Summary: For decades, astrocytes — the star-shaped cells that envelop neurons — were largely thought to be support cells, maintaining the brain’s environment and holding circuits together. New research overturns that view, showing astrocytes in the amygdala actively shape fear learning, memory retrieval, and the extinction of fear. Rather than passive bystanders, these cells influence … Read more

Summary: Schizophrenia and psychosis do not follow a single predictable course. A landmark 10-year study of 357 patients has mapped the complex interplay between brain maturation, antipsychotic treatment, and cognitive symptoms, revealing patterns of early cortical loss and subsequent partial recovery linked to clinical stabilization and medication. Using a percentile-based, normative modelling approach—similar to the … Read more

Summary: For years, researchers have searched the central retina for early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. New research from Houston Methodist shows that the earliest measurable changes occur not in the center but at the retina’s periphery. By tracking stress responses in retinal support cells called Müller glia, scientists detected biochemical and structural changes long before … Read more

Summary: Large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT and Claude do more than generate text: they contain complex, encoded “personas,” moods, and biases. Researchers from MIT and UC San Diego have developed a precise method to uncover and alter these hidden representations, making it possible to detect vulnerabilities and fine-tune model behavior. Using an algorithm … Read more

Summary: The sudden, intense hunger often called “the munchies” after cannabis use is more than a cultural cliché — it is a reproducible cognitive effect. New collaborative research identifies how THC disrupts the brain’s satiety signaling to produce a powerful urge to eat, even after a full meal. By acting on the endocannabinoid system within … Read more

Summary: Two closely related enzymes, MNK1 and MNK2, look almost identical under the microscope but play very different roles in shaping cognition and social behavior. New research shows these kinases act like behavioral switches: MNK1 is crucial for object recognition and memory, while MNK2 influences social curiosity and interaction. The study reveals that both enzymes … Read more

Summary: For years, the buildup of toxic proteins in the brain has quietly preceded Alzheimer’s disease, often beginning decades before memory problems appear. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have developed a blood-based “biological clock” that uses a single test for the protein p-tau217 to predict when an individual is likely … Read more

Summary: Just three days of poor eating can harm the aging brain. New research shows that diets low in dietary fiber drive inflammation and memory impairment in older subjects, with effects observed rapidly after only 72 hours. The study highlights that refined, fiber-poor diets—regardless of whether they are high or low in fat or sugar—specifically … Read more

Summary: The brain communicates not only through rapid electrical impulses but also through a slower, diffuse chemical environment that helps regulate mood and social behavior. New research identifies the protein SNAP-47 as a key component controlling the slow, somatodendritic release of oxytocin in the brain. While serotonin is often described as a general “mood” neurotransmitter, … Read more

Summary: Previous research has shown that a first pregnancy produces significant, lasting changes to a woman’s brain. New findings from Amsterdam UMC reveal that a second pregnancy also reshapes the maternal brain, but in different and complementary ways. These adaptations appear to help mothers meet the distinct cognitive and sensory demands of caring for more … Read more