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Junk food orders up trouble for young brains

Everyone knows consuming junk food is bad for your health, but a new study reveals it could also be bad for developing brain health. Excessive consumption of calorie-dense foods can lead to changes in the structure and function of the prefrontal cortex, including altering dopamine signaling and inhibition. Read More

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Research shows real risks associated with cannabis exposure during pregnancy

Regular exposure to low-dose THC during pregnancy led to an 8% reduction of birth weight, and decreased brain and liver growth of more than 20% in rat models. Read More

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Lefty, righty brains count on same area for numbers

A new study debunks the popular myth that handedness plays a role in the lateralization of number processing in the brain. The study revealed, regardless of which is your dominant hand, the brain's location for number processing is the same. Read More

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Why marijuana affects different people differently

By looking at THC’s effect on a rat brain, the researchers showed that THC, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana, can produce highly rewarding effects in the front-most part of a region of the brain called the nucleus accumbens. The image is in the public domain. Read More

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ICU patients with non-brain-related injuries may suffer undetected cognitive dysfunction

A number of patients in intensive care units for non-brain-related illnesses may suffer from cognitive dysfunction. Inflammation that occurs as a result of infection and problems with oxygen flow to the brain which occur when breathing is affected, could contribute to cognitive impairments. Read More

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Too Much Sleep is Bad For the Brain

While the effects of sleep deprivation are well known, researchers discover sleeping too much could have a detrimental effect on your brain. A new study reports sleeping more than eight hours per night can reduce cognitive ability and reasoning skills. Read More

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Exercise boosts memory like caffeine

Short bouts of aerobic exercise can improve working memory as much as caffeine can. Additionally, exercise can help curb the negative effects of caffeine withdrawal, such as fatigue, headaches, and bad moods. Read More

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Cannabis study reveals how CBD offsets the psychiatric side-effects of THC

CBD blocks the ability of THC to overstimulate the ERK pathway in the hippocampus, preventing negative side effects associated with cannabis use. Read More

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Researchers write ABCs of language disorder

Researchers publish a paper aimed at children to explain developmental language disorder (DLD). Those with DLD struggle to learn and comprehend oral and written communication, despite being of normal or above normal intellectual ability. Read More

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Bad diets making for bad memories

Perineuronal nets (PNNs) and the neurons they enmesh can be damaged by poor diets. Excessive consumption of foods high in saturated fats and refined sugars cause inflammation and oxidative stress, resulting in cognitive decline and poor memory. Read More

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Spinal Cord is Smarter than Previously Thought

A new study reveals how the spinal cord is able to process and control more complex functions researchers previously believed to have been goverened by the cerebral cortex. Read More

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Brain Game Doesn’t Offer Brain Gain

Researchers debunk claims that regularly using brain training games can give you an advantage in performance with untrained cognitive tasks. Read More