System learns to distinguish words’ phonetic components without human annotation of training data Every spoken language is built from a finite set of phonemes — the smallest units of sound that combine to form words. English, for example, contains roughly 35–45 phonemes depending on how they are counted. Recognizing those phonetic units makes automated speech … Read more

Summary: Electrical synapses are found throughout the brain and can shape the stability and function of individual neurons. Source: Max Planck Institute Electrical synapses are widespread yet remain understudied. They exist across nearly every animal brain but are often invisible even in electron microscopy. “Electrical synapses are like the dark matter of the brain,” says … Read more

Summary: Across most community settings, mindfulness training reduces stress, anxiety and depression and increases wellbeing compared with no intervention. However, in some trials mindfulness performs no better than other active practices for anxiety and depression. Source: University of Cambridge Mindfulness courses delivered in community settings can improve mental health for many people, but their benefits … Read more

Summary: New research links helicopter parenting with higher risk of anxiety, depression and poorer physical health among emerging adults. Source: Florida State University As thousands of young adults prepare to leave home and start college, parents should consider whether their involvement is supportive or has crossed into helicopter parenting. Parental involvement is essential for healthy … Read more

Summary: Researchers transplanted fecal microbiota from children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and from neurotypical children into germ-free mice. Mice colonized with microbiota from the ASD group developed behaviors resembling core features of autism, while mice receiving microbiota from typically developing donors did not. The ASD-colonized mice also showed altered brain gene expression and changed … Read more

Summary: Researchers have created the first integrated “microwave brain” microchip that processes ultrafast data and wireless communication signals simultaneously. Using analog, nonlinear microwave physics instead of conventional digital logic, the chip performs real-time frequency-domain computations to decode radio signals, follow radar targets, and classify high-speed data streams. This approach delivers digital-like accuracy while consuming a … Read more

Summary: A National Institutes of Health analysis finds that suicide rates among preteens (ages 8–12) have risen by about 8% per year since 2008. The largest increases were observed among female preteens and among American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Hispanic children. While overall counts remain smaller than those for adolescents and adults, the upward … Read more

Researchers report links between socioeconomic factors and children’s brain structure, with the strongest associations found at the lowest income levels A multi-institutional team of investigators from nine universities across the United States has identified consistent correlations between family income and brain structure in children and adolescents. The study, led by researchers at The Saban Research … Read more

Summary: New findings identify a critical cellular quality-control mechanism in the hypothalamus that governs production of the appetite-regulating prohormone POMC. The discovery points to potential therapeutic targets for obesity, including genetically driven forms. Source: University of Michigan Deep in the center of the brain sits a small cluster of neurons that powerfully influence hunger, food … Read more

Summary: Researchers identify distinct neural processes that occur when people make decisions that benefit themselves versus others. Source: RIKEN Is a selfish person simply processing rewards to others differently? A recent study from RIKEN suggests this may be the case. A team led by Hiroyuki Nakahara at the Laboratory for Integrated Theoretical Neuroscience, RIKEN Center … Read more