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·January 31, 2025·7 min read

Genetics, Not Maternal Sickness, Drives Autism Risk

A large study analyzing over 1.1 million pregnancies found no strong evidence that maternal health conditions during pregnancy cause autism. Instead, nearly all previously reported associations between maternal diagnoses and autism could be explained by genetic or environmental factors.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·January 30, 2025·5 min read

Unhealthy Diet Linked to Faster Biological Aging in Young Adults

Diets high in processed meat, fast food, and sugary drinks accelerate biological aging, even in young adults. Researchers measured biological age using epigenetic clocks, which track gene regulation changes over time. Participants with a diet rich in fruits and vegetables showed slower aging, suggesting dietary choices influence how quickly the body ages.

Auditory Neuroscience Featured Neuroscience

·January 30, 2025·4 min read

How the Brain Adapts to New Sensory Contexts

New research reveals how the brain rapidly adapts to sensory changes using a feedback loop between the olfactory cortex and the olfactory bulb. Scientists trained mice to associate rewards with specific sounds and smells, then switched the rules to test their adaptability.

This shows a pregnant woman and a brain.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 30, 2025·6 min read

Blood Test May Predict Postpartum Depression Through Hormone Levels

Women who develop postpartum depression (PPD) may have distinct neuroactive steroid levels during the third trimester of pregnancy. A study found that those with PPD had lower levels of pregnanolone, which reduces stress, and higher levels of isoallopregnanolone, which increases stress.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·January 30, 2025·5 min read

Oral Bacteria Linked to Stroke Risk

A new study finds that the bacteria Streptococcus anginosus is more abundant in the saliva and gut of people who have had a stroke and is associated with a higher risk of death and major cardiovascular events. Researchers compared 189 stroke patients with 55 non-stroke participants, finding that this bacterium increased stroke risk by 20%.

This shows people connected in a network.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 29, 2025·5 min read

How Large Social Circles Foster Trust

A new study challenges the belief that larger groups reduce cooperation, showing instead that flexible social connections enhance teamwork. Researchers found that in a prisoner’s dilemma game, participants in bigger groups cooperated more frequently, despite memory limitations.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 28, 2025·3 min read

Empathy Peaks in Young Adults

A new study reveals that young adults show the strongest empathic responses to others in physical or social pain, compared to adolescents and older adults. Researchers measured brain activity while participants viewed painful situations, finding that empathy responses develop with age but peak in young adulthood.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 28, 2025·3 min read

Oral Microbiome May Influence Cognitive Decline and Brain Health

The microbial ecosystems in our mouths may impact cognitive function as we age, with pathogenic bacteria linked to cognitive decline. Researchers found that beneficial bacteria, such as Neisseria, are associated with improved memory and attention, while harmful bacteria like Porphyromonas correlate with mild cognitive impairment.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 28, 2025·5 min read

Study Links Schizophrenia to Visual Contrast Sensitivity Deficits

People with schizophrenia experience impaired contrast perception, affecting their ability to differentiate light intensity and recognize shapes and textures. This deficit may stem from disruptions in glutamate neurotransmission, a key neural mechanism in the disease.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·January 28, 2025·5 min read

Mouse With Two Male Parents Survives to Adulthood

Researchers have successfully engineered bi-paternal mice, born from two male parents, that survived to adulthood using embryonic stem cell techniques. By modifying 20 key imprinting genes, they overcame the developmental barriers that previously limited unisexual reproduction in mammals.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 28, 2025·6 min read

Cannabis Use Reduces Brain Activity in Key Memory Regions

A study of over 1,000 young adults reveals that both recent and heavy lifetime cannabis use reduce brain activity in regions critical for working memory, including the prefrontal cortex and anterior insula. This reduced activity correlates with poorer performance on memory tasks like following instructions or solving problems.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 27, 2025·6 min read

Synchronizing Nerve Stimulation With Heartbeat Boosts Effectiveness

Synchronizing vagus nerve stimulation with natural body rhythms, such as the heartbeat and breathing, significantly improves its effectiveness. This "electric pill" technique uses ear-mounted electrodes to stimulate the vagus nerve, targeting chronic conditions like pain and inflammation.