Summary: A large randomized clinical trial evaluated biofeedback-based therapy for children with residual speech sound disorder (RSSD), a condition in which pronunciation errors—most notably the “r” sound—persist beyond the typical age of mastery. Biofeedback approaches, such as ultrasound imaging of the tongue or visual-acoustic displays, give children real-time visual cues to guide tongue placement and … Read more

Summary: Scientists at the University of Tsukuba found that a very small population of adult-born neurons (ABNs) in the hippocampus are reactivated during REM sleep and that this reactivation locks waking experiences into long-term memory. Using genetically modified mice that allowed monitoring and manipulation of these neurons, the team observed that ABNs replay the same … Read more

Summary: Nearly half of cancer patients report disturbances to their circadian rhythms during and after chemotherapy, a problem that can intensify treatment side effects and degrade quality of life. A recent preclinical study using mice finds that paclitaxel, a commonly used breast cancer chemotherapy drug, can alter the brain’s master clock’s molecular and behavioral outputs … Read more

Summary: Researchers have found that rogue rings of DNA called extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) often appear very early in glioblastoma development and help drive the tumor’s rapid growth, adaptability and resistance to treatment. By integrating patient genomic data, clinical imaging and advanced computational models, the international team showed that many ecDNA circles carry the EGFR oncogene … Read more

Summary: Researchers at DGIST have created a fully implantable, wireless neural interface that can deliver drugs directly to deep brain regions with precise, programmable control. The soft, flexible device combines a miniaturized peristaltic micro-pump and asymmetrically tapered microchannels to enable continuous infusion with minimal backflow, and a wireless control module for real‑time adjustment of dose … Read more

Shared Neural Codes for Color Perception: Cross-Brain Decoding Study Summary: New research indicates that human brains exhibit common patterns of activity when processing color. By comparing neural responses from one group of participants to the brain activity of another, researchers were able to predict which colors and brightness levels observers were viewing. The results suggest … Read more

Summary: For decades, researchers have argued that children’s speech errors are the primary drivers of language change. New theoretical work from the Max Planck Institute challenges that view, proposing that everyday language use among adolescents and adults — not acquisition mistakes by young children — better explains how linguistic innovations emerge and spread. Children do … Read more

Summary: A next-generation neuroprosthetic hand that restores a realistic sense of touch is entering a pivotal home-use clinical trial. The iSens system combines implanted electrodes and an implanted controller to decode muscle intent and encode fingertip sensations, allowing users to experience touch and control that make the prosthesis feel like part of the body. Twelve … Read more

Summary: A large Brazilian study of nearly 13,000 adults found that higher intake of certain low- and no-calorie artificial sweeteners was associated with faster declines in memory and thinking over eight years. The association was strongest in participants with diabetes and in adults under 60. The research highlights potential long-term brain-health concerns tied to some … Read more

Summary: A new multidisciplinary study identifies a molecular connection between fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) and Lewy body dementia, a severe neurodegenerative disorder. Combining large-scale human epidemiology with animal and molecular experiments, researchers found that PM2.5 exposure promotes the formation of toxic alpha-synuclein aggregates in the brain similar to those observed in patients with Lewy … Read more