Brain News and Research

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The human brain is the center of the human nervous system and is a highly complex organ. Enclosed in the cranium, it has the same general structure as the brains of other mammals, but is over three times as large as the brain of a typical mammal with an equivalent body size.

Horse sedative use among humans spreads in deadly mixture of ‘tranq’ and fentanyl

Andrew McClave Jr. loved to lift weights. The 6-foot-4-inch bartender resembled a bodybuilder and once posed for a photo flexing his muscles with former pro wrestler Hulk Hogan.

26 Feb 2024

Study unveils role of dopamine and serotonin in social behavior

In a study in today's (Monday Feb. 26) Nature Human Behavior, scientists delve into the world of chemical neuromodulators in the human brain, specifically dopamine and serotonin, to reveal their role in social behavior.

26 Feb 2024

Study reveals how long COVID can affect brain function through vascular disruption

The neurological response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be due to brain-brain barrier (BBB) disruption.

26 Feb 2024

Mediterranean diet linked to lower depression risk in older women

A study in the British Journal of Nutrition finds that adherence to the Mediterranean diet is inversely associated with depressive symptoms, particularly in older women, highlighting the diet's potential mental health benefits.

25 Feb 2024

Novel technique could transform the treatment landscape for brain disorders

The human brain's adaptability to internal and external changes, known as neural plasticity, forms the foundation for understanding cognitive functions like memory and learning, as well as various neurological disorders.

24 Feb 2024

Measuring brain activity and skin conductance to predict a person's emotions

Machines still can't think, but now they can validate your feelings, based on new research from New Jersey Institute of Technology Assistant Professor Jorge Fresneda.

24 Feb 2024

Study reveals pivotal insights into the progression of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease, the second most common type of progressive dementia after Alzheimer's disease, affects nearly 1 million people in the U.S. and an estimated 10 million individuals worldwide.

24 Feb 2024

Using deep brain stimulation to map dysfunctional brain circuits linked to four disorders

Mass General Brigham researchers identified sets of connections that are disrupted and malfunctioning as a consequence of Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, obsessive compulsive disorder and Tourette's syndrome.

24 Feb 2024

Decoding how bats distinguish sounds for navigation and communication

Seba's short-tailed bat (Carollia perspicillata) lives in the subtropical and tropical forests of Central and South America, where it mostly feeds on pepper fruit.

23 Feb 2024

Research sheds new light on brain-heart interactions during sleep

A discovery by researchers from the GIGA - Center of Research Cyclotron at University of Liège reveals that the sleeping body also reacts to the external world during sleep, explaining how some information from the sensory environment can affect sleep quality.

23 Feb 2024

Ketamine variant shows promise in treating social impairments

Well-being is important for everyone, especially when we feel lonely or isolated. Depression is a serious challenge for many people and finding an effective solution is key.

22 Feb 2024

Mapping the human dysfunctome with deep brain stimulation

A new study led by investigators from Mass General Brigham demonstrated the use of deep brain stimulation (DBS) to map a 'human dysfunctome' - a collection of dysfunctional brain circuits associated with different disorders.

22 Feb 2024

First brain-wide map reveals surprises about mating and bonding in prairie voles

How does sex relate to lasting love? To answer that question, scientists have long studied a small Midwestern rodent called the prairie vole, one of the few mammals known to form long-term, monogamous relationships.

22 Feb 2024

Understanding and addressing neurodevelopmental challenges in congenital heart disease

More than a decade of new knowledge about neurodevelopmental risk in people with congenital heart disease has changed the thinking about who is most at risk and the factors that impact neurological development, learning, emotions and behaviors, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement published today in the Association's flagship, peer-reviewed journal Circulation.

22 Feb 2024

Neighborhood violence impacts children's brain development

Living in neighborhoods with high levels of violence can affect children's development by changing the way that a part of the brain detects and responds to potential threats, potentially leading to poorer mental health and other negative outcomes, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.

22 Feb 2024