Summary: A new study reveals that dopamine release along a specific brain circuit helps extinguish fear by activating reward-related neurons in the amygdala. Researchers showed that dopamine from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) drives the brain’s positive learning process during fear extinction, rather than simply suppressing fear.Disruption of this dopamine-driven...

Summary: New research spotlights the habenula, a tiny but powerful brain region, as a key player in addiction, motivation, and emotional regulation. Studies show that the habenula’s circuitry influences how the brain processes rewards, disappointment, and drug cravings, offering potential drug targets like the GPR151 receptor.Scientists are now working to...

Summary: A new study has created the first normative charts of brain functional development from birth to six years old, highlighting how brain network growth tracks with cognitive milestones. Using MRI scans from over 1,000 children, researchers mapped how different brain networks, such as visual, subcortical, and attention systems, mature...

Summary: A new study highlights a potential role for immune system dysfunction in the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers found that neuroinflammation, trained innate immune memory, and cellular reprogramming may interact with amyloid and tau proteins to drive disease pathology.This suggests that Alzheimer’s may be partly an autoimmune...

Summary: New research shows that individuals with cannabis use disorder have elevated dopamine levels in brain regions associated with psychosis. Using neuromelanin-sensitive MRI scans, scientists found increased dopamine activity, visible as darker brain spots, in cannabis users regardless of schizophrenia diagnosis.These changes suggest accelerated dopamine-related aging in the brain, helping...

Summary: New research suggests that erythritol, a popular low-calorie sweetener, may impair blood vessel health by disrupting the brain’s production of nitric oxide. Cells exposed to typical erythritol levels showed increased oxidative stress and reduced nitric oxide, potentially impairing blood flow.This mechanism could help explain previous links between erythritol consumption...

Summary: A new study reveals that sleep not only consolidates existing memories but also primes the brain for future learning. Researchers tracked neuronal activity in mice and discovered ‘engram-to-be cells’ that synchronize during sleep, preparing to encode new experiences.This dual role suggests that sleep quality between learning sessions affects both...