Summary: Researchers have identified how CBD interacts with cannabinoid receptors to mitigate the negative effects of THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis. Unlike THC, which fully activates the receptor and causes side effects like memory loss and addiction, CBD acts as a modulator, fine-tuning receptor activity.This discovery could lead to...

Summary: Researchers have discovered that positive emotions enhance perceptual memories during sleep, particularly in the non-REM stage. Using mice, they found that memories linked to rewarding experiences lasted longer than neutral ones. The amygdala plays a key role in strengthening these memories by activating a tri-regional circuit with the motor...

Summary: Researchers have identified brain mechanisms that help animals suppress instinctive fear responses when threats prove harmless over time.Using a visual threat model in mice, they found that specific areas of the visual cortex are necessary for learning to override fear, but not for storing the memory. Instead, the ventrolateral...

Summary: Humans have vestigial ear muscles that once helped our ancestors focus on sounds. New research shows these muscles still activate when we strain to hear in noisy environments. Scientists used electromyography to measure auricular muscle activity in people listening to an audiobook with distracting background noise.The superior auricular muscle...

Summary: Scientists have used advanced X-ray phase-contrast tomography (XPCT) to uncover how gut health may influence Alzheimer’s disease. The study found structural changes in the gut of Alzheimer’s-affected mice, revealing abnormalities in intestinal cells, neurons, and mucus secretion.This supports the hypothesis that harmful gut bacteria may escape into circulation, triggering...

Summary: A large study analyzing over 1.1 million pregnancies found no strong evidence that maternal health conditions during pregnancy cause autism. Instead, nearly all previously reported associations between maternal diagnoses and autism could be explained by genetic or environmental factors.Researchers found that only fetal complications remained statistically linked to autism,...

Summary: Diets high in processed meat, fast food, and sugary drinks accelerate biological aging, even in young adults. Researchers measured biological age using epigenetic clocks, which track gene regulation changes over time. Participants with a diet rich in fruits and vegetables showed slower aging, suggesting dietary choices influence how quickly...

Summary: New research reveals how the brain rapidly adapts to sensory changes using a feedback loop between the olfactory cortex and the olfactory bulb. Scientists trained mice to associate rewards with specific sounds and smells, then switched the rules to test their adaptability. Expert mice quickly adjusted their responses, suggesting...

Summary: Women who develop postpartum depression (PPD) may have distinct neuroactive steroid levels during the third trimester of pregnancy. A study found that those with PPD had lower levels of pregnanolone, which reduces stress, and higher levels of isoallopregnanolone, which increases stress. This hormonal imbalance may disrupt the brain’s ability...

Summary: A new study finds that the bacteria Streptococcus anginosus is more abundant in the saliva and gut of people who have had a stroke and is associated with a higher risk of death and major cardiovascular events. Researchers compared 189 stroke patients with 55 non-stroke participants, finding that this...