Dopamine Boost Makes People More Patient
Summary: In one of the largest studies of its kind, researchers found that increasing dopamine levels with L-DOPA made people slightly more willing to wait for larger, delayed rewards—reducing impulsive decisions by about 20%. The study challenges earlier research suggesting that dopamine increases impulsivity, showing instead that it promotes patience and long-term thinking. Using advanced […]
Gene That Controls How Sensitive You Are to Alcohol Discovered
Summary: Researchers have discovered that a gene called CHRNA3 plays a key role in determining alcohol sensitivity, helping explain why some people tolerate alcohol better than others. When this gene was mutated, subjects were slower to avoid alcohol and consumed more of it, showing reduced sensitivity to its calming effects. The mutation also altered brain […]
Daily Light and Sound Therapy May Slow Alzheimer’s Decline
Summary: A long-term study found that daily 40Hz light and sound stimulation may help slow cognitive decline in people with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. After two years of treatment, participants maintained stronger cognitive performance than typical Alzheimer’s patients and showed reduced levels of tau protein, a key disease biomarker. The noninvasive therapy, known as GENUS, works […]
Brain Cells That May Prevent Schizophrenia Symptoms Identified
Summary: Researchers have identified a rare type of brain cell whose overactivity may contribute to schizophrenia-like symptoms, such as cognitive deficits and disrupted sleep. When scientists reduced the activity of these cells in mice with a schizophrenia-linked mutation, the animals’ behavior and sleep patterns normalized. The findings suggest these neurons play a critical role in […]
Imperfect Parenting: How Early Neglect Reshapes the Developing Brain
Summary: New research shows that even mild early-life adversity can disrupt development, attachment, and stress regulation in young mice. When mother mice had limited nesting material, their maternal care decreased, leading to higher stress hormones, slower growth, and anxiety-like behaviors in their pups. The study found that these behavioral effects varied over time—some attachment responses […]
Psychedelics May Rewire Memory Circuits Key to Mental Health
Summary: New research suggests that psychedelic drugs may work by strengthening specific brain connections linked to memory and cognition. Scientists found that under psychedelic exposure, neurons in the claustrum—a region dense with psychedelic-sensitive receptors—intensified their communication with the anterior cingulate cortex, a region involved in mood and psychiatric disorders. This strengthening did not occur under […]
Coding Comes Naturally to the Human Brain
Summary: Learning to code doesn’t require new brain systems—it builds on the ones we already use for logic and reasoning. Researchers found that when people learned programming, the same fronto-parietal brain regions that processed logical statements also lit up for computer code. Even before training, those neurons responded to descriptions of code written in plain […]
Hungry Brains Rewrite the Senses
Summary: When fruit flies lack essential amino acids, their brains rewire their sense of smell to help them find food rich in the nutrients they need. Researchers discovered that two genes—Or92a and Ir76a—boost the flies’ sensitivity to smells linked with fermented foods and bacteria that produce beneficial amino acids. Deprived flies were drawn to live […]
Music and Nature Work in Harmony to Ease Stress and Lift Mood
Summary: The viral phrase “touch grass” may be more than internet humor—science shows that engaging with nature and music can significantly boost emotional and physical well-being. A new review found that combining these experiences—such as listening to music outdoors, gardening while singing, or caring for animals—can improve mood, reduce stress, and ease symptoms of anxiety […]
Listening to Music After 70 May Cut Dementia Risk by Nearly 40%
Summary: Older adults who regularly listen to or play music may significantly lower their risk of dementia, according to a study of more than 10,800 people over age 70. Those who always listened to music showed a 39% lower risk of developing dementia and better memory performance, while those who played instruments had a 35% […]