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This shows a dog and a communication board.

·December 10, 2024·5 min read

Dogs Using Soundboards Show Intentional Communication

Dogs trained to use soundboards can combine two-word buttons purposefully to communicate needs and desires, rather than randomly or by imitating their owners. Researchers analyzed over 260,000 button presses from 152 dogs, finding meaningful combinations like "outside + potty" occurring more often than chance.

This shows a teen on a phone and one jogging.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 4, 2024·5 min read

Excessive Sedentary Time in Teens Linked to Social Media Use

A global study reveals adolescents spend 8-10 hours daily on sedentary activities, far exceeding the World Health Organization’s 2-3 hour recommendation. Social media accounts are significantly linked to increased screen time and overall sedentary behavior, raising concerns about its impact on physical health.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·November 8, 2024·6 min read

Pathway Identified for Early Intervention in ALS Progression

Researchers have uncovered a mechanism that may trigger ALS’s earliest stages, identifying proteins that mislocalize, causing neuron degeneration. By targeting the RNA-binding protein SmD1, scientists were able to prevent key ALS proteins from leaving their protective cellular zones, preserving neuron function. The findings may lead to ALS therapies capable of halting progression before significant neurodegeneration occurs, offering potential new strategies against the disease.

This shows mitochondria, DNA and a person.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·September 26, 2024·3 min read

Mitochondrial DNA Linked to Gulf War Illness Severity in Veterans

Gulf War illness (GWI), a chronic fatigue condition affecting veterans, is linked to genetic variants in mitochondrial DNA. These variants, inherited through the maternal line, appear to predispose some individuals to more severe symptoms of GWI after exposure to environmental toxins.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 26, 2024·4 min read

Reversible Brain Mechanism Explains Memory Loss from Drug Abuse

Scientists have uncovered a mechanism in the brain that explains how drugs like methamphetamine and PCP impair cognitive functions, particularly memory. The study shows that these drugs trigger neurotransmitter switching in the cerebral cortex, where excitatory glutamate neurons switch to inhibitory GABA neurons, leading to memory deficits. Interestingly, researchers were able to reverse this switch and restore memory performance in mice using molecular tools and the antipsychotic drug clozapine. This discovery could pave the way for developing therapies to counteract drug-induced cognitive impairments and other brain disorders.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·September 5, 2024·6 min read

Mindfulness Meditation Reduces Pain More Than Placebo

Mindfulness meditation reduces pain by engaging distinct brain mechanisms, different from the placebo effect. Researchers found that mindfulness meditation was significantly more effective at reducing pain intensity and unpleasantness compared to placebo treatments.

Featured Neuroscience

·August 29, 2024·5 min read

Dogs Using Soundboard Buttons Understand Words

A new study reveals that dogs trained with soundboard buttons can comprehend and respond to specific words, indicating they may truly understand the words and not just react to cues from their owners. Researchers found that dogs responded appropriately to words like “play” and “outside,” regardless of who pressed the buttons, suggesting genuine word comprehension.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·August 22, 2024·4 min read

Early Brain Changes May Trigger Autism

Researchers have uncovered critical insights into how autism spectrum disorders (ASD) may develop at early stages of brain formation. Using mouse models, the team discovered that environmental factors causing autism-like symptoms are linked to early changes in neurotransmitter activity in the brain. Specifically, they observed that a temporary switch from the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA to the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate in neonatal mice could lead to the development of ASD-like behaviors, such as repetitive actions and reduced social interaction, later in life.

Autism Brain Cancer Featured Neuroscience

·July 25, 2024·8 min read

Cancer Drug Shows Promise for Autism Cognitive Function

A new experimental cancer drug could ease cognitive difficulties for those with Rett syndrome, a rare autism-linked disorder, by enhancing brain cell functions. The drug, ADH-503, improves the activity of microglia, which are crucial for maintaining neural networks.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 28, 2024·7 min read

Surge in Microdosing Interest Linked to Relaxed Drug Policies

A new study reveals a 1250% increase in Google searches for microdosing from 2015 to 2023, driven by relaxed regulations on cannabis and psychedelics. The research shows policy changes correlate with growing interest in microdosing, filling gaps in understanding substance use trends.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·June 5, 2024·8 min read

Autism Severity Linked to Fetal Brain Growth Patterns

Brain overgrowth in utero may explain the varying severity of autism in children. Researchers used brain organoids from toddlers to show that larger brain growth correlated with more severe autism symptoms. The findings could lead to prenatal identification and potential therapies for autism.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·May 14, 2024·5 min read

New Technique Reveals Rapid Aging in Alzheimer’s Brain Cells

Neuroengineers discovered that certain brain cells age faster than others, particularly in Alzheimer’s patients. Using a new technique called MUSIC, they identified distinct aging patterns in brain cells and sex-specific differences in aging.

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