Shorter sleep and later bedtimes are linked to potentially harmful functional changes to parts of the brain important for coping with stress and controlling negative emotions, our recently published research…
Tag: neuroscience
Research shows young infants use their mother’s scent to perceive faces
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Humans see the world through the five senses, but how and when the ability to integrate across the senses arises is debated. Research shows that humans…
New Technique Shows Promise in Fighting Brain Cancer
Summary: Researchers developed a new method, burst sine wave electroporation (B-SWE), to treat glioblastoma, a fast-growing brain tumor. B-SWE disrupts the blood-brain barrier more effectively than traditional methods, allowing cancer…
Mindfulness Can Induce Altered States of Consciousness
Summary: Mindfulness training can lead to altered states of consciousness, such as disembodiment and unity. Researchers found that participants were twice as likely to experience these states compared to a…
Mind-Bending: Psilocybin Reshapes Brain Networks for Weeks
Summary: A new study reveals that psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, temporarily disrupts brain networks involved in introspective thinking, like daydreaming and memory. These changes persist for weeks,…
Overestimation of Opponents’ Immorality Fuels Political Divide
Summary: A study reveals that Democrats and Republicans overestimate how much the opposing party approves of clearly immoral acts like theft or animal abuse. This “basic morality bias” is evident…
New research suggests estrogen and progesterone could play role in opioid addiction and relapse
As opioid overdose deaths in the U.S. rose dramatically from 2014 to today, both Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Camden, New Jersey, cemented reputations as hotspots of the crisis. In Philadelphia, over…
Reflective Thinking Boosts Teen Brain Resilience to Violence
Summary: Teens who engage in “transcendent thinking” can counteract the negative effects of violence exposure on brain development. This type of thinking involves considering broader ethical and societal implications of…
Adjusting Proteins Increases Ozempic’s Effectiveness
Summary: Adjusting melanocortin proteins in the brain enhances the effectiveness of GLP-1 diabetes and weight-loss drugs. By inhibiting MC3R or activating MC4R, mice showed increased sensitivity to these drugs, leading…
Beta Brain Waves: A Novel Brain Signature for Depression
Summary: A new study identifies beta frequency neural activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) as crucial for recognizing rewards and shaping behavior. This neural signature is altered in patients…
