Summary: New research shows that the belief of “holding your liquor” is more complex than commonly thought, especially for heavy drinkers and people with alcohol use disorder (AUD). While some experienced drinkers appear less impaired after a typical intoxicating dose, their impairment increases substantially when they drink amounts similar to their usual high-intensity consumption—and recovery … Read more

Summary: A new feasibility study shows that embedding a music therapist on dementia wards can reduce severe distress and improve quality of life for inpatients with dementia. The MELODIC approach—Music therapy Embedded in the Life Of Dementia Inpatient Care—combines clinical music sessions with personalised musical care plans and staff and family support. Results from the … Read more

Summary: Researchers adapted a children’s exercise program using AI-generated, simplified instructions to better serve neurodivergent learners. By applying ChatGPT to more than 500 activities from the InPACT video series, the team clarified and standardized movement directions to make the program more accessible and inclusive. This adaptation aims to expand equitable access to brief, structured physical … Read more

Summary: Changes of mind can arise from increased uncertainty about an initial decision rather than from new sensory information arriving after the choice. Source: University of Ulster People sometimes reverse a decision shortly after making it. For example, a shopper who initially reaches for one brand may switch to another before leaving the aisle, or … Read more

UCSF study finds measurable brain differences in children with sensory processing disorder Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) report that children diagnosed with sensory processing disorder (SPD) show altered brain connectivity compared with typically developing peers, and that these differences predict difficulties in auditory and tactile processing. The large imaging study links … Read more

Summary: A recent study finds that simply placing your smartphone out of arm’s reach does not meaningfully reduce distraction or increase productivity. Although participants used their phones less when they were positioned farther away, they compensated by shifting attention to other devices—most often their laptops. The research suggests the issue lies less with the device … Read more

Summary: 2016 was a landmark year for neuroscience reporting. Below are the twenty most popular neuroscience stories we covered last year. Source: NeuroscienceNews Top 20 Most Popular Neuroscience Articles of the Year As 2017 begins, we reviewed the neuroscience stories that drew the most reader attention in 2016. This list is based on readership, shares … Read more

Study in Nature Communications shows monarch butterflies use a UVA-dependent inclination magnetic compass during migration Every autumn, millions of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) undertake a remarkable migration, traveling roughly 2,000 miles from breeding areas across the eastern United States to overwintering groves of fir in central Mexico. Researchers at UMass Medical School and Worcester Polytechnic … Read more

Using mobile phones, laptops and other media devices at the same time may be associated with changes in brain structure, according to new research from the University of Sussex. A study published on 24 September reports that adults who frequently engage in media multitasking—consuming two or more media formats simultaneously—show lower grey-matter density in a … Read more

Summary: For the first time, scientists have decoded inner speech—the silent words people think—on demand using brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, reaching up to 74% accuracy. By recording neural signals from people with severe paralysis, researchers showed that imagined speech and attempted spoken speech share overlapping patterns in the motor cortex, although inner speech signals are … Read more