Summary: A new genetic study reveals that our capacity to enjoy music is partly inherited, with 54% of music enjoyment variability linked to DNA differences. Researchers analyzed data from over 9,000 twins to explore whether genetics influence how much pleasure people derive from music.They found that genetic factors affecting music...
Summary: Researchers used advanced cryo-electron microscopy to capture atomic-level images of how glutamate, a key neurotransmitter, opens channels in brain cells. These channels, known as AMPA receptors, are essential for neuron-to-neuron communication and play a role in learning, memory, and disorders like epilepsy.The study showed that glutamate acts like a...
Summary: A new study highlights that olfactory testing could offer a simple, cost-effective way to detect early cognitive impairment from home. Researchers found that older adults with mild cognitive issues performed worse on odor identification and memory tasks than cognitively normal individuals.The test, administered in English and Spanish, was equally...
Summary: A new study reveals that placing your smartphone out of reach doesn’t significantly reduce distraction or boost productivity. While participants used their phones less when they were farther away, they simply shifted their attention to other devices like laptops. The core issue isn’t the phone itself but the deeply...
Summary: Researchers have developed a new kind of artificial neuron—called infomorphic neurons—that can independently learn and self-organize with nearby neurons, mimicking the decentralized learning of biological brains. Inspired by pyramidal cells in the cerebral cortex, these neurons process local signals to adapt and specialize in tasks without external control.Each infomorphic...
Summary: New research uncovers how dopamine in the ventral shell of the nucleus accumbens (vsNAc) governs the sexual behavior sequence in male mice, from sniffing to ejaculation. Using fiber photometry, scientists identified rhythmic dopamine activity during intromission that aligns with movement patterns and is regulated by acetylcholine inputs.Crucially, the final...
Summary: For the first time, researchers have directly observed dopamine release in the human brain during moments of cognitive flexibility. Using PET imaging, they found that dopamine levels spike in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex when people switch between tasks — and the more dopamine released, the more efficiently they adapted.This...
Summary: A large study of over 14,000 Norwegian veterans reveals that taking a life in combat doesn’t automatically damage a soldier’s mental health—context matters. Veterans from Afghanistan, where combat was expected and rules of engagement were clear, showed no long-term psychological harm from killing.In contrast, Lebanon peacekeeping veterans who had...
Summary: A new study reveals that long-term high-fat diets reduce pleasure from eating by lowering neurotensin, a brain peptide that boosts dopamine response. This loss of reward dampens the desire for high-calorie foods, potentially worsening obesity by promoting habitual, joyless eating.In mice, restoring neurotensin levels reversed this effect, improving weight...
Sumary: A new study reveals that young mothers who feel emotionally connected to their unborn babies are more likely to form healthy, positive relationships with their children later. Researchers tracked 160 racially diverse, low-income mothers from pregnancy to their child’s toddler years, showing that prenatal bonding plays a key role...
