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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.

New study links storytelling to evolution of human memory

New research from the University of Mississippi suggests that telling stories – from ancient campfire tales to modern-day digital communication – may be tied to how human memory evolved.

16 Mar 2026

New BrainGate iBCI typing neuroprosthesis can restore communication in patients with paralysis

Loss of communication can be among the most devastating symptoms for patients with paralysis. A new study by investigators from Mass General Brigham Neuroscience Institute and Brown University describes an investigational implantable brain computer interface (iBCI) typing neuroprosthesis that can restore communication with speed and accuracy.

16 Mar 2026

New decision tool helps Parkinson’s patients consider deep brain stimulation

Deciding if and when to pursue deep brain stimulation (DBS) can be overwhelming for people with Parkinson's disease. While DBS is one of the most effective interventions for movement symptoms, it's also among the most complex.

16 Mar 2026

Boosting noradrenaline during learning makes the brain link memories more broadly, study finds

A randomized placebo controlled experiment shows that increasing noradrenaline during learning does not improve basic memory accuracy but increases the spread of associations across the hippocampal cognitive map. This broader neural linking leads to greater overgeneralization errors days later, suggesting that noradrenergic arousal can reshape how related memories become interconnected.

16 Mar 2026

Sleep-like brain activity linked to attention lapses in ADHD

New from JNeurosci, Elaine Pinggal, from Monash University, and colleagues assessed how sleep-like brain activity in awake adults influences sustained attention during a task.

16 Mar 2026

Study maps gene activity linked to neurotransmission in living brains

Researchers have identified a distinct and reproducible gene expression program associated with neurotransmission in the living human brain, offering unprecedented insight into the molecular mechanisms that support human cognition, emotion, and behavior.

16 Mar 2026

Study explains how the brain focuses on a single voice in noisy environment

MIT neuroscientists have figured out how the brain is able to focus on a single voice among a cacophony of many voices, shedding light on a longstanding neuroscientific phenomenon known as the cocktail party problem.

16 Mar 2026

Childhood stress may lead to digestive issues later in life

Early life stress may lead to digestive issues later in life, driven by changes in the gut and sympathetic nervous systems, according to a new study published in the journal Gastroenterology.

16 Mar 2026

Alcohol consumption in early adulthood linked to middle age cognitive decline

It's well known that alcohol consumption is an age-old method for coping with stress. But surprising? research led by the University of Massachusetts Amherst found that, when such self-medication begins in early adulthood, negative cognitive effects start to show up in middle-age-even after long periods of total abstinence.

16 Mar 2026

Brain breathing mechanism linked to persistent high blood pressure

A brain mechanism may explain why approximately 40% of people with hypertension continue to have high blood pressure despite taking medication. The discovery reveals potential targets for new treatments.

16 Mar 2026

Scientists identify common symptom patterns in post-COVID-19 vaccination syndrome

A registry study across 14 Japanese clinics analyzed 179 cases of post-COVID-19 vaccination syndrome (PCVS) and identified 493 adverse events affecting multiple organ systems. Most symptoms appeared within 90 days, but some occurred much later, highlighting the need for continued vaccine safety monitoring and better clinical frameworks for persistent post-vaccination symptoms.

16 Mar 2026

Clinical trial tests a newer, targeted therapy for IDH mutant astrocytoma

A new clinical trial led by the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology will investigate if a combination of drug therapies after radiation therapy improves outcomes for people with newly-diagnosed, grade 3 IDH-mutant astrocytoma, a type of brain cancer.

16 Mar 2026

Early high-dose therapy improves hand and arm function in infants with cerebral palsy

Infants and toddlers with unilateral cerebral palsy, which affects the brain's control of muscles on one side of the body, show lasting improvements in hand and arm function when they receive early, high-dose therapy, according to a new multisite clinical trial led by Virginia Tech researchers at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC.

16 Mar 2026

Brain waste clearance dysfunction may predict the onset of psychosis

How can we explain the onset of psychotic symptoms characteristic of schizophrenia? Despite their major and often irreversible impact on intellectual abilities and autonomy, the biological mechanisms that precede their emergence remain poorly understood.

16 Mar 2026

Scientists show gut bacteria can reach the brain in mice and reveal a potential vagus nerve pathway

Researchers found that very small numbers of gut bacteria can translocate to the brain in mice, particularly when gut barrier permeability increases due to a Paigen diet. Evidence suggests the vagus nerve may serve as a partial route for this gut-to-brain microbial movement.

15 Mar 2026

Exercise during chemotherapy supports physical and cognitive health

Researchers recommended a tailored, scientifically validated exercise program to individuals receiving chemotherapy for cancer, and those who were on a two-week chemotherapy schedule and followed the exercise prescription were able to maintain their walking-step goals, use resistance bands, and stay mentally sharper compared to patients who did not exercise.

13 Mar 2026