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Medical Xpress / Why the human brain matures slower than its primate relatives

The human brain is a fascinating and complex organ that supports numerous sophisticated behaviors and abilities that are observed in no other animal species. For centuries, scientists have been trying to understand what is ...

Dec 26, 2025 in Genetics
Medical Xpress / To flexibly organize thought, the brain makes use of space

Our thoughts are specified by our knowledge and plans, yet our cognition can also be fast and flexible in handling new information. How does the well-controlled and yet highly nimble nature of cognition emerge from the brain's ...

Dec 23, 2025 in Neuroscience
Medical Xpress / Gut bacteria may play role in bipolar depression by directly influencing brain connectivity

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by extreme mood changes. Individuals diagnosed with BD typically alternate between periods of high energy, euphoria, irritability and/or impulsivity (i.e., manic ...

Dec 23, 2025 in Psychology & Psychiatry
Medical Xpress / Homer1 gene calms the mind and improves attention in mice

Attention disorders such as ADHD involve a breakdown in our ability to separate signal from noise. The brain is constantly bombarded with information, and focus depends on its ability to filter out distractions and detect ...

Dec 22, 2025 in Genetics
Medical Xpress / Scientists unravel neural networks that guide guilt and shame-driven behaviors

Feelings of guilt and shame can lead us to behave in a variety of different ways, including trying to make amends or save face, cooperating more with others or avoiding people altogether. Now, researchers have shed light ...

Dec 18, 2025 in Psychology & Psychiatry
Medical Xpress / Short, light-intensity exercise can boost executive function and elevate mood in children

In modern society, physical inactivity and sedentary behavior have become common issues globally. This trend is also growing among children, raising concerns for their mental and physical health.

Dec 17, 2025 in Pediatrics
Phys.org / Dissecting the Grinch: What anatomy reveals about Christmas's most famous villain

The Grinch is one of the holiday season's most familiar icons. The grumpy, green, fur-covered misanthrope who plotted to sabotage Christmas in Dr. Seuss's classic 1957 work has now become a quintessential part of the yearly ...

Dec 15, 2025 in Biology
Medical Xpress / Balanced neural inhibition in the hippocampus is crucial for recognition memory

A new study has revealed that neural inhibition and balanced neural activity in a specific area of the brain is required for recognition memory. The findings could help provide better understanding of cognitive disorders, ...

Dec 11, 2025 in Neuroscience
Medical Xpress / Your brain on imagination: Study reveals how the mind's eye helps us learn and change

A new study led by cognitive neuroscientists at the University of Colorado Boulder and the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences shows that merely imagining a positive encounter with someone can make ...

Dec 10, 2025 in Psychology & Psychiatry
Medical Xpress / Astrocyte diversity across space and time charted in new atlas

When it comes to brain function, neurons get a lot of the glory. But healthy brains depend on the cooperation of many kinds of cells. The most abundant of the brain's non-neuronal cells are astrocytes, star-shaped cells with ...

Dec 8, 2025 in Genetics
Medical Xpress / It's so hard to resist overspending at Christmas—here's how to reinforce your willpower

We often throw caution to the cold, dark wind of December when it comes to spending. The cost-of-living crisis may slip our minds amid the razzle-dazzle of Christmas. We just want a moment to enjoy ourselves, to forget about ...

Dec 8, 2025 in Psychology & Psychiatry
Medical Xpress / Marriage and emotional support may protect against obesity through brain–gut connection

Strong social relationships, particularly high-quality marriages, may help protect against obesity by influencing a complex communication system between the brain and gut, according to new research by UCLA Health.

Dec 4, 2025 in Neuroscience