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University of Missouri Columbia

·June 20, 2025·4 min read

Hope Outshines Happiness as Key to Life’s Meaning

Hope isn’t just about wishful thinking—it’s a unique emotional experience that may be more essential to well-being than happiness or gratitude. A new study shows that hope stands out among positive emotions as the most consistent predictor of a meaningful life.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 25, 2025·5 min read

Only Children Face Unique Struggles as Parental Caregivers

As single-child families rise in the U.S., more adults are navigating the intense responsibility of caregiving without the support of siblings. A new study reveals that only children experience greater emotional and financial stress when caring for aging parents, and support from friends or extended family doesn't offer the same relief it does for those with siblings.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 24, 2025·5 min read

When the Brain Lacks Fuel, Exercise Still Protects Memory

New research shows that exercise may protect brain function even when the body can’t produce ketones, a vital energy source for cognition. When liver function is impaired and ketone levels drop, memory and learning typically suffer—but physical activity can still counteract those effects.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·April 15, 2025·5 min read

Fussiness at 9 Months May Signal Early Autism Risk

Signs of autism may be detectable as early as 9 months of age, well before the typical diagnosis window of 3 to 5 years. Researchers found that infants who were described by parents as fussy, slow to adapt, or delayed in development were more likely to show autism-related traits by 12 months.

This shows a teen with a drink and brains.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 11, 2025·4 min read

Using Cannabis While Drinking May Lead to Riskier Behavior

Young adults often use alcohol and cannabis together, a behavior that may dull the perceived negative effects of drinking and increase the risk of alcohol-related harm. A recent study found that simultaneous use can reduce users’ awareness of alcohol’s effects, potentially leading to alcohol use disorder and dangerous behaviors like drunk driving.

Featured Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·May 14, 2024·5 min read

COVID-19 May Damage Vision

Researchers discovered that SARS-CoV-2 can penetrate the blood-retinal barrier, potentially causing long-term eye damage.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 5, 2023·4 min read

Placenta Plays A Key Role in Brain Development

A new study focuses on the placenta's role in transporting essential biological materials to the fetal brain. The findings reveal that extracellular vesicles from the placenta play a crucial role in this process, potentially enabling earlier diagnosis of neurological disorders like ASD and schizophrenia.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 20, 2023·4 min read

Brain Stimulation May Combat Nicotine Cravings

Researchers discovered that theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation (TBS) can potentially reduce cigarette cravings. The study revealed that individuals with nicotine dependence often have brain differences that might compromise their inhibitory control (IC).

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·July 29, 2022·5 min read

Prenatal Opioid Exposure May Trigger Neurological and Behavioral Changes Later in Life

Opioids impact the gut microbiome of developing fetuses, altering metabolic pathways and increasing the risks of both neurological and behavioral differences later in life.

This shows a sad boy looking out a window

Autism Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 26, 2022·4 min read

Gastrointestinal Issues Linked With Anxiety and Social Withdrawal for Kids With Autism

Researchers discovered a bi-directional relationship between internalizing symptoms, social withdrawal, and gastrointestinal problems in children and teens on the autism spectrum, reporting the symptoms seem to impact one another simultaneously.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·April 19, 2022·3 min read

COVID-19 Pneumonia Increases Dementia Risk

Patients hospitalized for COVID-19 associated pneumonia had an increased risk of developing dementia compared to patients hospitalized for other forms of pneumonia.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·January 12, 2022·3 min read

BPA Exposure of the Placenta Could Affect Fetal Brain Development

Direct transmission of BPA from a pregnant woman to her child via the placenta may have a negative impact on fetal brain development, researchers report.