Brain Circuit Found to Shape Risk and Impulse Differently by Sex
Summary: Researchers exploring risky decision-making in rats found that a specific reward-related neural circuit influences impulsivity and risk-taking in complex ways that depend on timing and biological sex. Manipulating the circuit during the learning phase of a gambling task altered risky choices differently in males and females, while manipulation after learning affected motor impulsivity in […]
Losing Sleep Might Make You Hungrier and Sleepier Later
Summary: New research using fruit flies reveals that sleep loss can trigger both increased eating and sleeping—if the deprivation leads to energy depletion. Flies that lost energy while sleep-deprived compensated with extra rest and food intake, while those deprived without losing energy showed no such rebound. The findings suggest that energy balance, not just lost […]
Why Kids Still Struggle With Capital Letters After Grade School
Summary: New research reveals that English-speaking children continue to refine their capitalization skills well past the early grades, despite being taught the rules early. Across two studies, students in Grades 3–6 made more errors than older students and relied more heavily on having “two clues”—such as a proper noun at the start of a sentence—to […]
Don’t Ignore the Winter Blues, It Could Be Seasonal Depression
Summary: As daylight fades, many experience fatigue or low mood—but for millions, these symptoms signal seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a serious form of depression. Reduced sunlight disrupts serotonin, melatonin, and the body’s circadian rhythm, leading to feelings of hopelessness, loss of interest, and sleep or appetite changes. Experts warn that SAD can mirror major depressive […]
How Chocolate’s Puckering Taste May Stimulate the Brain
Summary: Japanese researchers have uncovered how the astringent “bite” of cocoa flavanols can activate the brain—even though little of the compound enters the bloodstream. In mice, the sensation of astringency triggered sensory nerves that stimulated neurotransmitters linked to motivation, alertness, and memory. The brain’s noradrenaline network lit up, producing stress-like but beneficial physiological responses similar […]
Rotating Brain Waves Help the Mind Refocus After Distraction
Summary: Neuroscientists have discovered that when the brain is distracted, coordinated “rotating” waves of neural activity help it steer back to focus. Using electrical recordings in animals, the team found that neurons in the prefrontal cortex synchronize in circular patterns—like starlings in flight—to recover from cognitive interruptions. When this rotation completed a full circle, performance […]
How “Frazzled” Keeps the Brain Wired for Lightning-Fast Communication
Summary: Scientists have uncovered a key role for the protein “Frazzled” in building and maintaining the rapid neural connections that allow fruit flies to react in milliseconds. When Frazzled is missing, neurons lose vital gap junctions, slowing communication and weakening muscle responses. Reintroducing part of the protein restored proper wiring and signal speed, showing that […]
Human Mind Prefers Simple Explanations Over Complex Truths
Summary: New research shows that people tend to prefer simple explanations even when complex ones are more accurate. The study found that individuals focus mainly on visible or known causes while neglecting hidden or absent ones, leading to oversimplified reasoning. This tendency, while often efficient, can create serious errors in judgment across areas like medicine, […]
Newly Mapped Brain Circuit Reveals How Memories Stay Stable During Learning
Summary: A new study reveals how brain circuits between the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus stabilize memories during learning. Researchers found that synchronized signals between excitatory and inhibitory neurons in these regions help strengthen “place maps,” ensuring memories remain consistent even as new information is learned. This balance of excitation and inhibition fine-tunes neural activity to […]
Common Antidepressant Eases Core Symptoms Within Two Weeks
Summary: A new analysis of the PANDA clinical trial reveals that sertraline, one of the most prescribed antidepressants, improves key emotional symptoms of depression—such as sadness, self-loathing, and suicidal thoughts—within just two weeks of treatment. Using network analysis to assess individual symptoms, researchers found that the drug also eased anxiety early on, while somatic effects […]