Weekly Neuroscience Update

Credit: *Neuroscience* (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2025.06.032

Memory loss may not simply be a symptom of getting older. New research shows that it’s tied to specific molecular changes in the brain and that adjusting those processes can improve memory.

An international consortium of researchers has created the largest-ever database compiling records of brain activity during sleep and dream reports. One of the first analyses of the database confirmed that dreams do not occur only during REM sleep, but also during deeper and calmer NREM stages. In these cases, brain activity resembles wakefulness more than deep sleep, as if the brain were “partially awake.”

A smartphone app for muscle relaxation significantly reduced migraine-related disability in patients visiting the emergency department.

A new study reveals that sleep-like slow-wave brain activity can persist for years in surgically disconnected brain hemispheres of awake epilepsy patients. Using EEG recordings, researchers found that the isolated cortex exhibits patterns similar to deep sleep, anesthesia, or vegetative states—suggesting absent or reduced awareness.

People 60 and older who are excessively sleepy during the day may have more problems with memory and thinking after surgery, suggests a study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2025 annual meeting.

Doctors and researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC have developed a new treatment for epilepsy patients who don’t respond to medication and aren’t candidates for surgery. Their approach, published in Nature Communications, uses deep brain stimulation (DBS) that is tailored to each patient’s unique brain wiring.

A new computational tool has uncovered genetic evidence directly linking Alzheimer’s disease to the loss of memory-making neurons, helping to resolve a decades-long mystery in dementia research.

While studies have linked brain areas to remembering personal experiences, brain areas involved in learning more impersonal information about the world remain unclear. In a new JNeurosci paper, researchers used fMRI on 29 human volunteers as they performed a learning task to shed light on how the brain acquires semantic, impersonal information.

Researchers have traced the earliest stages of multiple sclerosis (MS), showing that the immune system begins attacking the brain up to seven years before diagnosis.

New research has provided the strongest evidence yet that auditory verbal hallucinations—or hearing voices—in schizophrenia may stem from a disruption in the brain’s ability to recognise its own inner voice.

Adults with gum disease may be more likely to have signs of damage to the brain’s white matter than people without gum disease, according to a study published in Neurology Open Access.

A team of researchers has developed and tested a new virtual reality (VR) training task designed to help stroke survivors living with visuospatial neglect (VSN), a disabling condition that affects attention and awareness of one side of space. The exploratory case study is among the first to integrate audiovisual cues within a physiotherapy-based VR task to support rehabilitation.

Finally, this week, listening to music when you are over 70 years of age has been linked to a 39% reduction in the risk of dementia, according to a new study of over 10,800 older people.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

Leave a comment

Participants were more likely to perceive the avatar’s expression as angry when they actively avoided the avatar, compared to when the avatar moved away from them. Credit: (C)Toyohashi University Of Technology.

A research team from the Cognitive Neurotechnology Unit and the Visual Perception and Cognition Laboratory at Toyohashi University of Technology has found that approach–avoidance behavior in a virtual reality (VR) environment modulates how individuals recognize facial expressions.

A McGill University-led clinical trial is the first in humans to show online brain training exercises can improve brain networks affecting learning and memory.

A new study reveals that the human brain synchronizes more accurately with rhythm when listening to music than when feeling it through touch. When people tap along to sound, slow rhythmic brain waves align with the perceived beat, helping maintain steady timing.

Psilocybin could be the future of mental health care, with promising findings emerging from Australia’s first research trial using psychedelics to treat depression.

An international research team led by a University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine investigator has revealed intricate details about how nerve signals activate at the neuromuscular junction. This specialized synapse connects motor neurons to skeletal muscle fibers.

A ‘digital twin’ of your brain could predict mental health issues and slow cognitive decline.

A study published in Environment International concludes that air pollution during pregnancy is associated with slower brain maturation in newborns. It is the first study to analyze brain development within the first month of life.

A new clinical trial is investigating how advanced brain monitoring could improve the diagnosis and management of epilepsy.

University of California San Diego of Medicine researchers, in collaboration with the genetic testing company 23andMe, have identified regions of the human genome associated with cannabis use, uncovering new relationships with psychiatric, cognitive and physical health.

The conditions where you live may influence your brain health and risk for dementia, according to a new study.

Women are affected by severe depression twice as often as men. The reasons for this have not yet been fully clarified. One potential factor is sex-specific differences in the blood-brain barrier. Scientists are conducting research on the project “Leaky blood-brain barrier in major depressive disorder.” A particular focus is on sex-specific differences.

New research reveals how uniquely wired human brains can perceive the world in strikingly similar ways.

A new study published in Scientific Reports indicates that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and multiple sclerosis (MS) have an extremely high geographic association, even after controlling for race, gender, wealth, latitude, and access to neurological health care.

Finally, this week, a ‘ flight simulator‘ for the brain reveals how we learn—and why minds sometimes go off course.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

Leave a comment

*Experimental design, ripple detection, and ripple properties. Credit: Nature Communications (2025)*

A research team has identified, for the first time in humans a key neurophysiological mechanism in memory formation: ripple-type brain waves—high-frequency electrical oscillations that mark and organize the different episodes or fragments of information that the brain stores as memories.

Scientists have discovered how a key protein helps maintain strong connections between brain cells that are crucial for learning and memory.

New research shows that signs of Alzheimer’s disease can already be detected in the blood of people as young as their 40s. Finnish scientists found elevated Alzheimer’s-related biomarkers in middle-aged adults, especially among those with maternal history or kidney disease.

A new study questions whether playing youth football leads to harmful protein buildup in the brain.

Receiving six or more prescriptions of the drug gabapentin for low back pain is associated with significantly increased risks of developing dementia and mild cognitive impairment, finds a large medical records study.

A large genetic study reveals that cannabis use disorder is strongly linked to increased risk for multiple psychiatric disorders, including depression, PTSD, ADHD, and schizophrenia.

A common sugar substitute, erythritol, widely used in “sugar-free” and low-carb products, may increase stroke risk by damaging brain blood vessel cells. A new study found that erythritol exposure reduced nitric oxide, increased vessel constrictors, impaired clot-busting abilities, and boosted free radical production in these cells.

Finally, this week, neuroscientists have discovered a signature ‘wave’ of activity as the brain awakens from sleep.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

Leave a comment

Coloured regions show where brain volume was associated with deviant lifestyle and antisocial behavior in individuals with psychopathic traits. Credit: European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience (2025).

A recent study has shed light on the brain structure differences associated with psychopathy—a condition known to be one of the strongest predictors of persistent violent behaviour. The findings are published in the journal European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience.

Researchers are using a new approach to brain imaging that could improve how drugs are prescribed to treat Parkinson’s disease.

An analysis of over 375 trials shows that structured exercise significantly reduces depression and anxiety in children and teens. Low-intensity resistance activities like light weights were most effective for easing anxiety, while moderate mixed-mode programmes worked best for depression, especially when lasting under 12 weeks.

A new technology that uses clinical MRI machines to image metabolic activity in the brain could give researchers and clinicians unique insight into brain function and disease.

Diets rich in phosphate additives, commonly found in processed foods, can increase blood pressure by triggering a brain signaling pathway and overactivating the sympathetic nervous system that regulates cardiovascular function, UT Southwestern researchers discovered. Their findings could lead to treatment strategies for patients with hypertension caused by overconsumption of foods containing high levels of phosphates.

The long-standing belief that left-handed people are more creative has been challenged by a new meta-analysis of over a century of research.

New research proposes a unified theory of brain function based on criticality—a state where the brain teeters between order and chaos, allowing it to learn, adapt, and process information optimally. When the brain strays from this delicate balance, cognitive performance weakens, and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s may begin to take hold.

A drug used for Parkinson’s disease has been shown to be effective in reducing the symptoms of difficult to treat depression, according to a study led by the University of Oxford.

A recent study shows that older adults may compensate for age-related cognitive decline by enhancing activity in a specific brain region linked to attention—the locus coeruleus (LC). In a brain imaging study, older participants showed stronger LC responses when interpreting ambiguous facial expressions, compared to younger adults.

Individuals with versus those without tinnitus have significantly lower scores on cognitive function tests, according to a recent study published in Frontiers in Neurology.

New research shows how the brain navigates emotional transitions, using music as a tool to map changing neural patterns. Scientists found that emotional responses in the brain depend heavily on the listener’s prior emotional state.

A clinical trial has revealed that Ambroxol, a common cough medicine in Europe, may help slow cognitive decline in people with Parkinson’s disease dementia.

In a study of 200 former professional rugby players (aged 30–61 years old), researchers from Imperial College London, University College London and the UK Dementia Research Institute found no cases of early-onset dementia.

Finally this week, new research findings show how synaptic connections in the cerebral cortex can strengthen during sleep, offering insight into how the brain continues learning even while we rest.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

Leave a comment

The analysis pipeline of the study, with select figures created using BioRender. Credit: *Nature Communications* (2025)

Scientists have developed a novel, detailed map at the subcellular level of a brain region frequently impacted by Alzheimer’s disease. This groundbreaking achievement represents a significant advancement in understanding the mechanisms underlying the development of this neurodegenerative condition.

New research shows that AI can identify complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) with over 90% accuracy by analyzing gut microbiome patterns.

Mindfulness exercises paired with music were found to engage both neural and cardiac systems, potentially reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. A recent study showed that live and virtual music mindfulness sessions lowered stress and altered states of consciousness, though only live sessions fostered social connection.

A long-term study shows that teenagers who maintain or increase physical activity levels are less likely to develop symptoms of depression.

Researchers have developed a brain-computer interface (BCI) that enables computer cursor control and clicking, using neural signals from the speech motor cortex. One participant with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) used the interface for daily life activities, including independent control of a personal desktop computer and text entry.

New research shows that targeting emotional processing is key to treating and managing chronic pain.

In a first-of-its-kind clinical study, researchers have shown that patients with treatment-resistant PTSD were symptom-free up to six months after completing traditional therapy paired with vagus nerve stimulation (VNS).

Scientists using living human brain tissue have shown for the first time how a toxic form of a protein linked to Alzheimer’s can stick to and damage the connections between brain cells.

People whose biological age is higher than their chronological age may be more likely to develop dementia than people whose biological age matches or is lower than their chronological age, according to a study published online in Neurology. Biological age is based on biomarkers of aging such as lung function, blood pressure and cholesterol.

A recent study reveals that oxygen tension elevation during weeks four to six promotes neurogenesis in brain organoids, regulated by neuroglobin. The research is published in Science Advances.

Obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that causes lower oxygen levels during sleep, is linked to degeneration of brain regions associated with memory through damage to the brain’s small blood vessels, according to a study published in Neurology.

A new theory suggests that psychedelics promote empathy, insight, and psychological flexibility by making the brain’s right hemisphere temporarily dominant over the left.

A revolutionary microscopy method called LICONN enables scientists to reconstruct brain tissue and map synaptic connections using standard light microscopes. By embedding brain tissue in hydrogel, expanding it, and imaging at nanoscale resolution, researchers achieve a detailed view of neuronal architecture previously only possible with electron microscopy.

A new music therapy-based tool called MuSICCA may transform how healthcare teams assess consciousness in children with severe brain injuries.

Research from Emory University has identified a biological connection between inflammation and deficits in motivation in individuals with schizophrenia, offering new hope for treating symptoms that have long been resistant to existing therapies.

A Yale-led study shows that the senses stimulate a region of the brain that controls consciousness—a finding that might inform treatment for disorders related to attention, arousal, and more.

Finally this week, a new study has debunked the common myth that autistic people are less effective communicators than non-autistic individuals. Researchers found no difference in how well information was shared between autistic-only, non-autistic-only, or mixed groups.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

Leave a comment

New research shows that the adult brain can generate new neurons that integrate into key motor circuits. The findings demonstrate that stimulating natural brain processes may help repair damaged neural networks in Huntington’s and other diseases.

A study published in Brain Communications highlights a new approach to treating drug-resistant epilepsy.

A novel human study with intracranial recordings demonstrates the thalamus’s pivotal role, especially its higher-order regions, in the onset of conscious perception, with activation preceding that of the prefrontal cortex.

New findings reveal that long-term obesity patterns have distinct impacts on brain structure, function, and cognition.

Researchers have discovered new potential therapeutic targets for multiple sclerosis (MS). While current treatments prevent further damage, the current findings may form the starting point for the development of new treatments for tissue recovery in MS. The research is published in the journal Brain.

Research published in the Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging has uncovered changes in brain connectivity during chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer.

Mass General Brigham investigators have linked difficult early life experiences with reduced quality and quantity of the white matter communication highways throughout the adolescent brain. This reduced connectivity is also associated with lower performance on cognitive tasks.

A team of engineers has developed a microscale brain–computer interface that is small enough to be placed between hair follicles on a user’s head.

Researchers have identified specific high-order thalamic nuclei that drive human conscious perception by activating the prefrontal cortex. Their findings enhance understanding of how the brain forms conscious experience, offering new empirical support for theories that assign a central role to thalamic structures rather than cortical areas alone.

A natural compound found in everyday fruits and vegetables may hold the key to protecting nerve cells—and it’s showing promise as a potential treatment for ALS and dementia.

New research highlights how smartphones are transforming memory science by capturing real-world data on sleep, emotion, and daily experiences. Studies show that replaying memories before sleep, experiencing novel events, and feeling positive emotions can all strengthen autobiographical memory.

An artificial intelligence tool that can help interpret and assess how well treatments are working for patients with multiple sclerosis has been developed by UCL researchers.

A recent study indicates that brain cells possess a higher degree of plasticity than previously understood. This suggests that the brain’s ability to adapt and change throughout life is more extensive than earlier scientific models suggested.

Researchers have discovered that increased blood flow leads to stiffness in the hippocampus, a region of the brain that plays important roles in learning and memory.

By mapping the presynaptic inputs to single neurons within the primary somatosensory cortex researchers have shown how these neurons integrate brain-wide signals related to behavior, offering a more nuanced understanding of cortical activity.

Seventeen modifiable risk factors are shared by stroke, dementia, and late-life depression, according to a review published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.

A recent study has shown how aspects of brain function change with age, revealing that excitatory processes in the brain decrease, while inhibitory processes increase as children get older. The findings are an important step in understanding disorders like autism.

Finally this week, research shows that a blow to the head can significantly impact a child’s or adolescent’s future education. Even a mild concussion can have far-reaching consequences.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

Leave a comment

The parts of the brain that are needed to remember words, and how these are affected by a common form of epilepsy, have been identified by a team of neurologists and neurosurgeons.

New research published in PLOS ONE, reveals that witnessing trauma triggers unique brain changes, distinct from those caused by experiencing trauma firsthand. The study is the first to shed light on the molecular differences between directly acquired PTSD and bystander PTSD and could pave the way for changes in how the disorders are treated.

Scientists have discovered that neural changes in teens may predict how decision-making and behavioural control develop.

A new study shows that the rubber hand illusion can reduce the intensity of pain caused by heat. Researchers found that when participants viewed a rubber hand being illuminated while their hidden hand received a heat stimulus, they reported feeling less pain. This suggests that integrating visual and sensory cues can influence pain perception. The findings may one day help develop new treatments for chronic pain conditions such as complex regional pain syndrome.

Verbal fluency, the ability to recall and use vocabulary, is the strongest cognitive predictor of longevity in a 20-year study of elderly adults. This suggests a link between linguistic ability and overall health.

Neuroscientists have discovered a way to control how much zinc is released to specific locations in the brain. The essential mineral plays a major role in the brain’s function, including improving memory and lessening symptoms of some neurological disorders, but getting the right amount to the right place is key.

According to new research, inflammation inside and outside the brain may contribute to neurological complications in COVID-19.

A study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry has found that nearly half of people diagnosed with depression don’t respond to multiple antidepressant medications and are considered “treatment-resistant.” The study found that 48% of patients whose electronic health care records reported a diagnosis of depression had tried at least two antidepressants, and 37% had tried four or more different options.

Scientists have developed a computational framework that maps how the brain processes speech during real-world conversations.

For children with autism who severely injure themselves, a pilot study suggests that deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the brain’s reward centre (nucleus accumbens) is a safe and possible treatment that could be beneficial, especially when behavioural therapies don’t work.

New research suggests that factors present in the placenta during pregnancy might play a role in increasing the risk of a child developing schizophrenia.

Scientists at Peking University have used a new method to discover that dopamine helps protect and control the function of a protein called Tau. This finding helps us better understand how dopamine works normally and in diseases of the brain.

A research team has uncovered the neural mechanisms underlying the processing of pain and itch in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC).

A new study finds that women in their 80s who develop increasing daytime sleepiness over five years are twice as likely to develop dementia. Researchers tracked 733 women without cognitive impairment, using wrist devices to monitor sleep and circadian rhythms. Those who showed stable sleep patterns had the lowest dementia risk, while those with increasing sleepiness faced the highest risk. Surprisingly, declining nighttime sleep was not significantly linked to dementia risk.

A research team has developed an electrode capable of safely encasing nerves without causing damage.

Finally this week, new research shows that even 12-month-old babies can form memories, as indicated by activity in the hippocampus. This challenges the idea that infants can’t remember and suggests that infantile amnesia (not remembering early childhood) might be because we can’t access those memories later, rather than not forming them in the first place.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

Leave a comment

Credit: *Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease* (2025). DOI: 10.1177/13872877251319742

Researchers have developed an AI tool that analyzes brain wave activity recorded during sleep using electroencephalography (EEG), a non-invasive technique that measures electrical activity in the brain through sensors placed on the scalp.

An encoding study reveals how the brain uses past experiences to predict the unfolding of similar events over time.

A new brain-computer interface (BCI) has enabled a paralyzed man to control a robotic arm by simply imagining movements. Unlike previous BCIs, which lasted only a few days, this AI-enhanced device worked reliably for seven months. The AI model adapts to natural shifts in brain activity, maintaining accuracy over time.

Learning to think more about specific events in the future appears to reduce impulsivity, improve decision-making, and shows potential as a therapy for alcohol use disorder, a recent study has found.

Repeated sessions of electrical stimulation to brain networks associated with memory improved verbal learning in some Alzheimer’s disease patients for up to eight weeks in a preliminary trial led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers. The findings, published in The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease, indicate that while future trials are needed, neurostimulation shows early promise as a treatment for Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative disorders, such as Lewy body dementia.

Alcohol use leads to earlier brain aging and impaired behavioral flexibility, with those effects detectable even among adults in their 20s and 30s, according to an innovative study.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have identified a new mechanism that may improve the treatment of ischemic stroke. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, shows that the growth factor PDGF-CC and its receptor PDGFRα play a crucial role in scar formation in the brain after an ischemic stroke.

An abnormal form of the tau protein found to accumulate in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients also accumulates in the eyes of patients with the condition, according to a recent study.

Scientists have observed for the first time how neurons in the human brain store memories independent of the context in which they are acquired. Published in Cell Reports, the study confirms that neurons can distinguish objects or people regardless of their context, enabling the formation of higher and more abstract relationships, which constitute the basis of human intelligence.

Higher fish consumption is associated with slower disability progression in multiple sclerosis (MS), according to research published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.

Using sophisticated neuroimaging techniques, researchers have mapped the brain’s activity during natural conversations, revealing how we seamlessly process speech and sound. These insights not only deepen our understanding of human connection but also pave the way for transformative advancements in speech technology and communication tools.

Finally this week, a recent study in Computers in Human Behavior, researchers observed that staying away from smartphones can even change one’s brain chemistry.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

February 28, 2025Leave a comment

A global research collaboration has revealed how certain gut cells switch on pain signals, which can linger long after the initial trigger has passed, potentially contributing to chronic pain in conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Researchers have identified specific neuronal cells that are essential to our understanding of other people.

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. This risk is especially pronounced for low-income seniors who may lack the means to regulate indoor temperatures.

How the brain feels about the world around it is the subject of a new paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Striking brain similarities have been found in patients with long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), in particular, a larger than normal hippocampus. The research also reported the hippocampal volume was associated with symptom severity in both patient groups.

A recent study suggests that first-time transient ischemic attacks (TIA) are associated with long-term cognitive decline.

A new international and multidisciplinary study has unveiled a novel framework for understanding the concept of time persistence in the human brain, shedding light on its essential role in brain functioning and cognition. This research, which explores how long the brain’s functional networks remain in a particular state before transitioning to another, opens new doors to our understanding of human cognition and behavior.

Stress hormones shift neuron types in the developing brain, a new study suggests.

Researchers have developed a new method for deep brain stimulation. The technique, called “DeepFocus,” uses transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) on the scalp and transnasal electrical stimulation (TnES) to achieve more accurate electrical stimulation in the brain.

A new study has found that a short-term, high-caloric diet impairs brain insulin responsiveness and increases liver fat in healthy-weight men, with effects extending beyond the consumption period.

Even when within the normal range, lower levels of vitamin B12 may contribute to cognitive decline, according to a new study that found that older adults with lower biologically active B12 had slower cognitive processing and more white matter.

Researchers have developed an AI that accelerates the identification of genes that contribute to neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy and developmental delay.

A new study based on data from 18,740 dementia patients suggests that antidepressants may accelerate cognitive decline. Researchers found that patients taking antidepressants, particularly SSRIs like escitalopram, citalopram, and sertraline, experienced faster deterioration compared to those not on medication.

A decade-long study reveals how childhood adversity alters brain development, increasing risks for mental health disorders and substance use.

The brain may play a role in helping the ear regulate its sensitivity to sound and compensate for hearing loss by sending a signal to a structure in the inner ear known as the cochlea, according to a study that was published in the Journal of Neuroscience.

The symptoms of schizophrenia vary greatly from person to person. A recent study shows how these differences manifest themselves in the structure of the brain.

Researchers have discovered a fundamental mechanism that affects the size of the pupil, namely our breathing. The study, published in the Journal of Physiology, shows that the pupil is smallest during inhalation and largest during exhalation—something that could affect our vision.

Finally this week, a large study found that people who engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity are less likely to develop dementia, stroke, anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

February 8, 2025February 8, 2025Leave a comment

*Schematic representation of the “Harmonic Oscillator Recurrent Network Model” (HORN). Credit: ESI*

Researchers have made a new discovery in understanding fundamental brain processes. For the first time, the team has provided compelling evidence that the brain’s characteristic rhythmic patterns play a crucial role in information processing. While these oscillatory dynamics have long been observed in the brain, their purpose has remained mostly elusive until now.

Music has the best chance of providing pain relief when it is played at our natural rhythm, a McGill University research team has discovered.

Tiny plastic particles may accumulate at higher levels in the human brain than in the kidney and liver, with greater concentrations detected in postmortem samples from 2024 than in those from 2016, suggests a paper published in Nature Medicine. Although the potential implications for human health remain unclear, these findings may highlight a consequence of rising global concentrations of environmental plastics.

The first-ever ethics checklist developed for portable MRI brain researchers.

A team of scientists from the Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research (CNIR) at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) has unveiled how the hippocampus orchestrates multiple memory processes, including encoding new information, forming memories, and retrieving them. The study is published in Nature Communications.

A recent study suggests that frequent treatment with intranasal oxytocin a hormone linked to empathy, may help address a key symptom in patients with frontotemporal dementia.

Researchers using intracranial electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings from deep within the brain found that meditation led to changes in activity in the amygdala and hippocampus, key brain regions involved in emotional regulation and memory.

Could the key to easing anxiety be hidden in our gut? Scientists have discovered a crucial connection between gut microbes and anxiety-related behaviour.

People’s ability to interpret emotions or focus on performing a task is reduced by short-term exposure to particulate matter air pollution, potentially making everyday activities more challenging, according to a new study.

New research has revealed clear evidence that changes in the orchestration of brain oxygenation dynamics and neuronal function in Alzheimer’s disease contribute to the neurodegeneration.

Researchers are paving the way for the design of bionic limbs that feel natural to users. They demonstrate the connection between hand movement patterns and motoneuron control patterns. The study, published in Science Robotics, also reports the application of these findings to a soft prosthetic hand, which was successfully tested by individuals with physical impairments.

Occupational exposure to noise and/or vibrations is associated with the presence of vertigo, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine.

A team of researchers recently carried out a study aimed at exploring the differences among patients with OCD. Their findings, published in Translational Psychiatry, allowed them to identify two broad OCD subtypes, which are associated with different patterns in gray matter volumes and disease epicenters.

A Canadian research team has revealed important new insights into the activation dynamics of neural stem cells (NSCs). These are the stem cells that build our central nervous systems and self-renew.

New research reveals that brain cells use a muscle-like signaling mechanism to relay information over long distances. Scientists discovered that dendrites, the branch-like extensions of neurons, contain a structured network of contact sites that amplify calcium signals—similar to how muscles contract. These contact sites regulate calcium release, activating key proteins involved in learning and memory.

Finally this week, a large study has found that heavy cannabis use, both recent and lifetime, is linked to reduced brain activity during working memory tasks in over 1,000 young adults.