Summary: While Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Bipolar Disorder (BD) share overlapping symptoms, a novel study reveals distinct biological pathways for each. The research is the first to identify a…
Tag: cognition
Reducing Visceral Fat Protects the Brain for Decades
Summary: A new longitudinal study reveals that the accumulation of visceral fat, the “hidden” fat stored deep within the abdominal cavity, is a primary driver of brain atrophy and cognitive…
High Cognitive Scores Might Predict Depressive Relapse
Summary: “Brain fog”, the memory loss and lack of focus that affects up to 90% of people with major depressive disorder, has long been thought to be a warning sign…
The Myth of the Average Brain
Summary: Averaging brain scan data across groups can fundamentally mislead scientists about how the human brain actually works. By analyzing functional MRI data from over 4,000 children individually, researchers discovered…
Early Imaginative Play Predicts Better Mental Health
Summary: Toddlers who excel at pretend play are significantly less likely to experience emotional and behavioral difficulties by the time they reach primary school. A major longitudinal study tracked over…
Daily “Mental Sharpness” Dictates Productivity
Summary: Have you ever wondered why some days you’re a powerhouse of productivity and others you’re “pushing through fog”? A new study has quantified this feeling. Researchers found that day-to-day…
Edge of Chaos: Why Pigeons Refuse to Become “Machines”
Summary: If you found a guaranteed way to get a reward, you’d probably stick to it, right? According to a new study, pigeons aren’t that predictable. Researchers tested the century-old…
Blood Test Predicts Long-Term Cognitive Function After Cardiac Arrest
Summary: A new study suggests that measuring neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels 48 hours after a cardiac arrest can accurately predict a survivor’s long-term cognitive health. Researchers compared NfL to…
Prenatal Lead Exposure Affects the Aging Brain
Summary: The consequences of lead exposure may take six decades to fully manifest. A remarkable study has linked lead exposure during the second trimester of pregnancy to lower cognitive performance…
Brain Blends Fast and Slow Signals to Shape Human Thought
Summary: Researchers mapped the brain connectivity of 960 individuals to uncover how fast and slow neural processes unite to support complex behavior. They found that intrinsic neural timescales—each region’s characteristic…
