Summary: Using antidepressants during pregnancy, specifically fluoxetine (found in Prozac and Sarafem), can significantly affect a child’s brain development, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, potentially increasing the risk of mental…
Category: developmental neuroscience
Adolescent Stress Alters Brain Genes, Affecting Adult Behavior
Summary: A new study reveals that excessive stress during adolescence can lead to long-lasting changes in gene expression in the brain, particularly those related to bioenergy functions. This research indicates…
Brain Organoids Self-Organize from Fetal Tissue
Summary: Scientists have created 3D brain organoids from human fetal tissue that self-organize, offering a new way to study brain development and diseases. These mini-brains contain various brain cell types…
Fitness Shapes Teen Brains – Neuroscience News
Summary: A novel study finds a link between childhood physical fitness and cerebellar grey matter volume in adolescents. The research, part of the FitBrain study, shows that adolescents with better…
Cognitive Maturity: 18 is the Threshold of Cognitive Adulthood
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…
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…
Dad Time Boosts Kids’ School Success
Summary: A new study reveals that fathers engaging in interactive activities with their children, such as reading and playing, significantly improve their kids’ primary school performance. Analysis of the Millennium…
Linking Childhood Trauma to Mental Illness: Astrocytes Key to the Puzzle
Summary: The removal of excitatory synapses by astrocytes, triggered by stress hormones, can lead to mental illnesses induced by childhood neglect or abuse. The study reveals that synthetic glucocorticoids, or…
