Summary: Scientists have determined the three-dimensional structure of the human huntingtin protein. This advance could accelerate research toward new therapies for Huntington’s disease. Source: Max Planck Institute. Mutations in a single gene, the huntingtin (HTT) gene, cause Huntington’s disease by producing an abnormal version of the huntingtin protein. Using cryo-electron microscopy, researchers at the Max … Read more

Spoken sentences reconstructed from human brain surface activity: “Brain-to-Text” merges neuroscience, medicine, and informatics Researchers have demonstrated that it is possible to reconstruct basic speech sounds, individual words, and entire sentences from neural activity recorded at the surface of the human cerebral cortex. The system, called Brain-to-Text, integrates methods from neuroscience, clinical medicine, and computer … Read more

Summary: CD8 T cells behave differently depending on the time of day. New research reveals how the internal biological clock shapes immune responses and suggests timing could affect vaccination and immunotherapy outcomes. Source: McGill University A recent study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences demonstrates that the body’s internal clock influences the … Read more

Summary: A scientific study identifies the formal features and narrative elements that make “feel-good films” have their characteristic uplifting effect. Source: Max Planck Institute “Feel-good films” are often dismissed by professional critics as sentimental or lacking in intellectual substance. Yet audiences repeatedly seek out these films precisely because of the emotional comfort they provide. For … Read more

Summary: A major Swedish register study shows that women who experience perinatal depression—during pregnancy or within a year after childbirth—face a substantially increased risk of death from both natural and unnatural causes. Analyzing data from more than 86,500 affected women and 865,500 matched controls, the research found elevated mortality risk that is highest in the … Read more

Summary: Scientists have mapped a neural circuit that enables the brain to convert a held motor plan into action in response to a specific external cue. Source: Max Planck Florida Planned movements are a routine part of everyday life, yet their execution often must be delayed until the right cue appears. Whether waiting for “GO!” … Read more

Summary: Researchers examine how the brain makes split-second decisions during stress and how those reactions shape behavior. Source: Horizon. Making decisions is an everyday activity, yet many choices—whether to hit the snooze button or how to respond to an unexpected threat—are made in an instant. New research is revealing how those rapid decisions arise in … Read more

Summary: A new study reveals that selenium is essential for the postnatal development of a specific population of interneurons. Source: Helmholtz. Exactly 200 years after the discovery of selenium by Swedish chemist Jöns Jacob Berzelius — who named it after the moon goddess Selene — researchers report a clear biological reason why this trace element … Read more

Summary: New evidence indicates that acquiring a dog can reduce feelings of loneliness and improve some negative moods for new owners within months. Source: University of Sydney A new trial led by the University of Sydney adds support to the idea that dogs can improve human wellbeing. The PAWS trial found that people who became … Read more

A new Florida State University study shows that simply receiving a cell phone notification — whether a ringtone, an alarm chime, or a vibration — can be enough to distract people and reduce their ability to concentrate on a task. Researchers found that the attentional disruption caused by a notification, even when the phone is … Read more