Summary: A new study suggests that the way you take risks as an adult may depend less on how risky you are by nature and more on the types of…
Tag: neuroscience
When Music Meets Attention: How Background Tunes Shape Focus
Summary: A new study compared background music listening habits between young adults with and without ADHD, revealing distinct patterns in when and what they listen to. ADHD-screened participants reported more…
Electric Ear Stimulation Boosts Power for Self-Compassion
Summary: A new study finds that stimulating the vagus nerve via a small electrical pulse to the outer ear can amplify the benefits of self-compassion meditation. Participants who received stimulation…
When Music Falls Flat: Why Some Brains Don’t Enjoy Music
Summary: Some people feel absolutely nothing when listening to music—and not because of bad taste. A rare condition called specific musical anhedonia involves a disconnect between the brain’s auditory and…
Music May Help Kids Understand Emotions, Even Without Empathy
Summary: Music plays a powerful role in how we perceive and express emotion—and a new study finds that even very young children can match emotions in music to facial expressions.…
Promise of Reward Changes How We Pay Attention
Summary: A new study reveals that our brains treat sensitivity and decision bias as separate processes when rewards are at stake. Using eye-tracking and EEG during a visual task, researchers…
Do Dog Faces Shape Behavior?
Summary: Short-nosed dog breeds like Pugs and French Bulldogs are often perceived as calm, affectionate companions—but their behavior is influenced by more than just head shape. A new study of…
How Kids Learn What Emotions Really Mean
Key Questions Answered Q: Why do young children struggle to recognize adult emotions?A: Young children rely heavily on facial perception and haven’t yet developed the conceptual knowledge needed to fully…
Brain Reward Signals Blunted by Genetic Depression Risk
Key Questions Answered Q: How does genetic risk for depression affect the brain?A: Young adults with a higher genetic predisposition to depression showed reduced brain activity in key areas linked…
Fat Molecule May Control How You Feel Emotion
Key Questions Answered Q: What did researchers discover about the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor?A: They mapped how it activates different brain signaling pathways, offering insight into how mood and emotion are…
