Summary: A new study reveals that young children learn letters and word structures more effectively through handwriting than typing. Researchers taught 5- to 6-year-olds unfamiliar letters and pseudowords using either manual writing or keyboards.Those who practiced by hand performed significantly better on tests of recognition, writing, and pronunciation, especially with...

Summary: In a breakthrough study, researchers enabled brain-computer interface (BCI) users with tetraplegia to create personalized tactile sensations, marking a step toward restoring realistic touch. Unlike previous attempts where artificial touch felt generic, participants could adjust stimulation parameters to make digital objects—like a cat, apple, or key—feel distinct.Participants described vivid...

Summary: A large brain imaging study suggests that insomnia, depression, and anxiety, often co-occurring, share overlapping brain abnormalities. Researchers found reduced cortical surface area, smaller thalamic volume, and weaker brain connectivity across all three disorders, while each also displayed unique neural patterns.When mapped together, these differences pointed to a shared amygdala–hippocampus–medial...

Summary: A new study reveals that simple daily behaviors, such as chatting with friends, spending time in nature, and engaging in mentally stimulating activities, are strongly linked to improved mental well-being. People who connected socially every day scored notably higher on mental health measures than those who did so rarely.Other...

Summary: A new international study supports Neural Resonance Theory (NRT), which suggests that music perception and enjoyment arise from natural brain and body oscillations that sync with rhythm, melody, and harmony. Unlike prediction-based models, NRT proposes that our brains physically resonate with music, shaping timing, pleasure, and the instinct to...

Summary: Researchers have developed D-PSCAN, a novel imaging technique that enables high-resolution, minimally invasive observation of the brainstem’s nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) in living animals. The NTS, a vital relay for signals from organs via the vagus nerve, plays a key role in emotion regulation and overall mental health.Using D-PSCAN,...

Summary: New research reveals that neurons in the visual cortex are far more adaptable than previously thought, responding dynamically to complex stimuli during object recognition tasks. While visual processing has traditionally been viewed as mostly feedforward, this study shows that feedback from higher brain areas conveys prior knowledge and behavioral...

Summary: A large international study shows that happiness does not stem solely from either external circumstances or internal attitudes, but varies widely between individuals. Some people’s happiness is shaped mostly by life domains like income and relationships, while others draw happiness from internal qualities, or a mix of both.For many,...

Summary: People who have recovered from depression show reduced motivation to pursue rewards unless the incentives are large and highly certain. Although mood improves post-recovery, hidden deficits in reward processing and decision-making linger, potentially contributing to relapse vulnerability.Using computational models, researchers found that these individuals tend to opt for low-effort...

Summary: A large study found that people whose biological age exceeds their chronological age are about 30% more likely to develop dementia. Biological age, measured through biomarkers like lung function and cholesterol, reflects how the body’s systems are aging.Researchers observed that individuals with higher biological age also showed brain changes,...