Imaging study shows what your favorite film genres reveal about your brain

Differences in amygdala activity between preference and no preference groups for crime/thriller and action. Credit: Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience (2024). DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1396811 Crime films, action films, comedies, or documentaries? A…

Non-Cognitive Skills Are as Vital as Intelligence

Summary: A new study reveals that non-cognitive skills like motivation and self-regulation are as crucial as intelligence in determining academic success. These skills, influenced by both genetics and environment, grow…

How Logical Thinking and Empathy Define Wisdom

Summary: A new study reveals that people across 12 countries and five continents perceive wisdom through two key dimensions: reflective orientation and socio-emotional awareness. Reflective orientation includes logical thinking and…

Does Multiple Sclerosis Lower Dementia Risk?

Summary: Research has revealed that individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) are significantly less likely to exhibit the molecular signs of Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting a protective element in MS that could…

Knowingly Taking Placebos Reduces Stress and Anxiety

Summary: Researchers have discovered that nondeceptive placebos—placebos given with the full knowledge that they are placebos—can effectively manage stress, even when administered remotely. In a two-week randomized controlled trial, participants…

GnRH neurons in the mouse olfactory bulb shown to translate socially relevant odors into male reproductive behavior

GnRHMOB and GnRHAOB neuronal projections and neuroendocrine/behavioral responses to odors in male mice. Credit: Nature Neuroscience (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01724-1 Animal reproduction is supported by the integration of various external and…

Mapping Fear: Brain Circuit That Detects and Remembers Threats Revealed

Summary: A new study has mapped a brain circuit responsible for detecting threats and forming fear memories. The hippocampus, known for spatial navigation, also plays a role in recognizing dangers,…

Psychosis Cognitive Impairment Linked to Brain Network

Summary: New research reveals that cognitive impairments in psychotic disorders, like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, are connected to brain network organization. This connection is evident even before the first psychotic…

High-Dose Psilocybin Shows Potential as an Antidepressant Treatment

Summary: A meta-analysis suggests that high doses of psilocybin may alleviate depressive symptoms similarly to the SSRI drug escitalopram. While the effect size was small, psilocybin outperformed placebo in clinical…

Childhood Inflammation Linked to Later Mental Health Risks

Summary: Children with persistent inflammation are at a higher risk of developing mental health disorders like psychosis and depression in early adulthood. A study found that elevated inflammation markers, particularly…