Hearing Voices May Stem from the Brain Misreading Its Own Inner Speech

Summary: A new study reveals that auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia may arise when the brain fails to recognize its own inner voice as self-generated. Normally, the brain predicts the sound…

When a Hug Turns Dark: How Manipulative Partners Use Touch

Summary: Touch can strengthen bonds and calm stress, but not all affection is sincere. A new study reveals that people with “dark triad” traits—narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism—often use physical touch…

Why Teenage Songs Define Us: The Science of Musical Memory

Summary: A global study reveals that our most emotionally resonant music tends to come from our teenage years—typically peaking around age 17. This “reminiscence bump” marks the period when our…

Can a Disconnected Brain Be Conscious?

Summary: A new study reveals that sleep-like slow-wave brain activity can persist for years in surgically disconnected brain hemispheres of awake epilepsy patients. Using EEG recordings, researchers found that the…

Why Your Brain and Mine Agree on What We See

Summary: A new study reveals how uniquely wired human brains can perceive the world in strikingly similar ways. Researchers recorded live neural activity in epilepsy patients and found that while…

ADHD May Make You More Creative

Summary: People with ADHD tend to be more creative, and this advantage may stem from a greater tendency for their minds to wander. The study is the first to directly…

EEG Test May Reveal Who Loses Libido on Antidepressants

Summary: A new study reveals that serotonin levels in the brain, measured using a simple EEG-based test, can predict who will experience sexual side effects from SSRI antidepressants. Researchers found…

Can Animals Feel? A New Roadmap for Consciousness

Summary: A philosophy scholar has developed a practical “decision tree” to help scientists and ethicists evaluate which creatures may be conscious. The new framework clarifies decades of debate about whether…

Brain Cells That Thrive on Uncertainty Help Us Adapt and Learn

Summary: Scientists have discovered a group of brain cells in the orbitofrontal cortex that become more active when outcomes are uncertain, revealing how the brain adapts and learns from unpredictable…

Reelin Shows Promise for Healing Both Gut and Depression

Summary: A new study reveals that the protein Reelin may hold the key to treating both “leaky gut” and major depressive disorder. Chronic stress lowers Reelin levels in the gut,…