Verbal Abuse in Childhood Rewires the Developing Brain

Summary: New neuroscience research highlights how verbal abuse in childhood can alter brain development and increase the risk of mental health issues later in life. Children who are routinely shamed,…

Emotional Regulation Offers a New Path to Relief

Summary: A new study shows that improving emotional processing can significantly reduce chronic pain and improve quality of life. Researchers developed Pain and Emotion Therapy, an online intervention teaching emotional…

Brain-Body Links in Emotion and Health

Summary: Researchers have developed D-PSCAN, a novel imaging technique that enables high-resolution, minimally invasive observation of the brainstem’s nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) in living animals. The NTS, a vital relay…

Childhood Adversity Dulls Joy and Deepens Daily Emotional Swings

Summary: A new study reveals that adverse childhood experiences make adults more emotionally reactive—not only to negative events, but also to positive ones. People with a history of abuse or…

Fear of Emotions Fuels PTSD-Related Conflict in Romantic Relationships

Summary: New research reveals that fear of emotions may explain why individuals with PTSD symptoms often struggle to communicate with romantic partners. The study found that people with higher PTSD…

Dopamine and Serotonin Drive Emotional Word Processing

Summary: Researchers have uncovered how neurotransmitters in the brain respond to the emotional content of language, shedding light on the intersection of emotion, cognition, and communication. Using advanced techniques, the…

Early Reproductive Aging Alters Brain Connectivity, Emotional Health

Summary: Research shows that accelerated reproductive aging in females, such as early puberty or menopause, is linked to increased mental health risks at different life stages. Adolescents experiencing early puberty…

Over Half of College Students Affected by Others’ Drinking

Summary: Over half of U.S. college students experience harm caused by others’ drinking, highlighting the widespread impact of alcohol misuse on campuses. These harms range from babysitting intoxicated peers to…

Emotional News Alters Men’s Financial Choices

Summary: New research reveals that men are more likely than women to let emotions from unrelated situations affect their financial decisions. After watching emotional news stories, men opted for safer…

Oxytocin Influences Social Behavior and Emotional Response

Summary: New research reveals how oxytocin profoundly influences social behavior and emotional responses in the brain. Animal models have shown how this hormone impacts social fear and how chronic stress…