Articles tagged with Behavioral Neuroscience
A team of scientists at the Indian Institute of Science discovered that disrupting a single gene alters serotonin signaling, leading to swarming behavior in worms. The study suggests that neuromodulatory control of social behavior might be evolutionarily conserved across species.
A Dartmouth study challenges the conventional view of the amygdala as a primitive 'fear center' by revealing its role in mediating between competing learning strategies. The research suggests that the amygdala favors action-based learning, promoting exploration and flexibility to overcome fear.
Researchers used computer vision and machine learning to study Drosophila melanogaster courtship. They found that males rely on specific visual cues, particularly the female's eyes, to determine her anterior-posterior body axis. This recognition shapes when and how different elements of courtship are deployed.
A study published in Molecular Psychiatry reveals that kinases MNK1 and MNK2 have distinct functions in the brain, regulating different behaviors such as social contacts and object recognition. The findings suggest that targeting each kinase individually may be more effective for treating neurological disorders.
Researchers have identified a molecular mechanism that regulates the slow and sustained release of oxytocin within the brain, which is essential for modulating social interactions. This finding provides new insights into how hormonal signaling is regulated in the brain and opens avenues for research into neuropsychiatric disorders.
Researchers at Nagoya University developed an AI system called YORU that recognizes animal behaviors with over 90% accuracy. The system combines real-time video capture with optogenetics to selectively target brain cells driving specific behaviors, offering a major breakthrough in social behavior studies.
A recent rat study identified the neural mechanism underlying chills, a cold sensation that supports the body's response to infection. The findings suggest that prostaglandin E₂ boosts cold signals from the lateral parabrachial nucleus to the central nucleus of the amygdala, triggering chills and promoting warmth-seeking behavior.
Researchers used transcranial alternating current stimulation to synchronize frontal and parietal lobes, increasing participants' ability to make altruistic choices. This study provides new insights into the neural basis of social decisions and has implications for future research on cooperation.
A new study published in Nature Communications found that people are more willing to help others when they experience poorer conditions. The researchers tested willingness to help in different contexts and found that people were more likely to stop what they were doing to help others in a poor environment than in a richer one.
The FENS Forum 2026 will be Europe's largest neuroscience congress, covering areas of basic to translational research. Journalists can register for free and attend symposia and poster sessions.
Researchers used AI to analyze brain activity of 130 two-month-old infants, discovering that they can categorize objects in their brains at just two months old. This challenges earlier thought and highlights the richness of brain function in the first year of life.
Research from City St George's University of London found self-employed individuals report 24% higher stress levels than non-self-employed counterparts over a six-year period. Cortisol levels also remained elevated throughout the day, suggesting prolonged exposure to daily stresses.
A new study from the Stowers Institute has identified a mechanism that makes fleeting moments unforgettable, revealing a critical step in forming long-lasting memories. The research discovered a specific type of chaperone protein that allows proteins to change shape and form functional amyloids that house long-term memory.
Research by Université Laval found that physical exercise and living in favorable conditions reduce depression risk by maintaining blood-brain barrier integrity. Fgf2 protein plays a key role in this mechanism and may serve as a biomarker for mood disorders.
A new study at York University found autistic adults who are right-handed demonstrate a reduced specialization of hand use and more distinctive movement patterns. Autistic participants used their right hand less often for grasping and followed highly unique, idiosyncratic paths.
Researchers at ASHBi found a 'motivation brake' in the brain's ventral striatum and ventral pallidum pathways. This circuit dampens drive to act when tasks are stressful or unpleasant, impacting daily life and social functions. The discovery sheds light on conditions like depression and schizophrenia.
A novel experimental framework captures natural complexity, revealing how human pairs settle into stable cooperative, intermediate, or competitive roles. The study integrates factors that mirror real-world behavior, predicting partners' decisions with high accuracy.
Scientists at Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience have identified a neural code that allows the brain to track distance traveled without visual cues. This ability is essential for navigation and memory formation, and may offer insight into early navigation problems in Alzheimer's disease.
Research finds that musical improvisation involves a dynamic reconfiguration of the brain between emotion, technique, and structure. The study proposes a scalable method for exploring the neural basis of spontaneous creative behavior, highlighting the importance of interaction between networks over time.
A mouse study by Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology researchers has found that acetylcholine release is essential for breaking habits and enabling new choices to be made. The study's findings may help understand diseases such as Parkinson's disease, addiction, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
A large-scale study found that individuals with ADHD are at higher risk of being convicted of crimes compared to those without ADHD. Relatives of individuals with ADHD also show increased risk, even if they themselves do not have ADHD. Early identification and treatment of ADHD in high-risk families may help mitigate these risks.
Children who spend a significant amount of time on social media platforms experience a gradual decline in their ability to concentrate. The study found no association between TV watching or video game playing and attention symptoms.
A new AI method, DISK, helps recover missing data in animal behavior recordings, enabling more accurate analysis of neuroscience experiments. This technology, developed by a team of researchers, can analyze movements at sub-second scales and provide real-time estimations of data quality.
A Rice University study found that financial worries shape bedtime behaviors and predict poor sleep quality. The research identified "stress-before-bed behaviors" as a key mechanism linking economic worry and job insecurity to declining sleep health. Practicing healthy sleep hygiene behaviors can help break the stress-sleep cycle.
Researchers at the University of Plymouth have successfully used transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) to change the function of a deep region of the human brain, specifically the nucleus accumbens. This tiny element is triggered by enjoyable experiences and helps us learn behaviours that lead to rewards.
A study found that when people work together on a shared task, their brains process information in similar ways. After an initial period of synchronized neural activity, the alignment of brain activity increased as the pairs worked together and followed agreed-upon rules.
A study published in Nature Neuroscience found that the same dopamine mechanism responsible for drug addiction also controls natural behavioral fatigue. Researchers used male fruit flies to demonstrate that desensitization of D2R receptors leads to a decrease in motivation and interest.
Researchers at UTA are exploring how guided cognitive training can improve brain performance, particularly in navigation and memory. The study found that functional brain changes support behavioral differences, rather than increased brain volume.
A study from the Champalimaud Foundation found that when fruit flies are deprived of essential amino acids, their brains upregulate two olfactory receptor genes involved in smell, leading to a refined sense of smell that guides them to protein-rich yeast and gut bacteria. This interplay between smell and taste regulates feeding behavior.
A study published in Nature found that hunger can trigger aggression in female mice towards pups, especially when their reproductive cycle is in a certain stage. The researchers discovered that hunger information from the hypothalamus affects the brain's medial preoptic area, stimulating pup-directed aggression.
Scientists at the German Primate Center discovered that the brain reorganizes itself to control motor prostheses in a virtual environment. The findings suggest that different regions of the brain jointly reflect corrected movement commands, rather than separate components for expected results and error signals.
The Ebbinghaus illusion shows that perception is not a mirror of reality but a construction of the brain. Research on fish and birds reveals diverse perceptual strategies, with guppies closely mirroring human perception and ring doves showing variability in their responses.
A new MIT study found that a theta-frequency brain wave scans the mental image and a region of the cortex maps visual information. The researchers observed that performance depends on the phase of this wave when the changed square appears, and the vertical location on the screen of that target square.
A new study found that sniffer dogs' performance in real-world scenarios is highly variable and dependent on factors like region, day, and explosive type. The research suggests that limited access to explosive training materials is a primary challenge for teams, highlighting the need for wider access to improve detection performance
A new study reveals that astrocytes, a type of glial cell, are responsible for stabilizing memories through repeated engagement. The researchers found that Fos activity in astrocytes only occurs during recall, and that these cells can be activated to produce stable memories.
Researchers propose that neural activity in each animal becomes linked through perception, allowing individuals to maintain bearings towards others relative to stable features in the environment. This synchronization gives rise to spontaneous alignment and collective movement.
Researchers at UCLA have identified a type of neuron in the orbital region of the frontal cortex that is most active when a decision outcome is unknown, suggesting these neurons play a crucial role in learning and mental flexibility. The discovery could aid the development of new treatments for rigid thought patterns such as anxiety an...
Researchers have identified four distinct profiles of Nonverbal Learning Disability, each with different strengths and challenges. The study suggests that current diagnostic criteria may be too broad, highlighting the importance of individualized approaches to care for children with NVLD.
Researchers at OIST investigate the neural basis of social hierarchy in male mice, identifying brain cells involved in determining dominance. The study found that the 'loser effect' is attributed to activity of certain brain cells, called cholinergic interneurons, and has implications for understanding human social behaviors.
The Neuropixels Ultra probe overcomes technical challenges in recording individual cells across multiple brain regions. It detects twice as many brain cells and distinguishes specific subtypes, enabling scientists to decode and track brain cell performance related to visual stimuli.
Researchers discovered that a group of neurons controlling aggression in males are turned off in non-pregnant females but switch on when they become mothers. Hormones like oxytocin and prolactin powerfully activate these neurons.
Researchers discovered seals can detect size differences of just 17.6mm between vortex rings, helping them identify fish escape directions. This ability may allow seals to outmaneuver fleeing fish.
A new MUSC study found that machine learning can analyze brain activity images to identify smokers most likely to benefit from targeted rTMS sessions, leading to improved effectiveness and reduced side effects. The research uses functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans to detect changes in blood flow and measure brain activity.
The study found that a specific spinal circuit is involved in both ejaculation and arousal, and integrates sensory inputs to adjust its output based on the animal's internal state. The researchers also discovered that Gal⁺ neurons receive sensory input from the penis and can trigger ejaculation, but their effects are suppressed by brai...
Researchers have developed a miniaturized microscope capable of real-time, high-resolution imaging of brain activity in mice. The device uses a novel neural network to reconstruct images in 3D and is nearly the size of a grape.
Researchers discovered that humans treat a robotic hand as part of their body schema when working together on tasks, particularly when the robot's gestures are synchronized with those of humans. The study paves the way for better-designed robots that can interact more intuitively with humans.
Researchers used zebrafish with a mutation in the ube3a gene to investigate how environmental factors affect social behavior in individuals with autism spectrum disorders. The study found that environmental adjustments could hold therapeutic potential for ASD-related behavioral challenges.
Researchers created the first brain-wide map of decision-making at single-cell resolution in a mammal using mice turning tiny steering wheels. The dataset reveals distributed neural networks guiding decision-making across 279 brain regions in 139 mice.
Researchers created a comprehensive brain-wide activity map of decision-making in mice, revealing that signals are distributed across multiple brain regions. The study challenges traditional hierarchical views and highlights the importance of prior expectations in guiding behavior.
A UCLA study reveals how a region of the medial prefrontal cortex integrates information across the brain to coordinate physiological and behavioral responses. The findings could help develop targeted therapies for stress-related and social dysfunction disorders.
Researchers at MLU and University of Münster show that CBT leads to measurable changes in brain structure, particularly in areas responsible for emotion processing, and increases grey matter volume in the amygdala and hippocampus.
A new UCLA study found that the optimal level of emotional response while listening to music influences memory, with too little or too much arousal having opposite effects. Music can become a powerful therapeutic tool for improving learning and memory in conditions like Alzheimer's disease and PTSD.
Research at the University of Rochester Medical Center and University College Dublin has revealed key insights into multisensory integration in the brain. The study found that when changes occur in both visual and auditory inputs, auditory and visual decision processes unfold in parallel but come together in the motor system.
Researchers successfully transferred a gift-giving courtship behavior from Drosophila subobscura to Drosophila melanogaster by manipulating a single gene in insulin-producing neurons. This study represents the first example of transferring behavior between species through genetic manipulation.
A new study found that tolcapone increases activity in the prefrontal cortex during self-control tasks, associated with better behavioral control and reduced alcohol consumption. The findings suggest that medications increasing prefrontal dopamine could be a promising lead for treating alcohol use disorder.
Researchers found that a single amino acid substitution in the ADSL enzyme affects its stability and expression, contributing to modern human differences in behavior. The study suggests that this change may have provided an evolutionary advantage in certain tasks.
Researchers developed a personalized brain stimulation system powered by AI to safely enhance concentration from home. The system, which uses non-invasive brain stimulation and adaptive AI, showed significant improvements in sustained attention and learning abilities.
Neuroscientist Sora Shin is studying how early-life trauma shapes brain circuit function and contributes to uncontrolled rage, a public health issue linked to psychiatric disorders and societal challenges. Her research could lead to novel treatment strategies for trauma-related aggression.
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.
A study found that evaluators' musical experience influences the sight-over-sound effect, reducing its impact for those with auditory expertise. The study used Japanese high school brass band competitions and found no significant evidence of the effect in musicians, but a stronger presence in non-musicians.