Latest

UC Davis

·May 2, 2025·5 min read

Happiness Is as Unique as You Are

A large international study shows that happiness does not stem solely from either external circumstances or internal attitudes, but varies widely between individuals. Some people’s happiness is shaped mostly by life domains like income and relationships, while others draw happiness from internal qualities, or a mix of both.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 30, 2025·5 min read

Dance and Lullabies May Not Be Human Universals After All

New research challenges the long-held belief that dance and lullabies are universal to human culture. Drawing on over four decades of ethnographic work among the Northern Aché people in Paraguay, researchers found no evidence of group dancing or infant-directed singing.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·April 22, 2025·5 min read

Microglia Reprogrammed to Deliver Precision Alzheimer’s Therapies

Researchers have developed engineered human microglia that detect disease-related brain changes and release therapeutic proteins precisely where needed. Using CRISPR technology, the team programmed these cells to secrete an enzyme that breaks down beta-amyloid plaques only in affected areas.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 14, 2025·5 min read

LSD-Inspired Drug Reverses Psychosis Brain Damage Without Hallucinations

A new LSD-derived compound called JRT shows promise for treating schizophrenia and other brain disorders without inducing hallucinations. Developed by researchers who altered just two atoms in LSD’s structure, JRT maintains the psychedelic’s neuroplastic effects while avoiding its psychosis-linked risks.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 14, 2024·6 min read

Brain Circuits Behind Psychedelics’ Anti-Anxiety Power Decoded

New research has identified distinct neural circuits for the anti-anxiety and hallucinogenic effects of psychedelics. Using the psychedelic DOI in mice, researchers demonstrated that anxiety reduction persists long after hallucinatory effects subside.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 11, 2024·6 min read

Asthma Linked to Memory Deficits in Children

A recent study highlights a connection between asthma and memory difficulties in children, with earlier onset linked to slower memory development over time. In testing episodic memory in children aged 9-10, researchers found that those with asthma scored lower than their peers without the condition.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 2, 2024·6 min read

Amygdala Cells Linked to Anxiety

Researchers have identified specific cell types in the amygdala linked to anxiety, revealing potential new targets for treatment. By analyzing gene expression in human and macaque brains, scientists discovered clusters of cells with unique roles, including “gatekeeper” cells that help control emotional responses.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·October 24, 2024·6 min read

In-Utero Gene Editing Could Halt Neurodevelopmental Disorders

A new study has developed a breakthrough biomedical tool that can deliver genetic material to edit faulty genes in fetal brain cells. Tested in mice, this technology offers the potential to stop the progression of neurodevelopmental conditions, like Angelman and Rett syndromes, before birth.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 22, 2024·5 min read

Happy Partners Help Reduce Stress in Older Adults

Having a happy intimate partner can lower stress levels in older adults by reducing the production of cortisol, a stress hormone. Couples with higher relationship satisfaction experience an even stronger effect, suggesting that positive emotions in relationships act as a buffer against stress.

Featured Neuroscience

·August 5, 2024·5 min read

New Tool Rapidly Tracks Psychedelic Effects in Brain Neurons

Researchers developed a rapid, noninvasive tool called CaST that tracks neurons and biomolecules activated by psychedelic drugs. This new method allows researchers to observe the cellular processes responsible for the neuroplastic effects of psychedelics, offering insights into treatments for brain disorders like depression and PTSD.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·May 23, 2024·6 min read

Key Brain Differences in Autistic Boys and Girls Identified

Researchers discovered significant sex-specific differences in brain development between autistic boys and girls aged 2-13. The study found that autistic girls have a thicker cortex at age 3 and faster cortical thinning into middle childhood compared to boys.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·March 19, 2024·4 min read

Keto Diet Delays Alzheimer’s Memory Loss

A ketogenic diet significantly postpones the onset of Alzheimer’s-related memory decline in mice, a phase akin to human mild cognitive impairment preceding Alzheimer’s disease. Key findings highlight the molecule beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) as instrumental in this protective effect, showing a nearly seven-fold increase in mice on the diet and improving synaptic function critical for memory.