Shared Brain Circuit Links Insomnia, Anxiety, and Depression

Summary: A large brain imaging study suggests that insomnia, depression, and anxiety, often co-occurring, share overlapping brain abnormalities. Researchers found reduced cortical surface area, smaller thalamic volume, and weaker brain connectivity…

Girls With ADHD Face Higher Risk of Anxiety

Summary: A new study reveals that in girls, symptoms of inattentive-type ADHD significantly increase the likelihood of developing anxiety during adolescence. Inattention and anxiety appear to reinforce each other in…

Dopamine Signals Teach the Brain to Unlearn Fear

Summary: A new study reveals that dopamine release along a specific brain circuit helps extinguish fear by activating reward-related neurons in the amygdala. Researchers showed that dopamine from the ventral…

Can Brain Scans Tell Which Antidepressant Will Work for You?

Summary: A new study shows that brain connectivity patterns, especially in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, can help predict how patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) will respond to antidepressants.…

More People Turning to Psilocybin for Self-Treatment

Summary: Psilocybin use in the U.S. has risen sharply across all age groups since 2019, coinciding with increasing legalization and interest in its therapeutic potential. A new study reveals a…

Psychedelics Linked to Visual Echoes

Summary: As psychedelics gain traction in mental health treatment, questions remain about their long-term effects. A new study followed individuals self-administering psychedelics and found that while some experienced lingering visual…

Pride and Awe in Parenting Boost Mental Health and Life Meaning

Summary: A new study reveals that feelings of pride and awe toward one’s children significantly enhance parental well-being, life satisfaction, and the parent-child bond. Conducted with nearly 900 parents, the…

Disrupted Myelin Protein Implicated in Schizophrenia

Summary: A new study has identified the protein hnRNP A1 as a key player in the production and maintenance of myelin, the fatty sheath that insulates nerve fibers in the…

Potential Depression Risk Linked to Ozempic-Like Drugs

Summary: A new international study reveals a possible connection between GLP1 receptor agonists—used in drugs like Ozempic—and increased risk of depression and suicidal ideation, especially in people with low dopamine…

Natural Disaster Trauma Disrupts Brain’s Decision Circuits

Summary: Survivors of the 2018 Camp Fire in California exhibit long-term cognitive changes, particularly in decision-making. Participants directly exposed to the wildfire showed reduced ability to choose long-term rewards and…