Summary: New research finds that supplementing vasopressin in naturally low-social rhesus monkeys improves their social behavior and facial recognition without provoking aggression. These results support the idea that vasopressin deficiency can contribute to social difficulties similar to those seen in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and point to a possible path for targeted therapies addressing core … Read more

Summary: Altering gut bacteria in mice before chemotherapy reduces the cognitive fog commonly known as “chemo brain.” Source: Ohio State University Researchers investigating the gut’s role in cognitive and mood changes after chemotherapy are using an unexpected rodent behavior—coprophagia—to study how gut microbes influence chemo-related brain effects. Chemotherapy frequently damages the digestive system, producing symptoms … Read more

Summary: A small population of retinal neurons, called OFF ganglion cells, can detect tiny decreases in light and appear to be specialized for shadow detection. Source: Aalto University Mice rely on a dedicated neural pathway in the retina to detect shadows, and this pathway can register shadows at nearly the faintest possible level of dimming, … Read more

Counseling is described in various ways across disciplines, but most definitions emphasize the importance of the therapeutic relationship (Nelson-Jones, 2014). An essential part of that relationship is establishing a clear therapeutic framework: a safe, consistent professional structure in which effective therapeutic work can occur (Knox & Cooper, 2015). Like any professional healthcare service, counseling requires … Read more

Hybrid PET/CT imaging focused on the pituitary region shows promise for distinguishing military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from those with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The study adds weight to the hypothesis that a subset of … Read more

Summary: New research from NYU Langone shows that stimulating the vagus nerve boosts perceptual learning in mice, enabling them to distinguish finer sensory differences over time. This stimulation engages brain systems involved in attention, memory, and plasticity, and may have implications for improving sensory-based skills in humans, including adaptation to cochlear implants. Researchers trained mice … Read more

Life changes, while often essential for our wellbeing, can feel like a leap of faith. We aim to become more confident, less stressed, more assertive, and better able to manage anxiety. But how do we know whether those changes are actually working? How can we tell if our efforts are improving how we cope with … Read more

Dartmouth researchers reveal how the brain interprets motion and still images to help us navigate a complex visual world A Dartmouth College study shows how the human brain combines information about motion and object identity to interpret dynamic scenes, even when motion is only implied in a still image. The findings, published in the journal … Read more

Summary: Scientists have produced a high-resolution, three-dimensional atlas of the developing mouse brain that captures anatomical changes from embryonic stages through early postnatal life. This interactive resource maps cellular and structural development across multiple timepoints, enabling researchers to track the emergence and distribution of important cell types—such as GABAergic neurons implicated in autism, schizophrenia and … Read more

Happiness is subjective. We usually know when we feel happy and when we do not, but measuring happiness requires structured tools. Psychologists quantify subjective wellbeing with self-report questionnaires that ask people to rate statements about their emotions, engagement, meaning, relationships, and accomplishments (Diener et al., 2018). Without a clear sense of our current happiness, it’s … Read more