Summary: A new study from Niigata University demonstrates that the social behavior of zebrafish carrying a mutation linked to autism and Angelman syndrome is strongly shaped by the surrounding environment. When placed in an aversive white Styrofoam tank designed to increase stress, the mutant fish showed greater anxiety and reduced social contact. In a familiar, … Read more

Implications for the development of new treatment strategies for neuropsychiatric disorders. A collaborative research team from Osaka University and The University of Tokyo has identified a critical role for intracellular protein trafficking in supporting higher brain functions such as learning and memory. Their work demonstrates that the molecule ARHGAP33 regulates synaptic function and related behaviors … Read more

Summary: Researchers report exercise helps improve overall health and mental health. Source: Kobe University. Regular exercise among Japanese residents in Malaysia was associated with less time spent sitting and higher health-related quality of life, including better mental health. The study was published in Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine and was led by Associate Professor Kazuhiro P. … Read more

Summary: This study defines and investigates “romantic anthropomorphism”—the tendency to ascribe human, romantic qualities to non-human agents—and explores how virtual agents can satisfy human romantic needs. Source: Hiroshima University An international team of researchers presents the concept of romantic anthropomorphism, showing how people can experience romance with anthropomorphized virtual agents. Their work advances understanding of … Read more

Damage to axons in the central nervous system (CNS) typically leads to lasting functional deficits. Enhancing the intrinsic growth capacity of neurons can markedly improve axon regeneration after injury. If injured neurons can regrow a sufficient number of axons, the CNS may recover and restore lost functions. Researchers at the Hong Kong University of Science … Read more

Summary: A new study implicates the basolateral amygdala in conditioned taste aversion, a finding that may guide future therapies to reduce taste aversions caused by chemotherapy and some eating disorders. Source: University of Granada. Researchers from the University of Granada, in collaboration with the Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC), have pinpointed a specific region … Read more

A new study on the epigenetics of lactose intolerance may offer a useful framework for exploring schizophrenia and other complex, serious illnesses. Both lactose intolerance and schizophrenia are inherited conditions that typically do not appear during early childhood but emerge years or even decades later. That parallel prompted researchers to investigate whether shared mechanisms — … Read more

Summary: Researchers report that oligodendrocytes in the brain differ fundamentally from those in the spinal cord because of distinct metabolic programs. These discoveries could improve understanding of myelin loss in multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative or neurodevelopmental conditions and guide new therapeutic strategies. Source: Rutgers New research offers a clearer path to identifying immature cells … Read more

Scientists at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have, for the first time, visualized the molecular changes in a critical cell‑death protein that trigger cells to die. This discovery offers new, high‑resolution insight into how programmed cell death, or apoptosis, is initiated at the molecular level and suggests routes for developing medicines that can either … Read more

Summary: Researchers have created a highly selective fluorescent probe that images serotonin inside cells and in animal models, providing new insight into its role in depression. The study shows that overall serotonin levels in normal and depression-model cells are similar, but cells modeling depression release markedly less serotonin when stimulated. The ability of cells to … Read more