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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

Individual breaths shape brain activity

Research reveals individual breaths at rest create unique brain wave patterns, affecting mental processes such as thinking, attention, and emotional regulation. The study suggests that brain-body interactions are crucial for assessing and treating neuropsychiatric patient populations.

SourceSociety for Neuroscience·JournalJNeurosci·DateAug 31, 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

Brown University neuroscientists help identify a biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease progression

Researchers at Brown University have identified a brain-based biomarker that can predict mild cognitive impairment development into Alzheimer's disease. They used a custom-built tool to analyze electrical activity from neurons and found distinct differences in beta events between patients who developed the disease and those who did not.

SourceBrown University·JournalImaging Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 4, 2025

Brain waves measured during sleep predict cognitive impairment years before symptoms appear, study finds

Researchers developed an AI tool to predict cognitive impairment over the next five years by analyzing brain wave patterns during sleep using EEG. The tool identified subtle differences in brain wave patterns that predicted which participants would later be diagnosed with cognitive impairment.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalJournal of Alzheimer’s Disease·TypeObservational study·DateMar 4, 2025

New research reveals that meditation induces changes in deep brain areas associated with memory and emotional regulation

Researchers used intracranial EEG recordings to find that meditation led to changes in the amygdala and hippocampus, key regions involved in emotional regulation and memory. Loving kindness meditation was specifically found to be associated with changes in brain wave activity.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 4, 2025

Mental fatigue leads to loss of self-control by putting brain areas to sleep

A study published in PNAS found that prolonged mental fatigue can lead to a decrease in self-control, causing individuals to behave more aggressively. The researchers discovered that areas of the frontal cortex dedicated to executive functions showed sleep-like activity when subjects were subjected to demanding mental tasks.

SourceIMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 11, 2024

AI boosts the power of EEGs, enabling neurologists to quickly, precisely pinpoint signs of dementia

Researchers at Mayo Clinic used AI to analyze electroencephalogram (EEG) tests, identifying subtle brain wave patterns characteristic of cognitive problems like Alzheimer's disease. This technology has the potential to provide healthcare professionals with a more accessible tool for early diagnosis in communities without easy access to...

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalBrain Communications·DateJul 31, 2024

Brain waves usually found in sleep can protect against epileptic activity

Researchers at University College London have discovered that slow waves typically present during sleep can also occur during wakefulness in people with epilepsy, potentially protecting against increased brain excitability. These 'wake' slow waves decrease the impact of epileptic spikes on brain activity and may protect against seizures.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 30, 2023

Study finds tracking brain waves could reduce post-op complications

A new MIT study reveals that analyzing brain wave patterns can help doctors determine when patients are at risk of entering a deeper state of unconsciousness during surgery. By tracking these patterns, anesthesiologists may be able to prevent postoperative cognitive impairments and reduce the risk of complications.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 17, 2023

Are we 'brainwashed' during sleep?

Researchers at Boston University have made the first-ever images of cerebrospinal fluid washing in and out of the brain during sleep. The study shows that CSF pulses in rhythmic waves, closely tied to brain wave activity and blood flow, which could provide insights into age-related impairments and neurological disorders.

SourceBoston University·JournalScience·DateOct 31, 2019

Mental Qigong can be just as rewarding as its physical cousin

Researchers discover that mental practice of Wu Qin Xi has the same effect on EEG brain activity as physical training, increasing theta and alpha waves in beneficial ways. This finding provides hope for individuals who cannot perform physical Qigong due to mobility issues or other constraints.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateApr 27, 2017

Improving memory with magnets

Scientists at McGill University used magnetoencephalography and electroencephalography to study the relationship between theta waves and auditory memory. They found that applying transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) at the same frequency as natural theta waves improved memory performance, while arrhythmic TMS had no effect.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNeuron·DateMar 27, 2017

Authentic brain waves improve driver security

A new authentication system using brain wave biometrics can prevent vehicle hijacking and halt intoxicated drivers. The system continuously scans the driver's brain waves to verify their identity, ensuring safe operation of vehicles carrying valuable commodities and money.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Biometrics·DateSep 5, 2013