Summary: This week’s top five neuroscience breakthroughs bring to light fascinating insights into human cognition, emotion, and physical attributes. From a potential cure for baldness to new insight into how viral infections cause neural fusion which leads to long-term neurological damage, we break down the top Neuroscience News articles of the week.
Source: Neuroscience News
Welcome to our weekly roundup of the top five Neuroscience News articles that have had our readers buzzing.
Now is the perfect time to catch up on some of the best research you may have missed.
#5 – Alexithymia & Childhood Trauma: Unraveling The Mysterious Connection
New research has unveiled a worrying link between various forms of childhood maltreatment and alexithymia, a condition marked by a struggle to comprehend and articulate emotions.
Combing through 78 diverse sources and studying 36,141 participants, the research emphasizes the impact of emotional and physical neglect and emotional abuse as robust predictors of alexithymia, thus underscoring the urgency for tailored therapeutic interventions to help individuals navigate social and personal relationships.
#4 – Stem Cell Breakthrough: A Potential Cure for Baldness
A pioneering study revealed how age-related stiffness in hair follicle stem cells may hamper hair growth.
Researchers found a promising lead in softening these cells by augmenting the production of a microRNA, miR-205, sparking hair growth in both juvenile and mature mice.
This discovery hints at the possibility of new hair loss treatments that operate by manipulating cell mechanics, setting the stage for upcoming tests to discern if topically delivered miR-205 can kindle hair growth in humans.
#3 – Neuroticism Amplifies Negative Emotions and Mood Fluctuations
In a new study, researchers unearthed that individuals with heightened neuroticism, a trait potentially threatening mental health, not only grapple with intensified negative emotions but also endure substantial mood fluctuations.
By employing a unique approach from Bayesian statistics, the team analyzed 13 longitudinal datasets to substantiate their findings.
The results showed that people with high levels of neuroticism exhibit more frequent mood swings and experience stronger self-critical feelings or responses to external criticism compared to those with lower neuroticism levels.
#2 – Unleashing the Mind: The Neuroscience of Meditation and its Impact on Memory
The beneficial impact of meditation on memory represents a fascinating intersection of age-old wisdom and contemporary neuroscience.
Accumulating evidence suggests that meditation can trigger neuroplasticity changes in the brain, potentially stimulating structural growth in the hippocampus, a region pivotal for memory.
In addition to reducing stress, meditation indirectly improves memory performance by counteracting the detrimental effects of stress hormones on the brain.
Moreover, mindfulness practices have been found to enhance working memory capacity, a vital cognitive function.
#1 – COVID-19 Causes Brain Cell Fusion, Leading to Chronic Neurological Symptoms
In a recent discovery, researchers found that viruses, including COVID-19, can cause brain cells to fuse, leading to dysfunctions that contribute to chronic neurological symptoms. The study casts a new light on how viruses can alter the nervous system’s functionality.
The findings provide a plausible explanation for the persistent neurological effects observed in individuals following viral infection, like those manifested in ‘long COVID’ cases.
Remember to check in every day for the latest breaking news in neuroscience, AI, and cognitive sciences.
Have a great week.
About this neuroscience research news
Author: Neuroscience News Communications
Source: Neuroscience News
Contact: Neuroscience News Communications – Neuroscience News
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