Researchers have used placebo pain relief to uncover a map-like system in the brainstem that controls pain differently depending on where it’s felt in the body. The findings may pave the way for safer, more targeted treatments for chronic pain that don’t rely on opioids.
New research reports an association between taking GLP-1 receptor agonists and lower overall cancer risk in adults with obesity, with a reduced risk for ovarian cancer.
Some regions of the brain in people with Alzheimer’s reorganize more often while at rest than in people without the disease–– and in healthy people, this frequent reshuffling sometimes predicts who will develop the condition later, according to a new study.
Researchers have demonstrated for the first time that psychotherapy leads to measurable changes in brain structure by using cognitive behavioural therapy.
Listening to music while doing something can make that activity more enjoyable. But listening to music after an experience or activity can make it more memorable if you have the optimal emotional response while listening to it, according to new research.
A new study reveals that the brain employs two distinct mechanisms to drive exploration under conditions of uncertainty.
A team of scientists has discovered a built-in “brake” that controls when key brain cells mature. In multiple sclerosis (MS), this brake appears to stay on too long, leaving the cells unable to repair the damage the disease causes.
New research suggests a link between a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the risk of developing a malignant brain tumour.
Breathwork while listening to music may induce a blissful state in practitioners, accompanied by changes in blood flow to emotion-processing brain regions, according to a studypublished in the journal PLOS One.
The type of estradiol-based hormone therapy taken during and after menopause, such as patches or pills, may be associated with differences in memory performance, according to a new study.
Researchers have identified two specific types of brain cells that are altered in people with depression. The study, published in Nature Genetics, opens the door to developing new treatments that target these cells and deepens our understanding of depression.
Finally, this week, a new AI framework can detect neurological disorders by analyzing speech with over 90% accuracy.
Brain activity maps for the hand (shown in red) and lips (blue) before the amputation (Pre1 and Pre2) and after amputation (three, six and 18 months post-amputation). Credit: Tamar Makin / Hunter Schone
The brain holds a “map” of the body that remains unchanged even after a limb has been amputated, contrary to the prevailing view that it rearranges itself to compensate for the loss, according to new research.
A fading sense of smell can be one of the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s disease even before cognitive impairments manifest.
Scientists have developed a computational framework that maps how the striosomal compartment of the striatum governs everyday decision-making. By integrating biology, decision theory, and mathematical modeling, different levels of striosomal activity can push individuals toward impulsive, balanced, or overly complex decisions.
A recent study has shown that the brain leaves subtle traces of creativity minutes before an “aha!” moment.
New research has raised concerns about the safety of acetaminophen use during pregnancy, linking prenatal exposure to higher risks of autism and ADHD. While the evidence does not prove causation, it highlights biological mechanisms such as oxidative stress and hormone disruption that may affect fetal brain development. Researchers recommend cautious, time-limited use under medical supervision and call for safer treatment alternatives.
A new study has found that people who lived in areas with high levels of leaded gasoline emissions in the 1960s and ’70s are more likely to report memory problems today.
A multi-institution research team reports that gaze patterns can serve as a sensitive marker of cognitive decline, with associated reductions in explorative, adaptive, and differentiated visual sampling of the environment.
New research reveals that different types of music shape the emotional tone of the memories they evoke.
A genetic study has identified more than 400 genes that drive different forms of unhealthy aging, from cognitive decline to metabolic problems. The findings show that frailty is not a single condition but multiple subtypes with distinct biological pathways.
Finally, this week, a new study suggests the brain may be a missing link in certain forms of high blood pressure or hypertension.
Neural recordings and general theta-phase locking. Credit: Nature Communications (2025).
A research team has gained new insights into the brain processes involved in encoding and retrieving new memory content. The study is based on measurements of individual nerve cells in people with epilepsy and shows how they follow an internal rhythm.
Stimulating the vagus nerve with a device attached to the outer ear can help make compassion meditation training more effective at boosting people’s capacity for self-kindness and mindfulness, finds a new study.
A world-first study into young adults’ brain activity has found that TV and gaming are associated with increased focus, while social media is associated with decreased focus.
Researchers have discovered that whether you are right- or left-handed influences which side of your brain processes fine visual details. The new “action asymmetry hypothesis” proposes that brain specialization for high- and low-frequency visual information develops from the everyday way we use our hands. In right-handers, the left hemisphere processes high-frequency vision; in left-handers, this is reversed. The findings challenge long-standing theories that such asymmetries develop in the womb or are tied directly to language processing.
Scientists have identified a promising nonpharmaceutical treatment that rejuvenates aging brain cells and clears away the buildup of harmful proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
It may be time to rethink certain genetic mutations associated with two devastating neurodegenerative disorders—amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD)—according to a new Nature Neurosciencestudy.
Research has shed new light on an age-old question: what makes the human brain unique? The study is published online in Science Advances.
Athletes who participate in combat sports like boxing and mixed martial arts and grow up in disadvantaged neighborhoods may be more likely to show signs of brain changes associated with neurodegeneration than athletes from affluent neighborhoods, according to a study publishedin Neurology Open Access.
A team of researchers has developed a data-driven method for optimizing deep brain stimulation (DBS) settings that significantly improved walking performance in people with Parkinson’s disease.
Scientists have built the first “microwave brain” chip capable of processing both ultrafast data and wireless communication signals at once. By harnessing analog, nonlinear microwave physics instead of conventional digital circuitry, the chip can decode radio signals, track radar targets, and classify high-speed data streams in real time.
Finally, this week, stronger coordination between the brain and the stomach’s natural rhythm is linked to higher levels of anxiety, depression, and stress, according to the largest study of its kind.
A) Illustration of the experimental design. B) Averaged power spectra and time–frequency representations (TFR) were extracted from two regions of interest. Credit: Imaging Neuroscience (2025)
Using a custom-built tool to analyze the electrical activity from neurons, researchers have identified a brain-based biomarker that could be used to predict whether mild cognitive impairment will develop into Alzheimer’s disease.
New research reveals neurocognitive correlates of testosterone in young men that shape generosity and self-worth.
By understanding differences in how people’s brains are wired, clinicians may be able to predict who would benefit from a self-guided anxiety care app, according to a new analysis from a clinical trial led by Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian investigators.
Novel imaging research indicates that young adults with a higher genetic risk for depression showed less brain activity in several areas when responding to rewards and punishments.
A 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.
Scientists bring us closer to understanding how the body detects different sensations such as pain, itch, and touch.
A recent genetic study has identified neurological mechanisms as key drivers of chronic cough. The findings significantly advance our biological understanding of the condition, shedding light on potential avenues for new treatments.
A large-scale analysis of health records reveals that subtle signs of multiple sclerosis (MS) may appear more than a decade before diagnosis.
In a discovery that could guide the development of next-generation antidepressants and antipsychotic medications, researchers have developed new insights into how a critical brain receptor works at the molecular level and why that matters for mental health treatments.
Finally, this week, new research has found stress-controlling brain cells switch on and off in a steady rhythm about once every hour—even when nothing stressful is happening.
A new study published in Scientific Reports has introduced a promising diagnostic tool that could dramatically shorten the long wait times many families face when seeking evaluations for autism and attention-related conditions. The research team used artificial intelligence to analyse subtle patterns in how people move their hands during simple tasks, identifying with surprising accuracy whether someone is likely to have autism, attention-deficit traits, or both. The method, which relies on wearable motion sensors and deep learning, could one day serve as a rapid and objective screening tool to help clinicians triage children for further assessment.
New research is investigating how childhood adversity rewires brain circuits that control emotion, memory, and attention, increasing the risk of impulsive and pathological aggression.
A groundbreaking study has revealed that genes linked to mental and neurodegenerative disorders, such as autism, depression, and Parkinson’s, begin influencing brain development during the earliest fetal stages. These genes are already active in neural stem cells—the progenitors that form the brain—long before symptoms arise.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have illuminated a complete sensory pathway showing how the skin communicates the temperature of its surroundings to the brain.
Patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) may be closer to personalized care, according to new research that shows how the disease disrupts interactions between the microbiome, immune system, and metabolism.
A new study using direct recordings from human brains reveals how the amygdala and hippocampus coordinate to form and retrieve emotional memories.
A personalised brain stimulation system powered by AI that can safely enhance concentration from home has been developed by researchers from the University of Surrey, the University of Oxford and Cognitive Neurotechnology. Designed to adapt to individual characteristics, the system could help people improve focus during study, work, or other mentally demanding tasks.
In the largest study of its kind, researchers linked irregular sleep patterns to elevated risk for 172 diseases.
Neuroscientists have grown a novel whole-brain organoid, complete with neural tissues and rudimentary blood vessels. This advance could usher in a new era of research into neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism.
Researchers have successfully mapped the entire neural circuit responsible for transmitting cool temperature signals from the skin to the brain.
A new brain imaging study reveals that how people expect pain relief—through visual cues or treatment explanations—can significantly influence how much pain they actually feel. External cues, like symbols signaling less pain, consistently reduced pain perception and altered brain regions tied to pain processing.
Finally this week, a new international study confirmed a significant post-pandemic rise in disorders of gut-brain interaction, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional dyspepsia.
Researchers at King’s College London have found that exposure to higher levels of air pollution during midlife is associated with slower processing speed, lower scores on a cognitive screening tool, and differences in brain structure later in life.
People who use psychedelic substances may think about themselves in a different way — not just psychologically, but also neurologically.
A large Danish study shows that most mental illnesses—like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression—occur in people with no close family history of the condition. Analyzing data from over 3 million individuals, researchers found that while heredity increases risk, most diagnosed individuals do not have affected relatives.
Living through the Covid-19 pandemic may have accelerated brain ageing, even in people who were never infected, a new study finds.
Scientists developed a computational “aging clock” that measures the biological age of brain cells and identifies compounds with rejuvenating potential. By analyzing gene activity from healthy and neurodegenerative brain tissue, they pinpointed 453 interventions predicted to reverse cellular aging.
Adolescents who use e-cigarettes or conventional tobacco products are significantly more likely to report symptoms of depression and anxiety than non-users, according to a recent study.
For the first time, researchers have identified what happens in neural networks deep within the brain during obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. Using electrodes implanted in the brain, they observed how specific brain waves became active. These brain waves serve as a biomarker for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and are an important step towards more targeted treatments.
In a breakthrough that reimagines the way the gut and brain communicate, scientists have uncovered what they call a “neurobiotic sense.”
A new study reveals that a brain circuit driving negative emotions during cocaine withdrawal plays a key role in relapse. Researchers found that this “anti-reward” network becomes hyperactive during abstinence, amplifying distress and pushing users back toward the drug.
Researchers have made a significant breakthrough in understanding how the human brain forms, stores and recalls visual memories.
A new study finds that inflammation affects how cannabis impacts anxiety and sleep quality. Researchers observed no significant changes in inflammation levels after 4 weeks of cannabis use, but initial inflammation influenced the results.
Finally, this week, Alzheimer’s disease spreads unevenly through the brain, and novel mathematical modelling may help explain why.
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.
After following a protocol of sensory-motor activities with cognitive engagement for two months, eleven children aged 10 to 12 who were diagnosed with dyslexia showed improvement in reading speed. This initiative combined recreational activities that incorporated motor and social skills, demonstrating promise in improving children’s reading performance.
Parkinson’s disease often starts on one side of the body, and new research shows this asymmetry influences how non-motor symptoms progress.
Memory helps us make sense of the present by retrieving past experiences based on either surface-level similarities or deeper conceptual connections. A recent study reveals that when a familiar mental category — like excuses or conflicts — is available, memory prioritizes structural, abstract links over superficial cues.
A device combining ultrasound and advanced imaging to provide information for the safe delivery of drugs into the brain has been developed by University of Queensland researchers.
A new study has upended decades of neuroscience dogma, revealing that dopamine, a neurotransmitter critical for movement, motivation, learning and mood, communicates in the brain with extraordinary precision, not broad diffusion as previously believed.
Researchers have found a new drug that may boost the brain’s ability to heal itself after injury. The discovery could lead to significant advances in treating traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs.
A study published in iScience suggests that the magic of live performance art may be reflected in our brains. When people watched a live contemporary dance performance, their brainwaves synced up, signaling shared focus and attention—but that synchrony didn’t occur when people watched the same performance alone on video.
A new study reveals that our organs age at different speeds, and those differences can predict future disease risk and even life expectancy. Using blood-based protein signatures from over 44,000 participants, researchers developed an algorithm to estimate the biological age of 11 organ systems.
Finally this week, a study in the journal Sciencepresents compelling new evidence that neurons in the brain’s memory center, the hippocampus, continue to form well into late adulthood.
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 arepublishedin 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.
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.
A novel study aimed at disentangling the neurological underpinnings of depression shows that multiple brain profiles may manifest as the same clinical symptoms, providing evidence to support the presence of both one-to-one and many-to-one heterogeneity in depression. The findings of the study in Biological Psychiatry, highlight the layered and complex interactions between clinical symptoms and neurobiological sources of variation.
Brain networks responsible for sensing, understanding, and responding emotionally to pain develop at different rates in infants, with the conscious understanding of pain not fully developed until after birth, finds a new study.
People living with autoimmune diseases face nearly twice the risk of developing persistent mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, according to a massive UK-based study.
New research shows that individuals with higher cognitive ability have stronger, more flexible synchronization of brain rhythms—specifically theta waves—in the midfrontal region during mentally demanding tasks. These neural signals coordinate dynamically, especially during moments of decision-making, allowing people to maintain focus and adapt more quickly to changing rules.
A recent study leveraged machine learning to identify the key lifestyle and health factors influencing cognitive performance throughout life.
New research reveals that autism and congenital heart disease may share a common biological basis—tiny cellular structures called cilia. Scientists found that mutations in genes affecting cilia formation disrupt both brain and heart development, helping explain why the two conditions often co-occur.
A first-of-its-kind clinical trial shows that ketamine treatment for severe, treatment-resistant depression is significantly more effective when paired with psychotherapy and supportive environments. Patients who underwent this combined treatment reported a 30% drop in depression symptoms, with reduced anxiety and suicidal thoughts lasting at least eight weeks.
A crucial link between the brain’s cleaning system and deterioration of neurons associated with Alzheimer’s disease has been discovered.
In a studypublished in Science Advances, researchers reveal that our bodies respond to acute (short‑term) and chronic (long‑lasting) pain in surprisingly different ways at the cellular level. Their discovery sheds new light on how pain becomes chronic—and opens the door to better‑targeted treatments.
A paper published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews has found that virtual reality (VR), when used in addition to standard therapy, can help stroke survivors regain arm movement.
Researchers investigating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at the single-cell level, aiming to understand how cellular communication may be disrupted in affected brains. They found impaired signaling in inhibitory neurons in PTSD, potentially explaining hyperarousal symptoms, and opposing patterns of microglial activity in PTSD versus depression. Vascular endothelial cells in PTSD brains also showed signs of dysfunction, possibly increasing stress hormone exposure.
A recent study shows that individual neurons in the hippocampus can respond to both slow and fast brain waves at the same time by switching between different firing modes.
For the first time, scientists using cryo-electron microscopy have discovered the structure and shape of key receptors connecting neurons in the brain’s cerebellum, which is located behind the brainstem and plays a critical role in functions such as coordinating movement, balance and cognition.
In a paper published in the journal Nature Communications, biomedical engineers have shown how two brain regions quickly adapt to shift focus from one planned destination to another.
A new neuroimaging study has identified distinct structural brain differences in individuals with psychopathy, particularly those with high antisocial traits. Reduced volumes were found in subcortical and cortical areas involved in emotion, decision-making, and social behavior.
Groundbreaking research has identified a new brain protein involved in the development of Parkinson’s disease and a way to modify it, paving the way for future treatments for the disease.
Living in disadvantaged neighborhoods may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by elevating biomarkers associated with inflammation and neurodegeneration. A long-term study of 334 older adults found higher levels of tau and YKL-40, biomarkers linked to Alzheimer’s and brain inflammation, in people from less advantaged areas.
Psychosis may start not with hallucinations, but with subtle motor changes like reduced grip strength according to a new study.
In experiments with healthy volunteers undergoing functional MRI imaging, scientists have found increased activity in two areas of the brain that work together to react to, and possibly regulate, the brain when it’s “feeling” tired and either quits or continues exerting mental effort.
Finally, this week, newborn babies and patients with Alzheimer’s disease share an unexpected biological trait: elevated levels of a well-known biomarker for Alzheimer’s, as shown in a recent study.
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