Summary: Researchers have identified neural progenitor cells in the meninges. Source: VIB Flanders Possible implications for brain regeneration In a multidisciplinary study led by Professor Peter Carmeliet (VIB – KU Leuven), researchers report the discovery of neural progenitor cells located in the meninges, the protective membranes that surround the brain. These progenitors are radial glia–like … Read more

Few people would say they don’t want to be happier. The experience of happiness feels good emotionally and mentally, and it’s only natural to want more of it. Over the last decade, a large body of books, courses, and research has focused on how to cultivate happiness—from practical exercises to scientific investigations. Beyond simply feeling … Read more

Summary: The S198P mutation accelerates folding of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), enabling mature APP to produce amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides more rapidly than the non-mutant form. This discovery reveals a previously unrecognized mechanism by which a rare genetic change can contribute to Alzheimer’s disease. Source: University of Chicago Medical Center Researchers at the University of … Read more

Summary: Children’s intuitive number sense supports approximate calculations, including true division. These findings point to ways educators might build on that intuition when teaching formal math. Source: Frontiers Many people assume multiplication and division are skills acquired only through schooling. Yet decades of research indicate that children possess an intuitive capacity for arithmetic well before … Read more

Click. One, two, three, four… Click. The waterfall’s motion was held in a single long-exposure shot, its flow captured across several seconds on one frame. Photography presents a satisfying way to practice mindfulness—whether you use an analog SLR with film, a digital camera, or a smartphone. Art has long been used to anchor people in … Read more

Summary: Researchers have cut the power needs of neural interfaces while improving accuracy by focusing on a specific band of brain activity. Source: University of Michigan University of Michigan researchers discovered that tuning neural interfaces to a narrow band of brain activity dramatically lowers power consumption and increases decoding accuracy. This advance could help enable … Read more

Occupational therapy in schools extends far beyond handwriting and scissor skills. Modern school-based occupational therapy supports students with physical challenges as well as those with developmental delays, learning differences, sensory needs, and emotional or behavioral concerns. Occupational therapists (OTs) work to help students access the curriculum, participate fully in school routines, and develop functional skills … Read more

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) continues to challenge researchers: studies of brain connectivity in people with autism have reported seemingly contradictory findings—some describe reduced synchronization between brain regions, while others report increased synchronization. New work clarifies these discrepancies by revealing a deeper principle underlying brain organization in ASD. A recent study by teams at the Weizmann … Read more

Researchers urge reclassification of traumatic brain injury as a chronic disease Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston argue that traumatic brain injury (TBI) should be recognized and managed as a chronic disease rather than treated as a one-time event. Their review of 25 years of research shows that the consequences … Read more

Self-esteem has intrigued psychologists for more than a century and remains one of the most researched topics in the social sciences (Bleidorn, Hufer, Kandler, Hopwood, & Riemann, 2018). Despite extensive study and our common-sense sense that self-esteem relates to feelings of self-worth, many questions remain unanswered. This article summarizes psychology’s current understanding of self-esteem and … Read more