Summary: New research shows that salt intake can reduce blood flow in the hypothalamus as specific neurons become active, revealing an unexpected pattern of neurovascular response deep in the brain. Source: Georgia State University Researchers at Georgia State University have led a first-of-its-kind study that uncovers how neuron activity and local blood flow interact in … Read more

Summary: Researchers argue schizophrenia should not be seen only as a mental disorder. New research shows the condition is associated with an overactive immune system and measurable physical changes across the body. Source: The Conversation. Schizophrenia is typically described as a disorder of the mind that affects a person’s thinking, feelings and behaviour. Recent research, … Read more

Summary: New research shows that adolescent binge drinking can impair working memory and alter prefrontal cortex function. In a mouse model, early voluntary binge drinking produced brain changes and behavioral patterns that correspond with increased risk for alcohol use disorders in adulthood. Columbia University researchers report that binge drinking during adolescence disrupts prefrontal cortex activity … Read more

Summary: A new study involving a person without somatosensation shows that direct sensory experience is not necessary to understand or use abstract metaphors and sensory language. Source: University of Chicago People who are blind or colorblind can still describe colors and use expressions such as “green with envy” or “feeling blue.” Someone with hearing loss … Read more

Summary: Spontaneous eye-blink rate may reveal how aerobic fitness supports cognitive performance by reflecting dopamine-related brain function. Source: University of Tsukuba Regular aerobic exercise is linked to better cognition and mental health, but the neural mechanisms behind this connection have remained unclear. Researchers at the University of Tsukuba now present evidence that spontaneous eye blink … Read more

Summary: Individuals with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome show significantly reduced overall brain volume and smaller volumes in key subcortical structures—particularly the thalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala—compared with controls. Source: USC What if a clearer understanding of schizophrenia could come from a rare but revealing genetic condition? Pooling magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from researchers around the world, … Read more

Summary: Effective neurochemical changes in the brains of people with social anxiety take different forms after treatment with SSRIs combined with cognitive behavioral therapy compared with CBT alone. Source: Uppsala University Neurochemical responses in the brain differ between patients with social anxiety who receive both selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) … Read more

Summary: A large observational study from Tufts University reports that drinking one to two cups of caffeinated coffee per day—taken black or with very small amounts of sugar and low-fat dairy—was associated with a lower risk of dying from any cause and specifically from cardiovascular disease. The analysis, which used national survey data on more … Read more

Summary: Playing action real-time strategy video games during periods of social distancing may do more than pass the time — it could sharpen your visual attention. New research shows that experienced players process visual information more quickly, devote greater cognitive resources to individual visual targets, and distribute limited attention more effectively over time. These findings … Read more

Summary: New research finds that adolescents with elevated depression symptoms show more rumination and weaker working memory, which relates to difficulty recalling specific personal memories. Source: University of Reading. Teenagers with depressive symptoms may find it harder to retrieve specific autobiographical memories, new research from the University of Reading suggests. Researchers from the School of … Read more