Brainwaves: Neuroscience News Top Five Insights This Week – July 2, 2023

Summary: In this week’s round-up of top neuroscience breakthroughs, machine learning has been utilized to predict patterns of repetitive negative thinking, potentially revolutionizing depression treatment. A link has been discovered…

Alcohol Use Disorder: More Alcohol, More Impairment, Regardless of Drinking Habits

Summary: Researchers reveal the idea of “holding one’s liquor” is complex, particularly among heavy drinkers. The study shows that while individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) display less impairment after…

Adversity, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Evolution: The Reproductive Trade-off Theory

Summary: A new study examines the association of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) with early life adversity and its potential influence on immediate reproductive strategies over somatic health. Using a sample…

Is Cannabis Use Disorder A Stepping Stone to Mental Health Disorders?

Summary: A new study sheds light on the strong link between cannabis use disorder and mental health conditions, indicating a much higher risk than previously thought. The research, based on…

Unmasking Anosognosia: Revealing Hidden Brain Networks in Unawareness

Summary: Researchers identified specific brain network connections associated with anosognosia, a condition where patients are unaware of their neurological or psychiatric deficits. Using a technique called lesion network mapping, they…

Microglia’s Role in Controlling Anxiety and OCD

Summary: A new study reveals how microglia can regulate anxiety and obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder (OCSD) behaviors. Traditionally overlooked in favor of neurons, specific microglia populations were found to both stimulate…

Shaping Young Minds: Neurodevelopment Interventions for Psychiatric Disorders

Summary: Researchers explored potential treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders like schizophrenia and autism that act during critical windows of brain development. They specifically targeted underperforming dopamine neurons, which connect to the…

Youth Alcohol Dependency Could Signal Future Depression Risk

Summary: Adolescents with signs of alcohol dependency are more likely to suffer from depression in their mid-20s. The research, involving 3,902 participants from the ALSPAC study, examined the correlation between…

Empathy’s Influence on Drinking Patterns

Summary: A recent study reports a surprising correlation between daily affective empathy and alcohol consumption. The study found that on days when people experienced higher levels of affective empathy (empathy…

Unexpected Role of Immune Autoantibodies in Schizophrenia

Summary: A study reveals a connection between schizophrenia and autoimmune reactions. The researchers identified autoantibodies against the synaptic protein neurexin 1α in about 2% of patients with schizophrenia. These autoantibodies,…