Summary: New evidence from mice indicates the liver helps regulate feeding behavior by releasing lipids that influence brain activity. Source: Yale A team of researchers at Yale University, working with collaborators in Germany, reports that the liver plays a major and previously underappreciated role in controlling feeding behavior in mice. The findings, published June 27 … Read more

Face-Likeness (Pareidolia) Arises During Early Visual Processing—Around 100 ms After Seeing an Object Summary: New research identifies the stage of visual processing when humans perceive face-likeness (pareidolia), showing that this judgment occurs very early—around 100 milliseconds after an object is seen—and links that timing to specific EEG components. Source: Toyohashi University of Technology Researchers at … Read more

Summary: An interdisciplinary study combining neuroscience and software engineering has mapped the millisecond-by-millisecond brain activity that occurs when programmers read confusing source code. Using electroencephalography (EEG) synchronized with high-speed eye-tracking, researchers recorded fixation-related potentials (FRPs) — brain signals tied precisely to the moment a developer’s gaze fixes on a particular line of code. In experiments … Read more

Summary: New studies from the Karolinska Institutet indicate that people with early-stage schizophrenia have reduced levels of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA in cerebrospinal fluid and show altered markers of brain immune cells. Source: Karolinska Institutet Researchers at Karolinska Institutet, working within the large Karolinska Schizophrenia Project (KaSP), have published initial findings that shed light on … Read more

Researchers at the Catholic University Medical School in Rome have demonstrated that a single session of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can significantly enhance memory and cognitive performance in laboratory mice, offering promising insights for improving learning and treating cognitive disorders. Sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) Global, the study used tDCS — … Read more

Summary: Higher levels of LDL cholesterol are associated with an increased risk of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, both in people with and without the well-known APOE E4 genetic risk. The study also identifies a possible new genetic contributor: rare coding variants in the APOB gene. These findings suggest LDL cholesterol could be an independent risk factor … Read more

Summary: New research shows that vulnerable narcissism in women is linked to higher rates of intimate partner violence and peer bullying. Unlike the more overt, grandiose narcissism commonly documented in men, women’s narcissistic traits often present in more subtle, hypersensitive forms. The findings underline the importance of gender-sensitive assessment and targeted interventions to reduce violence … Read more

Summary: A large new study finds a clear association between overall health and gut bacteria in older adults. Healthy elderly individuals in this Chinese cohort had gut microbiota profiles much like those of people decades younger. Source: Western University. Researchers from Western University, Lawson Health Research Institute and the Tianyi Health Science Institute in Zhenjiang, … Read more

Summary: Infant babbling is more than cute noise — it is a feedback-driven learning strategy that helps build the foundations of language. New research shows that marmoset monkeys, despite their distant relation to humans, also babble and learn vocal patterns faster when adults respond. The study links this behavior to a shared pattern of early … Read more

Summary: Researchers urge agreement on which cognitive tests should be used to evaluate how nutrition affects brain function. They recommend narrowing and standardizing test selection and reporting, enabling data pooling across studies and strengthening conclusions about diet and cognition across the lifespan. Source: IAFNS How does diet influence brain health, and how can we more … Read more