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Neuroscience

Neuroscience research articles are provided.

What is neuroscience? Neuroscience is the scientific study of nervous systems. Neuroscience can involve research from many branches of science including those involving neurology, brain science, neurobiology, psychology, computer science, artificial intelligence, statistics, prosthetics, neuroimaging, engineering, medicine, physics, mathematics, pharmacology, electrophysiology, biology, robotics and technology.

This shows the outline of people and brains.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·January 13, 2025·6 min read

Almost Half of Americans Over 55 Face Dementia Risk

New research finds that the lifetime risk of dementia after age 55 in Americans is 42%, significantly higher than previous estimates. Women face a higher risk (48%) than men (35%) due to their longer life expectancy. Risk factors include genetic predisposition, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and limited physical activity.

This shows an older woman doing a crossword.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·January 13, 2025·5 min read

Indoor Temperatures Affect Cognitive Function in Older Adults

A new study reveals that older adults experience the least attention difficulties when home temperatures remain between 68–75 ˚F (20–24 ˚C). Deviations beyond this range double the risk of attention lapses, highlighting how even current climate conditions may harm cognitive health.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 13, 2025·6 min read

Body, Strength, and Power: Position-Specific Traits in Football Players

A recent study examined the physical traits of NCAA football players, revealing significant differences in body composition, strength, and power across positions. Linemen showed higher body mass, while skill players exhibited greater efficiency in force transfer during jumps.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·January 13, 2025·3 min read

Brain Oscillations Decode Pain Intensity

Parvalbumin (PV) interneurons in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) have been identified as key players in encoding pain intensity and driving gamma oscillations, according to a study. Cross-species experiments confirmed that gamma oscillations in S1 selectively reflect pain levels in humans and are linked to PV interneuron activity in rodents. Optogenetic manipulation of these interneurons demonstrated their ability to modulate pain-related behaviors, solidifying their role in pain processing.

This shows a woman laying under a red light.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·January 11, 2025·6 min read

Red Light Therapy May Reduce Deadly Blood Clots

Exposure to long-wavelength red light significantly reduced blood clot formation in both mice and human studies. Red light was associated with lower inflammation, reduced immune system activation, and fewer clot-promoting mechanisms, such as neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and platelet activation. Unlike blue or white light, red light influenced clotting through optic pathways, suggesting its effects are mediated by neural mechanisms rather than direct blood exposure.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·January 10, 2025·3 min read

How Fiber Fuels Anti-Cancer Gene Activity

Fiber digestion produces short-chain fatty acids like propionate and butyrate, which directly alter gene expression with anti-cancer effects, according to new research. The study found that these fatty acids influence genes involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, key processes that control tumor growth. Researchers demonstrated these epigenetic changes in human cells and mouse models, highlighting fiber's systemic impact on health.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 10, 2025·4 min read

Single Nerve Cord Revealed as Ancestor of Ecdysozoan Nervous Systems

A study analyzing Cambrian fossils uncovered that the ancestral ecdysozoan likely had a single ventral nerve cord, challenging long-standing views about the evolution of these structures. Fossil impressions from early Scalidophora species reveal similarities to modern priapulid nerve cords, supporting the single-cord hypothesis. This finding suggests that paired nerve cords in arthropods, kinorhynchs, and loriciferans evolved independently, linked to body segmentation and movement complexity.

This shows a brain, food, and silverware.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·January 10, 2025·5 min read

Delayed Brain Maturation Links Genetics and Eating Disorders

Over half of 23-year-olds display restrictive, emotional, or uncontrolled eating behaviors, with delayed brain maturation playing a significant role. The research linked structural brain differences, mental health challenges, and genetic predispositions to the development of disordered eating behaviors from adolescence to adulthood. MRI data showed delayed cortical thinning in unhealthy eaters, especially in regions like the cerebellum, which regulates appetite.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·January 10, 2025·5 min read

Men Are Three Times As Likely to Die From Brain Injuries

A 2021 analysis of U.S. mortality data highlights disparities in traumatic brain injury (TBI)-related deaths, which disproportionately affect older adults, men, and certain racial and ethnic groups. Suicides remain the leading cause, followed by unintentional falls, with older adults (75+) and American Indian/Alaska Native individuals experiencing the highest mortality rates.

This shows a head, a brain, neurons, and sound waves.

Auditory Neuroscience Featured Neuroscience

·January 10, 2025·5 min read

New Neuron Types Discovered in Brainstem’s Sound Processing Center

Researchers have identified and mapped diverse cell types in the cochlear nucleus, the brainstem region responsible for processing sound. Using advanced molecular techniques, they uncovered distinct and newly identified cell types that process specific sound features, such as sharp noises or pitch changes.

This shows a child sitting alone on a bench while others play around him.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 9, 2025·7 min read

Physical Neglect Causes Lifelong Social Challenges in Children

A new study highlights how childhood physical neglect disrupts social development more than physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. Neglected children were less social, less popular, and less connected to cohesive friend groups, facing stigmatization and withdrawal.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 9, 2025·5 min read

Push-and-Pull Signals Direct Neuron Migration in the Developing Brain

Scientists have uncovered how developing neurons migrate from the germinal zone, a process critical for proper brain circuit formation. They identified a "push-pull" system where the guidance molecule Netrin-1 repels differentiated neurons, while the ubiquitin ligase Siah2 prevents premature migration by degrading essential proteins.