Researchers found that individuals with more severe depressive symptoms had difficulty learning to actively avoid aversive sounds, but their ability improved once they mastered the task. The study suggests that depressive symptoms may specifically interfere with learning to avoid unpleasant events rather than avoidance in general.
Aging populations exhibit a positivity bias in recognizing emotions, associated with observable changes in brain linked to cognitive decline and neurodegeneration. The study correlates age-related positivity bias with poorer cognitive performance but not necessarily emotional decline.
A neural pattern predicting self-focused thinking has been identified in people with a tendency to internalize. Fluctuating brain activity during rest is associated with maladaptive self-interest, which can lead to depression and anxiety. Researchers hope their findings will help predict the onset of mental health conditions.
Two brain regions have been identified as a neural compass, allowing people to maintain their sense of direction while navigating naturalistic virtual reality cities. These regions are consistent across different city features and task phases, suggesting they track direction relative to the north-south axis.
A study by Steve Chang explores how oxytocin influences brain activity to shape social behavior in rhesus monkeys. The researchers found that oxytocin increased activity in the basolateral amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex when monkeys were socially motivated, maintaining beneficial decisions and social task behavior.
Researchers found that injecting botox directly into the TMJ alleviated TMD-related pain, hypersensitivity, and neural activity, while preserving movement abilities. The study suggests avoiding muscle tissue to overcome botox side effects and offers new hope for treating jaw disorders.
Research suggests that sleeping on a difficult task can improve performance by strengthening and consolidating memories in the brain. A new study found that rhythmic brain activity during sleep in areas active during training correlates with improved task performance after waking.
Researchers found that external cues alleviated pain for all participants but only half reported less pain with placebo treatment. Predictive cues were less impactful when patients received placebo treatment. The study suggests cue-based expectations have more consistent effects than treatment-based expectations.
Researchers used machine learning to detect subtle behavioral changes in mouse models of Parkinson's disease, revealing that high-speed movements are the first affected behaviors. Levodopa treatment improves movement speed but not other attributes of these movements.
The largest neuroscience event will convene in San Diego from November 15-19, featuring over 10,000 presentations on various topics. Registered journalists will gain access to cutting-edge research, expert interviews, and press-only events.
Researchers from Sapiens Labs created two ongoing data acquisition programs in India and Tanzania to collect large-scale, high-quality neuroimaging data. The programs have collected data from over 7,900 participants with comparable data quality to lab settings and lower costs.
Researchers explored neuroanatomy underlying social dominance in nonhuman primates, focusing on the uncinate fasciculus and its correlation with social dominance measures. The study found a significant correlation between this brain tract and social aggression, supporting human studies linking it to social dominance.
Researchers found that mice with weakened laterodorsal tegmentum responses exhibited reduced withdrawal symptoms and increased interactions with new objects. The interpeduncular nucleus inhibits the LDTg, suggesting a potential target for nicotine addiction treatments.
Researchers found that friends tend to perceive products similarly and exhibit synchronized brain activity when viewed together, even predicting each other's purchasing intentions. As friendships deepen, this similarity strengthens.
Researchers found that positive emotions during learning increase brain activity, which predicts better memory performance. Positive emotions, not neutral or negative ones, play a crucial role in enhancing memory strength.
A recent study published in eNeuro found that mobile mindfulness meditation apps can improve attention control in adults, as measured by eye movement tasks. Self-reported measures suggest that participants were unaware of the cognitive improvement from meditation.
Older adults show increased locus coeruleus activity when processing hard-to-read facial expressions, which strengthens a neural pathway supporting mental well-being and resilience. This adaptive mechanism could help older individuals cope with cognitive decline or younger people with anxiety or depression.
Researchers used music to assess brain activity and found that changes in patterns of activity reflect transitions between emotions triggered by music. The study suggests that the relationship between neural activity and emotional responses depends on the context of a person's previous emotional state.
Researchers found that music's emotional impact influences memory recall, with stronger emotional responses associated with better retention of event gist and details. Individual differences in emotional responses to music affect which memories are improved.
Researchers discovered that stress activates neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, leading to impaired sleep and memory. Inhibiting these neurons reduced stress-related memory issues while slightly improving sleep.
A new study uses a fruit fly model to investigate the genetic basis of cocaine addiction. By genetically modifying bitter-sensing receptors in fruit flies, researchers found that these flies developed a preference for cocaine over sugar. This study suggests that genes involved in human cocaine addiction may also be active in fruit flies.
Researchers discovered a novel connection between the amygdala brain region and social learning in zebra finches. Young birds preferred approaching tutors with longer but less frequent songs, suggesting the amygdala plays a role in socially selective behavior. This finding sheds new light on the neural mechanisms underlying song learning.
Researchers discovered that oscillatory activity in two brain regions plays a crucial role in integrating auditory and visual information during memory recall. The study used movie clips with synchronized or asynchronous speech sounds and lip movements to explore this phenomenon.
A new mouse study sheds light on the mechanisms underlying sex differences in psychiatric conditions. Histamine signaling affects dopamine levels differently in males and females, with histamine decreasing dopamine in males and increasing it in females.
Researchers at Korea University found a link between internal bodily awareness and making decisions aligned with group consensus. This connection was mediated by brain activity states associated with self-referential processing and internal attention.
Researchers found that rats are more likely to aid distressed peers if they have previous positive social interactions with them. Helper rats showed increased activity in brain regions associated with empathy and motivation compared to less helpful rats. Oxytocin signaling may play a role in motivating rats to care for others.
A large-scale study published in JNeurosci reveals distinct brain activity patterns during lucid dreaming compared to rapid eye movement sleep and wakefulness. The findings suggest shifts in brain region activation and communication that may be linked to changes in perception, memory processing, self-awareness, and cognitive control.
A study published in JNeurosci found that brain activity associated with social coordination during dance is linked to specific movement patterns, particularly bouncing or flexing of the knees. This discovery sheds light on how the brain supports socially engaging activities while integrating dynamic sensory information.
Research finds that letting the mind wander during low-focus tasks can improve performance and learning, exhibiting sleep-like brain activity linked to enhanced task learning. Spontaneous mind wandering is more beneficial than deliberate mind wandering in these situations.
A study found that people process movements differently based on avatar appearance, with a neural system dedicated to perceiving others' movements playing a key role. The findings may help scientists improve human-AI interactions.
Researchers found females with a history of binge eating start drinking alcohol quicker than males. Increased levels of phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) prevent cooccurrence of binging in both sexes of mice.
Researchers identified a brain signal involved in impaired attentional control from sleep deprivation that could predict worsened athletic performance. Athletes with stronger attention control may be more easily able to overcome the negative effects of lack of sleep and stress on their competitive performances.
A rat study found that type 2 diabetes can suppress the activity of the anterior cingulate cortex, a region critical for cognition and emotions. This weakening affects reward signals and leads to altered behavior, highlighting a potential link between T2D and psychiatric disorders.
A new eNeuro study explores how competing sounds affect subcortical brain activity, revealing increasingly smaller responses as multiple speech streams are introduced. This finding has implications for understanding hearing loss and difficulties with auditory processing in noisy environments.
Researchers found that prior stress exposure impacts TBI outcomes differently in male and female rats, with males showing increased anxiety but protected social motivation, while females exhibit opposite effects on social motivation.
Researchers compared cortical organization between humans and macaques, as well as humans and chimpanzees, to identify distinctively human neuroanatomical features. Unique prefrontal cortex organization and connections between brain regions associated with emotional regulation, social cognition, and language processing were found.
Researchers used a rat model to explore electroacupuncture's effectiveness in reducing neuropathic pain, promoting urinary function and decreasing neuroinflammation. The study suggests electroacupuncture as a promising treatment strategy for bladder pain syndrome.
A longitudinal study found that neural changes in teenagers' brain networks for reward processing and executive functioning improve with age. The researchers discovered changes in the strength of communication between brain regions as people aged, associated with improved reward-related decision-making and executive function.
A study found that long-term cocaine use increases impulsivity in healthy rats, contradicting the belief that high impulsivity predicts cocaine use. This contradicts research on impulsive choice and delay-discounting tasks.
A history of social isolation and alcohol use may influence how males and females respond to ketamine treatment. Female rats took ketamine more than males, while prior alcohol use increased female rat ketamine intake and changed synapse structure.
A new study explores whether pairing food labels with odors affects how people perceive foods and promotes healthy shopping. The researchers found that odor-paired beverages were perceived more positively, suggesting that odors can improve label perception and potentially promote healthy food choices.
The Society for Neuroscience has selected 10 Early Career Policy Ambassadors to advocate for the scientific community and learn effective means of advocacy. The program, a 10-month commitment, aims to create an extensive network of neuroscience advocates.
Research reveals that perceived trustworthiness of others alters brain activity in reward and salience networks, driving assessments of safety and risk. Higher perceived odds of HIV transmission lead to more distrust and activation of the salience network.
Research finds that cerebellar serotonin alleviates anxiety-like behavior in mice, suggesting a new treatment approach. The study's findings counter previous ideas and provide insights into the neural circuits driving anxiety.
A rodent study identified a disrupted brain circuit that contributes to poor decision-making in adulthood after prenatal alcohol exposure. The study also developed an algorithm to predict whether rats were exposed to alcohol based on their behavior alone.
Research using fMRI to image brain activity in sleeping infants reveals that they process odors as early as one month old. The study found that distinct odors did not trigger unique activation patterns, unlike adults. Infants also inhale more vigorously when scents are appetitive than aversive.
The Society for Neuroscience and The Kavli Foundation are launching a new four-part webinar series on neural adaptation in changing ecosystems. The program aims to increase awareness and knowledge about the science of neurobiology and its response to environmental changes.
The Society for Neuroscience is supporting 445 neuroscience trainees to attend Neuroscience 2024 through the Trainee Professional Development Award program. The 2024 recipients include a record-high representation of non-U.S. and female trainees, with funding provided by numerous donors and foundations.
The Society for Neuroscience has announced three Gold Sponsors of Neuroscience 2024: Johnson & Johnson, Ncardia, and Nxera Pharma. These organizations will be recognized throughout the event for their support.
The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) has received a $1.35 million grant to continue its Neuroscience Scholars Program, which provides career development and networking opportunities for underrepresented graduate and postdoctoral researchers. The program aims to foster agile leadership and a sense of belonging among participants.