Summary: Programmed cell death (apoptosis) is a central process in brain development, shaping the thickness, composition, and cell density of cortical layers. Small changes in the balance between cell division, migration, and apoptosis can produce abnormal cortical structures associated with neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism, polymicrogyria, and subcortical band heterotopia. Source: University of Surrey Computer … Read more

Summary: Researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and Caltech developed a transparent cranial implant that permits high-resolution functional ultrasound imaging (fUSI) of the human brain. This acoustic window enables sensitive, real-time monitoring of brain activity without inserting electrodes into brain tissue, offering new possibilities for clinical monitoring and neuroscientific research, especially for … Read more

College students in study have negative feelings about exaggerated and highly sexualized body types. In a four-year study, college students who play Japanese fighting games reported discomfort with the characters’ exaggerated, highly sexualized physiques, yet they also said gameplay and mechanics matter far more to their experience than character appearance. The study was led by … Read more

Encountering a wall corrects ‘GPS’ cells in mouse brains, study finds. Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine analyzed activity in the brain’s internal navigation system and discovered that the neural “GPS” used by mice gradually accumulates error, but these errors are reset when the animal contacts a boundary such as a wall. The study … Read more

Summary: Time feels longer when experienced, and rewards are perceived as less valuable when delayed, a new study on human impatience finds. Source: Ohio University An Ohio University study exploring how people decide between a smaller immediate reward and a larger delayed reward was published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. The research shows … Read more

Summary: New genomic analyses narrow the window of interbreeding between modern humans and Neanderthals. The evidence indicates gene flow began roughly 50,500 years ago, with the main pulse centered near 47,000 years ago and continuing for about 7,000 years—ending by approximately 43,500 years ago. This admixture left most non‑African populations with about 1–2% Neanderthal ancestry … Read more

Summary: Time spent in natural environments reliably supports psychological well-being and physical health. For people who cannot access green spaces directly, new research indicates that virtual contact with nature—through film, video, augmented reality, or immersive virtual reality—can reproduce many of these positive effects and provide measurable boosts to mood, attention, and stress recovery. Source: The … Read more

Summary: New research indicates that conditions in the womb can shape adolescent brain development, influencing cognitive processing and emotional regulation. Source: Concordia University. Factors such as fetal position and nutrition influence cortical development Recent research shows that variations in the prenatal environment can leave lasting marks on brain development that are detectable in the teenage … Read more

Summary: Researchers identify brain regions and connections that enable children to begin “putting themselves in others’ shoes.” Source: Max Planck Institute By around age four, children typically reach a major cognitive milestone: they begin to understand that other people can hold beliefs different from their own. A study from the Max Planck Institute for Human … Read more

Summary: Researchers report that the Child Tax Credit not only reduced child poverty, but that the 2021 expansion’s monthly payments were associated with a short-term decline in child abuse and neglect-related emergency department visits. Source: Georgia Institute of Technology Previous research has shown that the 2021 expansion of the federal Child Tax Credit (CTC) lowered … Read more