Summary: New research reveals that cats with dementia show brain changes very similar to those seen in human Alzheimer’s disease, including toxic amyloid-beta accumulation at synapses. These changes disrupt communication between neurons and are linked to declines in memory and cognition. The study also found that brain support cells actively remove the damaged synapses—a normally … Read more

Summary: The mental wellbeing of first-time mothers during pregnancy directly influences their children’s behavior by age two. Mothers who experienced stress or anxiety while pregnant were more likely to have toddlers with behavioral issues such as temper tantrums, restlessness, and spiteful actions. Emotional difficulties in children—such as clinginess, tearfulness, and persistent unhappiness—were also linked to … Read more

Summary: Reactivation of an ancient endogenous retrovirus, HML-2 (a subtype of HERV-K), appears to drive a more aggressive, treatment-resistant form of glioblastoma by promoting a stem-cell–like state in tumor cells. A multidisciplinary research team found that HML-2 influences tumor cell programming through the transcription factor OCT4, linking viral reactivation to the maintenance of cancer stem … Read more

Summary: New brain imaging research shows that our sense of agency—the subjective feeling of being responsible for our actions—declines when we act under orders. This reduction occurs regardless of whether people are civilians or military officer cadets. In the study, participants made moral choices that involved delivering a mild shock either freely or under coercion, … Read more

Summary: New research suggests that improving diet quality can reduce the severity of chronic pain for many people. The study found that greater consumption of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins and dairy—foods emphasised by the Australian Dietary Guidelines—was linked to lower levels of body pain, with stronger benefits observed in women. These effects appeared … Read more

Summary: Tobacco smokers show signs of reduced neuroimmune responsiveness compared with nonsmokers. Preliminary PET imaging data suggest restoring neuroimmune function could help address cognitive problems and support smoking cessation. Source: Society for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Preliminary research presented at the 2019 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) … Read more

Summary: Researchers investigated how cultural and linguistic backgrounds shape the neural organization of abstract thought. They report that speakers of different languages who grew up in different cultures form many abstract concepts in the same brain systems, while some concept-specific differences reflect cultural and linguistic nuance. Source: Carnegie Mellon University Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University … Read more

Summary: Adaptive VR exergames that adjust challenge and rewards based on a player’s emotional state can improve motivation, enjoyment, and long-term adherence to exercise. By combining physiological and behavioral sensors—such as heart rate monitors, pupil tracking, facial-expression analysis, and electrodermal activity—these systems can detect frustration, boredom, stress, or engagement in real time and change the … Read more

Summary: New research suggests fruit flies use dopamine in learning processes similar to those in mammals. Source: University of Sussex Researchers at the University of Sussex have produced a computational model showing how dopamine in the fruit fly brain may support learning using mechanisms comparable to those in mammals. A team in the School of … Read more

Summary: Efficient, brain-wide white matter connections form a network that supports general cognitive ability. Higher fractional anisotropy across these pathways is linked to higher IQ. Source: National University of Ireland Galway An international team led by researchers at NUI Galway has identified how brain wiring relates to general cognitive ability (IQ). Using diffusion tensor imaging … Read more