Mood Dips During Pill Pause

Summary: Research reveals that women’s mood can decline during the 7-day pill-free interval of contraceptive cycles. The study evaluated the mental health of long-term pill users and found heightened anxiety…

Rising Temperatures Show Climate’s Hidden Impact on Substance Use

Summary: A new study reveals a direct correlation between elevated temperatures and increased hospital visits due to alcohol and substance disorders. Not only does this shed light on unforeseen implications…

ChatGPT’s Choices: Overload or Overjoyed? Decoding Decision Dynamics

Summary: Researchers delved into how ChatGPT influences user decision-making, focusing on the ‘choice overload’ phenomenon. This condition emerges when an individual is overwhelmed by numerous options, often leading to decision…

Social Media’s Influence: Why More Young Women Eye Cosmetic Surgery

Summary: New research unveils the powerful influence of social media on young women’s views towards cosmetic surgery. The study, surveying 238 young women, found regular social media users more likely…

fMRI scans may improve diagnosis of sports-related concussion

Aron Barbey is backdropped by an fMRI machine at the Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior, which he now directs after recently joining the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Credit: Craig Chandler…

How new software is changing our understanding of human brain development

A team including researchers at the University of Washington compared MRIs from 300 babies using new software to compare their brains’ white matter and discovered that myelin, a part of…

Jamais Vu: When the Familiar Turns Eerily New

Summary: Repetition in the brain gives rise to two peculiar phenomena: déjà vu and its lesser-known counterpart, jamais vu. The latter makes familiar experiences feel eerily new and unsettling. Recent…

The role of the locus coeruleus, a ‘blue spot’ linked to sleep

Credit: Human Brain Project Researchers at the University of Liège (BE) Institute are using ultra-high field 7 Tesla MRI to provide a better understanding of how sleep is regulated. We’ve…

Upside Down World: Unique View Offers Clues to Face Recognition

Summary: Claudio’s unique head orientation—rotated nearly 180 degrees—allowed researchers to explore the evolutionary and experiential factors in face recognition. While most people struggle to recognize inverted faces, Claudio’s distinct vantage…

Study shows millions of people live with co-occurring chronic pain and mental health symptoms

According to new research from the University of Arizona Health Sciences Comprehensive Pain and Addiction Center, nearly 1 in 20 adults in the U.S. deal with chronic pain while also…