Summary: New research suggests that mood swings in bipolar disorder are regulated by two clocks: the body’s 24-hour circadian rhythm and a dopamine-based clock that influences alertness. When these clocks…
Tag: mental health
Targeting Reward Pathways to Treat Depression
Summary: New research highlights how the brain’s reward-learning system can guide personalized treatments for depression. By studying two brain signals, expected value and prediction error, researchers identified markers that predict…
Delayed Brain Maturation Links Genetics and Eating Disorders
Summary: Over half of 23-year-olds display restrictive, emotional, or uncontrolled eating behaviors, with delayed brain maturation playing a significant role. The research linked structural brain differences, mental health challenges, and…
Physical Neglect Causes Lifelong Social Challenges in Children
Summary: A new study highlights how childhood physical neglect disrupts social development more than physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. Neglected children were less social, less popular, and less connected to…
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…
Poor Sleep Linked to Difficulty Controlling Unwanted Thoughts
Summary: Sleep deprivation impairs brain regions responsible for suppressing unwanted thoughts, contributing to mental health challenges. Functional neuroimaging revealed reduced activation in the prefrontal cortex and increased hippocampal activity in…
