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Neuroscientists have discovered that when the brain is distracted, coordinated “rotating” waves of neural activity help it steer back to focus. Using electrical recordings in animals, the team found that neurons in the prefrontal cortex synchronize in circular patterns—like starlings in flight—to recover from cognitive interruptions.​ 

Scientists have uncovered a key role for the protein “Frazzled” in building and maintaining the rapid neural connections that allow fruit flies to react in milliseconds. When Frazzled is missing, neurons lose vital gap junctions, slowing communication and weakening muscle responses.​ 

New research shows that people tend to prefer simple explanations even when complex ones are more accurate. The study found that individuals focus mainly on visible or known causes while neglecting hidden or absent ones, leading to oversimplified reasoning.​ 

A new study reveals how brain circuits between the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus stabilize memories during learning. Researchers found that synchronized signals between excitatory and inhibitory neurons in these regions help strengthen “place maps,” ensuring memories remain consistent even as new information is learned.​ 

A new analysis of the PANDA clinical trial reveals that sertraline, one of the most prescribed antidepressants, improves key emotional symptoms of depression—such as sadness, self-loathing, and suicidal thoughts—within just two weeks of treatment. Using network analysis to assess individual symptoms, researchers found that the drug also eased anxiety early on, while somatic effects like

A new study suggests that a child’s gut microbiome at age 2 may influence their emotional health years later. Researchers found that higher levels of bacteria from the Clostridiales order and Lachnospiraceae family were linked to stronger connectivity across emotion-related brain networks and a higher risk of anxiety and depression symptoms by age 7½.​ 

Scientists have developed a portable biosensor that can detect levels of BDNF, a protein linked to mental health conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. The flexible, low-cost device analyzes a drop of saliva in under three minutes, offering a fast, affordable, and noninvasive diagnostic tool.​ 

A new study reveals that chemotherapy-induced nerve pain arises from a stress response in immune cells that triggers inflammation and neurotoxicity. Researchers found that activating a cellular stress sensor called IRE1α causes nerve damage and pain during chemotherapy, but blocking it prevents both in mice.​ 

Researchers have shown for the first time that flipping an epigenetic “switch” in specific memory-holding neurons can directly alter memory strength. By targeting the gene Arc—which helps neurons adjust their connections—scientists used CRISPR-based tools to either boost or silence its activity in engram cells within the hippocampus.​ 

A groundbreaking study reveals how neurons sense and transmit mechanical forces across their membranes—a key to understanding touch, movement, and development. Using precision laser-based optical tweezers, researchers discovered that tension travels faster in touch-sensing neurons than in movement-sensing ones.​