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UCLA

This shows a woman and the outline of a brain.

·June 21, 2024·4 min read

Resilience Linked to Healthier Brain and Gut

A new study reveals that resilient individuals show improved brain function and healthier gut microbiomes. The research highlights that resilient people have better emotional regulation and lower inflammation. This study is the first to explore the connection between resilience, brain activity, and gut health. The findings suggest potential new treatments targeting both the brain and the gut to reduce stress and prevent disease.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·May 24, 2024·7 min read

Study Links Genetic Risk of Autism to Brain Cell Activity

revealed the most detailed view yet of the biological mechanisms underlying autism, linking genetic risk to cellular and genetic activity in the brain. Researchers used single-cell assays to analyze over 800,000 nuclei from post-mortem brain tissue of individuals with autism and neurotypical controls.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·May 23, 2024·5 min read

Brain Patterns Predict Autism Risk in Infants

A new study study found distinct brain connectivity patterns in 6-week-old infants at risk for autism. Differences in the Salience Network, responsible for filtering important stimuli, may predict later sensory and social behaviors. Infants with stronger sensory connections showed sensory over-responsivity at age one, while those with stronger social connections demonstrated better shared attention.

This shows the word please written on blocks.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 18, 2024·5 min read

Beyond Politeness: Is “Please” a Politeness Marker or a Strategic Tool?

A new study challenges the notion that "please" is a universal marker of politeness. Instead, researchers found it's primarily used when expecting resistance or inconvenience. This suggests "please" is a strategic tool to navigate social interactions rather than a mere politeness marker. The study emphasizes the importance of context and sensitivity in communication, as misusing "please" can backfire.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 15, 2024·3 min read

How Repetition Solidifies Memory

A new study reveals that repetitive practice not only improves skills but also induces significant changes in the brain's memory pathways. The research shows how training mice to recall odor sequences led to stable memory representations in the secondary motor cortex.

Brain Cancer Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·May 9, 2024·7 min read

Breakthrough in Immunotherapy for Brain Cancer

Researchers unveiled a new combination immunotherapy that significantly boosts the immune response in patients with malignant gliomas. By integrating a personalized dendritic cell vaccine with poly-ICLC, an immune-boosting agent, the therapy has shown promise in enhancing the dendritic cells' capacity to combat this aggressive brain tumor.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 8, 2024·8 min read

Sleep Enhances Memory with Less Energy

Researchers discovered a new mechanism in the brain that enhances memory formation while reducing energy consumption during sleep. The study finds that this process occurs in the entorhinal cortex, a key area for learning and memory and the initial site of Alzheimer’s disease pathology.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 4, 2024·6 min read

Loneliness, Food Cravings, and the Brain

A new study reveals the link between loneliness, cravings for high-calorie foods, and unhealthy eating behaviors in women, highlighting a significant brain activity pattern associated with social isolation. The research found that women feeling lonely show increased brain activation in areas related to cravings when exposed to images of sugary foods, alongside decreased self-control towards eating.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 19, 2024·5 min read

Brain’s Food-Seeking Circuit Overrides Hunger Signals

Researchers identified a brain circuit in mice that drives them to seek food even when not hungry, focusing on a specific group of cells in the brainstem's periaqueductal gray (PAG) area. This discovery highlights how stimulating these cells causes mice to prefer high-calorie foods and engage in food-seeking behaviors, regardless of hunger.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·March 4, 2024·4 min read

Astrocytes Play Critical Role in Regulating Behavior

Researchers made a groundbreaking discovery in identifying a unique group of astrocytes, located in the brain's central striatum, that play a crucial role in regulating behaviors linked to neuropsychiatric disorders. This distinct subset of astrocytes expresses the gene Crym, coding for μ-crystallin, a protein associated with various human diseases.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 13, 2024·4 min read

Childhood Bullying Increases Mental Health Risk in Teens

Childhood bullying can lead to significant distrust in others among young teenagers, greatly increasing their risk of serious mental health problems by adulthood. Analyzing data from 10,000 UK children over nearly two decades, the research found that those bullied at age 11 and developing interpersonal distrust by age 14 were 3.5 times more likely to face mental health issues at 17.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 21, 2023·6 min read

Music’s Emotional Rollercoaster Enhances Memory Formation

Researchers reveal how fluctuating emotions elicited by music help shape distinct and durable memories. Using music to manipulate volunteers' emotions during tasks, they found that emotional shifts create boundaries between memories, making them easier to recall.