Summary: A new multi-study investigation finds that public opposition to system-level policies—such as smoking bans, mandatory vaccines, or lower speed limits—is usually strongest before those measures take effect and declines substantially after implementation. This temporary resistance, known in psychology as psychological reactance, stems from perceived losses to personal freedom and routines. However, once policies are … Read more

Summary: Researchers developed a new computational brain model that reproduces brief, high-amplitude bursts of activity observed in human neuroimaging. These recurring moments — lasting only a few seconds — may offer new biomarkers for disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, dementia, and ADHD. Source: Indiana University Indiana University computational neuroscientists Maria Pope, Richard Betzel and Olaf … Read more

Summary: Researchers have identified a new body-to-mind mechanism connecting chronic stress and depression. They found that chronic stress raises levels of the enzyme matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) in the blood, which can cross into the brain and alter neuronal function. In animal models, this process produced social withdrawal behaviors that mirror a core symptom of depression. … Read more

Loss of a key receptor in a specific class of inhibitory brain cells may contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and schizophrenia, new research from Salk Institute scientists suggests. Previous studies had established the significance of the metabotropic glutamate receptor mGluR5 in various brain regions, particularly in excitatory neurons. However, until now the role … Read more

Summary: Using artificial intelligence to examine millions of tweets, researchers found that public attitudes about COVID-19—and attitudes about treatments and policies—spread rapidly on social media and can be more contagious than the virus itself. Source: Northwestern University Researchers at Northwestern Medicine report that public beliefs about COVID-19 and related treatments propagate widely on Twitter, shaping … Read more

Summary: Training neural circuits during early development produces stronger, longer-lasting improvements than training mature cells. Source: University of Illinois Train neural circuits early for best results in tissue engineering and biomedical applications, a new study from the University of Illinois suggests. Current approaches to programming engineered neural networks often apply stimulation after cells reach full … Read more

Most complete human brain model to date is a ‘brain changer’ Researchers at The Ohio State University have produced a lab-grown human brain organoid that closely mirrors the maturity and structure of a five-week-old fetal brain. This nearly complete human brain model, created from reprogrammed adult skin cells, represents one of the most advanced in … Read more

Summary: Rare missense variants in the DDX6 gene are linked to a newly recognized neurodevelopmental syndrome. These genetic changes disrupt RNA processing structures in cells and are associated with developmental delays, impaired motor and speech milestones, characteristic facial features, and intellectual disability. Source: The Translational Genomics Research Institute Overview Scientists at the Translational Genomics Research … Read more

Study in young patients confirms value of short-term use; results on long-term use forthcoming. A multicenter randomized, placebo-controlled trial now offers some of the strongest evidence to date that lithium — a long-established treatment for adults with bipolar disorder — can be both effective and generally safe for children and adolescents in the short term. … Read more

Researchers develop the first neurophysiological model explaining how humans perceive wetness Sensitivity to wetness influences many everyday behaviors—from noticing humidity and sweat to feeling a damp towel or a wet seat. Although the experience of something being wet feels straightforward, it poses an intriguing neurological challenge: human skin lacks dedicated receptors for “wetness.” Instead, wetness … Read more