FeaturedNeurologyNeurosciencePain·April 13, 2025·10 min readLab-Grown Nerve Circuit Recreates Human Pain PathwayResearchers have recreated the human ascending sensory pathway in a lab dish, using organoids that model the key brain and spinal cord regions responsible for transmitting pain. This breakthrough allows scientists to observe how pain signals travel from peripheral neurons to the brain for the first time outside the body.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·April 10, 2025·7 min readDigital Mouse Brain Twin Offers New Window Into Neural FunctionResearchers have created an AI-powered "digital twin" of the mouse visual cortex that can accurately simulate neural responses to visual input, including movies. Unlike earlier models, this digital twin generalizes beyond its training data, predicting neuron behavior and structure with remarkable accuracy.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·January 10, 2025·3 min readHow Fiber Fuels Anti-Cancer Gene ActivityFiber digestion produces short-chain fatty acids like propionate and butyrate, which directly alter gene expression with anti-cancer effects, according to new research. The study found that these fatty acids influence genes involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, key processes that control tumor growth. Researchers demonstrated these epigenetic changes in human cells and mouse models, highlighting fiber's systemic impact on health.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·December 21, 2024·8 min readRare Brain Cells Offer Clues to Aging and RejuvenationA study reveals how brain cell interactions influence aging, showing that rare cell types either accelerate or slow brain aging. Neural stem cells provide a rejuvenating effect on neighboring cells, while T cells drive aging through inflammation.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·November 25, 2024·8 min readDopamine and Serotonin Work in Opposition for Effective LearningThe interplay between dopamine and serotonin shapes behavior by creating a balance between reward-seeking and impulse control. A novel study demonstrated that both systems work in opposition but are essential for effective learning.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·October 22, 2024·6 min readWatching Docudramas Boosts EmpathyA new study shows that after watching a docudrama about a wrongfully convicted prisoner, participants became more empathetic toward formerly incarcerated individuals and more supportive of criminal justice reform. The research revealed that personal stories portrayed in media can shift attitudes, encouraging viewers to reconsider their perceptions of marginalized groups.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurosciencePsychology·October 21, 2024·6 min readAI Uncovers DNA Variants Linked to Psychiatric DisordersResearchers developed an AI algorithm, ARC-SV, to detect complex structural variants in the human genome that previous methods missed. Analyzing over 4,000 genomes, researchers discovered thousands of complex variants, many affecting brain-related genes and linked to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·October 2, 2024·6 min readTargeting Glucose May Spark NeurogenesisNeural stem cells, which create new neurons in the brain, become less active with age due to elevated glucose levels. Researchers found that by knocking out the glucose transporter gene GLUT4 in older mice, they could significantly increase the production of new neurons.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·August 25, 2024·6 min readBlocking a Brain Pathway Reverses Memory Loss in Alzheimer’sBlocking the kynurenine pathway, a regulator of brain metabolism, can restore cognitive function in lab mice with Alzheimer’s disease. The pathway is overactivated in Alzheimer’s, disrupting glucose metabolism and starving neurons of energy. By inhibiting this pathway, researchers improved memory and brain plasticity in mice, offering hope for new treatments in humans. IDO1 inhibitors, currently in cancer trials, could be repurposed for Alzheimer’s treatment.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·June 17, 2024·7 min readSix Types of Depression IdentifiedResearchers identified six depression subtypes through brain imaging and machine learning, revealing tailored treatment options. This breakthrough in precision psychiatry can improve treatment outcomes by matching patients with the most effective therapies based on their brain activity patterns.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·June 5, 2024·6 min readBrain Plasticity’s Dark Side: New Insights into Addiction MechanismsResearchers discovered that adaptive myelination, a form of brain plasticity, contributes to drug addiction. A single morphine dose in mice triggered myelination in reward-related brain circuits, reinforcing drug-seeking behavior. Blocking this myelination prevented addiction, highlighting potential new treatment strategies.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·June 1, 2024·7 min readNight Owls Beware: Late Bedtimes Harm Mental HealthStaying up late harms mental health regardless of one's natural sleep preference. Surveying nearly 75,000 adults, researchers discovered that both morning and night types who stayed up late had higher rates of mental disorders. Surprisingly, aligning with one's chronotype didn't matter—early bedtimes benefited everyone. The study suggests lights out by 1 a.m. for better mental health.Read More
