Summary: New research reveals how synaptic connections in the cerebral cortex can strengthen during sleep, offering insight into how the brain continues learning even while we rest. Using computer simulations, researchers demonstrated that synaptic activity during sleep follows known “synaptic learning rules” when neural activity reaches specific thresholds.This means that...

Summary: A new study reveals that women who engage in regular sexual activity experience fewer symptoms of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), such as vaginal dryness, irritation, and pain. In a survey of over 900 women aged 40 to 79, researchers found that while sexual desire and lubrication declined with...

Summary: Even after symptoms subside, people who’ve experienced depression may retain a heightened sensitivity to punishment and negative feedback. A new study found that the brain’s habenula—key to processing aversive signals—remains hyperactive in those with remitted depression, particularly during the anticipation of unpleasant outcomes.These individuals also showed reduced connectivity between...

Summary: A new study reveals how the brain can make decisions based not only on direct experiences, but also on indirect associations between seemingly unrelated stimuli. In experiments with mice, researchers showed that a sweet taste could be rejected after it was indirectly linked to an aversive event through a...

Summary: A new study reveals how the brain responds to mental exhaustion, identifying two key regions—the right insula and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex—that become more active as cognitive fatigue builds. Using functional MRI, researchers observed how volunteers responded to demanding memory tasks and how their willingness to continue changed based...

Summary: A new paper explores how generative AI is transforming the way we interact with the dead, from virtual reality reunions to lifelike digital avatars. These “generative ghosts” can remember, plan, and even evolve, offering real-time conversations that go far beyond pre-recorded memorials.While the technology holds promise for comfort, creativity,...

Summary: A new attention model reveals how the human brain allocates limited perceptual resources to focus on goal-relevant information in dynamic environments. Researchers developed “adaptive computation,” a system that prioritizes important visual details—like traffic signals over flashy cars—based on task relevance.In experiments tracking multiple moving objects, the model successfully predicted...

Summary: A new study has found that damage to a specific white matter pathway in the brain—the right uncinate fasciculus—may increase the likelihood of criminal or violent behavior following brain injury. Researchers analyzed scans from individuals who began committing crimes after suffering strokes, tumors, or traumatic injuries and found consistent...

Summary: New research reveals that individuals with higher IQs are significantly better at predicting future outcomes, leading to smarter decision-making. Using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, researchers assessed how accurately people over 50 could estimate their own life expectancy.High-IQ individuals were found to make more precise forecasts—errors...

Summary: A new neuroimaging study has identified distinct structural brain differences in individuals with psychopathy, particularly those with high antisocial traits. Reduced volumes were found in subcortical and cortical areas involved in emotion, decision-making, and social behavior.These brain changes were most strongly associated with factor 2 psychopathy traits, such as...