Summary: A new study reveals greater complexity in how mice perceive color. These findings may inform future approaches to human visual disorders. Source: University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have found that color vision in mice is more elaborate than previously believed, revealing neural circuits that … Read more

Summary: A stronger sense of purpose in life can reduce alcohol consumption and the likelihood of binge drinking among some social drinkers. Source: University of Pennsylvania Heavy alcohol use remains common among college students, placing young adults at increased risk for multiple health problems—from heart disease to certain cancers. On campus, students face frequent cues … Read more

Summary: New research indicates that neighborhood conditions — including pollution, housing quality, and economic opportunity — can directly influence brain health and the risk of dementia. By analyzing brain scans and blood biomarkers from 679 adults, researchers discovered that individuals living in areas with greater social and environmental disadvantage showed signs of reduced cortical thickness, … Read more

Summary: Researchers at Caltech report that sour-sensing taste cells on the tongue are essential for detecting water. Source: CalTech. Sour-sensing taste pathway also mediates water detection in the mammalian tongue New research from the California Institute of Technology shows that taste cells tuned to sour stimuli also play a key role in sensing water on … Read more

Summary: Researchers have identified a promising approach to treat long COVID by restoring ion channel function in immune cells using low-dose naltrexone. Published in Frontiers in Immunology and led by Griffith University’s National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases (NCNED), the finding mirrors earlier work in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and suggests a shared … Read more

Summary: People can learn to use the nonconscious content in their brains to make profitable decisions. Findings suggest a novel form of nonconscious metacognition. Source: ATR Brain Information Communications Research Laboratory Group Although we experience the world as conscious beings, the majority of brain activity operates outside our awareness. This raises a fundamental question: can … Read more

Summary: Tyr-Pro, a brain-transportable dipeptide derived from soy protein, improved both short-term and long-term memory in mouse models used to simulate Alzheimer’s disease. Source: Kyushu University Overview Researchers at Kyushu University in Japan report that a small protein fragment produced from soybean proteins can reach the brain after oral ingestion and reduce memory loss in … Read more

Quick Q&A Q: Can past injuries increase sensitivity to future pain or stress?A: Yes. This research shows that earlier injuries can prime the nervous system to overreact to later stressors, producing prolonged pain and heightened fear even after the wound has healed. Q: What mechanism keeps the nervous system hypersensitive?A: A stress hormone called corticosterone … Read more

Summary: A new study finds that people’s moods expressed on social media decline when air pollution worsens. Source: MIT. China has long struggled with severe air pollution in many of its major cities. Previous research cited by Chinese institutions estimates that poor air quality contributes to substantial premature deaths and economic losses each year. Researchers … Read more

Summary: Researchers used human brain organoids—often called “mini‑brains”—to investigate the early origins of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Their work indicates a disruption in the balance of excitatory cortical neurons in the forebrain of individuals with ASD, offering new insight into how developmental changes in utero may contribute to the condition. This advanced organoid technology recapitulates … Read more