Researchers at the University of Birmingham have uncovered a surprising role of the hippocampus—linking this part of the brain to the control of skilled actions such as handwriting, typing, and playing music.

The psychedelic drug psilocybin may rewire brain connectivity to treat body dysmorphic disorder, new research suggests.

A significant breakthrough in the understanding of sleep mechanism opens new promise for treating sleep disorders and associated neuropsychiatric conditions: Scientists have pinpointed the melatonin receptor MT1 as a crucial regulator of REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep.

Researchers have developed a new method that allows scientists to cultivate brain organoids with distinct cortical areas and front-to-back patterning.

A recent study published in Science has identified a previously unknown mechanism in the brain that occurs during sleep, helping to reset memory pathways. Researchers found that a burst of neural silence in a specific part of the brain, the hippocampus, allows neurons involved in memory to reset and prepare for new learning the following day. This phenomenon, termed a “barrage of action potentials” or “BARR,” allows neurons to reset, ensuring that our brains can continue storing new information without overwhelming the neural networks responsible for memory.

Monash University-led research, believed to be the first of its kind, has used blood tests and MRI scans to show that the effects of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can last decades.

Researchers have found that SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) antidepressants have the potential to improve certain cognitive functions, such as verbal memory. They measured brain function in patients before and after taking the SSRI, escitalopram, and correlated this to a drop in the level of one of the serotonin receptors in the brain and to cognitive improvements during treatment.

In the U.K.’s largest study to date, researchers have come to a better understanding of the immediate and long-term impacts of COVID-19 on the brain.

New research has found that cannabis use during pregnancy can cause molecular changes in the genes of exposed children, impacting brain development. The study identified significant DNA alterations in genes related to neurodevelopment, suggesting a direct link between prenatal cannabis exposure and developmental issues.

Finally this week, a new study has uncovered new insights into how the brain processes and integrates pain information.