Latest

University of Pittsburgh

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·August 11, 2025·5 min read

Reshaping Nuclear Speckles Could Halt Alzheimer’s

A groundbreaking study reveals that reshaping nuclear speckles — tiny structures inside cell nuclei that regulate protein maintenance — could be a novel way to treat proteinopathies like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and prion diseases. Researchers found that pyrvinium pamoate, an existing FDA-approved drug, alters the surface tension of nuclear speckles, making them less round and more effective at supporting proteostasis.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 16, 2025·5 min read

How Dopamine Shapes Risky Reward Behaviors

Not all animals respond to reward cues the same way — some fixate on the cue itself, while others head straight for the reward. New research reveals that “sign trackers,” animals drawn to the cue, rely on dopamine in a specific brain region to form these associations, unlike “goal trackers,” who use a dopamine-independent mechanism.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 4, 2025·4 min read

Brain Uses Separate Synapses to Balance Learning and Stability

New research has overturned a long-held belief in neuroscience by showing that the brain uses separate synaptic transmission sites for spontaneous and evoked signaling. Traditionally thought to share the same origin, these two forms of communication actually emerge from distinct sites, each following its own developmental path.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 3, 2025·5 min read

BCI Helps Paralyzed Users Feel Again

In a breakthrough study, researchers enabled brain-computer interface (BCI) users with tetraplegia to create personalized tactile sensations, marking a step toward restoring realistic touch. Unlike previous attempts where artificial touch felt generic, participants could adjust stimulation parameters to make digital objects—like a cat, apple, or key—feel distinct.

This shows a woman laying under a red light.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·January 11, 2025·6 min read

Red Light Therapy May Reduce Deadly Blood Clots

Exposure to long-wavelength red light significantly reduced blood clot formation in both mice and human studies. Red light was associated with lower inflammation, reduced immune system activation, and fewer clot-promoting mechanisms, such as neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and platelet activation. Unlike blue or white light, red light influenced clotting through optic pathways, suggesting its effects are mediated by neural mechanisms rather than direct blood exposure.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·January 2, 2025·4 min read

Link Between Cold Sore Herpes Virus and Alzheimer’s Discovered

Researchers discovered a connection between Alzheimer’s disease and herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), suggesting viral infections may contribute to neurodegeneration. The study found that tau protein, typically seen as harmful in Alzheimer’s, might initially protect the brain from the virus but later exacerbate damage.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·October 11, 2024·4 min read

HDL Cholesterol Quality, Not Quantity, Linked to Alzheimer’s Risk

Higher levels of HDL, the so-called "good cholesterol," may not protect against Alzheimer's in postmenopausal women, with the risk potentially tied to the quality, not quantity, of HDL particles. A new study shows that larger HDL particles, which increase during menopause, lose efficiency in supporting cognitive health.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·October 2, 2024·5 min read

Deep Brain Stimulation Restores Arm Strength After Stroke

Researchers found that deep brain stimulation (DBS) can improve arm and hand strength in patients affected by stroke or traumatic brain injury. In tests on monkeys and humans, DBS immediately boosted muscle activation and grip force without causing involuntary movements.

This shows outlines of people with lines connecting them.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 23, 2024·4 min read

Long-Distance Connections Fast-Track Social Behaviors

A new study explores how human behaviors spread through social networks, revealing that long ties—connections that bridge distant parts of a network—significantly accelerate the adoption of new behaviors and ideas. Contrary to previous beliefs that closely knit groups are more effective in spreading complex behaviors, this study demonstrates that long ties facilitate broader reach and quicker adoption across diverse populations.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 4, 2024·5 min read

Cerebellum Plays A Key Role in Reward Learning

Researchers discovered the cerebellum's significant involvement in reward-based learning, challenging longstanding views of its function. By training monkeys to associate visual cues with hand movements for rewards, the study demonstrates that the cerebellum is essential for forming new visuomotor associations, not just controlling movement.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 12, 2024·6 min read

Variability and Spaced Learning Key to Enhanced Memory

A new study uncovers the nuanced effects of spaced learning on memory, emphasizing the importance of the content's variability and the intervals between learning sessions. The study contrasts the impact of learning identical content versus content with variations, across different timescales, on memory retention.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 13, 2024·3 min read

Scents Enhance Memory Recall in Depression

Familiar scents can significantly aid individuals with depression in recalling specific autobiographical memories, potentially offering a new avenue for therapeutic intervention. By directly engaging the amygdala through olfactory cues, the research demonstrated that scents are more effective than verbal prompts in evoking vivid and specific memories.