Summary: A new study identifies brain area 46 in the marmoset dorsolateral prefrontal cortex as a key regulator of mood-related behavior. When this region was inactivated, the animals showed less…
Category: Psychology
How Stress Types Differently Impact Brain and Behavior
Summary: Stress is a universal experience, but not all stress affects the brain in the same way. A new study in rats reveals that acute stress provokes anxiety-like behaviors, especially…
Education Gap Is Speeding Up Aging in Millions of People
Summary: A new study reveals that Americans with less education are aging faster than those with more schooling, and the divide has widened over the past three decades. Biological age—measuring…
Eight New Genes Linked to Schizophrenia Revealed
Summary: The largest exome-sequencing study of schizophrenia to date has uncovered eight new genes tied to the disorder. Two genes, STAG1 and ZNF136, were strongly implicated, while six others showed…
Highly Sensitive People Face Greater Mental Health Risks
Summary: A large-scale meta-analysis of 33 studies has shown that highly sensitive individuals are more prone to common mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and avoidant personality disorder. Sensitivity…
Bipolar Mood Shifts Linked to Insulin Signaling in the Pancreas
Summary: A new study uncovers a pancreas–hippocampus feedback loop that may help explain mood swings in bipolar disorder. Using patient-derived pancreatic islets, researchers found reduced insulin secretion linked to elevated…
Caffeine in the Morning Gives the Biggest Boost to Mood
Summary: A large real-world study of 236 young adults found that caffeine significantly boosts positive emotions, particularly in the morning. Participants who had coffee or another caffeinated drink reported feeling…
Brain Signature Reveals How We Consciously Experience Emotional Intensity
Summary: Researchers have identified a distinct brain signature linked to the conscious experience of emotional intensity. By combining AI modeling, advanced brain imaging, and realistic experimental scenarios, they measured arousal…
Brain Circuit Model Reveals How Striatum Shapes Everyday Decisions
Summary: Researchers 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, the study reveals…
When Gut Rhythms Over-Sync With the Brain, Mental Strain Rises
Summary: A large-scale study has found that unusually strong coordination between brain activity and the stomach’s slow, rhythmic waves may signal greater mental distress. Using fMRI and electrogastrography on more…
