FeaturedNeurosciencePsychologyVisual Neuroscience·December 18, 2024·5 min readStudy Ties Visual Errors to Paranoid BeliefsA new study suggests complex beliefs like paranoia may have roots in visual misperception. Participants prone to paranoia or teleological thinking were more likely to wrongly identify one moving dot as chasing another in a visual task.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·December 4, 2024·5 min readBrain Age Models Offer Insights into Early Development TrajectoriesA new study highlights how brain age models can track healthy infant development and reveal environmental influences. Using MRI data from over 600 term and preterm infants, researchers trained machine learning models to predict brain age and identify gaps between predicted and actual ages.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·November 22, 2024·5 min readThe Secret to Raising Independent Kids? Let Them Learn on Their OwnParents are 50% less likely to intervene in their young children’s tasks, such as getting dressed, when these activities are framed as learning opportunities. A new study demonstrated that emphasizing the educational value of everyday tasks promotes children’s independence and resilience by reducing overparenting.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·November 3, 2024·5 min readBuilding Better Brain Imaging Models for Broader Clinical UseNew research shows that predictive models linking brain activity and behavior need to generalize across diverse datasets to be useful in clinical settings. By training models on varied brain imaging datasets, researchers found that effective models can still perform accurately when tested on different datasets with unique demographic and regional characteristics.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceVisual Neuroscience·October 22, 2024·6 min readHow Visual Clutter Disrupts Information Flow in the BrainA new study reveals that visual clutter alters how information flows between neurons in the brain’s primary visual cortex, but not the order in which it's processed. Researchers found that the efficiency of information transfer changes depending on the location of clutter in the visual field.Read More
AutismFeaturedNeuroscience·October 14, 2024·3 min readImaging Links Fewer Brain Connections to Autism Social ChallengesA recent study used PET imaging to examine synaptic connections in autistic and non-autistic adults, marking the first time this technology was applied to autism research. Findings show autistic adults have fewer synapses, or connections between brain cells, which closely relates to social and communicative differences in autism.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·October 14, 2024·3 min readBrain Networks Vary in Structure-Function LinkResearchers reveal that the relationship between brain structure and function varies significantly across different brain regions. In primary sensory and motor regions, neuron wiring strongly predicts function, while in regions associated with complex cognition, this link weakens. Using data from 300 brain functions, the study found that advanced cognitive functions rely less on direct neural connections, suggesting evolutionary adaptation.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·October 5, 2024·4 min readFirst Gut Microbiome Map for Personalized Food ResponsesA recent study has mapped how molecules in food interact with gut bacteria, revealing why people respond differently to the same diets. By examining 150 dietary compounds, researchers found that these molecules can reshape gut microbiomes in some individuals, while having little effect in others.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·September 30, 2024·5 min readAI Tools Predict Future Depression Symptoms from Word ChoiceA new study has found that analyzing a person’s word choice can predict worsening symptoms of major depressive disorder. Researchers used human evaluators and ChatGPT to assess written responses, finding that both could accurately predict depression severity weeks later.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·September 27, 2024·5 min readUnexpected Sounds Boost Dopamine, Leading to Riskier DecisionsA new study shows that unexpected sounds can cause dopamine bursts in the brain, which may lead to riskier decision-making. Researchers found that participants were 4% more likely to choose risky options after hearing a surprising tone. These findings highlight how unrelated sensory events, like sounds, can influence choices, shedding light on the role dopamine plays in decision-making.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·September 25, 2024·4 min readShared Brain Activity Patterns Linked to Behavior IdentifiedScientists have uncovered stable patterns of brain activity across more than 300 individuals by reducing the complexity of fMRI data. These shared activity patterns, consistent across participants, may reveal biomarkers for psychiatric disorders and provide insight into individual differences in behavior.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurosciencePsychology·September 22, 2024·3 min read100+ Genes Linked to Anxiety Disorders IdentifiedA large-scale genetic study involving over 1 million participants has uncovered more than 100 genes associated with anxiety. Researchers found that these genes contribute to the development of anxiety disorders and are also linked to other mental and physical health conditions, such as depression and gastrointestinal disorders.Read More
