Research on the brain basis of behavior. Covers reward and pleasure signals, attention in children, taste circuitry, and adaptive AI models.
Researchers at Yale University found that Agrp neurons, which control food intake, also initiate repetitive behaviors seen in OCD and anorexia nervosa. These neurons play a crucial role in psychiatric conditions, highlighting the multitasking nature of brain function.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory successfully decoded how rats learned to associate specific sounds with rewards, revealing the neural mechanisms underlying auditory learning. The study provides a key insight into how memories are encoded in the brain and may have implications for understanding other sensory systems.
Researchers at NYU have developed a method to identify functional groupings of neurons based on co-fluctuation of their responses, revealing that prefrontal cortex neurons are organized into spatially contiguous maps.
Researchers found that stimulating frontal lobes with low-level electricity increases mind wandering, which is associated with improved task performance. The study suggests that the frontal lobes play a causal role in mind wandering behavior and may contribute to behavioral outcomes like creativity and mood.
A study of 62 preteen girls found that those who experimented showed stronger connections between the rostrolateral prefrontal cortex and posterior insula/putamen, linked to exploring actions and body state, respectively. This could help identify teens at risk for risky behaviors.
The discovery of newborn neurons in adulthood challenges dogma, but their role in behavior and cognition is unclear. Environmental factors influence the birth of new neurons, which may aid adaptation to changing environments.
A study using a tadpole model reveals parallels between fetal chemical exposure and autism spectrum disorder, highlighting altered neural anatomy and behavior. The research suggests that understanding this connection could lead to discovering mechanisms to prevent neurodevelopmental disorders.
A study in female mice reveals the brain region where hormonal state and social interaction are integrated, providing insights into human attraction and rejection behaviors. The researchers found that neurons dedicated to socio-sexual behavior were active only when females were receptive to males.
Researchers used brain connectivity scans to identify patterns that predict success with behavioral activation talk therapy. Patients with major depressive disorder who had stronger connections between brain regions involved in cognitive control and emotion regulation responded better to the therapy.
Researchers at UNC School of Medicine used new deep-brain imaging techniques to link individual neuron activity patterns to specific behaviors in mice. The study found that nearly identical neurons had separate functions, with some activated during searching for food and others during consumption.
Researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center have identified the brain's on-off switch for thirst, revealing two types of neurons that drive and suppress the sensation. The study uses optogenetics to activate specific neuron populations in the subfornical organ, leading to increased drinking behavior in mice.
A study published in PNAS found that individuals with prosopagnosia can still recognize human movements, engaging different brain mechanisms. The research team used point-light displays to test patients with brain damage preventing facial recognition, revealing a neural process for comprehending actions independent of the actor.
Researchers at UCLA have discovered a genetic link between PTSD and two gene variants, COMT and TPH-2. These variants may contribute to the onset and persistence of the disorder, suggesting that heredity influences a person's risk of developing PTSD. The findings could lead to faster diagnosis and better treatment for survivors.
Recent studies using brain imaging show promise in predicting future behaviors such as reading performance, math skills, criminality, and response to treatment. The technology may help identify individuals at high risk of failure, allowing for early interventions and prevention strategies.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have developed a driver model that can predict steering movements up to 95% accurately. This breakthrough may lead to safer car systems, including anti-skid and fatigue detection systems.
Researchers found that OCD patients were less capable of stopping pedal-pressing habits due to excessive caudate nucleus activity, linking compulsions to the brain's habit system. The study suggests that habits may be behind various psychiatric behaviors, including drug abuse and binge-eating.
Researchers found highly conserved brain centers in insect species that share similarities with vertebrate learning centers, such as the hippocampus. The study suggests a common ancestral origin for these structures, possibly dating back 600 million years.
Research suggests that generosity in children requires a deliberate thought process, unlike automatic moral evaluation. Brain activity studies found that only later reappraisal of moral scenes predicts actual generosity in young children. This insight may help parents foster generosity in kids this holiday season.
A team of neuroscientists has found that our brains use elapsed time as a proxy for task difficulty to calculate how confident we should be when faced with making choices but lacking sufficient evidence. This association helps untangle the different factors that contribute to the decision-making process.
Expectant dads experience prenatal hormone changes, with men showing significant declines in testosterone and estradiol levels. The study suggests that impending fatherhood may trigger hormonal shifts in partners, which could impact postpartum behavior and adjustment.
Researchers found that GLP-1, a diabetes medication, reduces drinking behavior and increases water intake in rats. This study raises awareness for diabetics who are already at risk for dehydration.
Scientists have discovered that dragonflies employ a sophisticated system of movement and prediction to catch their prey. By analyzing the intricate movements of their heads and bodies, researchers found that dragonflies use internal models to guide their behavior and anticipate the movements of their prey.
Scientists have developed a mathematical theory based on roundworm foraging that predicts how animals decide to switch from localized to very broad searching. The theory could explain animal behavior in a more unified way, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and extraterrestrial behavior.
Research reveals that frontal brain systems and structural connections are disrupted in individuals who attempt suicide, leading to weaker connections between the prefrontal cortex and amygdala. This study provides an important first step in understanding the neurobiology of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
A new wireless brain sensor enables researchers to study neural circuit activity in animal models without cables or wires. The device transmits rich neuroscientifically meaningful signals from the brain during sleep, wake, and exercise.
A Yale study challenges conventional wisdom by finding that explaining mental disorders through biological factors decreases empathy from therapists and psychiatrists. The researchers argue that this approach can be dehumanizing, reducing people to mere biological mechanisms.
A study by Brigham Young University researchers found that people say they care about online security but behave otherwise, ignoring malware warnings. Brain data is a better predictor of security behavior than self-response, suggesting a need to fortify the 'weakest link' in security.
A high-fructose diet during adolescence can exacerbate depressive-like behavior and alter the brain's response to stress. The study found that rats on a high-fructose diet had an altered stress hormone response and changed genetic pathways associated with stress regulation.
A new analysis from a long-term study of over 1,000 New Zealanders found a strong relationship between low credit scores and poor cardiovascular health. The study also suggests that personal attributes such as self-control, planning ahead, and perseverance can predict both better financial status and better health.
Researchers studied adolescents' brain connections, impulsivity, and sugar intake to understand the risk of alcohol use and abuse. The findings suggest that reduced executive cognitive functioning and impaired connectivity in key brain networks may contribute to risky behaviors.
A team at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory discovered a population of neurons that can process multiple behaviors at once, blurring the lines of specialization. This finding raises questions about how information is encoded in the brain and may lead to new approaches in understanding cognition and mental disorders.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have discovered that a single neuron in C. elegans can regulate both speed and direction of movement, routing information through multiple downstream neural circuits. This fundamental biological mechanism has implications for understanding human brain function.
Eiman Azim won the 2014 Eppendorf & Science Prize for his research on neural circuits controlling skilled movement. He identified two separate spinal cord pathways that enable rapid updates and regulation of movements.
A new study found that walking workstations significantly improve both physical and mental well-being during work hours. Participants showed increased satisfaction and reduced stress, boredom, and weight-related issues despite having varying levels of exercise habits or body mass index.
Researchers found that zebra finch pairs utilize their innate calls for bonding and cohesion, with brain activity correlating to these calls. This suggests an evolution of songbirds' brain regions from simple vocalization systems to specialized networks for learned songs.
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation honored Herbert Pardes with its inaugural Humanitarian Prize for his significant contributions to the field of mental health. The prize recognizes Dr. Pardes' tireless work in education, prevention, treatment, and advocacy, as well as his championing of empathic healthcare.
A recent study published in Biological Psychiatry found that infants' preference for human faces over objects is associated with reduced callous and unemotional behaviors in toddlerhood. The research also showed that mother-child interactions during playtime can influence a child's emotional development.
A team of researchers has successfully recorded sight neurons in a jumping spider's brain for the first time. The study reveals that jumping spiders use different sets of eyes to process acuity and motion, requiring integration of inputs from multiple eyes in the brain.
A groundbreaking study led by Brunel University London found that in modern, urbanized societies, people prefer highly feminine women and highly masculine men. The research challenged the theory of social and sexual selection, suggesting that this preference is an urban habit rather than a long-standing tradition.
A new study by Yale School of Medicine researchers has found that about 20% of younger siblings of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) will develop the condition by age 3. The study identified specific social-communicative behaviors at 18 months that distinguish infants with ASD from their peers.
UC Riverside researchers are investigating the mechanisms of auditory hypersensitivity in Fragile X syndrome (FXS), a genetic disorder that affects social impairments, repetitive behaviors, and cognitive deficits. The study aims to identify underlying neural mechanisms and develop new therapeutic targets for FXS and autism.
Two UC San Diego professors, David Braff and Gregory Light, have been recognized for their contributions to schizophrenia research. They developed innovative methods to identify biomarkers and create new psychosocial and pharmaceutical therapies for the disorder.
A recent study by McMaster University found that only 40% of Canadians engage in exercise as a coping mechanism for stress. Younger, single, more educated, and active adults are more likely to use exercise to relieve stress.
Scientists developed a new statistical method to track the continuous changes in wakefulness during sleep onset, identifying healthy subjects who behave as though awake despite being clinically asleep. The study suggests that understanding how one falls asleep is crucial for improving sleep diagnosis and treatment.
Researchers at Caltech have developed a new tool that uses genetic engineering and light to visualize and map neural networks in living organisms. The tool, which detects changes in membrane voltage, allows for real-time observation of neuronal activity and its effects on behavior.
A first-of-its-kind study on nicotine addiction found that nicotine withdrawal similarly reduced reward responsiveness in human smokers and nicotine-treated rats, particularly those with a history of depression. The study's findings have implications for developing new treatments to aid smokers in quitting.
Researchers at Yale School of Medicine discovered that the volume of the parietal cortex in the brain can predict where people fall on the risk-taking spectrum. The study found that individuals with larger volume in this part of the brain were willing to take more risks.
Researchers found that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex plays a causal role in enabling honest behavior, suggesting a tradeoff between self-interest and integrity. Participants with damaged areas showed less aversion to lying, but still preferred honesty in certain situations.
Brown University neuroscientists report that they have directly controlled the cells producing gamma brainwaves in mice, resulting in increased touch sensitivity. The study confirms the first direct evidence of gamma brainwaves affecting perception and attention, suggesting a more complex role for these brainwaves than previously thought.
Research at the Center for BrainHealth found that risk-taking teens exhibit hyperconnectivity between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, indicating an imbalance in emotional regulation. This imbalance may be associated with increased activity in the nucleus accumbens, a center linked to reward sensitivity.
Researchers developed flyPAD technology to monitor fruit flies' feeding behavior, finding that they eat by rhythmically extending their proboscis in a stereotyped fashion. The study also shows that the way flies adapt to starvation is similar to how mammals do it.
The LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Nursing has received a $1.05 million grant to train healthcare teams in recognizing risks associated with PTSD, depression, and TBI in veterans undergoing surgery. The project aims to improve care for military veterans and diverse populations with behavioral health disorders.
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation recognized six exceptional young scientists with the 2014 Klerman and Freedman Prizes for their innovative research on mental health. The winners were awarded for their work using neuroimaging to identify the biological roots of major mental illness, as well as their discoveries on the genetic m...
Researchers have linked autistic behaviors in Fragile X syndrome to the MMP-9 enzyme, which can be targeted therapeutically. The study found that deleting MMP-9 favorably impacts behaviors associated with FXS, offering new hope for treating the disorder.
Researchers found that increased impulsive behavior in children is associated with altered brain connections, particularly in the posterior cingulate cortex and right angular gyrus. These changes can serve as biological indicators for predicting behavioral problems and social adaptation difficulties.
Researchers advocate for a new discipline combining benefits of neuroscience and psychology treatments to address mental disorders. The 'mental health science' approach aims to uncover mechanisms of existing psychological treatments and leverage neuroscience insights to create improved therapies.
A study by Yale University researchers found that obese women were impaired in learning associations between food cues and rewards, but normal-weight individuals and men did not show the same impairment. This suggests a specific behavioral intervention targeting food-specific learning impairments may be effective in treating obesity.
Researchers discovered that hidden differences in neural circuits can account for varying responses to brain injury. The study used sea slugs and found that artificially rewiring the neural circuit made some animals susceptible or invulnerable to injury.
A study by Georgia State University researchers found that subtle variations in neural connections can impact behavior and susceptibility to brain injury. The findings have significant implications for predicting patient outcomes and tailoring treatments.
Researchers at Brown University studied tadpoles' neural signals to understand how they detect approaching visual stimuli. They found that the tectum region of the brain plays a crucial role in distinguishing impending collisions from mere presence, with inhibitory neurons acting as facilitators of network function.