Summary: Lucid dreaming, where people become aware they are dreaming, has long fascinated both scientists and dreamers. A new study with the largest dataset of its kind has identified distinct brain activity patterns that separate lucid dreaming from both REM sleep and wakefulness.The research reveals unique shifts in perception, memory,...

Summary: Researchers have developed a novel algorithm that maps each person’s brain activity into a unique “neural fingerprint,” revealing stable, long-term neural traits. These fingerprints help predict whether individuals will experience team flow—a state of deep, synchronized focus—during collaborative tasks.In a rhythm-based video game experiment, participants with similar brain signatures...

Summary: A new study has used machine learning to identify the key predictors of physical activity adherence, analyzing data from nearly 12,000 individuals. The research found that time spent sitting, gender, and education level were the strongest indicators of whether someone met weekly exercise guidelines.By training models on lifestyle, demographic,...

Summary: A new study has identified the protein hnRNP A1 as a key player in the production and maintenance of myelin, the fatty sheath that insulates nerve fibers in the brain. Myelin loss is common in disorders like multiple sclerosis and schizophrenia, and this research shows that hnRNP A1 disruptions...

Summary: A new international study reveals a possible connection between GLP1 receptor agonists—used in drugs like Ozempic—and increased risk of depression and suicidal ideation, especially in people with low dopamine function. Researchers used advanced pharmacogenomic tools to identify genetic pathways that may be vulnerable to dopamine dysregulation when exposed to...

Summary: A new study reveals that upsetting distractions significantly impair our ability to sustain attention and also linger more strongly in memory. Researchers tested this by having participants perform a 10-minute visual attention task while emotionally charged images appeared in the background.Negative images, such as a crying baby, disrupted task...

Summary: A groundbreaking study used a brain-machine interface to explore how intentions, actions, and their outcomes are temporally linked in the human brain. By recording single-neuron activity from a paralyzed individual with implanted electrodes, researchers enabled intentional hand movement through machine-learning-driven muscle stimulation.The study found that when actions are intentional,...

Summary: New research reveals that individual neurons follow multiple learning rules simultaneously, challenging the long-held belief that synaptic plasticity operates uniformly throughout the brain. Using advanced two-photon imaging, scientists tracked changes in synapses during learning in mice, uncovering that different regions within a single neuron adapt using distinct plasticity mechanisms.This...

Summary: A new study reveals that women can subconsciously judge potential friendship compatibility based on scent during first-time meetings. Researchers found that a person’s everyday odor—captured on a worn T-shirt—predicted how much they were liked after short face-to-face conversations.These “diplomatic” scents, shaped by daily habits and environments, aligned with impressions...

Summary: A CDC report analyzing data from 16 U.S. sites, including Maryland, found that autism now affects 1 in 31 eight-year-olds nationwide. Maryland’s prevalence was slightly lower, with 1 in 38 eight-year-olds and 1 in 41 four-year-olds identified in 2022.The study highlights increased early detection, particularly among younger children, and...