Investigating Stress Response in PTSD and Depression Through Gene Analysis

Summary: Researchers conducted an analysis of genes in nearly 575,000 brain cells from individuals with and without post-traumatic stress and major depressive disorders (PTSD and MDD), yielding new insights into…

Balanced Parenting Is Key to Nurturing Harmonious Sibling Bonds

Summary: A new study suggests that equal treatment of siblings by parents fosters better sibling relationships. Analyzing retrospective reports of 325 college-age adults, the researchers found that parental differential treatment…

Glutamate Receptor Activation: A Potential Cure for Opioid Addiction?

Summary: Scientists discovered a potential new weapon in the battle against opioid use disorder (OUD), a condition that affects over two million people in the U.S. alone. The drug, ADX106772,…

Happily Ever After? How Films Portray Facial Surgery Outcomes

Summary: A new study scrutinizes the portrayal of characters with facial disfigurements in films, revealing inherent cultural biases and potential psychological benefits of plastic surgery. Researchers analyzed 48 characters from…

Scorching Stress: The Hidden Mental Toll of Summer Heatwaves

Summary: Research suggests that extreme summer heat can significantly impact mental health, in addition to physical health. Changes in emotions and behaviors can occur due to heat’s influence on serotonin,…

Some African birds follow nomadic ants to their next meal

COIMBATORE, India — To better understand Equatorial Guinea’s tropical birds, ornithologists Luke Powell and Patricia Rodrigues scan the ground rather than the trees. They are searching for nests of driver…

90% adults fall short of eating their daily recommended vegetables. Could gene-edited salad greens make a difference?

A food and agriculture startup called Pairwise developed CRISPR-edited vegetables to make them more palatable. They created a breed of mustard greens (Brassica juncea) that had reduced pungency compared to…

Brain Bites: Top 5 Neuroscience News Articles of the Week – June 23, 2023

Summary: This week’s neuroscience revelations encompass intriguing findings from the enigmatic genetics of mind-controlling hairworms to the groundbreaking link between alcohol use disorders and certain neuronal plasticity genes. A novel…

Rejuvenating the Brain: Healthy Cells Replace Diseased Ones

Summary: A promising study reveals transplanted healthy glial cells can outcompete and replace diseased or aged brain cells, potentially restoring normal brain function. This breakthrough suggests a broad potential for…

Give and Grow: Volunteering Linked to Better Cognitive Health in Seniors

Summary: Volunteering can significantly improve cognitive function in older adults, suggests new research. The study, which included a diverse group of 2,476 seniors, linked volunteering activities to better executive function…