Summary: New research maps how anxiety shifts decision-making in the brain, biasing choices toward avoidance and pessimism. Source: Kyoto University Is a higher-paying job worth an extra hour of commuting each day? Many decisions force us to weigh potential rewards against anticipated discomfort. New findings show that anxiety tilts this internal cost–benefit balance, making people … Read more

Summary: After traumatic brain injury (TBI), the brain’s immune cells show a marked slowdown in their internal recycling process (autophagy), allowing cellular waste to accumulate and worsen inflammation and recovery. Stimulating autophagy with rapamycin reduced neuroinflammation and improved functional recovery in a mouse model of TBI. Source: University of Maryland Every year in the United … Read more

Summary: New research clarifies how the somatosensory cortex contributes to prosocial behavior. Source: Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, KNAW. Helping people in need is a cornerstone of human society. It is often assumed we help because we empathically share others’ pain. Neuroscience has shown that when we see someone in pain, brain regions involved in touch … Read more

Summary: Brain Endurance Training (BET) — a combined cognitive and physical exercise program originally developed for athletes — significantly improves both cognitive and physical performance in older adults. In a controlled study of sedentary women aged 65–78, participants who completed BET experienced larger gains in attention, executive function, and physical endurance than those who did … Read more

Preemies fed mostly breast milk had larger brains by their due dates than those who consumed small amounts or none. Feeding premature infants primarily breast milk during the first month of life is associated with more substantial early brain growth compared with feeding regimens that include little or no breast milk. Researchers studying preterm infants … Read more

Study examines the relationship between life circumstances and risk-taking among older adults Numerous studies have found that people generally become less willing to take physical, social, legal, or financial risks as they age. But is that decline universal across cultures and countries? Do social and economic conditions — such as poverty, violence, or income inequality … Read more

Summary: A new study identifies a potential drug target that may increase social interaction in some forms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Source: University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, report a promising drug target that could improve social interaction in some forms of autism … Read more

Summary: In the short term, a ketogenic diet can improve metabolic health and support weight loss. However, negative effects begin to appear after about a week in mice. When mice consumed a very high-fat, very low-carbohydrate diet for longer than seven days, they ate more fat than they could metabolize and showed increased risk factors … Read more

Summary: Labeling an image as “art” alters people’s responses on both neural and behavioral levels, a new pilot study reports. Source: ECNP A pilot study by researchers at Erasmus University Rotterdam suggests that simply telling people an image is an artwork changes how they respond to it, both in their reported preferences and in brain … Read more

Although memory problems become more common with age, many people retain strong memories throughout life, while others experience mild to severe memory decline at earlier ages. Multiple factors increase the risk of dementia, and abnormal fat metabolism has emerged as one important contributor. Research indicates that individuals with high levels of abdominal fat during middle … Read more