Summary: Researchers have received a five-year, $3.2 million grant from the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Mental Health to investigate the epigenetic networks in the amygdala that create persistent biological memories of trauma. The project aims to identify molecular changes that drive exaggerated fear responses in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and to … Read more

Summary: A major neurotechnology advance now allows scientists to record and manipulate individual neurons simultaneously deep inside the living brain. The device, called Neuropixels Opto, combines large-scale electrophysiology with targeted optogenetic control on a single silicon shank thinner than a human hair. Validated in mouse models, this next-generation probe delivers high-resolution electrical recordings while enabling … Read more

Summary: New international research demonstrates that autism can be divided into at least two biologically distinct subtypes defined by brain connectivity patterns. By directly linking human functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data with molecular and genetic profiles from animal models, the study identifies reproducible brain-based signatures that point toward different underlying biological mechanisms and open … Read more

Summary: An international study combining developmental psychology and artificial intelligence found that children as young as three can infer intentions and preferences from a human gaze, but they do not interpret the same signal when it comes from a humanoid robot. The research shows that simply copying a human cue such as eye direction is … Read more

Summary: Researchers have overturned long-standing assumptions about how the brain clears metabolic waste. Using a non-disruptive tracking approach that engineers neurons to secrete a traceable fluorescent protein called ZsGreen, the team traced the actual exit routes used by brain-derived proteins. Their work shows that clearance is regionally organized — proteins follow a “nearest exit” model … Read more

Summary: A collaborative mathematical study reconciles conflicting pieces of folk wisdom about ambition by mapping the precise parameters of human goal-setting. Using a sequential search model, the researchers show that individuals optimize outcomes by adopting a satisfaction threshold that is strictly above the average but strictly finite. The work reveals an asymmetry in decision-making: demanding … Read more

Summary: A new Drexel University study finds that while more people are turning to AI chatbots for emotional and mental health support, most users treat these systems as supplements—not replacements—for human therapy. Researchers analyzed more than 4 million Reddit posts to map how people interact with large language models and to identify benefits and risks. … Read more

Summary: Researchers have identified the precise biochemical circuit that sustains stress-induced sexual dysfunction. Using confinement stress in Drosophila fruit flies, the team showed that the neurotransmitter dopamine functions as a molecular timer: it does not determine whether reproductive behavior is initially suppressed by stress, but it controls how long that suppression persists. These results reveal … Read more

Summary: Researchers have created an implantable, multi-layered nanofiber treatment for aggressive brain tumors that delivers a combination of three approved drugs directly to the surgical site. The NanoMesh system embeds temozolomide, acriflavine, and PT2385 in a layered electrospun fiber scaffold to produce a synergistic therapeutic effect, overcome the blood-brain barrier, and provide both immediate and … Read more

Summary: Implanting radioactive collagen tiles during brain surgery significantly outperforms the current standard of care for patients with newly diagnosed brain metastases. Results from the ROADS trial show that tile-based radiation therapy (TBRT) substantially improves local tumor control, reduces surgical-site recurrence to near zero, and more than doubles median overall survival compared with standard postoperative … Read more