Summary: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found that sodium benzoate, a common food preservative and D-amino acid oxidase inhibitor, improved negative symptoms and overall outcomes for people with schizophrenia who remained symptomatic despite treatment with clozapine. Source: Elsevier The common preservative sodium benzoate improves symptoms in clozapine-resistant schizophrenia patients, according to a new clinical trial … Read more

Summary: Scientists are developing compounds that mimic many of the physiological benefits of physical exercise, offering a potential therapeutic route for conditions such as muscle atrophy, heart failure, obesity-related muscle loss, and neurodegenerative disease. The lead molecule, SLU-PP-332, and newly designed derivatives activate estrogen-related receptors (ERRs), key regulators of muscle metabolism and growth, and show … Read more

Summary: New research indicates that the way parents help their toddlers fall asleep is linked to differences in the children’s temperament. Caregivers who rely more on gentle, passive methods like singing, cuddling, or reading tend to have children who score higher on sociability and calmness. In contrast, parents who frequently use active tactics such as … Read more

Summary: Researchers have identified a specific mutation in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that increases the virus’s ability to infect the central nervous system. This discovery offers a plausible explanation for some neurological symptoms seen during acute COVID-19 and may help clarify mechanisms behind “long COVID.” The mutation enables the virus to more readily invade brain … Read more

Summary: A University of Queensland study finds young children are consistently willing to help others when helping incurs no personal cost, but are far less likely to assist when doing so requires sacrificing a valued reward. Source: University of Queensland New research from the University of Queensland shows that 4- and 5-year-old children will readily … Read more

Neurons—the specialized cells of the nervous system—communicate by sending chemical signals across tiny junctions called synapses. This process, known as synaptic transmission, is essential for the brain and spinal cord to rapidly process large volumes of incoming sensory information and produce precise outgoing signals. Studying synaptic transmission in living animals has been technically challenging, often … Read more

Feeling Embarrassed or Guilty? A Cold Drink May Help Summary: New research indicates that sipping a cold beverage can reduce feelings of shame, guilt and embarrassment. Source: Society for Consumer Psychology Overview A recent study led by Jeff D. Rotman (Western University, Canada) and colleagues, published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology, explores how self-conscious … Read more

Summary: Researchers have identified a neural mechanism that allows memories to link across different times and experiences. In experiments with mice, the team found that memories are replayed and reactivated not only after a single significant event but also in ways that connect that event with earlier, related experiences. The study shows that memories are … Read more

Summary: New research indicates that feeling younger than your chronological age and increasing physical activity can improve cognitive function, health and longevity as people age. Source: American Psychological Association. Could moving more and feeling more in control of your daily life help you stay mentally and physically younger? New findings presented at the American Psychological … Read more

Summary: New research shows that people often perceive those who lie as more competent for certain high-pressure, sales-focused professions—such as investment banking, advertising, and sales—explaining why deceptive individuals may be disproportionately hired into those roles. Source: University of Chicago Booth School of Business We claim to dislike liars, yet in contexts that prioritize aggressive selling, … Read more