Childhood Stress Disrupts Attention, Sleep, and Dopamine Balance in Adults

Summary: New research links childhood adversity with later attention deficits, sleep disruptions, and specific dopamine imbalances in the brain. Focusing on critical developmental windows, scientists found that disrupted care early…

Childhood Attention Problems and Genes Linked to Psychosis Risk

Summary: Childhood attention issues, coupled with genetic predispositions, increase the likelihood of experiencing psychotic-like symptoms in adolescence. By analyzing data from 10,000 youths, researchers discovered that variability in attention spans…

ADHD brains present unique challenges, but the condition is highly treatable − a primary care nurse practitioner with ADHD explains the science

“My brain has way too many tabs open.” “Why can’t I complete tasks?” “Why do I lose track of time?” “Why can’t I pay attention?” These are all things people…

Can coffee or a nap make up for sleep deprivation? A psychologist explains why there’s no substitute for shut-eye

There is no denying the importance of sleep. Everyone feels better after a good night of sleep, and lack of sleep can have profoundly negative effects on both the body…

Brain’s ‘Traffic Directors’: Neurons That Keep Us Focused on Tasks

Summary: Researchers have illuminated how our brain maintains focus amidst distractions. Their study identifies “visual-movement” neurons in the lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC) that use coordinated activity called “beta bursts” to…

Revisiting the Invisible Gorilla: Fast-Moving Unexpected Objects Capture Attention

Summary: A study challenges the long-held belief that our ability to spot unexpected objects is compromised when focused on a separate task. The team showed that individuals are surprisingly good…