Scientists at EPFL solve a longstanding problem with modeling Parkinson’s disease in animals. Using newfound insights, they improve both cell and animal models for the disease, which can propel research and drug development. Parkinson’s disease is defined in part by the formation of protein aggregates inside neurons known as Lewy bodies. These intracellular inclusions are … Read more

Counselors have long found it difficult to settle on a single definition of their profession or to agree on the one best set of methods and techniques to help clients (Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan, 2015). Counseling is a respected practice that provides essential support to people in need, guiding them toward constructive behaviors and solutions (Sommers-Flanagan … Read more

Summary: Researchers examine the tiny structural changes in the brain that allow information to be stored during learning. Source: TUE. As we learn, something in the brain must change to store new information. Exactly what changes and how those changes allow memories to form remain active areas of research. PhD student Rémy Kusters studied the … Read more

Summary: The BRILLIANCE clinical trial has shown that a CRISPR/Cas9-based medicine, EDIT-101, can be safely delivered inside the eye and produced measurable vision improvements for people born with an inherited form of blindness due to mutations in the CEP290 gene. In this early-phase study, 14 participants received a single subretinal injection and 11 demonstrated improvement … Read more

Grief is intensely personal and varies from one person to the next, yet we all need our sorrow to be witnessed without attempts to minimize it or offer premature reframing (Brown, 2021). While many people experience sharp grief in the weeks and months after a loss, some develop complicated grief—a prolonged, severe preoccupation with the … Read more

Summary: Researchers report that the brain regulates hunger and appetite by releasing a neuropeptide into the cerebrospinal fluid, which then distributes signals that influence feeding behavior. Source: USC. USC study finds the brain uses cerebrospinal fluid both to clear waste and to broadcast a hunger signal that helps control when we eat. “Most people think … Read more

Connecting with others is more than just a pleasure; it is a fundamental human need. For an estimated 1 in 160 children worldwide who are on the autism spectrum, social and communication skills that support connection and collaboration may be harder to develop (World Health Organization, 2021). Lego Therapy is an evidence-informed approach designed to … Read more

Summary: Researchers report that the three-dimensional shapes of a specific set of proteins in cerebrospinal fluid differ between people with Parkinson’s disease and healthy individuals, suggesting a new class of structural biomarkers for the disease. Source: ETH Zurich ETH Zurich investigators have discovered that many proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) adopt distinct structural forms … Read more

New Olfactory Brain Circuit Links Food Smell to Feeling Full Summary: Researchers have discovered a previously unrecognized neural pathway in mice that connects the sense of smell with an anticipatory feeling of fullness. In lean mice, exposure to food odors rapidly activates a specific group of nerve cells in the medial septum, signaling satiety and … Read more

Recently we’ve received many questions from people interested in pursuing a PhD in positive psychology—often after completing a MAPP program or other courses in positive psychology—and are looking for universities or programs that explicitly offer graduate study in this field. To provide a clear response, we consulted three sources: Members of our positive psychology Facebook … Read more