Summary: A daily-diary study of new parents shows that sleep and exercise influence mothers and fathers differently. Overall, getting more sleep and physical activity on a given day tends to improve well-being and relationship quality. Yet fathers who slept more than other fathers in this sample reported lower overall well-being and less closeness with their … Read more

A new, ultra-sensitive light-based test for measuring the toxic protein that causes Huntington’s disease (HD) reveals the protein accumulates progressively in blood cells. Published 17 September in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the study clarifies how mutant huntingtin may drive brain damage in HD and offers a promising blood-based biomarker for tracking disease progression and … Read more

Inhibiting the Prefrontal Cortex Can Improve Performance on Creative Tasks The brain’s prefrontal cortex is widely regarded as the center of cognitive control, acting as a filter that prevents irrelevant thoughts, perceptions and memories from interfering with goal-directed tasks. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have found that temporarily reducing that filtering function can improve … Read more

Summary: Researchers explain how stress affects both body and mind, and offer practical strategies athletes and others can use to reduce its negative effects. Source: The Conversation Being a professional athlete is demanding in more ways than one. Beyond intense physical exertion, athletes often face enormous psychological pressure that can produce powerful, sometimes debilitating, bodily … Read more

Summary: A new study challenges the common belief that facial expressions simply reveal inner feelings. Researchers argue that facial expressions primarily communicate intentions and serve as tools for social influence. Source: UC Santa Barbara We use our faces to influence others. Whether it’s a pleading smile to coax a friend into sharing dessert or a … Read more

Summary: Trigonelline (TG), a naturally occurring alkaloid present in coffee, fenugreek seed, and radish, shows promise for reducing age-related cognitive decline. In a controlled study using an accelerated-aging mouse model, oral TG improved spatial learning and memory and altered hippocampal biology in ways consistent with reduced neuroinflammation and enhanced neurotransmitter signaling. Researchers from the University … Read more

Summary: Repeated stimulation causes dendritic spines on adult-born hippocampal neurons to enlarge, allowing them to connect with existing neural networks. Source: Goethe University New neurons continue to form in the adult brain, and a recent study published in PNAS by researchers at Goethe University reveals how repeated neural activity drives structural changes in these adult-born … Read more

Summary: New longitudinal research finds that adolescents who were classified as insecurely attached to their mothers in toddlerhood are more likely to overestimate strangers’ trustworthiness and show reduced neural responsiveness to untrustworthy cues. Source: University of Illinois Interpersonal trust is fundamental to healthy social relationships. When we encounter unfamiliar people, we rapidly assess whether they … Read more

Summary: Researchers identified autism-linked ADNP gene mutations in postmortem olfactory bulbs and hippocampi from people with Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting somatic mutations accumulate with age and may contribute to neurodegeneration. Source: AFTAU Overview: Scientists have long recognized that many autism spectrum disorders arise from de novo mutations occurring in the egg, sperm, or during early development. … Read more

Summary: Researchers report that the RNA-binding proteins FMR1 and ZC3H14 both regulate neuronal mRNA, providing insight into their roles in learning and memory. Source: Emory Health Sciences. RNA-binding proteins linked to inherited intellectual disability and memory function Studying which molecules interact in cells often reveals how biological systems work. Emory researchers have focused on a … Read more