Optimism Boosted by Psilocybin, Hinting at Depression Relief

Summary: Researchers have discovered that psilocybin, a psychedelic compound in magic mushrooms, increases optimism and motivation in rats, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits for treating depression. Using computational modeling, scientists observed…

How Conscious Thought Fades Under Anesthesia

Summary: A new study has shown that conscious thought relies on synchronized brain rhythms to maintain communication between sensory and cognitive brain regions. Under general anesthesia, this rhythm-based communication breaks…

Does Stress Lead to Premature Hair Graying?

Summary: Hair turns grey due to a decrease in melanin production in hair follicles, a process influenced by both genetics and environmental factors like stress. Contrary to myths, plucking a…

Machine learning model can diagnose Meniere disease

A machine learning model based on pure-tone audiometry features can diagnose Meniere disease (MD) and predict endolymphatic hydrops (EH), according to a study published online Aug. 28 in Otolaryngology-Head and…

First Gut Microbiome Map for Personalized Food Responses

Summary: A recent study has mapped how molecules in food interact with gut bacteria, revealing why people respond differently to the same diets. By examining 150 dietary compounds, researchers found…

Gene Activity in Depression Linked to Immune System and Inflammation

Summary: A new study reveals that inflammation and immune system activation are closely linked to major depressive disorder (MDD), particularly in those resistant to standard antidepressants. Researchers analyzed gene expression…

Brain molecule reverses movement deficits of Parkinson’s, offering new therapeutic target

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A research team from the University of California, Irvine is the first to reveal that a molecule in the brain—ophthalmic acid—unexpectedly acts like a neurotransmitter similar…

Targeting Liver X Receptor Beta for Depression Treatment

Summary: A recent review highlights the potential of liver X receptor beta (LXRβ) as a target for treating depression and anxiety. Known for regulating cholesterol, LXRβ is emerging as a…

AI Admissions Essays Align with Privileged Male Writing Patterns

Summary: Researchers analyzed AI-generated and human-written college admissions essays, finding that AI-generated essays resemble those written by male students from privileged backgrounds. AI essays tended to use longer words and…

A new frontier in treating depression and anxiety

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain In a Bench to Bedside review published in the journal Brain Medicine, researchers Dr. Xiaoyu Song and Professor Jan-Åke Gustafsson from the University of Houston and…