Summary: A new study reveals that inflammation during pregnancy may impair neurodevelopment in infants by reducing CD11c-positive microglia—key immune cells that support brain myelination. These cells produce IGF-1, a protein critical for forming the myelin sheath that helps nerve signals travel efficiently.In both mice and preterm infants exposed to maternal...

Summary: A new study finds that ChatGPT, while excellent at logic and math, exhibits many of the same cognitive biases as humans when making subjective decisions. In tests for common judgment errors, the AI showed overconfidence, risk aversion, and even the classic gambler’s fallacy, though it avoided other typical human...

Summary: A new study reveals that autism-like symptoms in mice emerge when two nerve proteins—MDGA2 and BDNF—fall out of balance. MDGA2 typically keeps BDNF/TrkB signaling in check, but when MDGA2 levels drop, heightened neuronal activity and social impairments occur.Mice with reduced MDGA2 showed behaviors resembling autism, including repetitive grooming and...

Summary: Researchers have developed DELTA, a powerful new imaging method that maps brain-wide synaptic changes during learning. By labeling synaptic proteins before and after behavioral training, scientists can now visualize where and how neural connections shift over time.The technique revealed changes in the synaptic protein GluA2 in specific brain regions...

Summary: A new study reveals that adverse childhood experiences make adults more emotionally reactive—not only to negative events, but also to positive ones. People with a history of abuse or neglect were more likely to feel distress during everyday setbacks and less likely to experience joy from good moments.In some...

Summary: Scientists have uncovered a dedicated brain circuit that distinguishes between direct fear and fear learned by observing others—known as vicarious fear. The study shows that the right side of the brainstem’s locus coeruleus (LC) activates a specific pathway to the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) during vicarious fear, while the...

Summary: In the first study of its kind, researchers found that psychedelic use can positively affect sexuality, romantic relationships, and gender expression. Surveying nearly 600 users of substances like psilocybin, LSD, and ketamine, the study revealed that many participants reported increased partner attraction, improved intimacy, and enhanced sexual experiences.About 10%...

Summary: New research highlights how smartphones are transforming memory science by capturing real-world data on sleep, emotion, and daily experiences. Studies show that replaying memories before sleep, experiencing novel events, and feeling positive emotions can all strengthen autobiographical memory.Apps like HippoCamera reveal that even dreaming about past events improves recall,...

Summary: New research reveals that fear of emotions may explain why individuals with PTSD symptoms often struggle to communicate with romantic partners. The study found that people with higher PTSD symptoms were more likely to fear strong emotions, which led to less constructive and more conflict-driven communication styles.These emotional fears...

Summary: New research shows that reduced time in slow wave and REM sleep is associated with smaller brain volumes in regions vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease. Using sleep studies and brain imaging data from 270 participants, researchers found that poor sleep architecture was linked to brain atrophy over time—particularly in the...