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·June 29, 2017·6 min read

Sleep Disturbances Predict Increased Risk for Suicidal Symptoms

A worsening of suicidal thoughts in young people has been linked to sleep disturbances. Participants of the new study who reported lots of variation of when they fall asleep also reported more incidences of insomnia and nightmares, which also lower the threshold for suicidal ideations.

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Featured Psychology

·June 29, 2017·4 min read

People Prove Adept at Predicting Emotional Transitions

While it is easy for most of us to read the emotions of those around us at a given time, researchers suggest that people are also skilled at predicting future emotions in others, thanks to a mental model of emotional transitions.

Image shows two little boys reading a book.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·June 29, 2017·5 min read

Higher IQ in Childhood Linked to a Longer Life

A new study reports higher intelligence in children is associated with a reduced risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, smoking related cancers and dementia. After taking several confounders into account, the researchers found higher IQ in childhood was associated with a lower risk of death until the age of 79.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·June 29, 2017·4 min read

Chocolate and Cocoa Aren’t Just Treats, They Are Good For Cognition Too

According to researchers, cocoa flavanols could have a neuroprotective effect. In a recent study, researchers found enhancements in working memory and improved visual information processing in participants who had taken cocoa flavanols. Additionally, women who ate cocoa products reported less cognitive impairments following sleep deprivation.

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Featured Genetics Neurology

·June 28, 2017·4 min read

Designed Proteins May Help Treat Muscular Dystrophy

Researchers have designed two proteins that are able to stabilize cell scaffolding linking to muscle fibers, restoring muscle structure and function. The two proteins also were able to significantly prolong survival in animal models of muscular dystrophy.

Image shows a stick and ball model of serotonin.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 28, 2017·6 min read

How Serotonin Contributes to Cocaine’s Allure

A new study reinforces the idea that serotonin, a molecule associated with mood, directly contributes to the actions of cocaine.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·June 28, 2017·3 min read

Facial Models Suggest Less May Be More For a Successful Smile

Less is more when it comes to a successful smile, researcher report. In a new study, researchers presented over 800 participants with computer generated images of smiling faces. Researchers found people rated smaller smiles to be more genuine, while bigger smiles that showed more teeth were perceived less well.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 28, 2017·2 min read

No Detectable Limit to How Long People Can Live

Last October, researchers concluded that the upper limit of human age peaks at 115 years old. However, a new study reports that no evidence for this limit and, if such a maximum exists, it has yet to be reached or identified.

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Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 28, 2017·5 min read

How ‘The Gruffalo’ Helped Academics Boost Youngsters’ Motor Skills and Language Ability

Using the children's book, "The Gruffalo", researchers devised a teaching approach that combined moment and storytelling activities. They report the children that participated in the combined activities showed greater improvement in both language and movement skills than those who were exposed to just one of the activities.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology Visual Neuroscience

·June 28, 2017·5 min read

Why Some With Autism Avoid Eye Contact

A new study sheds light on why some people on the autism spectrum have problems maintaining eye contact. Researchers say that eye avoidance behavior may be triggered by excessive arousal stemming from an over-activation in a specific region of the brain.

Image shows a brain scans with the dlPFC highlighted.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 28, 2017·7 min read

How the Cortex Assigns Credit for Causality

A new study implicates the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in our ability to assign credit for whatever action leads to a desired outcome. While the study does not rule out the involvement of other brain areas to credit assignment, it does show the dlPFC is a key player in how we assess causality.

Featured Neuroscience Neuroscience Videos

·June 27, 2017·4 min read

A Mouse’s View of the World, As Seen Through Its Whiskers

Researchers have successfully recreated the whisker map a mouse creates of its surroundings to help it navigate the world, catch food and avoid predators.