A new study reveals that female Ormia ochracea flies evaluate cricket songs based on multiple temporal features, including sound pulses and pauses. The flies recognize relevant songs based on combinations of these features, rather than just pulse rate, and use this information to find a suitable host for their developing offspring.
The shift to digital life is reshaping brains, communities, and empathy, warns Professor Vidar Halldorsson. He cites decreased empathy and increased loneliness as consequences of screen-based communication, which strips away social cues.
UCF Assistant Professor Cali Calarco is investigating how nicotine affects brain cells, providing insights that could help improve treatments for addiction. Her research focuses on the nucleus accumbens, an area of the brain involved in reward, learning, and behavior, and explores the role of mitochondria in drug-seeking behavior.
Researchers identify brain circuit that supports flexible behavior, but is hijacked by cocaine to drive repetitive actions. Activating or suppressing opposing neural pathways can either promote rigid behavior or interrupt cocaine-driven repetitive behavior.
Researchers found that the amygdalostriatal transition zone, a small brain region near the amygdala, is responsible for sustained fear responses. The study provides new insights into the brain's fear circuitry and may lead to the development of more effective therapies for fear and panic disorders.
Researchers mapped the locus coeruleus (LC) neurons, discovering they transmit multiple signals through distinct routes with great precision. They found that LC neurons in the dorsal part send connections to the cerebral cortex and forebrain, while those in the ventral area communicate with the brainstem and spinal cord.
Researchers identified a brain protein important for maintaining dopamine-related cells and normal development, providing new insights into ADHD. The study found that dopamine D2 receptor-expressing cells were crucial for normal brain development and function, and that their disruption contributed to ADHD-like behaviors.
Researchers propose using carefully designed combinations of approved drugs to create a more convincing placebo, limiting participant disclosure, and rigorous testing to ensure effective masking. This approach, called UMBRAA, aims to overcome the challenge of distinguishing between psychedelic effects and the power of expectation.
Finalists in the 2026 Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists have been recognized for their groundbreaking research in Life Sciences, Chemical Sciences, and Physical Sciences & Engineering. The 18 Finalists will compete for three $250,000 Laureate prizes, with the remaining 15 receiving $15,000. The Awards aim to support innova...
A study from the University of California, Davis, shows that interacting with miniature horses and donkeys can improve adolescents' mood and reduce loneliness and sadness. Teens who recognized the animals' body language cues, such as lip-wriggling and walking away, showed bigger reductions in these emotions.
A new brain atlas reveals that neurons build their identity in the first hours of life, rather than inheriting it from their parent cells. The atlas, which mapped nearly 250,000 fly brain cells, shows that neuronal identity is established through a flexible, modular system involving different DNA switches and regulatory proteins.
The brain convenes ensembles of neurons to distinctly represent and sort options during decision-making, ensuring clarity and preventing interference. After making a decision, new ensembles provide new representations for chosen and unchosen options.
Researchers identified a distinct 40 kHz inverted-U USV associated with palatable chocolate consumption, suggesting rats vocally express enjoyment of eating. The vocalization was linked to the endogenous opioid system and was more frequent with palatable food, suggesting a measurable signal for positive emotional states.
A study involving 48 preschool children found that brief digital or traditional gameplay improved performance on tasks requiring quick responses, but reduced performance on tasks demanding greater concentration and self-control. The study suggests that these play sessions temporarily enhance automatic attentional processes at the expen...
Researchers have mapped the complete neural wiring behind taste in an animal, tracing taste signals from sensory neurons to motor neurons that drive feeding. The study reveals neural pathways that could explain how taste triggers anticipatory insulin release before a single calorie is absorbed.
Researchers propose an AI framework, called interoceptive AI, that uses internal states to inform learning and decision-making in dynamic environments. This approach treats internal conditions as a continuous source of context, influencing what an agent learns, prioritizes, and does.
Researchers at the University of Ottawa have identified key neural changes behind motor control in zebrafish, which could provide insights into human movement development. By studying electrical currents in nerve cells, the team found that changes in these currents shape the refinement of movement in growing zebrafish, allowing them to...
Researchers have developed a genetic toolkit to isolate individual neuron types in a fruit fly brain, revealing distinct neuronal subgroups that produce different effects, including suppressing aggression. The study identifies a universal control of aggression across sexes and highlights the complex roles of neurons within the same neu...
A new study from the University of Surrey finds that traffic noise disrupts the benefits of bird song and other nature sounds, with negative impacts on stress reduction and positive mood changes. Reducing speed limits near parks and increasing vegetation could help mitigate this effect.
A study published in PLOS Biology found that brain synchrony between people of different generations increases when they create art together, predicting feelings of loneliness or social connection. Brain synchrony decreases between same-generation pairs, suggesting a dynamic relationship between social connections and brain activity.
A study from the Smithsonian suggests that female Cope's gray treefrogs are susceptible to choice overload when confronted with multiple mating calls, leading to reduced ability to select a suitable mate. The research found that cognitive limits play a significant role in sexual selection among animals, highlighting the importance of u...
A study in mice found that the prefrontal cortex can block flexible thinking, but silencing this region allows for faster learning of a new strategy. This discovery may provide insights into human neurodiversity and cognitive disorders.
A recent study by Nagoya University researchers found that orexin neurons play a crucial role in regulating motivated behavior. Using novel rat models, they discovered that activity in orexin neurons increases with effort, helping drive motivated behavior.
A new study reveals that ketamine enhances neuroplasticity in female mice by activating the FKBP51 protein, but has no effect on male mice. This finding could lead to better treatments for depression and highlight the importance of sex differences in drug effects.
A new study in mice reveals that brain cells in the orbitofrontal cortex respond differently when animals expect information versus no information. The researchers identified a unique neural signature associated with the intrinsic value of knowledge, which could guide animals in pursuing knowledge.
A study found that patients with proximal humerus fractures often avoid movements due to fear of re-injury or discomfort, leading to chronic pain and impaired mobility. Early identification and targeted interventions can help boost confidence and facilitate faster recovery.
Researchers at Emory University developed an AI system, CapuchinAI, to automate cognitive studies of capuchin monkeys in the wild using facial recognition and real-time testing. The system identifies individual capuchins with 97% accuracy and provides a scalable field method for cognitive testing.
Researchers at Kyoto University developed a new training method to study habit formation in mice, revealing two distinct brain circuits managing different aspects of habits. The first circuit determines whether behavior becomes a habit, while the second controls execution levels.
Researchers discovered that brain regions switch between shared and independent timing, allowing for flexibility in coordination. This finding provides a new framework for understanding how brain regions communicate and enables the development of brain-inspired artificial intelligence and robotic control systems.
Researchers discovered branched O-mannose glycans play a crucial role in maintaining nodes of Ranvier and efficient nerve signaling. The study found that these sugar structures help preserve the narrow architecture required for fast and reliable communication.
The Neuroscape Technology for Aging Health - Digital Approaches (TAH-DA) longitudinal study aims to identify biometric predictors of cognitive decline over a year. Participants will use Samsung wearable technology and digital interventions to assess brain health.
Researchers discovered that random sounds played during sleep can disrupt the consolidation of new memories by altering the composition of sleep stages. Participants who heard randomly played sounds spent less time in deep sleep and experienced poorer memory performance.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have identified a region in the brainstem that controls attention by suppressing distractions and directing focus. This discovery could lead to more targeted treatments for attention disorders like ADHD.
The study found that during surprising events, the brain allocates more energy to sensory information, leading to better memory recall. In contrast, predictable situations stimulate faster responses but less detailed encoding.
Researchers at MIT found that people expect generosity to flow one way in asymmetric relationships, and follow precedent to maintain equal relationships. In symmetric relationships, such as friendships or family ties, reciprocity is expected, but not in asymmetric ones.
A Virginia Tech study found that female brains use a molecular process not seen in male brains to form fear memories. The researchers suggest that treatments for PTSD may need to be tailored differently for men and women. The discovery could lead to better understanding of PTSD and more effective treatments.
A study led by Raül Andero at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona found that the ratio of progesterone to estradiol hormones in saliva can predict memory performance, including fear extinction in both mice and humans. This hormonal balance may help identify optimal times for learning and memory tasks.
Researchers found that pregnant Pacific pocket mice trained to fear snakes produce more vigilant offspring, which survive better in the wild. This method of antipredator training may improve conservation breeding and reintroduction programs.
A new study reveals how Philip Morris Companies Inc. used cigarette research and flavor engineering to design Lunchables, a successful ultra-processed food for children. The company's strategy was based on optimizing 'technical synergies' between tobacco and food divisions.
Researchers found habits transition from goal-directed to habitual behavior in a matter of seconds, contrary to the long-held theory of gradual strengthening. This rapid transition suggests a brain region plays a key role in altering entrenched habits.
Scientists have identified dopamine as a key player in mediating stress-induced courtship suppression in male Drosophila fruit flies. The duration of stress exposure significantly influenced the persistence of suppressed courtship behavior, highlighting the importance of dopamine signaling in this process.
Scientists found that larger rewards can increase dopamine signals and lead to faster learning. Mice learned a task in one day with fewer large rewards compared to thousands of small ones. The study's findings have implications for neuroscience research and could lead to new discoveries on learning and cognition.
A team of researchers has developed a flexible neural sheet device that can record and stimulate neural activity across multiple sensory cortices in mice. The device, which is thinner than a human hair, is inserted into the epidural space to avoid brain penetration, allowing for wide-area coverage of the temporal and deep cortical areas.
A study found that singing mice didn't evolve a bigger brain or new neural connections to produce complex songs. Instead, their brains roughly tripled the number of neurons connecting the mouth-movement control center with target regions for hearing and vocalizations.
A recent NIH-funded study reveals that oral small-molecule GLP-1 drugs can suppress eating for pleasure and reduce cravings by targeting a deeper brain region, potentially treating other dysfunctions in reward processing. The findings provide insight into the neural mechanisms underlying the effects of these medications.
Genomic Press launches Brain Health, a new peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the science of lifelong brain resilience, featuring research on glial plasticity and recovery from depression. The inaugural issue explores the intersection of fields including cognitive reserve, sleep, aging biology, nutritional psychiatry, and social sciences.
Researchers subjected fruit flies to extreme gravitational forces and found they adapted and recovered, showing resilience in movement and energy use. The study suggests the brain makes energy trade-offs based on gravity levels, with moderate increases pushing for more movement and higher energy demands.
The University of Oldenburg is building a unique research facility to study animal navigation and magnetoreception. The NaviGate building will offer conditions worldwide for addressing current questions in animal navigation research, sensory biology, and neurosensorics.
A new study from Center for BrainHealth researchers found that declining slow-wave activity during sleep explains why anxiety rises in older adults. Participants who generated fewer slow waves woke up more anxious the next morning, while those with stronger slow-wave sleep did not show the same pattern.
Researchers found that building everyday behavioral skills in early childhood can shield young brains from the detrimental effects of prenatal stress. Children with stronger adaptive skills showed comparable brain activation patterns to their unexposed peers, suggesting these skills may protect brain function.
A new paper in Neuroscience & Biobehavioural Review proposes a comprehensive neurobiological model of affective tactile memory, suggesting that emotionally meaningful touch is stored in the brain in powerful and lasting ways. This research opens a new window into how early and everyday tactile experiences influence our emotional lives.
The 2026 cohort of Leon Levy Scholars in Neuroscience will pursue research projects addressing neurological disorders and developing new treatments. The program provides scientific and professional career development opportunities, including mentorship and networking.
Inhibitory neurons, once thought to suppress movement, actively generate and coordinate rhythmic limb movements required for grooming in fruit flies. This discovery challenges traditional views of neural circuitry and has potential implications for robotics and biomimetic design.
A study found divergent neural pathways for drinking patterns in young men and women, highlighting the importance of sex-specific prevention strategies. Amygdala reactivity was associated with depressive symptoms in males, while females showed a 'threat-avoidance' profile with lower alcohol risk scores.
Cichlids use a specific sequence of behaviors to build nests, involving digging, grasping, and sand-flicking. Practice and repeated exposure solidify these skills, even after long periods without access to shells.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute mapped the neural circuits that enable C. elegans worms to navigate towards attractive odors and avoid unappealing ones. The study revealed a specific sequence of neural activation, involving key neurons and the neuromodulator tyramine.
Researchers from UMBC discover that inputs from the dorsal and ventral hippocampus interact closely on the same neurons in the nucleus accumbens, integrating memories of places and contexts with drive to pursue rewards. This convergence may help animals form associations between rewarding outcomes and environments, essential for survival.
Researchers have mapped a brain circuit specific to chronic pain, suggesting a promising route to treatment. Silencing this circuit eased chronic pain while preserving acute pain responses in mice. The discovery raises the possibility of developing drugs that target this circuit to ease chronic pain without impacting acute pain.
Researchers investigated brain mechanisms that maintain balance between intimidation and physical aggression in mice. Projections from the lateral hypothalamus to the dorsal raphe nucleus play a critical role in preserving this balance. Increasing pathway activity led to increased attacks, while inhibiting it decreased attack bites.
A study published in PNAS found that the brain's social perception is more inclusive when a shared national identity is made salient. The research suggests that this neural flexibility can help bridge divisions and foster harmonious intergroup relations. By emphasizing common identities and shared goals, social cohesion can be improved.