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Study shows how music may help tackle addiction

A study published in Addiction Neuroscience found that music therapy reduces cravings and alters brain activity in people with substance use disorders. The therapy was shown to improve emotional regulation and reduce negative emotions, providing encouraging evidence for its role in addiction treatment.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalAddiction Neuroscience·DateSep 30, 2026

New brain imaging measure reveals how closely blood flow matches brain cells’ energy needs

Researchers developed a new brain imaging measure, CCSI, to study how blood flow and cellular organization align across the brain. CCSI revealed patterns of blood flow and cellular density that correlated with mitochondrial activity and energy demands, offering new insights into brain function and potential treatments for diseases.

SourceKeck School of Medicine of USC·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 16, 2026

“Brain signatures whisper warnings:” Researchers identify age 9 as critical turning point for anxiety and depression

A longitudinal study identified distinct brain-wave patterns emerging from age 9 that can forecast a child's vulnerability to anxiety or depression by age 13. The predictive markers reveal divergent neurodevelopmental trajectories linked to the right and left sides of the brain, respectively.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·TypeImaging analysis·DateMay 19, 2026

FAU study maps first brain blueprint of a fly’s split-second great escape

A new study at Florida Atlantic University maps the neural wiring system linked to a fly's split-second escape behaviors, revealing a decentralized communication strategy. The findings provide insight into how brains process information at extraordinary speed and may represent a conserved blueprint shared across species.

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournaliScience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 13, 2026

Genomic Press launches Brain Health, a new peer-reviewed journal of lifelong brain resilience, with inaugural interview featuring Luísa Pinto on glial plasticity

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 increase understanding of brain’s default mode network

A research team identified distinct subregions within the default mode network (DMN) that act as senders and receivers of information, enabling flexible shifts between perception and memory-driven thought. The study reveals that the DMN is not functionally uniform but composed of subregions with distinct connectivity biases.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 7, 2026

Chinese Medical Journal article white matter lesions modifying endovascular therapy outcomes in large ischemic core stroke: A secondary analysis of the ANGEL-ASPECT trial

A secondary analysis of the ANGEL-ASPECT trial found EVT to be beneficial for patients with anterior-circulation LVO and a large ischemic core and absent-to-moderate white matter lesions. In contrast, those with severe WMLs showed less pronounced benefits, suggesting uncertainty about EVT's efficacy in this subgroup.

SourceChinese Medical Journals Publishing House Co., Ltd.·JournalChinese Medical Journal·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 7, 2026

Imagination is more than sensory replay

A Northwestern University study found that imagination is not just a copy of sensation, but emerges at later stages of processing when the brain represents information holistically. The researchers mapped brain activity during imagination and perception, finding overlap in higher-level association areas.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNeuron·DateMar 31, 2026

Key to human intelligence lies in how brain networks work together

Researchers at the University of Notre Dame investigated how brain networks are organized and work together to form a unified system. They found evidence for system-wide coordination in the brain that is both robust and adaptable, suggesting that intelligence reflects how brain networks are coordinated and dynamically reconfigured.

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalNature Communications·TypeImaging analysis·DateJan 26, 2026

Signature patterns of brain activity may help predict recovery from traumatic brain injury

Researchers found that early communication between three pairs of brain regions is associated with favorable six-month functional outcomes. The study identified signature patterns in resting-state functional MRI data that can strengthen standard prognostic methods for assessing outcomes after moderate-to-severe brain injury.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateDec 22, 2025

Disappointment alters brain chemistry and behavior

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.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 17, 2025

Is bioluminescence the key to safe, effective brain imaging?

Researchers at Brown University have created a bioluminescence tool that enables the measurement of activity in living brain cells without damaging them. The CaBLAM tool uses bioluminescent light production to capture single-cell and subcellular activity at high speeds, allowing for longer recordings and reducing hardware requirements.

SourceBrown University·JournalNature Methods·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 12, 2025

Brain mechanisms in acute and chronic depression vary, according to new research

A new study found that individuals with a history of major depression showed higher MRI markers associated with neuroinflammation in the VTA, suggesting increased extracellular inflammatory processes. Current depressive symptom severity was associated with distinct microstructural changes indicating different underlying pathophysiologi...

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging·TypeImaging analysis·DateNov 18, 2025

New cell-scale method reconstructs whole-brain fiber tracts from routine histology

Researchers developed a novel method called cytoarchitecture-based link estimation (CABLE) to infer axonal pathways from routine histology, reconstructing three-dimensional whole-brain fiber tracts at cellular scale. CABLE outperforms existing neuroimaging tools in resolving complex geometries and has potential applications in psychiat...

SourceShenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalNature Methods·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 14, 2025

Carnegie Mellon researchers bring sickle cell disease pain into focus

A new study by Carnegie Mellon University's Wood Neuro Research Group uses advanced brain imaging and a digital visualization tool to better understand how pain is processed in the brain for people with sickle cell disease. The team found that patients had reduced connectivity across key brain networks linked to pain perception, partic...

A ‘bird’s eye view’ of how human brains operate

Researchers used data from the Human Connectome Project to build computational models that linked connectivity with brain activation across various cognitive processes. The findings show a consistent correlation between connectivity and function, suggesting that specific patterns of connectivity can predict brain activity.

SourceOhio State University·JournalNetwork Neuroscience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 27, 2025

When is the brain like a subway station? When it’s processing many words at once

A new study by New York University researchers found that the brain processes multiple words at once in a hierarchical manner, similar to a subway system. The brain coordinates different levels of processing, such as sounds, words, and meanings, without interference, allowing for efficient interpretation of speech.

SourceNew York University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 20, 2025

Study suggests a novel approach for building communication and social connection among individuals with autism spectrum disorder

A new study published in Biological Psychiatry found that individuals with similar levels of autistic traits are more attracted to each other and their brains synchronize in unique ways during passive and active communication. This suggests a novel approach for building social connection among people with autism by tailoring environments.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·TypeImaging analysis·DateSep 10, 2025

Novel accurate approach improves understanding of brain structure in children with ADHD

Researchers developed a new method to correct for variations in brain imaging measurements, reducing bias and increasing the accuracy of studies on ADHD. The traveling-subject method demonstrated reduced measurement bias while maintaining sampling bias, revealing decreased brain volume in critical regions for cognitive functions.

SourceUniversity of Fukui·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·TypeImaging analysis·DateSep 5, 2025

New study identifies novel neural pathway to treat alcohol use disorder

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.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging·TypeImaging analysis·DateAug 13, 2025

Neural navigation: FAU engineers, sensing institute map brain’s blood flow

Researchers from FAU and the Sensing Institute created a detailed computer model of the mouse brain's vasculature, simulating how brain blood vessels respond to hemodynamics and vasodynamics. The model shows that transitional vessels play a critical role in regulating flow and protecting the brain during increased activity.

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalPLOS One·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 12, 2025

Memories drift across neurons over time

Researchers found that map-making brain cells in the hippocampus are activated differently even when navigating a static environment, shedding light on how the brain processes spatial memories. The study's findings could have profound implications for understanding memory, learning, and aging.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 23, 2025

Your memories create time

The brain segments and organizes events into experiences by placing unique bookmarks on them, allowing us to revisit and learn from our lives. The lateral entorhinal cortex creates a signal that constantly drifts in a pattern never repeating itself, marking the beginning and end of an experience.

SourceNorwegian University of Science and Technology·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 4, 2025

Different brain profiles, same symptoms: New study reveals subtyping patients provides key insights into depression's complexities

A novel study in Biological Psychiatry highlights the layered and complex interactions between clinical symptoms and neurobiological sources of variation in depression. The research found that multiple brain profiles may manifest as the same clinical symptoms, supporting the presence of both one-to-one and many-to-one heterogeneity.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·TypeImaging analysis·DateJun 19, 2025

How does coffee affect a sleeping brain?

A recent study found that caffeine increases brain signal complexity and enhances criticality during sleep, with effects more pronounced in young adults. This can lead to a state where the brain is neither fully awake nor relaxed, potentially interfering with restful recovery.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalCommunications Biology·DateMay 29, 2025

A research team from the UJI tests how the brain uses context boundaries to guide decision-making in both spatial and abstract environaments

The DAM-Decision and Memory group at Universitat Jaume I studied the cognitive and neural computations that guide decision-making and long-term memory. They found that the hippocampal and medial prefrontal cortex regions use context boundaries to make decisions in both spatial and abstract contexts.

SourceUniversitat Jaume I·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 4, 2025

Neuroscience breakthrough: A Princeton-led research team has mapped the entire brain of an adult fruit fly for the first time

A Princeton-led research team has built the first neuron-by-neuron and synapse-by-synapse roadmap through the brain of an adult fruit fly. The map reveals connections within the brain at every scale, enabling researchers to better understand its underlying logic and potentially develop tailored treatments for brain diseases.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalNature·TypeImaging analysis·DateOct 2, 2024