Summary: Lactation triggers significant metabolic changes in mothers, driven by shifting hormone levels and brain activity. Researchers have now uncovered how increased prolactin and reduced estrogen suppress specific neurons in the hypothalamus to boost appetite and conserve fat, meeting the energy demands of nursing.Removing estrogen receptor α (ERα) neurons in...
Summary: Researchers have uncovered a surprising mechanism by which a single genetic mutation in the BCL11B gene causes both immune dysfunction and brain development issues. Instead of merely disabling the protein’s normal function, the mutated BCL11B protein interferes with other healthy proteins, such as BCL11A, causing broader damage.In mice, this...
Summary: A large new study reveals police officers are more than twice as likely to sustain traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) as the general population, with those injured on duty facing double the risk of developing complex PTSD. The research, which surveyed over 600 UK frontline officers, found that 38% had...
Summary: New research reveals that neurons can switch their migration strategy depending on whether they move on flat surfaces or through tight, crowded spaces. This adaptive behavior is controlled by a mechanosensitive protein channel called PIEZO1, which detects mechanical stress and triggers a shift in how the cell’s internal motors...
Summary: A new study reveals that the protein alpha-synuclein, known for its role in Parkinson’s disease, also contributes to the development of melanoma by promoting excessive DNA repair and cell proliferation. While in neurons, excess alpha-synuclein leads to cell death, in melanoma cells it enables uncontrolled growth by recruiting repair...
Summary: Limerence is an intense, involuntary obsession with another person, often marked by intrusive thoughts, emotional dependency, and a fixation on perceived signs of interest or rejection. Coined by psychologist Dorothy Tennov in 1979, limerence differs from love due to its compulsive and often one-sided nature.It’s more common in individuals...
Summary: Psychology has been instrumental in the evolution of artificial intelligence, offering foundational insights into learning, cognition, and behavior that have shaped key AI technologies. From early neural networks based on Hebbian learning to modern deep learning and metacognition, psychological theories continue to inform AI’s development.Recent breakthroughs, such as OpenAI’s...
Summary: Researchers have recreated the human ascending sensory pathway in a lab dish, using organoids that model the key brain and spinal cord regions responsible for transmitting pain. This breakthrough allows scientists to observe how pain signals travel from peripheral neurons to the brain for the first time outside the...
Summary: New research in the World Happiness Report reveals that people who regularly share meals with others tend to be happier and more emotionally satisfied, regardless of age, culture, or background. This social behavior was found to be as predictive of happiness as income or employment status.Yet, Americans are increasingly...
Summary: New research highlights how the brain’s own chemistry can suppress pain, explaining why severely injured individuals, like WWII soldiers, sometimes feel little discomfort. The key lies in a brain region called the periaqueductal grey (PAG), which dampens pain signals before they reach conscious awareness.This system releases enkephalins, natural opioids...
