Summary: A new study has identified a distinct brain network connecting areas of atrophy associated with schizophrenia, offering a unified view of its neuroanatomy. By analyzing data from over 90 studies and more than 8,000 participants, researchers created an atrophy connectivity map that overlaps with regions linked to schizophrenia, such...
Summary: New research shows that slow-wave sleep strengthens synaptic connections in the neocortex, making it more receptive to long-term memory formation. Researchers found that during deep sleep, synapses in the neocortex reach peak efficiency at precise moments within slow-wave oscillations.This process allows the brain to effectively transfer information from short-term...
Summary: New research challenges the idea that animals share humans’ sense of fairness, suggesting their reactions to unequal rewards stem from unmet expectations rather than inequity aversion. In the largest meta-analysis to date, researchers reanalyzed data from 23 studies across 18 species and found no strong evidence of jealousy or...
Summary: Researchers have uncovered a brain mechanism in the prefrontal cortex that determines how animals respond to others’ emotions based on their own past experiences. These neurons, producing corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), act as emotional memories, modulating responses to socio-emotional stimuli.The study demonstrates that animals can recognize and react to emotional...
Summary: Researchers developed innovative materials to improve the performance of brain and heart pacemakers by reducing signal interference. These devices often face challenges from external electromagnetic forces, causing discomfort like headaches for patients.The team created nanocomposites using polypropylene, clay, and graphene to absorb and disperse energy effectively. Their findings could...
Summary: A new study has revealed distinct features of the human hippocampus, a brain region critical for memory storage and retrieval, challenging the assumption that it functions like a scaled-up mouse brain. By analyzing living brain tissue from epilepsy patients, researchers found that human hippocampal CA3 neurons exhibit sparse yet...
Summary: Women who are more attuned to internal bodily signals, such as heartbeats and touch, experience orgasms more frequently and with greater satisfaction. This inward focus, known as interoception, is linked to both solo and partnered sexual encounters.Researchers emphasize the importance of understanding normal orgasmic processes, rather than solely focusing...
Summary: A recent study explores how connections across the entire brain predict human intelligence, moving beyond traditional focus on specific brain areas like the prefrontal cortex. Using fMRI data from over 800 individuals, researchers analyzed communication between brain regions to predict fluid, crystallized, and general intelligence scores.Findings reveal that distributed...
Summary: A new study reveals how the brain forms cohesive mental maps of spaces and highlights the critical role of sleep in this process. While “place cells” in the hippocampus mark specific locations, weaker spatial cells stitch these points into a comprehensive cognitive map.Researchers observed that sleep refines these maps,...
Summary: New research suggests that certain nutrients may lower iron buildup in the brain, a factor linked to cognitive decline in aging. Excess non-heme iron, which accumulates over time, contributes to oxidative stress and can impair memory and executive function.Over three years, participants with higher intake of antioxidants, vitamins, and...
