Brainwaves: Neuroscience News Top Five Insights This Week – July 2, 2023

Summary: In this week’s round-up of top neuroscience breakthroughs, machine learning has been utilized to predict patterns of repetitive negative thinking, potentially revolutionizing depression treatment. A link has been discovered…

Artificial Intelligence is Transforming Early Detection of Dementia

Summary: Researchers developed CognoSpeak, an innovative AI tool that aims to streamline the diagnosis of dementia and Alzheimer’s. Utilizing virtual agents to engage patients in cognitive tests and analyzing their…

Gene variant linked to multiple sclerosis severity

People with multiple sclerosis who inherited the genetic variant from both parents needed a walking aid almost four times faster, the study said. Scientists have discovered a genetic variant linked…

Kindness Meditation Boosts Memory Recall in Depression Recovery

Summary: A form of meditation focused on unconditional kindness can enhance memory recall in individuals with a history of depression. Participants engaged in daily ten-minute meditations aimed at promoting happiness,…

The Language of Lies: How Hate Speech Engages Our Neural Wiring to Foster Division

Summary: Researchers analyze the language of dictators and hate groups, uncovering a common use of dehumanizing metaphors to fuel hatred. Such metaphors ‘switch on’ neural pathways in the brain, bypassing…

Decoding Repetitive Negative Thoughts: Machine Learning Predicts Rumination

Summary: A team of researchers developed a predictive model to recognize patterns of persistent negative thinking, or rumination, using machine learning. Researchers hypothesized that the variance of dynamic connectivity between…

Childhood Reading Habits Boost Brain and Mental Health in Teens

Summary: Encouraging children to indulge in reading for pleasure can enhance their cognitive and mental health during adolescence, a recent study reveals. The research, involving over 10,000 young adolescents from…

Obesity Alters Brain’s Response to Food Cues

Summary: New research using molecular imaging with 18F-flubatine PET/MRI shows a distinct response to food cues in the brains of obese individuals compared to those of normal-weight individuals. The study…

COVID-19 Worries Influence Emotional Quality of Daydreams

Summary: A new study investigated the connection between COVID-19-related anxieties and the emotional content of daydreaming and nighttime dreaming. It found a significant correlation between daily COVID-19 worries and the…

Sense of Purpose May Shield Against Loneliness

Summary: A sense of purpose in life, irrespective of its nature, can be a robust defense against loneliness. A new study, involving over 2,300 Swiss adults, found fewer instances of…