Amygdala News and Research

RSS

Scientists uncover 53 genetic clues that shape math ability beyond IQ

Researchers uncovered 53 genetic loci linked to quantitative ability, distinguishing it from general intelligence and non-cognitive skills. The study highlights brain pathways in axon guidance, synaptic signaling, and mRNA splicing as biological underpinnings of math-related ability.

22 Sep 2025

Imaging breakthrough shows how spinal cord injuries affect the whole central nervous system

A new PET tracer can provide insights into how spinal cord injuries affect not only the spinal cord, but also the brain, according to new research published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

13 Sep 2025

Scientists uncover brain circuit that turns cravings into eating behavior

Researchers found that the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis integrates pleasure signals from central amygdala prodynorphin neurons and hunger signals from agouti-related peptide neurons to drive consumption. Manipulating this bed nucleus of the stria terminalis circuit bidirectionally altered food intake and body weight in mice.

11 Sep 2025

Study reveals electrophysiological signals associated with extinction of aversive memories in humans

Suppression of fear-related memories after unpleasant experiences is very critical for adaptive behavior, as it allows one to inhibit responses that could lead to psychiatric problems such as anxiety or depression.

5 Sep 2025

Chronic stress and fatty diet disrupt brain-liver circuit leading to diabetes

This study discovered a circuit in the brain that connects stress with increased glucose and therefore may link stress to type 2 diabetes. In stressful situations, this circuit from the amygdala to the liver naturally provides a burst of energy.

3 Sep 2025

Breathwork may mimic psychedelic effects through brain changes

Breathwork while listening to music may induce a blissful state in practitioners, accompanied by changes in blood flow to emotion-processing brain regions, according to a study published August 27, 2025, in the open-access journal PLOS One by Amy Amla Kartar from the Colasanti Lab in the Department of Clinical Neuroscience at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, U.K., and colleagues.

28 Aug 2025

Transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation shows promise for gastrointestinal disorders

Imbalanced autonomic function, characterized by reduced vagal activity and sympathetic dominance, is increasingly recognized in various gastrointestinal (GI) disorders.

27 Aug 2025

Cognitive behavioral therapy linked to increased grey matter in emotion processing regions

Psychotherapy leads to measurable changes in brain structure. Researchers at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and the University of Münster have demonstrated this for the first time in a study in "Translational Psychiatry" by using cognitive behavioral therapy.

27 Aug 2025

Positive emotion bias in aging may signal cognitive decline

As people age, they display a bias in recognizing emotions as positive-to the point of improperly labeling neutral or negative emotions as positive.

25 Aug 2025

Surprising brain effect: Music uniquely targets detailed memory via arousal

Researchers found that post-learning music changes emotional arousal, which in turn shapes memory differently across individuals. Moderate arousal boosted detailed memory, while extremes favored gist, showing music’s unique but variable impact on consolidation.

20 Aug 2025

Pandemic left measurable changes in teen brains, hormones, and immunity

Adolescents assessed after COVID-19 lockdowns showed lower daily cortisol, higher inflammation, and reduced prefrontal cortex activity compared to matched pre-pandemic peers, suggesting widespread stress-related biological changes. These alterations mirror patterns seen after prolonged early-life stress, raising concerns about long-term health risks.

13 Aug 2025

Study explores how oxytocin influences brain activity to shape social behavior

Oxytocin promotes social behaviors and helps maintain relationships. But clinical trials in patients with autism show variability in how consistently oxytocin improves these behaviors.

12 Aug 2025

Special von Economo neurons may hold key to super-sharp memory in 80+ superagers

Researchers at Northwestern University’s SuperAging Program reveal how some people over 80 retain memory performance like those decades younger, linking it to unique brain structures, reduced pathology, and lower inflammation. Their 25-year study highlights genetic, cellular, and social traits that may protect cognitive function.

10 Aug 2025

Penn State team investigates the neural basis of nightmares and mental health

Dreams, and likely nightmares, are experienced universally across humans and animals, but neuroscientists still do not know why.

24 Jul 2025

Intranasal insulin safely and effectively reaches key memory regions of the brain

A groundbreaking brain imaging study from Wake Forest University School of Medicine confirms a vital step toward new Alzheimer's disease treatments: Intranasal insulin, delivered via a simple nasal spray, safely and effectively reaches key memory regions of the brain in older adults.

23 Jul 2025

Ultra-processed foods threaten brain health in kids and teens, review warns

Children, adolescents, and unborn babies exposed to high levels of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) face increased risks of impaired brain development, cognitive deficits, and long-term mental health challenges. The review underscores how UPF-driven changes in reward pathways, nutrient deficits, inflammation, and the gut–brain axis can have lasting impacts across generations.

13 Jul 2025

Genetic links between type 2 diabetes and subcortical brain structure revealed

Recently, the team led by Chief Physician Quan Zhang and Associate Professor Feng Liu at Tianjin Medical University General Hospital systematically evaluated the genetic associations between type 2 diabetes mellitus and subcortical brain structures using large-scale genome-wide association summary statistics and advanced statistical genetic methods.

11 Jul 2025

Scientists discover pathway linking physical pain to emotional suffering

Pain isn't just a physical sensation-it also carries emotional weight. That distress, anguish, and anxiety can turn a fleeting injury into long-term suffering.

10 Jul 2025

Restoring neuron balance in the amygdala reverses anxiety in mice

The Synaptic Physiology laboratory, led by Juan Lerma at the Institute for Neurosciences (IN), a joint center of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and Miguel Hernández University (UMH) of Elche, has discovered that a specific group of neurons in the amygdala, a brain region involved in emotion regulation, plays a key role in the emergence of conditions such as anxiety, depression, and altered social behavior.

4 Jul 2025

Sleep does not block brain response to screams and alarms

During sleep, the brain must achieve a delicate balance: disconnecting from sensory input to allow restorative functions, while remaining alert enough to wake if danger arises.

26 Jun 2025