Neuroimaging

Scientists have mapped the reading brain, finding that genetics set the foundation for processing sounds and meaning. Meanwhile, the physical act of reading practice actually thickens specific brain regions and optimizes communication pathways.

A new study reveals that the psychedelic drug DMT pushes brain waves into a highly random, structureless state. This biological shift directly correlates with the intense sensation of ego dissolution, shedding light on how human consciousness is maintained.

Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia share overlapping symptoms, making early diagnosis difficult. A new study reveals that tiny brain-derived vesicles carry distinct genetic markers for each condition, offering a potential new avenue for early detection.

A new study of healthy adults and patients with severe aphasia shows that the human brain uses distinct networks for processing language and solving complex logic puzzles, challenging the long-held idea that we think in words.

A new study reveals that female mice experience a surge in stress hormones after ketamine anesthesia, prompting immune cells to rewire the brain. The findings highlight profound sex differences in how the brain recovers from anesthetics.

A small study in mice reveals that administering a psychedelic compound before an immune challenge can prevent severe brain inflammation. The findings suggest these drugs might prime the nervous system to resist biological stress and disease.

Why can some people easily ignore distractions while others struggle to stay on task? New research shows that the ability to maintain focus is a stable trait reflected in the rhythmic synchronization of large-scale brain networks.

A new study reveals that while zero-calorie sweeteners generally affect the body like water, they trigger distinct activity in the brain’s reward centers compared to real sugar. Interestingly, some even delay stomach emptying without spiking blood sugar.

Fathers who experience severe trauma before conception can pass biological and behavioral changes to their offspring. A new animal study reveals that combat-like stress in males alters the pain perception, social behavior, and brain chemistry of their descendants.

Today's cognitive neuroscientists are integrating decades of behavioral research to show that our conscious minds are heavily directed by underlying, unconscious neural activity designed to predict and navigate the world.

A recent PNAS study highlights a massive math problem in neuroscience: most studies claiming to find differences between male and female responses fail to use the correct statistical tests to actually compare the sexes.

Recent research in Mindfulness suggests that when mothers mindfully observe their distressed infants without getting overwhelmed, they engage brain regions tied to emotional regulation. This "decentering" alters their neural responses and is linked to lower parenting stress.

A familiar smell can instantly transport you back to childhood. Neuroscientists have now mapped how this happens, discovering that early scent memories physically relocate from the brain’s olfactory center to deeper emotional networks as we grow older.

A recent study found that a mitochondrial protein in the brain regulates how mice consume dietary fat. Lacking this protein in appetite-controlling neurons led to overeating and severe obesity, with the effects being particularly pronounced in females.

A recent brain imaging study found that people with even slightly different political views process information using different neural patterns. Listening to political statements about immigration prompted synchronized brain activity among individuals who shared similar attitudes.