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Largest neuroimaging study of bulimia nervosa finds structural brain differences linked to diagnosis and binge-eating severity

A large neuroimaging study found structural brain differences in individuals with bulimia nervosa, particularly in regions involved in reward and motivation, social and sensory processing. More frequent binge eating was associated with more widespread differences in brain structure.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·TypeObservational study·DateSep 16, 2026

Artificial hibernation reveals secrets of long-term memory

Researchers challenge traditional assumptions on synaptic potentiation and instead identify clustered patterns of connections as crucial for retaining long-term memories. Through artificial hibernation techniques, they discovered that small clusters of engram-engram synapses are preserved to enable accurate recall.

Imaging shows increased brain aging across different brain disorders

A study published in PLOS Medicine found that people with dementia, mild cognitive impairment, alcohol addiction, or psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia show increased brain aging patterns. The researchers analyzed MRI data from over 45,900 controls and compared them to 2,698 patients with different brain conditions.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateJul 21, 2026

New paper outlines roadmap for next generation of brain-computer interfaces designed to treat cognitive disorders

A new review proposes a roadmap for developing cognitive brain-computer interfaces to treat cognitive disorders, integrating BCI research and clinical neuromodulation. The emerging field aims to detect dysfunctional brain states and respond with adaptive neurostimulation.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalTrends in Cognitive Sciences·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateJul 20, 2026

Brain network disorders study reveals astrocyte shifts linked to mood disorders

A recent study reveals that astrocyte subtype dynamics play a crucial role in regulating mental health, particularly in mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. The review highlights how inflammatory signaling, metabolic imbalance, and ion channel dysfunction contribute to disease progression.

SourceBrain Network Disorders Editorial Office·JournalBrain Network Disorders·TypeLiterature review·DateJul 9, 2026

Can we engineer being on the same wavelength with others? Research offers a cautious “yes”

Researchers at New York University have developed a way to measure and visualize brainwaves of thousands of people during live face-to-face communication, finding that synchrony can be used to guide and improve social interactions. This phenomenon, known as social synchrony, is linked to healthy relationships and learning.

SourceNew York University·JournalTrends in Cognitive Sciences·DateJun 26, 2026

Mount Sinai researchers identify brain “entrapment” patterns associated with depression

Researchers identified distinct brain activity patterns in people with depression, which may contribute to the experience of feeling stuck. The study suggests depression involves a form of brain-state entrapment, where the brain becomes more likely to enter certain patterns of activity and less likely to transition out of them.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateJun 12, 2026

USC study maps brain network changes linked to bipolar disorder severity and treatment

A USC study found subtle but widespread differences in the brain's communication networks in people with bipolar disorder, relating these differences to illness severity and treatment. The research team analyzed brain scans from 449 individuals with bipolar disorder and 510 healthy controls, revealing less densely connected networks an...

SourceKeck School of Medicine of USC·JournalBiological Psychiatry·TypeObservational study·DateJun 9, 2026

FireANTs brings AI speed and geometric precision to medical imaging

FireANTs, an open-source algorithm, combines AI optimization and geometry to quickly match complex medical images. The new method can accomplish what took weeks in minutes, detecting subtle changes that signal disease or cognitive decline, making it practical for clinical practice.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 9, 2026

Printed manga may give the brain a storytelling advantage

A new study by researchers at the University of Tokyo found that readers of paper manga took longer to answer complex questions than those who read on tablets, indicating a potential advantage of printed materials for comprehension. Brain scans revealed reduced activation in frontal language-related brain regions when reading on paper.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalPLOS One·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 3, 2026

How does acupuncture affect motor function after a stroke?

A new study demonstrates that acupuncture can significantly improve muscle function recovery in patients who experienced a stroke. The true-acupoint group showed significant improvements in motor recovery tests, with positive correlations between increases in gray matter volume and limb motor function recovery.

SourceWiley·JournalCNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics·DateJun 3, 2026

Brain scans reveal two distinct subtypes of autism with different underlying biology

Researchers identified two distinct subtypes of autism based on brain connectivity patterns, one characterized by reduced connectivity linked to synaptic pathways and the other by increased connectivity associated with immune-related systems. The study's findings offer a biological basis for personalized care and support.

SourceThe Child Mind Institute·JournalNature Neuroscience·TypeImaging analysis·DateMay 29, 2026

UC3M researchers discover how tissue acidosis alters the "transport system" inside cells

A new study by UC3M researchers reveals how extracellular acidosis destabilizes microtubules, the 'avenues' that organize internal cellular traffic, leading to disruptions in cellular function. This finding holds significant implications for understanding pathologies like cancer, diabetes, and certain infectious processes.

SourceUniversidad Carlos III de Madrid·JournalJACS·TypeImaging analysis·DateMay 26, 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

Rewiring rumination: A targeted brain-based approach to depression

A new study uses real-time fMRI neurofeedback to train people to regulate rumination, a common symptom of depression, by restoring healthy neural coupling between the posterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The approach shows promise in reducing depressive symptoms while leaving anxiety intact.

SourceATR Brain Information Communication Research Laboratory Group·JournalTranslational Psychiatry·TypeExperimental study·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.

For the first time, the direction of neural signals in the brain has been determined non-invasively from neuronal spontaneous activity using functional MRI

For the first time, researchers have identified the direction of neural signals in the brain using functional MRI. The study showed that feedforward and feedback nervous impulses each have unique signatures that can be detected with a new method called uFLARE.

SourceChampalimaud Centre for the Unknown·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 4, 2026

Group averages obscure how an individual’s brain controls behavior, Stanford Medicine study finds

A new Stanford Medicine study shows that brain-scan averages obscure individual brain dynamics, particularly in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. By analyzing data from over 4,000 children, researchers found distinct patterns of brain activity when data is analyzed individually versus as a group.

SourceStanford Medicine·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateApr 27, 2026

Hippocampal pathways once thought separate converge to integrate “where” and “why” in reward processing

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.

SourceUniversity of Maryland Baltimore County·JournalJNeurosci·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 10, 2026