Deep Brain Stimulation Promising for Severe, Resistant Depression
Summary: A new clinical trial shows that deep brain stimulation (DBS) improved symptoms in half of adults with treatment-resistant depression, with one-third reaching remission. Researchers found that theta-frequency brain activity in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) predicted how well each patient responded. Lower pre-surgery theta activity and stronger BNST–prefrontal cortex coherence were […]
Rare ADHD Gene Variants Linked to 15-Fold Higher Risk
Summary: A massive international genetic study has uncovered rare, high-effect variants in three specific genes—MAP1A, ANO8 and ANK2—that dramatically increase the likelihood of developing ADHD. These variants, though extremely uncommon, strongly affect genes expressed in dopaminergic and GABAergic neurons, influencing brain development from fetal life onward. Individuals with ADHD who carry these variants also show […]
Animal-Free Brain Tissue Breakthrough Could Transform Drug Testing
Summary: Researchers have created functional brain-like tissue without relying on any animal-derived materials, marking a major step toward more ethical and reproducible neurological research. By transforming a chemically inert polymer (PEG) into a porous, maze-like scaffold, scientists enabled donor brain cells to organize into active neural networks. The tissue grows without the need for biological […]
Next-Gen Wearable Lets You Control Machines with Simple Gestures
Summary: A new wearable system uses stretchable electronics and artificial intelligence to interpret human gestures with high accuracy even in chaotic, high-motion environments. Unlike traditional gesture-based wearables that fail under movement noise, this patch-based device filters interference in real time, allowing gestures to reliably control machines such as robotic arms. The technology has been validated […]
Quitting Impossible Goals May Actually Boost Wellbeing
Summary: A sweeping analysis of 235 studies shows that holding onto impossible goals harms mental and physical wellbeing, increasing stress and lowering life satisfaction. In contrast, releasing unachievable goals — and crucially, shifting toward new, attainable ones — improves mood, resilience, and overall psychological health. The study identifies a wide range of factors, from personality […]
How Mounjaro Alters Craving Circuits in the Brain
Summary: A rare intracranial brain-recording study revealed that tirzepatide, a GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist, temporarily silences craving-related neural activity in a key reward circuit of the brain. Using implanted electrodes in a patient with treatment-resistant obesity and loss of control eating, researchers observed that the drug initially shut down signaling in the nucleus accumbens. […]
Brain Splits Smell Into “What It Is” and “How It Feels”
Summary: New research shows that the brain separates “what an odor is” from “how it feels,” with each processed at distinct times. Shortly after an odor is presented, the brain activates a fast, objective signal that tracks molecular features and supports accurate odor discrimination. Only later does a separate brain signal emerge that encodes subjective […]
Brain’s Hidden Inference Engine Revealed
Summary: A new study identifies the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) as a crucial brain region for inference-making, allowing animals to interpret hidden states in changing environments. Researchers trained rats to wait for water rewards that varied in predictable but concealed patterns, showing they adjusted their behavior based on inferred environmental richness. When the OFC was silenced, […]
Supercomputer Builds Most Detailed Mouse Cortex Simulation
Summary: A global team leveraged one of the world’s fastest supercomputers to create the most detailed digital simulation of a mouse cortex ever produced. The model recreates real neuronal structure and function, enabling virtual experiments on brain diseases, cognition, seizures and more. By combining biological data from the Allen Institute with Fugaku’s extraordinary processing power, […]
Genetic Roots of Depression Reveal Strong Suicide Risk Signals
Summary: New research shows that depression beginning before age 25 has a much stronger hereditary component than depression that emerges later in life. By analyzing genetic data from over 150,000 people with depression, researchers identified distinct genetic regions linked specifically to early-onset cases. Individuals with high genetic risk for early-onset depression were twice as likely […]