Summary: A new study finds that caffeine influences how people evaluate and participate in group work. Participants who drank caffeinated coffee judged their group’s performance and their own contribution more positively, and they stayed more on-topic during discussions than those who drank decaf. Source: Ohio State University Good teamwork may start with a cup of … Read more

Summary: New research explains how rapid, state-dependent changes in pupil size alter visual sensitivity and influence how animals perceive their environment. Source: Baylor College of Medicine The eyes are often called the “windows to the soul,” and recent research provides neurobiological reasons for why pupil size reflects not only lighting conditions but also internal states … Read more

The ELOVL2 Gene Regulates Retinal Aging and Visual Function, UC San Diego Study Finds Summary: The gene ELOVL2 plays a critical role in age-related functional and anatomical changes in mouse retinas. Increasing its expression restored age-related declines in vision, a finding that may inform treatments for age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration. Source: UC … Read more

Researchers reveal that a common method for comparing skull and brain size across species can be misleading when applied to individuals within a species. Research sometimes uncovers results very different from what was originally intended. Corina Logan’s work provides a clear example. Focusing on the cognitive abilities of the great-tailed grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus), a bird … Read more

Color of Light Strongly Influences the Body’s Internal Clock, University of Manchester Research Shows Researchers at The University of Manchester have shown that the color of light plays a major role in how the body’s circadian clock determines time of day. Overview For the first time, scientists have tested how color—independent of simple brightness—can signal … Read more

Summary: New research shows that small shifts in a person’s writing style reflect which social group is guiding their behaviour at a given moment. The study finds people adjust how they write to fit the norms of the group identity that is salient, and these shifts can be detected algorithmically. Source: Lancaster University Small but … Read more

Summary: Short, regular bursts of physical activity during the day can meaningfully improve mental wellbeing. Source: University of Toronto With a particularly grey January in Toronto, many people are looking for practical ways to support their mental health. Simple movement throughout the day is one effective and accessible strategy. Catherine Sabiston, professor in the University … Read more

Hippocampal Waves Travel Both Directions, Helping Integrate Memory Signals Summary: Using a high-density micro-grid, researchers recorded hippocampal activity in people undergoing epilepsy surgery and discovered that low-frequency brain waves propagate bidirectionally across the hippocampus, coordinating inputs from different brain areas to form integrated memories. Source: UCSF Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco have … Read more

Summary: A new molecular imaging approach may help identify and reduce the risk of relapse in alcohol use disorder by revealing adaptations in brain receptors linked to cravings. Source: SNM Neuroimaging study identifies a protective brain adaptation in recently sober individuals Alcoholism is a chronic and devastating condition that frequently perpetuates a cycle of heavy … Read more

Summary: Researchers report that regions in Sweden with higher rates of bipolar disorder diagnoses among adolescents have lower suicide rates for teenage boys. The finding points to the potential value of earlier detection and more active psychiatric care in preventing suicides. The study observed that suicide rates for males aged 15–19 were nearly 5% lower … Read more