Summary: Researchers mapped the inputs to two rare types of striatal interneurons linked to psychiatric and movement disorders. The findings help clarify how distinct neural pathways contribute to conditions ranging from depression to Parkinson’s disease and may point to new treatment targets. Source: Salk Institute. When most of your neighbors are outgoing, you naturally learn … Read more

Summary: A new online experiment finds that more than 60% of participants in the UK and Germany preferred an algorithmic decision maker to a human when deciding how to redistribute earnings. At the same time, participants judged AI-made decisions as less satisfying and less fair. The study highlights the importance of transparency, accountability and consistent … Read more

Researchers have found that the brain uses different processes to enter and exit anesthetic-induced unconsciousness. The new study indicates that the pathways into and out of drug-induced unconsciousness are not identical, and that a delay often occurs before consciousness returns even after anesthetic levels fall. Penn study sheds light on how the brain shifts between … Read more

Summary: Researchers at Kumamoto University have identified a cyclic heptapeptide that significantly improves penetration of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), enabling nanoparticle carriers to deliver macromolecular drugs to the brain. Source: Kumamoto University New Cyclic Peptide Enhances Blood-Brain Barrier Penetration Scientists from Kumamoto University in Japan have discovered a cyclic peptide that facilitates transport across the … Read more

New study explores connection between physical fights and long-term cognitive decline A Florida State University study finds that fighting-related injuries during adolescence are associated with measurable drops in intelligence scores, with girls showing larger average losses than boys. Researchers at Florida State University analyzed long-term data and report that teenagers who suffer injuries from physical … Read more

Summary: Specific combinations of gut microorganisms can worsen symptoms of multiple sclerosis in a mouse model of the autoimmune disease. Source: RIKEN Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS) report that a particular combination of gut bacteria exacerbates disease symptoms in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. Published in the journal Nature, … Read more

Summary: New research identifies serotonin within the cerebellum as an influential regulator of anxiety. In mice, lower cerebellar serotonin levels were associated with heightened anxiety-like behavior, while higher levels corresponded with reduced anxiety. By selectively stimulating or suppressing serotonin-releasing neurons that target the cerebellum, scientists were able to control anxiety responses in both directions. These … Read more

Summary: Researchers examined connections between the Mediterranean diet, the gut microbiome, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In a cohort of 191 women, greater adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet was associated with fewer PTSD symptoms. The study also highlighted the bacterium Eubacterium eligens as consistently linked to diet components and inversely related to PTSD … Read more

Summary: A precision developmental neurobiology and behavioral study from the University of Oregon identifies a distinct group of neurons that act like a biological “disappointment meter.” These cells, located deep in the lateral habenula, activate when an animal expects a reward but receives less than expected or none at all. The intensity of their firing … Read more

Summary: Researchers warn that people often underestimate how much habit shapes everyday actions—such as drinking coffee. A habit is defined by the automatic triggering of behavior, separate from conscious intentions, and this automaticity can make habits less visible to the people who perform them. Source: USC Did you have a cup of coffee this morning? … Read more