The hippocampus, a structure located in the temporal lobe, does more than support long-term memory. For the first time, researchers have shown that it also plays an active role in rapid and successful resolution of response conflicts. This discovery comes from a team led by Dr. Nikolai Axmacher at Ruhr-Universität Bochum, working with collaborators in … Read more

UMass Amherst research suggests stronger recall may help people recover from sadness. New research from the University of Massachusetts Amherst finds that episodic memory — the ability to recall specific past experiences tied to a time and place — may play an important role in how adults return to a normal emotional state after a … Read more

Summary: Researchers examined how psilocybin evolved in some mushroom species and conclude that hallucinogenic properties may have developed as a defense against insect predators. Source: Ohio State University Psychedelic mushrooms may have evolved their “magical” effects to deter insects that eat fungi, new research suggests. Scientists studying the evolutionary origins of psilocybin—the psychoactive compound found … Read more

Summary: For years researchers have suspected that the gut influences multiple sclerosis (MS), but a clear cellular link remained missing. A new landmark study identifies intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) — the cells that line the gut — as unintended immune messengers that can trigger pathogenic responses contributing to MS. The researchers discovered that in MS, … Read more

Summary: A new 3D platform that simulates zebrafish behavior opens new avenues for research while reducing reliance on live animals. Source: NYU Tandon School of Engineering. Each year, roughly 20 million animals are used in scientific studies. Zebrafish are increasingly favored over rodents and primates because of their genetic similarities to humans, rapid development, and … Read more

Summary: A new study challenges a long-standing assumption in cerebellar neuroscience and movement disorder research. It shows that steady-state firing of Purkinje cells — often used as an accessible biomarker of cerebellar function — does not reliably predict the activity of downstream neurons in the deep cerebellar nuclei. This finding has important implications for how … Read more

Summary: New findings clarify how the circadian clock influences a basic physiological drive. Source: McGill University Health Center. Discovery may point to ways to reduce the effects of jet lag and shift work. Researchers at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI‑MUHC) report that the brain’s circadian clock actively promotes drinking in … Read more

Summary: Researchers have, for the first time, mapped the molecular structure of glutamate receptors in the cerebellum using cryo-electron microscopy. These receptors are central to how cerebellar neurons communicate and are essential for coordinating movement, maintaining balance, and supporting aspects of learning and cognition. By visualizing these receptors in complex with synaptic proteins, the study … Read more

Summary: Despite repeated public-health warnings, many people continue to ignore social-distancing guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Influential figures sometimes downplay the virus’s risks, persuading others to treat coronavirus as less serious than experts advise. Researchers explore why some people remain skeptical and hold onto false beliefs despite substantial contradictory evidence. Source: UC Berkeley In recent … Read more

Summary: Researchers have identified three genes whose altered protein expression in the brain appears linked to multiple sclerosis and may point to new avenues for understanding disease mechanisms and developing treatments. Source: Wiley New research published in the Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology has highlighted three genes and their corresponding proteins—SHMT1, FAM120B and ICA1L—that … Read more