Summary: Small moments of shared fun with colleagues can reduce workplace stress and help employees stay engaged and creative, a new study finds. Source: TCD Short, positive interruptions that take employees away from unpleasant or demanding tasks can meaningfully lower stress and preserve self-control resources, according to new research by WHU – Otto Beisheim School … Read more

Summary: Glutamate-producing neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) play a central role in how stress affects behavior. Temporarily silencing these neurons made mice more resilient to the lasting behavioral effects of severe stress. Source: University of Colorado More than 70% of adults worldwide will encounter at least one traumatic event—such as a life-threatening illness, … Read more

Lack of understanding of dementia impacts diagnosis, treatment and quality of life Believing that dementia is a normal part of aging remains the most widespread misconception about the condition, according to a systematic review led by researchers from Trinity College Dublin and the Dementia Services Centre at St James’s Hospital in Ireland. The review synthesised … Read more

New research published in The FASEB Journal indicates that blocking the TRPV1 protein increases noradrenaline release and raises core body temperature. Researchers have identified a previously unrecognized role for the TRPV1 protein in controlling the body’s “fight or flight” response and core temperature. In experiments with mice, scientists found that TRPV1 influences the nerves that … Read more

Summary: A new neuroimaging study identifies a specific neural ensemble that activates when monogamous animals run to reunite with their mate. The discovery sheds light on the brain mechanisms that drive long-term pair bonding and could guide future treatments for social behavior disorders. It may also help explain why enforced separation feels so difficult. Source: … Read more

Summary: New research indicates that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is linked to early cognitive decline, reduced executive function, and diminished impulse control in middle-aged men—even when those men do not have obesity or other common co-morbid conditions. Source: Frontiers Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common and potentially serious sleep disorder. During sleep, the throat … Read more

New research from Karolinska Institutet and Umeå University demonstrates for the first time a direct connection between how we perceive our bodies and our ability to form episodic memories. The study suggests that experiencing events while feeling disconnected from one’s own body can disrupt the brain processes that normally bind sensory information into lasting memories. … Read more

Summary: Researchers report that MDMA, the primary active compound in ecstasy, can increase cooperative behaviour—but only when the other person is perceived as trustworthy. Source: King’s College London. New research from King’s College London shows that MDMA enhances cooperation in social interactions, but this effect depends on the trustworthiness of the other person. The study, … Read more

Summary: Stress reduces activity in the hippocampus and frontal-parietal networks, impairing memory-based decision-making and the ability to plan ahead. Source: Stanford University Stress Impairs Memory-Based Planning, New Stanford Study Finds New research from Stanford University shows that acute psychological stress can undermine our capacity to form effective plans by preventing us from using memory when … Read more

Scientists at the University of Bristol have created an artificial mimic of rhodopsin, the light-sensitive protein that initiates vision. This synthetic molecule, described in Science, could pave the way for new light-responsive artificial cells and novel approaches to controlling cellular behavior with light. Researchers led by Professor Jonathan Clayden in the School of Chemistry at … Read more