links Schizophrenia to Visual Contrast Sensitivity Deficits

People with schizophrenia experience impaired contrast perception, affecting their ability to differentiate light intensity and recognize shapes and textures. This deficit may stem from disruptions in glutamate neurotransmission, a key neural mechanism in the disease.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 7, 2025·4 min read

Key Neurons Linked to Autism and Schizophrenia Risk

Layer 5 pyramidal neurons, crucial for brain information processing, vary significantly in their synaptic protein composition based on neuron type. Research shows that intratelencephalic (IT) neurons and pyramidal tract (PT) neurons share some synaptic proteins but also have unique characteristics influencing their functions.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology Visual Neuroscience

·December 18, 2024·5 min read

Study Ties Visual Errors to Paranoid Beliefs

A new study suggests complex beliefs like paranoia may have roots in visual misperception. Participants prone to paranoia or teleological thinking were more likely to wrongly identify one moving dot as chasing another in a visual task.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 12, 2024·6 min read

Schizophrenia’s Unique Brain Network Identified

A new study has identified a distinct brain network connecting areas of atrophy associated with schizophrenia, offering a unified view of its neuroanatomy. By analyzing data from over 90 studies and more than 8,000 participants, researchers created an atrophy connectivity map that overlaps with regions linked to schizophrenia, such as the insula and hippocampus.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 12, 2024·4 min read

Emotional Memory Cells Driving Empathy Discovered

Researchers have uncovered a brain mechanism in the prefrontal cortex that determines how animals respond to others’ emotions based on their own past experiences. These neurons, producing corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), act as emotional memories, modulating responses to socio-emotional stimuli.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·December 5, 2024·6 min read

Gene Defect Linked Brain Size and Social Behavior in ASD, Schizophrenia

A new study reveals how genetic deficits, particularly in the Tbx1 gene, are linked to reduced brain volume and altered social behavior, findings relevant to autism and schizophrenia. Researchers observed smaller amygdala volumes in Tbx1-deficient mice, a brain region key to emotional regulation and social behavior. These mice displayed less interest in social interaction, relying more on non-social cues like bedding preferences.

Auditory Neuroscience Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 3, 2024·6 min read

How We Filter Out Background Sounds When Speaking

Researchers have traced how the brain filters out background noise during speech using signals between the motor and auditory cortices. These milliseconds-long electrical signals, called auditory corollary discharge, originate in the motor cortex's precentral gyrus and travel to the auditory cortex's superior temporal gyrus.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 26, 2024·4 min read

Brain Biomarker Could Predict Psychosis Before Symptoms Emerge

Researchers have identified a brain biomarker that may predict psychosis onset before symptoms appear, enabling earlier interventions and personalized care. MRI scans revealed abnormal connectivity patterns in sensory brain networks, with weaker connections between sensory regions and stronger connections to the thalamus.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 21, 2024·4 min read

Brain Mapping Approach Reveals Hidden Clues to Schizophrenia

A new study identifies previously hidden brain network patterns in schizophrenia by focusing on nonlinear connectivity, offering potential biomarkers for early diagnosis. Traditional imaging methods often overlook these patterns, but researchers developed advanced statistical tools to uncover this new dimension of brain organization.

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Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 13, 2024·6 min read

Schizophrenia Risks Tied to Psychedelic Use

A new study links hallucinogen-related emergency department visits to a 21-fold increased risk of schizophrenia compared to the general population. Even after accounting for other mental health disorders and substance use, individuals faced a 3.5-fold higher risk.