Summary: New research highlights the habenula, a small but influential brain region, as a central regulator of reward, motivation, and emotional states. Studies show habenula circuits shape how the brain responds to reward and disappointment and how it develops drug cravings. This work has revealed promising drug targets—most notably the GPR151 receptor—that could help reduce … Read more

Summary: A new study reveals that, under stress, the brain produces its own cannabinoid molecules—chemicals that act on the same receptors as THC from cannabis—to help reduce stress signals and promote adaptive responses. These endocannabinoids are produced in the amygdala and act to suppress stress-related input coming from the ventral hippocampus, a brain region involved … Read more

Summary: Researchers describe a newly discovered cellular mechanism that can reverse the accumulation of protein aggregates by refolding them rather than degrading them. Source: University of Cambridge Small amounts of stress can sometimes be beneficial. New research shows that, in cells, a specific stress response may help undo harmful protein tangles linked to dementia by … Read more

Several established psychotherapy theories form the foundation of modern counseling practice. Counseling aims to provide clients with a safe, confidential environment where they can explore feelings, thoughts, and behaviors and work toward meaningful change. Although counseling draws on many theoretical approaches, most share common goals: to explain and predict behavior, to identify contributing factors to … Read more

Summary: Researchers at Kobe University have developed a novel approach to neutralize a key driver of Alzheimer’s disease by using mirror-image protein fragments. These synthetic “right-handed” peptides bind tightly to the naturally occurring “left-handed” amyloid-beta, preventing it from aggregating into toxic brain plaques. Conventional drug design struggles with intrinsically disordered proteins like amyloid-beta because they … Read more

The activities we choose shape our emotions and daily experience. When someone is depressed, they often stop doing things that used to bring meaning or enjoyment, which can deepen the low mood and reduce motivation (Behavioral Activation for Depression, n.d.). Behavioral activation is a core component of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). It helps clarify how a … Read more

Summary: Researchers report that kalata B1, a cyclic peptide originally found in violets, can dramatically increase the effectiveness of the chemotherapy drug temozolomide (TMZ) against glioblastoma cells in laboratory experiments. In cell studies, a synthetic form of kalata B1 lowered the amount of TMZ needed to kill tumor cells by more than tenfold, suggesting a … Read more

Scientists at EPFL solve a longstanding problem with modeling Parkinson’s disease in animals. Using newfound insights, they improve both cell and animal models for the disease, which can propel research and drug development. Parkinson’s disease is defined in part by the formation of protein aggregates inside neurons known as Lewy bodies. These intracellular inclusions are … Read more

Counselors have long found it difficult to settle on a single definition of their profession or to agree on the one best set of methods and techniques to help clients (Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan, 2015). Counseling is a respected practice that provides essential support to people in need, guiding them toward constructive behaviors and solutions (Sommers-Flanagan … Read more

Summary: Researchers examine the tiny structural changes in the brain that allow information to be stored during learning. Source: TUE. As we learn, something in the brain must change to store new information. Exactly what changes and how those changes allow memories to form remain active areas of research. PhD student Rémy Kusters studied the … Read more