Summary: An open-source, calcium-based model of synaptic plasticity in the neocortex offers a practical framework to better understand how learning occurs in the brain. Source: University of Montreal The human brain is incredibly complex—but the mechanisms behind learning may be more straightforward than assumed. An international research team that includes scientists from Université de Montréal … Read more

Summary: Researchers at McGill University have developed a simple odor identification test that could help clinicians identify people at higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease and monitor early progression of the condition. Source: McGill University. Smell test shows promise as an early indicator of Alzheimer’s pathology Alzheimer’s disease (AD) causes brain changes that can begin decades … Read more

Summary: A retrospective analysis shows that 27.8% of pain medications classified as having high abuse potential successfully complete development, compared with just 4.7% of medications judged to have low abuse potential. Source: American Society of Anesthesiologists New analysis published in Anesthesiology highlights the low level of investment in pain medication development despite the widespread burden … Read more

Summary: Long underestimated, chickens are now central to new research on animal self-awareness. Recent experiments with roosters suggest they may recognize their own reflections under certain conditions. Scientists observed that roosters sometimes respond to a mirror in ways that indicate self-recognition, but the outcome depends heavily on how the test is set up. These findings … Read more

Summary: A new study reports that a single dose of ketamine given one week before a stressful event can reduce later fear responses and may act as a buffer against PTSD-like symptoms. Single Dose of Ketamine Given a Week Before Trauma Reduces Fear Response in Mice Source: Columbia University Medical Center Key finding: In mice, … Read more

Summary: Researchers at USC combine deep learning with pulse recordings to noninvasively assess arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk using a smartphone. Source: USC. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, accounting for roughly one in every four deaths. This group of conditions ranges from abnormal … Read more

Summary: New research shows the human brain can detect the basic structure of a short written sentence in roughly 150 milliseconds — about the time of a blink. Using magnetoencephalography, researchers at New York University found that the brain’s language comprehension network responds to briefly flashed sentences much like it does to visual scenes, rapidly … Read more

Summary: Boys’ confidence in mathematics is strongly shaped by how they compare themselves with peers, while girls’ self-assessments more closely reflect their actual performance. Although boys and girls show similar math ability on average, girls often report lower confidence, a gap that influences educational and career decisions. This confidence gap contributes to fewer women entering … Read more

Summary: New research reveals how our internal sense of time adapts quickly to predictable temporal patterns, and how emotions shape that perception. Source: University of Freiburg. Humans possess an internal timing mechanism that helps us perceive and estimate short intervals without conscious effort. A research team led by Dr. Roland Thomaschke at the University of … Read more

Summary: Researchers have developed an AI-driven, simulation-based method that trains robotic exoskeleton controllers to reduce the metabolic cost of walking, running, and climbing stairs. By learning entirely in simulation, these controllers avoid time-consuming human-in-the-loop experiments and can be adapted to a wide range of assistive devices. This advance could significantly improve everyday mobility and accessibility … Read more