Summary: Even when within the normal range, lower levels of vitamin B12 may contribute to cognitive decline, according to a new study. Researchers found that older adults with lower biologically…
Tag: neurobiology
Genetic Mutation Linked to Schizophrenia Alters Brain Function
Summary: Researchers identified a rare genetic mutation in two schizophrenia patients that increased schizophrenia-related behaviors in mice. The mutation led to higher levels of glycine decarboxylase (GLDC), an enzyme that…
Optimism and Pessimism Shape Resilience and Risk
Summary: Researchers examined how optimism and pessimism influenced well-being and behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzing data from a large-scale study of older adults, they found that optimism was linked…
How the Brain Ignores Distractions to Stay Focused
Summary: When focusing in noisy environments, the brain adjusts not by concentrating harder but by ignoring distractions that were previously disruptive. Researchers developed a neural network model showing that people…
Spiritual Practices Share a Common Mental Pathway to Deep Bliss
Summary: Researchers found that Buddhist jhāna meditation and Christian speaking in tongues, despite their differences, share a common cognitive feedback loop. This process, called the Attention, Arousal, and Release Spiral,…
15 Key Motives Drive Human Behavior
Summary: Researchers analyzed human motivation from an evolutionary perspective, identifying 15 key motives that drive behavior. These motives, grouped into five categories—environmental, physiological, reproductive, psychological, and social—reflect adaptations that helped…
Why Some People Remember Dreams and Others Don’t
Summary: A new study explores why some people vividly recall dreams while others forget them. Researchers found that dream recall is influenced by personality traits, sleep patterns, and even seasonal…
Depression Speeds Up Physical Illness
Summary: Adults with a history of depression develop long-term physical conditions about 30% faster than those without, according to a large study. Researchers analyzed data from over 172,000 participants and…
AI-Enhanced Chip Unravels Brain’s Neural Networks
Summary: Researchers have mapped over 70,000 synaptic connections in rat neurons using a silicon chip with 4,096 microhole electrodes, significantly advancing neuronal recording technology. Unlike traditional electron microscopy, which only…
