University of Toronto Research Articles

Some surprisingly good news about anxiety

Neuroscience NewsJanuary 7, 2020

Recovery rates from anxiety are higher than previously believed. 7 in 10 people with a history of generalized anxiety disorder report being free of symptoms for at least a year, and 40% claim to retain excellent mental health.... Read More...

FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology3 min read

Is there a link between lifetime lead exposure and dementia?

Neuroscience NewsDecember 19, 2019

A new hypothesis suggests declining rates of dementia could be a result of generational differences in lifetime exposure to lead.... Read More...

FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience5 min read

This shows a drawing of a head and jigsaw pieces

Could some people with schizophrenia in poorer nations simply have a vitamin deficiency?

Neuroscience NewsDecember 12, 2019

An association has been identified between a variant of the NAPRT1 gene, which reduces the body's ability to use Vitamin B3, and schizophrenia. The study reveals there could be a critical interaction between a pregnant woman's prenatal niacin deficiency due to malnutrition and the NAPRT1 variant, which impedes the fetus' ability to use niacin during development. The interaction between the gene and the prenatal environment may predispose the offspring to develop a psychiatric disorder.... Read More...

FeaturedGeneticsNeurosciencePsychology6 min read

Depression linked to nutrition in middle-aged and older adults

Neuroscience NewsNovember 12, 2019

Poor nutrition was linked to an increased risk of depression in middle-aged and older adults. Men who consume higher levels of fat and lower levels of omega-3 were more prone to depression. A diet low in fruits and vegetables was also associated with increased depression risks.... Read More...

FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology7 min read

Linguists track impact of cognitive decline across three decades of one writer’s diaries

Neuroscience NewsOctober 10, 2019

Reviewing over thirty years of diaries from a patient diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, linguists discover how writing style changes as dementia progresses.... Read More...

FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience3 min read

Women with chronic physical conditions more likely to experience mental illness in pregnancy

Neuroscience NewsAugust 27, 2019

Women who suffer from a chronic physical condition, such as asthma or diabetes, are at increased risk of developing mental health problems both during pregnancy and up to one-year postpartum.... Read More...

FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology6 min read

Improved mood and focus reported by microdosers

Neuroscience NewsJuly 15, 2019

Microdosing, a growing trend where people take small doses for psychedelic drugs, is associated with improved mood, focus, and creativity. For some, microdosing may provide a possible alternative to SSRI antidepressants. However, researchers warn of some potential problems with microdosing, including negative side effects, psychological stigma, and exposure to elicit, black market products.... Read More...

FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology5 min read

Extroverts enjoy four key advantages according to science; here they are

Neuroscience NewsMay 29, 2019

Being extroverted may be a clear advantage in the workplace. A new study reveals extroverts tend to be more motivated, conscientious, emotionally positive and better communicators than their more introverted peers.... Read More...

FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology6 min read

Scientists uncover a trove of genes that could hold key to how humans evolved

Neuroscience NewsMay 27, 2019

Dozens of genes previously believed to have similar roles across different organisms are actually unique to humans. The genetic codes are for transcription factors, which help control gene activity. The findings may help to explain how humans evolved.... Read More...

FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience6 min read

This shows a rainbow of colorful letters and numbers

Colourful language: Enhanced language learning in synesthetes discovered

Neuroscience NewsMay 15, 2019

People with grapheme-color synesthesia, associating colors with numbers and letters, have a significant advantage when it comes to statistical learning. ... Read More...

FeaturedNeuroscience5 min read

Scientists ‘reverse engineer’ brain cancer cells to find new targets for treatment

Neuroscience NewsApril 16, 2019

Using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, researchers identified actionable pathways responsible for the growth of glioblastoma stem cells. By reverse engineering brain cancer cells, multiple potential new targets for cancer treatments have been uncovered.... Read More...

Brain CancerFeaturedGeneticsNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles6 min read

A cup of coffee is shown with the froth in the shape of a brain.

Caffeine on the mind? Just seeing reminders of coffee can stimulate our brain

Neuroscience NewsMarch 29, 2019

Exposure to subtle cues associated with coffee influence arousal and alertness. ... Read More...

FeaturedNeurosciencePsychologyvisual neuroscience4 min read

News

How emotions are mapped in the brain

Optical stimulation causes marmosets to move their forelimbs

What goes up may actually be down

Neuroscience

How emotions are mapped in the brain

Optical stimulation causes marmosets to move their forelimbs

What goes up may actually be down

Neurology

Certain personality traits in high school may lower dementia risk five decades later

Unexpected connection between gliomas and neurodegenerative diseases

Living near major roads linked to risk of dementia, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and MS

AI

A rat had basically no brain, but it could still see, hear, smell, and feel

Google and Janelia researchers unveil biggest, most detailed map of the fly brain to date

The way you dance is unique, and computers can tell it’s you

Robotics

Findings about sea star locomotion could aid in development of simpler, decentralized systems in robotics

The first living robots

Psychology

How emotions are mapped in the brain

What goes up may actually be down

Horror movies manipulate brain activity expertly to enhance excitement

University of Toronto

Some surprisingly good news about anxiety

Could some people with schizophrenia in poorer nations simply have a vitamin deficiency?

Depression linked to nutrition in middle-aged and older adults

Linguists track impact of cognitive decline across three decades of one writer’s diaries

Women with chronic physical conditions more likely to experience mental illness in pregnancy

Improved mood and focus reported by microdosers

Extroverts enjoy four key advantages according to science; here they are

Scientists uncover a trove of genes that could hold key to how humans evolved

Colourful language: Enhanced language learning in synesthetes discovered

Scientists ‘reverse engineer’ brain cancer cells to find new targets for treatment

Caffeine on the mind? Just seeing reminders of coffee can stimulate our brain