Summary: Researchers have discovered that people’s political affiliation can be identified with nearly 80% accuracy based on brain activity while making routine decisions like buying milk and eggs. Although actual…
Tag: brain research
Oral Bacteria May Help Detect Autism with 81% Accuracy
Summary: A new study has identified a strong link between oral microbiota and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), revealing 11 bacterial species with potential as biomarkers. By analyzing oral samples from…
Music Choice Can Harm Productivity
Summary: A new study shows that background music in workplaces can harm employee mood, energy, and job performance when it doesn’t match individual needs. This “music misfit” effect leads to…
The Subtle Power of Self-Deprecating Humor
Summary: Self-deprecating humor, when used thoughtfully, can help people regulate emotions, build trust, and foster connection—especially in therapeutic settings. Far from being purely negative, this type of humor signals humility,…
Serotonin Signals the Brain’s Best Guess About Future Rewards
Summary: A new study reveals that serotonin neurons in the brain may play a crucial role in helping us estimate the value of future rewards. Rather than simply responding to…
How Psilocybin Lifts Mood Without the Hallucinogenic Trip
Summary: Researchers have uncovered two key brain mechanisms—specific neurons and a serotonin receptor—that help explain how psilocybin produces long-lasting antidepressant effects. Their study identified pyramidal tract neurons in the medial…
Autism-Linked Gene Alters Face Perception in Dogs
Summary: A new study shows that Beagle dogs with mutations in the autism-linked Shank3 gene exhibit face processing abnormalities similar to those seen in humans with ASD. Using behavioral tests,…
Study Reveals Brain Circuits That Drive Political Passion and Intensity
Summary: A new study has identified specific brain networks that regulate the intensity of political engagement, regardless of ideology. By analyzing Vietnam War veterans with localized brain injuries, researchers found…
Pregnant Women Face Lower Odds of Long COVID
Summary: A large study of over 72,000 pregnant women found that those infected with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy were less likely to develop Long COVID than non-pregnant peers. Using data from…
