Summary: A new computational model clarifies how ketamine, an anesthetic and rapid-acting antidepressant, changes brain activity. By simulating ketamine’s interactions with NMDA receptors in cortical circuits, the model links molecular blocking to altered neuronal firing patterns and the oscillatory brain states associated with dissociation, sedation, and potential therapeutic benefits for depression. Key Facts: Ketamine acts … Read more

Summary: New research finds that couples who view sexual satisfaction as something that requires effort and maintenance enjoy more stable and satisfying sex lives in long-term relationships than those who see sexual compatibility as an automatic sign of being soulmates. Source: University of Toronto. Believing that a healthy sex life requires effort — rather than … Read more

When clients come to counseling, they want change, clarity, guidance, and practical help to move past challenges. Counseling can produce meaningful, long-lasting improvements across many areas of life. While a strong therapeutic relationship is essential, selecting effective psychological interventions that address capability, opportunity, motivation, and behavior is equally important. This article outlines widely used counseling … Read more

Summary: Researchers reveal how the molecular navigation system steers growing axons during brain development. Source: KIT. The human brain contains roughly 100 billion neurons whose connections form an intricate network of nerve fibers. Most of this network is hardwired before birth according to a genetic blueprint, without requiring sensory experience. Scientists at the Karlsruhe Institute … Read more

Hippocampal Replay Strengthens Memory for Highly Rewarded Locations Summary: Hippocampal replay selectively enhances memory for highly rewarded locations in a familiar environment. Source: VIB A team of researchers at NeuroElectronics Research Flanders (NERF), supported by imec, KU Leuven and VIB, found that highly demanding and highly rewarding experiences produce stronger long-term memories. By studying spatial … Read more

Psychotherapy is an established form of treatment used to address a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and mental health concerns. Over decades of clinical practice and research, different therapeutic models and techniques have been developed to help people cope, change unhelpful patterns, and improve wellbeing. This article explains what psychotherapy is, outlines practical techniques and … Read more

Summary: Engineers developed a compact robot that reproduces the mechanics behind the mantis shrimp’s exceptionally powerful and rapid strike. Source: US Army Research Laboratory Researchers, supported by U.S. Army funding, have built a robotic model that reproduces the mantis shrimp’s punch mechanics. This work reveals how small devices can achieve extreme accelerations and could influence … Read more

Summary: Researchers have identified neural and genetic factors linked to romantic love and its maintenance in newlyweds. Sustaining romantic love engages not only subcortical reward regions but also higher-order cortical areas. Genetic variability in systems tied to dopamine, vasopressin, and oxytocin appears to influence the tendency to maintain romantic attachment. Source: UC Santa Barbara If … Read more

Gauges, thermometers, controls, and dials — instruments tell us whether a system is functioning as it should. But how do we monitor and report on an abstract concept like self-leadership? Measurement is the first step that leads to control and eventually to improvement. If you can’t measure something, you can’t understand it. If you can’t … Read more

Summary: New research demonstrates that humans can use a form of “remote touch” to detect objects buried in sand before making direct contact. Volunteers sensed concealed cubes by feeling subtle mechanical reflections transmitted through the granular medium as their fingertips moved across the surface. Participants performed near the theoretical limits predicted by physical models of … Read more