Summary: Simulations of spiking neural networks became unstable after prolonged unsupervised learning. Introducing activity patterns similar to biological slow-wave sleep restored stability in the models. Source: DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory Artificial neural systems may need rest periods similar to sleep to remain stable, according to new research from Los Alamos National Laboratory. Researchers at Los … Read more

Summary: Using a stress-based mouse model, researchers have identified the gene LHPP as a key modulator that interacts with stress to drive features of treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD). In stressed animals, elevated LHPP worsened depression-like behaviors, and those behaviors were relieved by esketamine but not by a standard antidepressant. This study highlights how genetic … Read more

Summary: New findings clarify how learning to read reshapes brain circuits and highlight implications for reading disorders like dyslexia. Source: Max Planck Institute. Reading is a recent cultural invention in human history and could not have been hard-wired into our genes. To acquire literacy, the brain repurposes regions originally evolved to recognize complex visual patterns—such … Read more

Summary: New genetic and observational research links low vitamin D levels to smaller brain volumes and a higher risk of dementia and stroke. The study suggests that raising vitamin D to normal levels (around 50 nmol/L) could potentially prevent a meaningful proportion of dementia cases in some populations—up to about 17%. Source: University of South … Read more

Summary: The free energy principle proposes that every living system acts to minimize a quantity called free energy, effectively reducing surprise. Scientists are debating whether this idea can serve as a unifying framework across biology, psychology and neuroscience. Source: The Conversation In the early 1990s, British neuroscientist Karl Friston was working with vast amounts of … Read more

Summary: Exercise is a powerful, evidence-based intervention for a range of mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety. Recent research suggests regular physical activity can be as effective—or even more effective—than medication and some forms of psychotherapy for improving mood and reducing psychological distress. Source: The Conversation The world is facing a growing mental health … Read more

MIT study finds that a gene associated with longevity also regulates the body’s circadian clock. Human sleep and wake cycles are governed by an internal circadian clock that keeps time with the 24-hour light–dark cycle. This central clock also coordinates numerous physiological processes, including metabolism, body temperature, and hormone release. Disruption of this rhythm is … Read more

Summary: Scientists have recreated the electrical behaviour of biological neurons on implantable silicon chips. These low‑power artificial neurons could enable a new generation of bioelectronic medical devices to treat chronic conditions such as heart failure, Alzheimer’s disease, and other disorders involving neuronal degeneration. Source: University of Bath Artificial neurons implemented on silicon chips that mimic … Read more

Postpartum Depression Linked to Reduced Daylight During Late Pregnancy Summary: A new study reports that women who spend their third trimester in months with shorter daylight hours face an increased risk of developing postpartum depression. Women who experience the late stages of pregnancy during darker months may be at higher risk for postpartum depression after … Read more

Repeated low-dose ketamine infusions reduced — and in some cases eliminated — suicidal thoughts in outpatients with treatment-resistant depression Repeated intravenous administrations of low-dose ketamine produced rapid reductions in suicidal ideation for a small group of outpatients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder. The study, published Online First in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry by investigators … Read more