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Virginia Tech

·May 20, 2023·3 min read

Unraveling the Mystery of Ice Cream Headaches: The ‘Brain Freeze’ Phenomenon

Summer treats can often lead to the dreaded 'brain freeze'. Researchers say this sudden pain is the brain's reaction to a rapid cooling inside the head. It triggers an increase in blood flow to warm the area back up, and the resulting sudden expansion of blood vessels is interpreted as pain.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 19, 2023·8 min read

Taking Strides: Why Walking Is Not So Popular in the U.S

Walking is less popular and more perilous in the U.S. than in other countries, according to a new study. Comparing U.S. statistics to European counterparts like the U.K., Germany, and the Netherlands, the study reveals that Americans take fewer walking trips and face higher fatality rates.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·May 19, 2023·4 min read

Pivotal Protein in Female PTSD Identified

Researchers discovered an exciting new role for a widely known protein, ubiquitin, particularly in its K-63 form. They found K-63 ubiquitin selectively influences fear memory formation in female brains, potentially contributing to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This discovery sheds light on why women are more likely to suffer from PTSD and paves the way for developing female-specific therapeutic treatments.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 15, 2023·5 min read

Spontaneous Coordinated Group Movement Behavior Brain Circuit Discovered

A new study identified a brain circuit responsible for rapid, unified response to threats in animals, a phenomenon observed in fish schools and mammal herds. The research, focused on synchronized immobility in pairs of mice, paves the way for improved understanding of social communication in general, which is often compromised in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 14, 2023·4 min read

Beyond Addiction: Study Targets Rising Cocaine Use Disorder

Cocaine use and related fatalities are on the rise in the U.S. Researchers are aiming to understand and combat this trend through a study centered on the theory of reinforcer pathology.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 30, 2023·2 min read

Uncovering the Hidden Mechanisms of Why Ultra-Processed Foods Are So Rewarding

Study aims to assess why highly-processed foods are so rewarding to the brain and why they are so over-consumed as part of the Western diet.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·February 16, 2023·5 min read

Discovery in Zebrafish May Yield Better Understanding of a Range of Mental Health Disorders Related to Stress and Anxiety

Deficiencies in DSCAML1 disrupt normal brain development and increase baseline levels of cortisol, making the hormone less able to function correctly during periods of stress. The findings shed new light on programmed cell death in the developing brain and could lead to new treatments for mental health disorders including stress and anxiety.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 8, 2023·6 min read

Why PTSD Patients Relive Highly Charged Fear Memories in Sleep

In people with PTSD, during REM sleep norepinephrine and serotonin levels remain high, reducing the brain's ability to inhibit fear-expression neurons through neural rhythms sent between the prefrontal cortex and amygdala. Those with PTSD require higher frequency rhythms to extinguish fear memories. Researchers say unlocking the higher frequencies via therapies could help to restore quality sleep in those with PTSD.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 12, 2022·5 min read

A Possible Neural Link Between Early Life Trauma and Binge-Eating Disorder Discovered

8 in 10 sufferers of binge eating disorders experienced trauma during childhood. Researchers discovered leptin is less effective in the lateral hypothalamus of those who suffered childhood trauma.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 19, 2021·5 min read

Psychedelics Show Promise in Treating Mental Illness

A growing body of evidence suggests psychedelics including psilocybin and LSD show promise in providing lasting relief from symptoms for those suffering some mental health disorders. Researchers found DOI, a similar drug to LSD, reduced negative behavioral responses following fear triggers in mouse models of anxiety.