New virtual imaging technology may become a useful addition to therapy for social anxiety, according to researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA). A study published by UEA investigated whether people with social anxiety could benefit from seeing themselves interact in everyday social situations through video-capture virtual environments. For the first time, researchers tested … Read more

Intrinsic Reward Helps Make Exercise a Habit Summary: New research supports the role of intrinsic reward in turning exercise into a lasting habit. Source: Iowa State University. The morning alarm can be more than a wake-up call—it can be the cue that triggers a workout. But when exercise is not yet a habit, that same … Read more

Summary: The lateral habenula acts as a neural switch that controls whether an animal continues to pursue rewards or stops working for them. Source: Cornell University A small but crucial brain structure has been identified as a control point for reward-seeking behavior. A study published Aug. 31 in the journal Current Biology shows that the … Read more

Summary: Researchers identified widespread left-right differences in brain structure and function in regions tied to language and visual tasks such as face recognition in newborn infants. These asymmetries were present in both full-term and preterm babies scanned at the same postmenstrual age, suggesting that certain brain asymmetries are present at birth and may be intrinsic … Read more

Could Brainwaves Become a Routine Health Vital Sign? Summary: Researchers are developing a more accessible way to monitor brain health. Source: Simon Fraser University Researchers at Simon Fraser University aim to make a brain vital-sign test as routine as blood pressure or heart rate during a medical check-up. A team led by Professor Ryan D’Arcy, … Read more

Summary: Scientists have produced the first brain-wide, single-cell map of decision-making in a mammal by recording activity from more than 600,000 neurons across 279 regions in mice. Using a standardized behavioral task and high-density Neuropixels recordings across an international consortium, the study shows that decision-related signals are far more widely distributed than previously recognized and … Read more

Summary: New research indicates that brain‑wave recordings taken during routine newborn hearing screenings could reveal early signs of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Source: Rutgers University Brain-wave measurements collected as part of standard newborn hearing tests may provide an early, objective marker for neurodevelopmental differences such as autism, according to a new study … Read more

Summary: Teriflunomide, a medication approved for multiple sclerosis, shows promising activity against glioblastoma when combined with targeted cancer therapies, suppressing tumor stem cells, shrinking tumors, and extending survival in preclinical models. Source: UCSD Overview: Glioblastoma is an especially aggressive brain cancer that invades surrounding tissue, making complete surgical removal nearly impossible. Standard treatments—surgery followed by … Read more

Summary: Singing to an infant supports social development and interaction, new research finds. Source: Vanderbilt University New research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that caregivers’ singing helps structure infant attention and social engagement, providing a natural mechanism for early social development. A collaborative team from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, … Read more

Summary: Small amounts of stress can sharpen and accelerate the body’s circadian clock. Source: University of Minnesota Medical School The human body runs on an internal biological clock that governs daily rhythms across virtually every cell. New research from the University of Minnesota Medical School shows that certain cellular stress signals can improve the speed … Read more