Summary: A new study sheds light on when adolescents start thinking like adults. Researchers found that executive function, critical for task-switching and focus, typically matures around 18 years old. Drawing…
Category: brain research
Afterlife Conversations: Healing Power in Grief’s Journey?
Summary: Interactions with the deceased, or ADCs, are reported by 30-34% of individuals. A recent study explored the effects of ADCs on those grieving a partner. The findings reveal that…
The Two Faces of Stress: Nurturing Resilience and Recognizing Overload
Summary: Stress, a reaction to demands, isn’t universally negative; it has its benefits. The positive side, eustress, can foster well-being and resilience. Researchers clarify that the difference between helpful and…
Innocent Faces of Fentanyl: Opioid Use Linked to Distinct Birth Anomalies
Summary: Researchers have identified a potential new syndrome in babies born to mothers who used fentanyl during pregnancy. The infants displayed distinctive facial features, small heads, short stature, and various…
White Matter Wonders: Re-imagining the Brain’s Silent Majority
Summary: Historically, scientific research has largely focused on the gray matter of the brain, leaving the equally important white matter understudied. However, a recent groundbreaking study has used fMRI to…
Schizophrenia Insights: Brain’s Search for Words Mirrors Animal Foraging Patterns
Summary: A new study suggests that the way our minds search for words and concepts in memory may parallel the age-old patterns animals use to hunt for food in their…
Choosing Ignorance: 40% Shun Consequence Knowledge for Selfish Gains
Summary: New research unveiled that when faced with a choice, 40% of individuals opt to remain ignorant about how their decisions impact others, often leveraging this unawareness to act more…
The Risky Brain: Unraveling the Neural Codes of Lottery Choices
Summary: Researchers pinpointed a key brain region in rats that determines their economic decisions when facing lottery-like uncertainties. The frontal orienting field (FOF) was identified as a major player in…
Microbiome and Diet Could Mitigate PTSD Symptoms
Summary: Researchers explored the potential link between the Mediterranean diet, the gut microbiome, and PTSD symptoms. Their study, involving 191 participants, revealed that those following a Mediterranean diet exhibited fewer…