Can’t get motivated? This brain circuit might explain why — and it can be turned off
A neural circuit connecting brain areas related to risk and reward can makes it hard to start a…
Prefrontal neural geometry of learned cues guides motivated behaviours
Pearce, J. M. & Bouton, M. E. Theories of associative learning in animals. Annu. Rev. Psychol. 52, 111–139…
Your Anxiety Might be Fueled by a Lack of One Essential Nutrient
Image via Unsplash. Feelings of anxiety plague millions of people every day. The racing heart, the tightening chest,…
Brain Blends Fast and Slow Signals to Shape Human Thought
Summary: Researchers mapped the brain connectivity of 960 individuals to uncover how fast and slow neural processes unite…
Poor Sleep Quality Accelerates Brain Aging
While the link between poor sleep and dementia has long been known, it was unclear whether poor sleep…
AI Brain Model Shows How Neurons Learn, and Where They Fail
Summary: A biologically grounded computational model built to mimic real neural circuits, not trained on animal data, learned…
Missing Brain Receptor May Hold the Key to Autism
Summary: Autistic adults show reduced availability of a key glutamate receptor, mGlu5, across widespread brain regions. This difference…
Engineered Protein Reveals Hidden Incoming Signals Between Neurons
Summary: Researchers have engineered a next-generation glutamate sensor, iGluSnFR4, capable of detecting the faintest incoming synaptic signals between…
Consciousness May Require a New Kind of Computation
Summary: A new theoretical framework argues that the long-standing split between computational functionalism and biological naturalism misses how…
My top dopamine-boosting morning routine
We often underestimate how much our morning rituals can set the tone for the rest of the day.…
Emotional Stress Triggers Instant Arousal From Deep Sleep
Summary: A new study uncovers a precise brain pathway that rapidly converts emotional stress into sudden wakefulness during…
Social Isolation Directly Speeds Up Cognitive Decline
Summary: Social isolation has a direct causal impact on how quickly cognitive function declines in later life, independent…