FeaturedNeuroscience·August 5, 2025·6 min readPromise of Reward Changes How We Pay AttentionA new study reveals that our brains treat sensitivity and decision bias as separate processes when rewards are at stake. Using eye-tracking and EEG during a visual task, researchers found that attention-related brain regions ramp up when we focus on potential rewards, but only when it boosts sensitivity—not bias.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·August 5, 2025·6 min readDo Dog Faces Shape Behavior?Short-nosed dog breeds like Pugs and French Bulldogs are often perceived as calm, affectionate companions—but their behavior is influenced by more than just head shape. A new study of over 5,000 dogs reveals that small body size, lack of training, and pampering by inexperienced owners contribute to many of their less favorable behaviors.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·August 4, 2025·4 min readHow Kids Learn What Emotions Really MeanA new study reveals that children’s ability to understand emotions develops through a cognitive shift between ages 5 and 10. While younger kids perceive emotional expressions instinctively through visual cues, older children increasingly depend on conceptual knowledge to grasp emotional nuance.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·August 3, 2025·7 min readCycling Boosts Brain Function in Parkinson’s DiseaseA new study reveals that long-term adaptive cycling can measurably reshape brain signals in people with Parkinson’s Disease, offering clues into how exercise relieves motor symptoms. Researchers used deep brain stimulation (DBS) implants to track neural activity before and after 12 sessions of dynamic cycling.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·August 3, 2025·5 min readBrain Reward Signals Blunted by Genetic Depression RiskA new imaging study reveals that young adults with a higher genetic risk for depression show diminished brain activity when processing rewards and punishments. Using data from nearly 900 healthy twins and siblings, researchers found altered activation in brain regions linked to attention and decision-making—well before any symptoms of depression appeared.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·August 2, 2025·6 min readFat Molecule May Control How You Feel EmotionScientists have uncovered how the brain’s 5-HT1A serotonin receptor—vital in mood regulation—functions at the molecular level. This receptor, a common target of antidepressants and psychedelics, prefers certain signaling pathways no matter the drug, but drugs can still vary in how strongly they activate them.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·August 1, 2025·6 min readSigns of MS Emerge 15 Years Before DiagnosisA large-scale analysis of health records reveals that subtle signs of multiple sclerosis (MS) may appear more than a decade before diagnosis. People who eventually develop MS began increasing healthcare visits—especially for general symptoms like fatigue, pain, and anxiety—15 years before neurologists identified their first demyelinating event.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·August 1, 2025·5 min readLeptin, Not Just Insulin, May Hold the Key to Diabetes TreatmentA decade after an overlooked discovery, researchers now confirm that the hormone leptin can reverse diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) even without insulin. The brain, misled by low leptin into thinking the body lacks fuel, triggers a metabolic emergency — a core process in DKA.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·August 1, 2025·4 min readEmpathy Can Be Emotionally ConditionedEmpathy isn't just innate — it can be trained by associating another person’s happiness with personal rewards. In this study, participants observed a character experiencing good and bad moments, which were paired with gains or losses in their own rewards.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·August 1, 2025·4 min readMurder-Suicide Rates in U.S. Higher Than Previously EstimatedNew research reveals that murder-suicide incidents in the U.S. are more frequent than previously documented, with an average of 820 related deaths per year. Most incidents involve current or former intimate partners, and nearly all suicides were carried out with firearms.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·August 1, 2025·6 min readNew Drug Targets Brain Glial Cells to Reverse PTSD SymptomsA new study reveals that astrocyte-derived GABA, not neuronal activity, plays a central role in PTSD by impairing the brain’s ability to extinguish traumatic memories. Researchers found this excess GABA originates from the enzyme MAOB in astrocytes and disrupts fear regulation in the medial prefrontal cortex.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·July 31, 2025·6 min readPoverty Isn’t the Key Driver in Family Mental Health StrugglesA large-scale longitudinal study challenges the assumption that poverty amplifies the link between parental distress and child mental health problems. Using advanced statistical modeling, researchers found that financial hardship did not influence the reciprocal relationship between parents’ and children’s mental health.Read More