Summary: Researchers have identified a mechanism that impairs synaptic plasticity in individuals with schizophrenia, revealing the role of three key proteins. Using computational modeling, the team explored how genetic alterations…
Tag: mental health
Observing Trauma Boosts Resilience Through Serotonin
Summary: A new study reveals that observing others endure trauma can increase resilience and protect against depression. Researchers found that serotonin, released in the brain’s habenula, plays a key role…
No Link Found Between Ozempic and Suicide Risk
Summary: A new study has found no evidence that GLP-1 analogues, common diabetes drugs, increase the risk of suicide, self-harm, or related mental health issues. Researchers analyzed data from around…
Hidden Dopamine Neurons Balance Brain Functions and Behavior
Summary: Researchers identified a small group of dopamine neurons in the striatum that play a crucial role in balancing essential brain functions such as reward, cognition, and movement. This discovery…
Knowingly Taking Placebos Reduces Stress and Anxiety
Summary: Researchers have discovered that nondeceptive placebos—placebos given with the full knowledge that they are placebos—can effectively manage stress, even when administered remotely. In a two-week randomized controlled trial, participants…
Psychosis Cognitive Impairment Linked to Brain Network
Summary: New research reveals that cognitive impairments in psychotic disorders, like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, are connected to brain network organization. This connection is evident even before the first psychotic…
High-Dose Psilocybin Shows Potential as an Antidepressant Treatment
Summary: A meta-analysis suggests that high doses of psilocybin may alleviate depressive symptoms similarly to the SSRI drug escitalopram. While the effect size was small, psilocybin outperformed placebo in clinical…
Childhood Inflammation Linked to Later Mental Health Risks
Summary: Children with persistent inflammation are at a higher risk of developing mental health disorders like psychosis and depression in early adulthood. A study found that elevated inflammation markers, particularly…
Blood sugar fluctuations after eating play an important role in anxiety and depression
The proverbial “sugar high” that follows the ingestion of a sweet treat is a familiar example of the potentially positive effects of food on mood. On the flip side, feeling…
Classical Music Synchronizes Brain Waves, Improving Depression
Summary: Western classical music can significantly affect brain activity, particularly in people with treatment-resistant depression. By measuring brainwaves and neural imaging, scientists discovered that music synchronizes neural oscillations between brain…
