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Virginia Tech

·November 5, 2025·6 min read

Early Trauma Hardwires the Brain for Aggression and Self-Harm

A new study reveals that aggression and self-harm share a biological foundation in the brain’s response to early-life trauma. Researchers discovered that trauma increases activity in calcium channels within a neural circuit connecting the nucleus reuniens and hippocampus, amplifying pain processing and impulsive behavior.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·October 24, 2025·9 min read

Gene Editing Reverses Age-Related Memory Loss

Researchers have identified molecular mechanisms behind age-related memory decline — and shown they can be reversed. Two studies revealed that correcting specific molecular processes in the hippocampus and amygdala, and reactivating a silenced memory-supporting gene called IGF2, improved memory in older rats.

Brain Cancer Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·October 13, 2025·6 min read

Lymphatic Damage Tied to Chemo Brain Fog

New research reveals that chemotherapy may cause “chemo brain” by damaging the brain’s lymphatic system — the network responsible for clearing waste and supporting immune function. Using mouse models and human-engineered tissues, scientists found that common drugs like docetaxel shrink lymphatic vessels and impair drainage, leading to memory deficits and cognitive decline.

This shows the outline of a head and brain. There are children running in the background.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 26, 2025·3 min read

Childhood Trauma May Rewire Brain for Lifelong Aggression

Aggression isn’t just a behavioral issue—it has deep neurobiological roots, especially when shaped by early-life trauma. New research is investigating how childhood adversity rewires brain circuits that control emotion, memory, and attention, increasing the risk of impulsive and pathological aggression.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 9, 2025·3 min read

Popular Muscle Supplement Creatine Critical for Brain Function

Creatine is well known for its role in muscle energy, but it’s also critical for brain function and development. In people with creatine deficiency disorders, supplements often fail to improve neurodevelopment because the brain’s protective barrier blocks access.

Brain Cancer Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·May 30, 2025·6 min read

Lab-Designed Peptide Targets Glioblastoma Stem Cells

A newly developed lab-designed molecule, JM2, may offer a promising therapy to combat glioblastoma recurrence by targeting the tumor’s most resilient cells. Researchers discovered that glioblastoma stem cells rely on the protein connexin 43’s interaction with microtubules—an interaction disrupted by JM2.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 16, 2025·3 min read

How Obesity Rewires the Brain’s Food Reward Circuits

A new research initiative is investigating how obesity reshapes brain circuits involved in reward, motivation, and emotion, potentially driving unhealthy food decisions. The cross-disciplinary team will use cutting-edge electrochemical techniques to measure real-time brain chemical responses to food-related stimuli in humans.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 9, 2025·4 min read

Fear Sync: How Males and Females Respond to Stress Together

When mice face fear, they often freeze—and when paired, they typically freeze together. A new study reveals that male-female pairs maintain synchronized fear responses even under stress, unlike same-sex pairs.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 18, 2025·5 min read

Bystander PTSD Alters Brain Differently Than Direct Trauma

New research reveals that witnessing trauma triggers unique brain changes, distinct from those caused by experiencing trauma firsthand. The study found that indirect trauma leads to different protein degradation patterns in key brain regions involved in fear memory.

This shows a person drinking and a brain.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 4, 2025·6 min read

Future Thinking Training Reduces Impulsivity

A new study finds that training people to think about specific future events can reduce impulsivity and improve decision-making. Researchers used fMRI scans to show that practicing episodic future thinking increased connectivity in key brain regions, making participants less likely to choose immediate rewards over long-term benefits.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 25, 2025·8 min read

Adverse Childhood Experiences Impact Brain Development and Mental Health

A decade-long study reveals how childhood adversity alters brain development, increasing risks for mental health disorders and substance use. Researchers found that teens who experienced early adversity showed delayed cognitive control, with unusual brain activity in regions linked to self-regulation.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·February 8, 2025·7 min read

Mitochondria’s Role in Social Memory May Offer Clues to Brain Disorder

Researchers have identified a unique mitochondrial process in CA2 neurons that supports learning, memory, and social recognition. Mitochondria in different parts of these neurons vary in structure and function, with those at the outermost synapses relying on the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) for plasticity. Deleting the MCU gene disrupted this plasticity, highlighting its crucial role in maintaining neural connectivity.