Summary: Regret is a universal human experience, but how we process it changes with age. New research shows that older adults report fewer recent regrets and experience them with less emotional intensity than younger adults. Although people of all ages tend to carry a similar number of long-term regrets, older adults describe those regrets with … Read more

Summary: A three-year longitudinal study challenges the common belief that cognitive decline is an unavoidable consequence of aging. Following nearly 4,000 participants aged 19 to 94, researchers found that the adult brain remains responsive to targeted mental practices across the lifespan and can improve with consistent effort. Using a multidimensional measure called the BrainHealth Index … Read more

Summary: Speech is often seen as a huge jump in brain complexity, but new research shows that evolving advanced vocal behaviors can be far simpler than we assumed. By comparing ordinary laboratory mice with Alston’s singing mice — a Central American species known for its loud, rapid duets — researchers found that the difference is … Read more

Summary: A single high dose of psilocybin produces more than a temporary psychedelic experience — it alters brain function and anatomy for at least a month. New research reports a rapid rise in “brain entropy” (greater diversity of neural activity) during the acute effects, and links that entropic state to next‑day psychological insight and to … Read more

Summary: Spinal cord injuries often cause long-term paralysis because nerve fibers have limited ability to regrow. A new study presents an alternative strategy: rather than trying to regenerate severed fibers, researchers used a designer protein called hyper-interleukin-6 (hIL-6) to rewire intact neural pathways and restore function. By turning the brain’s motor cortex into a local … Read more

Summary: A three-year longitudinal study challenges the long-held belief that cognitive decline is an unavoidable part of aging. Tracking nearly 4,000 people aged 19 to 94, researchers found that the brain remains trainable and rewirable throughout the lifespan. Consistent, targeted daily practices—even as brief as 5 to 15 minutes—produced measurable improvements in overall brain performance … Read more

Summary: Psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in many “magic mushrooms,” is well known for altering mood and perception in humans. Its effects on social behavior in animals are less understood. A recent study used the highly aggressive mangrove rivulus fish (Kryptolebias marmoratus) to test whether a low, acute dose of psilocybin alters social interactions and … Read more

Summary: A single high dose of psilocybin produces more than a transient psychedelic “trip.” New research shows it increases brain entropy and leads to measurable anatomical and functional changes that can last at least one month. These changes predict next-day psychological insight and longer-term improvements in well-being and cognitive flexibility. Researchers at UC San Francisco … Read more

Summary: GLP-1 weight-loss drugs do more than promote fullness. New research shows these medications reach deep into the brain and reshape circuits that control motivation and reward. By linking the hindbrain to the central amygdala and dopamine-producing neurons, these drugs effectively lower the brain’s drive for high-calorie, rewarding foods. That helps explain why many patients … Read more

Summary: Spinal cord injuries often cause lasting paralysis because damaged nerve fibers have a limited ability to regrow. A new study presents an alternative strategy: rather than trying to regenerate severed axons, researchers used a designer protein called hyper-interleukin-6 (hIL-6) to rewire intact neural circuits. By turning the motor cortex into a local source of … Read more