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University of Zurich

·June 26, 2025·4 min read

Why Baby Talk May Be Uniquely Human

Child-directed speech, or “baby talk,” plays a crucial role in language development and is a near-universal human behavior. Researchers investigated whether this vocal strategy is shared with our closest relatives—great apes—and found that humans use infant-directed speech far more frequently.

This shows a person giving food to another.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 28, 2025·4 min read

The Psychology Behind Why Some People Give More Than Others

A new analysis of over 90,000 participants shows that personality traits influence how people engage in volunteering and charitable giving. Researchers found that extraverts are more likely to volunteer, while agreeable individuals are more inclined to donate money.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 23, 2025·4 min read

People Worry More About Today’s AI Harms Than Future Catastrophes

A new study finds that people are more concerned about the immediate risks of artificial intelligence—like job loss, bias, and disinformation—than they are about hypothetical future threats to humanity. Researchers exposed over 10,000 participants to different AI narratives and found that, while future catastrophes raise concern, real-world present dangers resonate more strongly.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology Visual Neuroscience

·April 22, 2025·4 min read

Eye Clues to Schizophrenia Risk Found in Retinal Thickness

The retina, as part of the central nervous system, may reflect early signs of brain disorders like schizophrenia. A large-scale genetic study found that people with higher genetic risk for schizophrenia tend to have thinner retinas, even in the absence of symptoms.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 27, 2025·4 min read

Schizophrenia Symptoms Linked to Unique Brain Structures

A new international study reveals that schizophrenia manifests differently in the brain, reflecting the wide range of symptoms among patients. Researchers analyzed imaging data from over 6,000 individuals and found that while some brain structures vary significantly, others remain highly uniform.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 1, 2024·3 min read

Cooperative Care Influences Brain Development in Humans and Marmosets

Cooperative breeding influences brain development in common marmosets and humans, allowing longer periods for social learning. Marmoset brains, like human brains, develop socio-cognitive regions slowly, maturing in early adulthood.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 26, 2024·4 min read

How Self-Esteem and Sexual Well-Being Impact Each Other

A long-term study has revealed a dynamic link between self-esteem and sexual satisfaction, showing that the two factors influence each other. Higher self-esteem is associated with more frequent sexual activity and greater satisfaction, while positive sexual experiences can boost self-esteem over time.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·August 22, 2024·7 min read

Gene Defect Causes Abnormal Brain Size

Mutations in the gene ZNRF3 can lead to abnormal brain sizes—either too large or too small—causing various neurological symptoms. This gene, known for its role in cancer, is crucial in regulating brain cell production. The study found that specific mutations in the gene disrupt the balance of brain cell development, with potential implications for cancer risk in patients with abnormally large brains.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 11, 2024·5 min read

Early Smells Shape Newborn Brains: Olfaction Linked to Touch Development

Early exposure to odors in newborn mice is crucial for the development of their sense of touch. Researchers found that pleasant smells activate brain areas responsible for touch within the first week of life, influencing sensory processing.

$This shows boys working on math on a blackboard.$

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 10, 2024·4 min read

Peer Influence Drives Math Confidence in Boys

Boys' math confidence is heavily influenced by peer comparisons, while girls base their self-assessment on actual performance. Despite similar math abilities, girls often lack confidence compared to boys. This confidence gap impacts career choices, leading to fewer women in STEM fields. The study highlights the need for addressing peer dynamics to foster math confidence in both genders.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 26, 2024·4 min read

Live Music’s Unique Spark: A Brain’s Emotional Journey

Live music significantly amplifies emotional responses in the brain compared to recorded tunes. By measuring amygdala activity, researchers found that live performances evoke stronger emotional reactions, fostering a deeper cognitive and affective processing throughout the brain.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 7, 2024·5 min read

Immune Cell Enzyme Links Stress to Depression

Researchers identified a novel 'body-mind mechanism' that links chronic stress to depression. They discovered that stress increases the enzyme matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) in blood, which then impacts brain neurons, leading to social withdrawal behaviors in mice—a symptom observed in depression.