Twin Dynamics: How Developmental Differences Shape Dominance Roles

Summary: A new study reveals that developmental differences strongly influence dominance roles in twin relationships, with typically developing twins perceived as dominant over their nontypically developing siblings. This dominance imbalance…

Visual Silence: Exploring Aphantasia – Neuroscience News

Summary: A new study reveals that aphantasics, people unable to visualize, are more resistant to involuntary visual thoughts, such as imagining a pink elephant. While vivid visual imaginations often lead…

Positive Attitude Boosts Passion and Determination

Summary: New research links a positive attitude, or “growth mindset,” to higher levels of passion and determination. A study of over 1,500 participants aged 13 to 77 found that those…

Opioid abuse can change the brain

“This is your brain on drugs,” the old anti-drug admonition says, and now a new study has found there’s something to that chestnut. Opioid addicts experienced structural and functional changes…

Moms Carry 71% of the Mental Load

Summary: New research shows that mothers take on 71% of household mental load tasks, including planning, scheduling, and organizing, while fathers manage just 45%. This imbalance often leads to stress,…

AI Mirrors Human Bias: ‘Us vs. Them’ in Language Models

Summary: AI systems, including large language models (LLMs), exhibit “social identity bias,” favoring ingroups and disparaging outgroups similarly to humans. Using prompts like “We are” and “They are,” researchers found…

Genetic Mechanism Links Emotional Experiences to Behavior Changes

Summary: Researchers have identified a genetic mechanism that regulates behavioral adaptations to emotional experiences by forming R-loops, unique RNA:DNA structures that activate target genes. The study focused on NPAS4, a…

Do Animals Really Understand Fairness?

Summary: New research challenges the idea that animals share humans’ sense of fairness, suggesting their reactions to unequal rewards stem from unmet expectations rather than inequity aversion. In the largest…

RNA:DNA ‘sandwich’ plays key role in behavioral adaptations arising from emotional experiences, research reveals

Medical University of South Carolina neuroscience researchers who are co-authors on the December 13 Science paper. From left to right: Rose-Marie Akiki, Dr. Christopehr Cowan, and Dr. Makoto Taniguchi. Credit:…

Common brain network links atrophy patterns seen in schizophrenia

Credit: CC0 Public Domain A new study led by investigators from Mass General Brigham has identified a unique brain network that links varied patterns of brain atrophy, or shrinkage, associated…