Summary: A new study reveals how depression affects brain activity in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) of rats. Using a microelectrode array, researchers found increased theta frequency activity in the BLA…
Tag: mental health
Brain Control of Escape Behavior May Unlock Anxiety Treatments
Summary: Researchers discovered how the brain controls sensitivity to threats, influencing escape behavior in mice. The study found that inhibitory neurons in the periaqueductal gray (PAG) regulate both the initiation…
MDMA Variants Show Promise for Safer Psychotherapy
Summary: Researchers developed three new MDMA variants (ODMA, TDMA, and SeDMA) that retain the therapeutic benefits while reducing side effects. These compounds affect mood-regulating brain structures similarly to MDMA but…
Mindfulness Improves Sleep and Reduces Stress
Summary: A new study reveals that mindfulness helps improve sleep quality and reduce stress by focusing on the present and minimizing negative thoughts. The study tracked 144 nurses over two…
Do hormonal contraceptives increase depression risk? A neuroscientist explains how they affect your mood, for better or worse
More than 85% of women – and more than 300 million people worldwide at any given time – use hormonal contraceptives for at least five years of their life. Although…
Making art is a uniquely human act, and one that provides a wellspring of health benefits
When you think about the word “art,” what comes to mind? A child’s artwork pinned to the fridge? A favorite artist whose work always inspires? Abstract art that is hard…
Abortion bans are changing what it means to be young in America
Adolescence and young adulthood is a time of identity formation, when young people figure out who they are and who they want to be. One of the ways they do…
War’s Toll on the Brain: Widespread PTSD and Anxiety Among Ukrainians
Summary: A new study reveals severe mental health impacts among displaced Ukrainians due to the ongoing conflict with Russia. Surveying over 8,000 individuals, researchers found widespread PTSD, anxiety, and flashbacks,…
Childhood Loneliness Linked to Later Psychosis
Summary: Childhood loneliness significantly increases the likelihood of experiencing a psychotic episode later in life, particularly in women. Through an observational case-control study involving 285 first-episode psychosis patients and 261…
Early Career Work Schedules Tied to Midlife Health Risks
Summary: Nonstandard work schedules early in life correlate with poorer health outcomes at middle age. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth-1979, the research examines over 30 years…
