Dopamine Plays Double Duty in Learning and Motivation

Summary: A novel study suggests that dopamine, a neurotransmitter, plays dual roles in learning and motivation. In the study, male rats underwent Pavlovian or operant conditioning while their dopamine release…

Sleep Spindles Play a Role in Soothing PTSD Anxiety and Enhancing Memory Retention

Summary: Brief bursts of brain activity during sleep known as sleep spindles could potentially help regulate anxiety in people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Researchers believe that the study’s findings…

Snap a Selfie for the Memory: Why Third-Person Photos Capture Deeper Meaning of Events

Summary: People are more likely to take third-person photos, like selfies, when their goal is to capture the deeper meaning of an event, but opt for first-person photos when they…

People Who Think Positively About Aging Are More Likely to Recover Memory

Summary: Older people with mild cognitive impairment who have positive beliefs about aging are 30% more likely to regain normal cognitive function than those who are more pessimistic. Source; Yale…