Summary: New research suggests that mood swings in bipolar disorder are regulated by two clocks: the body’s 24-hour circadian rhythm and a dopamine-based clock that influences alertness. When these clocks…
Tag: Psychology
Targeting Reward Pathways to Treat Depression
Summary: New research highlights how the brain’s reward-learning system can guide personalized treatments for depression. By studying two brain signals, expected value and prediction error, researchers identified markers that predict…
Delayed Brain Maturation Links Genetics and Eating Disorders
Summary: Over half of 23-year-olds display restrictive, emotional, or uncontrolled eating behaviors, with delayed brain maturation playing a significant role. The research linked structural brain differences, mental health challenges, and…
Physical Neglect Causes Lifelong Social Challenges in Children
Summary: A new study highlights how childhood physical neglect disrupts social development more than physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. Neglected children were less social, less popular, and less connected to…
High-Fat Diets in Adolescence Linked to Adult Impulsivity
Summary: Adolescent rats fed a high-fat diet displayed increased impulsivity and altered decision-making as adults. These “cheesecake rats” were quicker to act on visual cues (indicative of impulsivity) but showed…
