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Researchers identify brain circuit to reduce anxiety without side effects

Weill Cornell Medicine investigators have identified in a preclinical model a specific brain circuit whose inhibition appears to reduce anxiety without side effects.

28 Jan 2025

Study explores the effects of recent and lifetime cannabis use on brain function

A new study published today in JAMA Network Open explores the effects of both recent and lifetime cannabis use on brain function during cognitive tasks.

28 Jan 2025

Study shows long-term cannabis use disrupts critical brain processes

Heavy lifetime cannabis use is associated with reduced brain activation in key cognitive regions, particularly during working memory tasks, while recent use may cause temporary cognitive impairments.

28 Jan 2025

Exercise improves brain insulin sensitivity and lowers dementia risk in older adults with prediabetes

Researchers explore the impact of exercise on the short-term regulation of insulin pathways in brain circuits.

28 Jan 2025

New brain biomarker identifies pain sensitivity and may predict chronic pain risk

A novel biomarker signature combining PAF and CME predicts chronic pain risk, linking brain activity to individual pain sensitivity and treatment strategies.

28 Jan 2025

Study reveals sex-specific differences in microglial response to CSF1R inhibition

Researchers investigate the sex-dependent microglial response to a colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) inhibitor.

24 Jan 2025

New genomic insights could transform bipolar disorder treatment

Study published in Nature identifies nearly 300 genomic regions associated with bipolar disorder, and 36 key genes involved in the disease.

23 Jan 2025

Study reveals how the brain differentiates hot and cold sensations

When we touch something hot or cold, the temperature is consciously sensed. Previous studies have shown that the cortex, the outermost layer of the brain, is responsible for thermal sensations.

22 Jan 2025

Mapping neuronal IL-1R1 expression reveals insights into brain function

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a key molecule involved in inflammation and plays an important role in both healthy and diseased states.

17 Jan 2025

Brain stimulation enables nuanced feeling in prosthetic hands

You can probably complete an amazing number of tasks with your hands without looking at them. But if you put on gloves that muffle your sense of touch, many of those simple tasks become frustrating. Take away proprioception - your ability to sense your body's relative position and movement - and you might even end up breaking an object or injuring yourself.

16 Jan 2025

Researchers develop a computational model of grid cell-mediated episodic encoding

Nearly 50 years ago, neuroscientists discovered cells within the brain's hippocampus that store memories of specific locations. These cells also play an important role in storing memories of events, known as episodic memories. While the mechanism of how place cells encode spatial memory has been well-characterized, it has remained a puzzle how they encode episodic memories.

16 Jan 2025

Uncovering the neurobiological mechanisms of delta opioid receptor agonists

The global burden of anxiety- and depression-related disorders is on the rise. While multiple drugs have been developed to treat these conditions, current medications have several limitations, including slow action and adverse effects with long-term use. This underscores the urgent need for novel, rapidly-acting therapeutic agents with minimal side effects.

15 Jan 2025

High-fat diet linked to impulsive behaviors and brain changes

Researchers examines how a high-fat diet modifies inhibitory control.

14 Jan 2025

Genetics, brain development, and mental health shape teen eating

Investigating the interplay of genetics, brain maturation, and mental health, this study reveals insights into adolescent eating behaviors and obesity risk.

14 Jan 2025

Research identifies role of PV interneurons in pain processing

A research team led by Prof. HU Li at the Institute of Psychology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has revealed that parvalbumin (PV) interneurons in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) preferentially encode pain intensity and drive nociceptive-evoked gamma oscillations (GBOs).

13 Jan 2025