Summary: Researchers have identified a new molecular mechanism that may contribute to autism by altering early brain cell development. Source: McGill University. A study published in Stem Cell Reports by a McGill research team led by Dr. Carl Ernst at the Douglas Hospital Research Centre describes a previously unrecognized molecular role for the GRIN2B gene … Read more

Lessons from a 1938 Study on Happiness: Implications for Policy and Wellbeing Summary: Researchers revisited a 1938 community study and suggest its findings hold useful lessons for modern policymakers aiming to improve social wellbeing and happiness. Background and source Source: BPS (British Psychological Society) Researchers from the University of Bolton have analysed a set of … Read more

Summary: Leading chronobiologists warn that switching to daylight saving time can seriously affect brain function and overall health. The spring clock change was associated with a 24% rise in severe cardiovascular events in women. Researchers report that the abrupt shift disturbs circadian rhythms, reduces nocturnal melatonin production, impairs cognitive performance, disrupts sleep, and might even … Read more

Summary: Laboratory exposure to certain energy drinks increased the beat rate of human heart cells and altered measures of cardiac function, according to researchers. These findings suggest some energy drinks could affect human cardiomyocytes and may carry implications for heart health. Source: Texas A&M Researchers from Texas A&M University have found that several popular energy … Read more

Summary: Researchers examine the history and cultural influence of superstitions, offering insight into why people still cling to beliefs that defy evidence. Source: The Conversation Every human culture has superstitions. In parts of Asia, for example, people warn that sweeping a floor after sunset brings bad luck or that leaving chopsticks standing upright in a … Read more

Summary: This opinion piece explores a possible shared mechanism behind Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP): a failure to arouse when blood carbon dioxide (CO2) levels rise, potentially due to dysfunction of serotonin-sensitive neurons in the midbrain. Source: Cell Press Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Sudden Unexpected Death … Read more

Summary: Researchers have created an improved “brain window” that enables longer-term imaging and electrophysiological studies to map visual areas across the cortex. Source: Georgia Tech Bilal Haider and his colleagues are investigating how multiple brain regions coordinate to produce visual perception. Their work aims to reveal whether transient overloads in neural activity—so-called “traffic jams”—contribute to … Read more

Summary: A collaborative research project has advanced our understanding of how environmental factors can influence the onset of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Using a valproate (VPA)-induced mouse model, the research team found increased expression of the Rnf146 gene in the prefrontal cortex, a change linked to autistic-like behaviors and altered neurotransmitter balance in the frontal … Read more

For 150 years, Broca’s area has been regarded as the brain’s command center for producing spoken language. New research from teams at UC Berkeley and Johns Hopkins University challenges that long-standing view, showing that Broca’s area actually disengages when we speak aloud. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study presents … Read more

Summary: SUMO proteins are essential for reactivating dormant neural stem cells, a process critical for brain repair and regeneration. This discovery — centered on SUMOylation — explains how neural stem cells can be “woken up” to support recovery after injury and suggests new avenues for therapies against neurodegenerative diseases. Researchers show that SUMOylation controls neural … Read more