Summary: A new study reveals that motor exploration, not mere imitation, is critical for developing a sense of agency (SoA) in unfamiliar environments. Using a data glove and cursor task, researchers found that early judgments of control rely on timing, but true SoA strengthens when learners actively discover movement rules.Participants...

Summary: A new study reveals people apply karma differently to themselves and others. While individuals view their own positive experiences as karmic rewards, they tend to interpret others’ suffering as deserved punishment.This pattern, observed across cultures, is shaped by two psychological forces — self-positivity bias and a desire to believe...

Summary: New research reveals that immune system activity may play a causal role in conditions like schizophrenia, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease. Using Mendelian randomisation, scientists linked 29 immune-related proteins to seven neuropsychiatric disorders, suggesting the brain is not the only organ involved in mental health.About 20 of these proteins are...

Summary: Researchers have unveiled the Duke Mouse Brain Atlas, a cutting-edge, three-dimensional map that captures brain structures from large regions down to individual cells. Combining MRI, microCT, and light sheet microscopy, the atlas resolves imaging distortions and enables precise comparison across studies.It offers a common spatial reference for scientists investigating...

Summary: A major study of over 16,000 participants found that personality traits explain about 25% of the overall risk for mental health problems like depression, anxiety, and phobias. Traits such as higher neuroticism, higher agreeableness, and lower conscientiousness were particularly associated with general mental health risk.The researchers emphasized that while...

Summary: A landmark study tested two leading theories of consciousness — Integrated Information Theory (IIT) and Global Neuronal Workspace Theory (GNWT) — but found neither definitively explained conscious experience. While IIT emphasizes deep integration of brain regions and GNWT highlights widespread broadcasting of information, data from 256 human subjects did...

Summary: Scientists have identified the neural circuitry responsible for assigning emotional value, positive or negative, to social encounters. Two key neuromodulators, serotonin and neurotensin, were found to control opposing emotional responses in a brain region responsible for learning and memory.In a mouse model of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), activating serotonin receptors...

Summary: New research shows that even small amounts of high-intensity physical activity can significantly benefit brain health and reduce dementia risk. The study highlights how endurance training and fitness influence inflammation, blood flow, and brain plasticity—key factors in cognitive decline.Notably, short bouts of brisk activity, like walking too fast to...

Summary: Parents often misread how their children feel about school during their first year, usually taking a full year to align with their child’s actual experiences. While most parents believed their children enjoyed the classroom, many underestimated how much children liked the playground—and vice versa.The findings highlight a lag in...

Summary: A new study reveals that in girls, symptoms of inattentive-type ADHD significantly increase the likelihood of developing anxiety during adolescence. Inattention and anxiety appear to reinforce each other in girls, but not in boys, where hyperactivity is the more predictive factor.Researchers emphasize that these findings could improve early diagnosis...