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stress

This shows a woman meditating in a field.

·October 26, 2025·6 min read

Music and Nature Work in Harmony to Ease Stress and Lift Mood

The viral phrase “touch grass” may be more than internet humor—science shows that engaging with nature and music can significantly boost emotional and physical well-being. A new review found that combining these experiences—such as listening to music outdoors, gardening while singing, or caring for animals—can improve mood, reduce stress, and ease symptoms of anxiety and depression.

This shows a person playing an instrument.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 24, 2025·5 min read

Positive Memories Boost Musicians’ Performance by Reframing Stress

A new study reveals that recalling positive memories before stepping on stage can significantly boost musicians’ performance. Professional wind instrumentalists who reflected on positive experiences showed higher nervous system activity, greater emotional positivity, and stronger arousal compared to those recalling negative or no memories.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 15, 2025·4 min read

Simple Hair Test May Spot Mental Health Risks in Kids

Long-term stress, measured through hair cortisol, may help predict mental health risks in children living with chronic physical illnesses. In a four-year study of 244 children, researchers found that persistently high cortisol levels were strongly linked to anxiety, depression, and behavioral difficulties.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 4, 2025·5 min read

Astrocyte Disruption Tied to Depression After Childhood Stress

Researchers have shown that astrocytes in the lateral hypothalamus play a pivotal role in how stress shapes behavior, particularly after early-life adversity. In mice, stress led to smaller, less branched astrocytes and abnormal orexin neuron activity, with sex-specific patterns in activity levels.

This shows a statue of a person holding their head. Neurons are overlayed.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 2, 2025·6 min read

Chronic Stress Sends Immune Cells to Brain, Driving Depression

A new study shows that chronic stress causes immune cells called neutrophils to leave bone marrow in the skull and collect in the brain’s protective membranes, where they contribute to depressive symptoms. In mice, blocking an immune “alarm” pathway reduced these cells and improved mood-related behaviors.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 27, 2025·4 min read

Brain Map Reveals How Stress and Social Control Interconnect

A new study has identified a key brain hub in the medial prefrontal cortex that regulates stress responses and social behavior, offering critical insights into psychiatric conditions. Using advanced imaging and AI mapping in mice, scientists charted how these regions integrate sensory and bodily signals to control emotional stability.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 21, 2025·4 min read

How Stress Types Differently Impact Brain and Behavior

Stress is a universal experience, but not all stress affects the brain in the same way. A new study in rats reveals that acute stress provokes anxiety-like behaviors, especially in males, while chronic stress is more strongly tied to depressive symptoms.

This shows a man and woman. The woman is surrounded by swirls, implying the release of scent. The man's head has a lit up area of the brain.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 28, 2025·6 min read

Women’s Scent During Ovulation Alters Male Stress and Attraction

Certain scent compounds in female body odor, which increase during ovulation, can subtly influence male perception and stress levels. When these compounds were added to model armpit odors, men found the scents more pleasant and rated images of women as more attractive and feminine.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 22, 2025·4 min read

COVID Stress May Have Aged Brains Faster

Living through the Covid-19 pandemic may have accelerated brain ageing, even in people who were never infected, a new study finds. Brain scans of nearly 1,000 adults showed older, male, and disadvantaged individuals were most affected.

This shows a pregnant woman and gut bacteria.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 21, 2025·7 min read

Pregnancy Stress Disrupts Baby’s Microbiome, Increasing Depression Risk

Prenatal stress in mothers can leave a lasting imprint on their offspring, predisposing them to depression-like behaviors. Researchers found that maternal stress disrupts the gut microbiome and metabolite production, which are vertically transmitted to the young.

This shows a woman holding her head in pain.

Featured Neuroscience Pain

·July 20, 2025·5 min read

How Stress Sounds Amplify Pain and Inflammation

Pain isn’t just physical—it can be socially and emotionally transmitted. New research shows that ultrasonic vocalizations emitted by mice in pain trigger hyperalgesia in nearby mice, even without direct injury.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·July 17, 2025·4 min read

Neurons Store Backup Energy to Power the Brain Under Stress

New research has uncovered that neurons store their own glycogen, acting as “backup batteries” to keep the brain functioning during energy stress. Using worms and advanced biosensors, scientists found that neurons can tap into glycogen reserves, especially when oxygen or mitochondrial function is limited.