Summary: A comprehensive meta-analysis of 25 studies shows that people with anxiety disorders have noticeably lower levels of choline—a vital brain nutrient—than individuals without anxiety. The reduction was most consistent in the prefrontal cortex, a brain region involved in emotion regulation and decision-making. These findings point to a possible biological signature of anxiety disorders and … Read more

Summary: Researchers report that structures in the brain’s reward system are larger in women with a history of alcoholism than in nonalcoholic women, while those same structures are smaller in alcoholic men compared with nonalcoholic men. Source: Mass General. A collaborative study by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Boston University School of Medicine … Read more

Researchers uncover how the brain actively erases long-term memories New research in rats reveals that forgetting can be an active biological process rather than simply a failure of recall. The study shows that long-term memories can be erased when brain cells remove specific receptors from the synapses that maintain those memories. These findings offer fresh … Read more

Engineered cells reveal changes associated with learning, memory and reward. Researchers have developed living cellular sensors that fluoresce in response to specific neurochemicals, enabling direct, real-time observation of chemical signaling in the mammalian brain. By implanting these engineered cells into mouse cortex, the team tracked how neurochemical release shifts as animals learn to associate a … Read more

Summary: Mindfulness and meditation appear to offer modest but meaningful benefits for cognitive performance, particularly in older adults. Source: UCL New review led by UCL researchers finds that mindfulness training can yield modest cognitive benefits, especially for people over 60. A systematic review and meta-analysis published in Neuropsychology Review examined randomized studies of mindfulness-based programs … Read more

Summary: A new mathematical model investigates the biological changes that occur during normal brain aging and in neurodegenerative conditions. The findings point to pathways that could guide development of therapies for disorders that impair cognition. Source: eLife Researchers report that Alzheimer’s disease shares important biological features with normal aging, according to a new mathematical model … Read more

Summary: The human male and female brains share far more similarities than popular media often suggests, writes Julia Gottwald. Source: University of Cambridge If you were a fruit fly and smelled male pheromones, your response would be direct and consistent: a female would initiate courtship, while a male would respond with aggression. In fruit flies, … Read more

Summary: A new paper examines the controversies and differing results surrounding adult neurogenesis. Source: Cell Press For decades scientists have debated whether adult humans generate significant numbers of new neurons. From early studies in the 1960s through more recent high-profile papers, published evidence has swung between affirmative and negative conclusions. In a review published January … Read more

Summary: Stronger functional connectivity between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the temporoparietal junction is associated with a lower tendency to punish others for selfish or unfair actions. Source: HSE HSE researchers used resting-state electroencephalography to investigate how intrinsic brain connectivity relates to the willingness of observers to impose punishment on unfair behavior. Their findings indicate … Read more

Researchers at the RIKEN Quantitative Biology Center in Japan, working with multiple Japanese institutes, report a straightforward and rapid approach for whole-brain imaging that enables three-dimensional analysis of gene expression patterns and neural circuits at the systems level. *Please see the notes for important information regarding this research.* One of the central challenges in systems … Read more