Weekly Neuroscience Update

Conceptual framework for brain–body states. Credit: *Trends in Neurosciences* (2025).

There is growing evidence that the heart has a strong influence on thinking and feeling.

Your chronological age may say 65, but your brain could be acting a decade younger — or older — depending on your life experiences. That’s the message from a study by University of Florida researchers, who found that optimism, good sleep, social support, and other positive factors were strongly linked with healthier brains. The findings suggest that how people live and cope with stress can measurably influence the pace of brain aging, even in those living with chronic pain.

An international research team has made a significant breakthrough in predicting neurodegenerative diseases.

In a discovery that could reshape our understanding of memory, neuroscientists have found that forgetting is not just a glitch in the brain but is actually a finely tuned process, and dopamine plays a crucial role.

A new study shows that lifelong social advantages can slow biological aging.

Recent research explores the ways brain cells communicate, revealing fresh insight into the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. A multidisciplinary team used advanced imaging and computational modeling to analyze the “crosstalk” between neurons and their supporting glial cells in the human brain. This approach highlights the brain’s interconnected cellular network.

A growing number of U.S. adults—particularly those under 40—are reporting serious challenges with memory, concentration and decision-making, according to a new study published in Neurology.

Researchers at the University of Michigan are using artificial intelligence to predict the health consequences that sport-related concussions might have on student athletes over the course of their college athletic careers.

A recent study shows that sugary drinks don’t just affect physical health—they may also raise the risk of depression in women by disrupting the gut microbiome.

New research has shown that walking enhances how the brain processes auditory information, sharpening responses compared to standing still. When participants walked in a figure-eight path, their brains responded more strongly to sounds, and turning direction influenced whether responses were enhanced or suppressed in each ear.

Extreme instances of stress can cause lasting changes to the brain itself. This could leave some people more vulnerable to addiction, a University of Mississippi study concludes.

People who sleep poorly are more likely than others to have brains that appear older than they actually are. This is according to a comprehensive brain imaging study from Karolinska Institutet, published in the journal eBioMedicine.

An advanced AI tool can detect tiny brain lesions that cause severe epilepsy in children, allowing faster diagnosis, more precise treatment and a potential cure.

New research has found that people with narcolepsy type 1 exhibit patterns of slow brain pulsations that resemble those seen in healthy sleep. The findings, published in PNAS, suggest that orexin—a neuropeptide involved in maintaining wakefulness—may play a key role in the brain’s fluid-clearing system, known as the glymphatic system.

Finally this week, scientists have developed a brain-inspired semiconductor that can adjust its responses based on experience, much like human neurons do through “intrinsic plasticity.”

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*Experimental tasks and behavioral results. Credit: Science Advances (2025)*

Musical people find it easier to focus their attention on the right sounds in noisy environments. This is shown in a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in the journal Science Advances. The results suggest that music training can be used to sharpen attention and cognition.

A major UK study has revealed that the early warning signs of multiple sclerosis (MS) may appear years before diagnosis and affect all communities in similar ways.

Pea-sized brains grown in a lab have, for the first time, revealed the unique way neurons might misfire due to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, psychiatric ailments that affect millions of people worldwide but are difficult to diagnose because of the lack of understanding of their molecular basis.

Researchers have developed a minimally invasive method for recording brain activity through blood vessels.

A long-term study tracking 475 children found that autistic children are far more likely to experience persistent gastrointestinal issues than their peers. These symptoms often co-occur, persist throughout childhood, and are strongly related to challenges with sleep, communication, behavior, and sensory processing.

Science and artificial intelligence have combined in a study that could lead to personalized repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, or rTMS, for smokers who want to quit.

New research suggests that when people listen to speech at varying speeds, the auditory cortex does not adjust its timing but instead processes sound within a fixed time window. This discovery challenges the long-standing idea that the brain flexibly adapts its processing pace to match speech rhythms.

Neuroscientists are leveraging music’s ability to synchronize brain waves to enhance the effectiveness of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

Fluctuations in brain activity, also known as neural variability, enable us to be flexible in adjusting our behavior to the current situation. A new study shows that neural variability increases throughout development before stabilizing in adolescence. And deviating from this trajectory is associated with worse executive functioning.

Scientists have identified a previously underexplored population of hypothalamic neurons that plays a pivotal role in regulating energy expenditure.

A new study reveals that our brain’s attention system first prepares broadly, then focuses on specific details within fractions of a second. Using EEG and machine learning, researchers tracked how people focused on either the colour or the movement of dots before they appeared.

The first major data release from the HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study has provided researchers with a groundbreaking resource to study early childhood brain development.

A study published in The Cerebellum provides initial experimental evidence that a single session of cerebellar High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD-tDCS) may help to maintain anticipatory and consummatory pleasure and enhance reward sensitivity in healthy individuals.

New research finds that regional fat distribution exerts distinct effects on brain structure, connectivity and cognition, revealing patterns not explained by body mass index (BMI).

A new study reveals that fluoxetine, more commonly known as Prozac, does more than simply increase serotonin—it alters how brain cells utilize energy and form new connections. After two weeks of treatment, parvalbumin interneurons in the prefrontal cortex became less rigid, with mitochondrial energy genes reduced and plasticity genes upregulated.

Depression’s earliest signs can be hard to spot, but a new study shows AI can detect them in subtle facial movements.

A new five-year study explores how dopamine may drive changes in brain myelin during social isolation. Researchers will track how dopamine interacts with oligodendrocytes, the cells responsible for producing myelin and supporting neuron function.

Scientists have revealed a key mechanism in how our brains change when we learn new information or form memories.

Humans excel at adapting to new situations, while machines often stumble. A new interdisciplinary study reveals that the root of the issue lies in how humans and AI approach “generalization,” the process of transferring knowledge to new problems.

Finally this week, according to new research, habit, rather than conscious choice, drives most of our actions.

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Researchers have found new clues in the blood that could help explain why Alzheimer’s disease develops and how it affects memory.

Scientists have discovered specialized IC-encoder neurons that make the brain “see” illusions, such as squares or triangles that aren’t truly there. These neurons receive top-down instructions from higher brain areas and then fill in missing contours in the visual cortex, actively constructing what we perceive.

A new PET tracer can provide insights into how spinal cord injuries affect not only the spinal cord, but also the brain, according to new research published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Humans excel at adapting to new situations, while machines often stumble. A new interdisciplinary study reveals that the root of the issue lies in how humans and AI approach “generalization,” the process of transferring knowledge to new problems.

An international study has revealed how the brain dynamically adjusts its communication pathways by modulating the balance between two fundamental inhibitory circuits.

A large-scale dietary trial has demonstrated that a green-Mediterranean diet can slow brain aging by modulating key blood proteins associated with neurodegeneration. Using MRI scans and proteomic profiling, researchers tracked nearly 300 participants over an 18-month period and found that diet significantly influenced the brain age gap.

A brain imaging technique has identified areas in the brain’s cerebral cortex that are most susceptible to damage from repetitive impacts, such as those incurred from heading a soccer ball.

Scientists have discovered a mechanism by which nanoplastics disrupt brain energy metabolism, providing new insights into the environmental factors that contribute to neurodegeneration. The particles disrupted mitochondrial electron transfer and reduced energy production in both general and synaptic mitochondria.

Finally, this week, depression’s earliest signs can be hard to spot, but a new study shows AI can detect them in subtle facial movements.

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A research collaboration has identified the specific nerve pathways responsible for relaying pain signals from the bowel to the brain, paving the way for new irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatments.

Game-based training improves not only the cognitive abilities of people with initial signs of developing dementia, but also leads to positive changes in the brain, according to two new studies.

A next-generation neuroprosthetic hand that restores a sense of touch is moving into a pivotal home-use clinical trial. The “iSens” system uses implanted electrodes to read muscle intent and stimulate nerves, relaying fingertip sensations to the brain so the prosthesis feels embodied.

A new breakthrough demonstrates how robots can now integrate both sight and touch to handle objects with greater accuracy, much like humans.

Researchers have traced a neural mechanism that explains why humans explore more aggressively when avoiding losses than when pursuing gains. Their work reveals how neuronal firing and noise in the amygdala shape exploratory decision-making.

Scientists have found a way to stop brain cancer cells spreading by essentially ‘freezing’ a key molecule in the brain.

Researchers have developed an ultrasound device that can precisely stimulate areas deep in the brain without surgery, opening up new possibilities for neurological research and the treatment of disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.

Artificial intelligence can detect and interpret social features between people from images and videos almost as reliably as humans, according to a new study published in the journal Imaging Neuroscience.

A large study of nearly 13,000 adults found that consuming high levels of certain artificial sweeteners is associated with faster declines in memory and cognitive function over an eight-year period. The effect was particularly strong in people with diabetes and those under 60. While the study does not prove causation, it raises concerns about the long-term brain health risks associated with common sugar substitutes.

Experiments have shown that AI can develop in-context learning abilities after extensive incremental practice, much like humans do.

A new study suggests that autism may be linked to the rapid evolution of brain cell types unique to humans. Researchers have found that outer-layer neurons in the human brain evolved significantly faster than in other apes, with notable changes in autism-associated genes.

A new study shows that brain iron levels, measured using a specialized MRI technique, can predict cognitive decline years before symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease appear.

People with chronic insomnia may experience faster declines in memory and thinking skills as they age—along with brain changes that can be seen on imaging scans—than people who do not have chronic insomnia, according to a study published in Neurology.

Researchers have discovered how the brain develops reliable visual processing once the eyes open.

Scientists discovered how the brain uses objects to anchor our sense of direction, solving part of the mystery of spatial navigation. Experiments in mice showed that cells in the postsubiculum fired strongly when facing an object, while cells in other directions were suppressed, sharpening orientation.

In adults aged 60 years and older, tinnitus, especially severe and prolonged tinnitus, is significantly associated with cognitive impairment, according to a study published in Brain Sciences.

A more precise and personalized form of electric brain stimulation may be a more effective and faster treatment for people with moderate to major depression compared to other similar treatments, according to a UCLA Health study.

Finally this week, researchers may have found a way to limit the debilitating damage strokes can cause.

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*The study design and data processing pipeline for SeeMe. Credit: Communications Medicine (2025).*

SeeMe, a computer vision tool, was able to detect low-amplitude, voluntary facial movements in comatose patients with acute brain injury days before clinicians could identify overt responses.

A new neuroimaging study reveals that child neglect alone, without other forms of abuse, can alter critical brain pathways. Researchers found abnormalities in white matter regions tied to movement, attention, language, and emotional regulation.

Scientists have identified a distinct neurochemical signature that distinguishes Parkinson’s disease from essential tremor.

A team of researchers has developed a simple, three-minute brainwave test called Fastball EEG that can detect early signs of memory impairment associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Unlike traditional memory tests, it is passive and requires no active participation, making it more objective and accessible.

A large-scale study with 600 participants shows that music can genuinely evoke feelings of companionship by sparking social imagination.

A toxic protein forms dynamic pores in the membranes of brain cells—and that may be the key to understanding how Parkinson’s disease develops. This is the conclusion of a new study from Aarhus University, where researchers have developed an advanced method to track molecular attacks in real time.

A hormone produced by the brain, orexin, may play a central role in the functioning of the brain’s glymphatic system, which clears waste, according to a new study.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine say they have revealed a possible molecular connection between air pollution and an increased risk of developing Lewy body dementia. The findings contribute to a growing body of evidence suggesting that environmental factors may trigger harmful protein changes in the brain, leading to neurodegeneration.

A new treatment offers hope to end the pain of neuropathy.

Two new papers from Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Gastroenterology shed light on how gut-brain interactions, influenced by both biology and life circumstances, shape eating behaviors. Together, they highlight the importance of multidisciplinary, personalized approaches to digestive health and nutrition.

Neuroscientsts have shown for the first time the precise timing of nerve signals determines how the brain processes information.

A new large-scale study shows that Alzheimer’s disease is marked by the erosion of epigenomic control, where brain cells lose the ability to maintain stable gene expression. Using a multi-region atlas of 3.5 million cells, researchers found that vulnerable cells in key memory regions such as the hippocampus suffer breakdowns in nuclear compartmentalization and lose their “epigenomic information.”

Individuals with an increased risk of dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease may have impaired spatial orientation skills.

UCLA engineers have developed a wearable, noninvasive brain-computer interface system that utilizes artificial intelligence as a co-pilot to help infer user intent and complete tasks by moving a robotic arm or a computer cursor.

Macquarie University hearing researchers have discovered how our brains learn to listen, and how this can help us understand speech in noisy, echo-filled spaces.

Some sugar substitutes may come with unexpected consequences for long-term brain health, according to a study published in Neurology. The study examined seven low- and no-calorie sweeteners and found that individuals who consumed the highest amounts experienced faster declines in cognitive function, specifically thinking and memory skills, compared to those who consumed the lowest amounts.

Finally this week, scientists studying ways of improving motion sickness have found that playing different types of music may help people recover more effectively.

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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 study published 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.

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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.

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*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.

A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences offers insight into how past stress impacts a person’s response to new stress.

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 Neuroscience study.

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 published in 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.

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*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.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

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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.