A new study reveals that neurons in the brainstem respond very differently to acute versus chronic pain, potentially explaining why some pain persists long after injury. In acute pain, neurons in the medullary dorsal horn reduce their activity through a natural “braking” system involving A-type potassium currents, helping limit pain signals.
Wellbeing May Help Protect Memory in Middle Age
A new 16-year study of over 10,000 adults finds that higher wellbeing is linked to better memory performance in middle age. Researchers tracked participants’ psychological wellbeing and memory recall, finding that those with higher life satisfaction were more likely to retain stronger cognitive function over time.
Ketamine Plus Therapy Offers Lasting Relief for Severe Depression
A first-of-its-kind clinical trial shows that ketamine treatment for severe, treatment-resistant depression is significantly more effective when paired with psychotherapy and supportive environments. Patients who underwent this combined treatment reported a 30% drop in depression symptoms, with reduced anxiety and suicidal thoughts lasting at least eight weeks.
Hope Outshines Happiness as Key to Life’s Meaning
Hope isn’t just about wishful thinking—it’s a unique emotional experience that may be more essential to well-being than happiness or gratitude. A new study shows that hope stands out among positive emotions as the most consistent predictor of a meaningful life.
AI Generates Relatable Empathy Experiences
Researchers have developed an AI tool called EmoSync that boosts empathy by tailoring emotional analogies to each user’s personality and life experiences. Unlike traditional empathy tech that assumes uniform emotional responses, EmoSync uses a large language model (LLM) to map personal traits and generate custom scenarios that resonate more deeply. In a study of over […]
Pain Perception in Babies Develops in Stages After Birth
A new study shows that the networks responsible for processing pain in infants develop gradually, with emotional and cognitive pain responses maturing only after birth. Researchers scanned the brains of 372 infants, primarily born prematurely, to track how three brain subsystems related to pain perception matured over time.
How Sleep Deprivation Amplifies Pain in Migraine
New research reveals that sleep deprivation alters how the brain processes pain in people with migraines. Using EEG and pain stimulation, scientists found that migraine sufferers’ brains respond differently after poor sleep, showing reduced ability to suppress pain signals.
Addictive Screen Use, Not Time, Tied to Teen Suicide Risk
A major new study reveals that teens who develop compulsive patterns of digital use are at higher risk of suicidal thoughts, attempts, and mental health issues. Unlike total screen time, it’s the addictive nature of use—such as distress when not online or using screens to escape—that most strongly predicts poor outcomes.
Multiple Brain Profiles May Underlie the Same Depressive Symptoms
A new study reveals that the same clinical signs of depression may stem from different brain profiles, highlighting both one-to-one and many-to-one brain-symptom mappings. Using brain imaging data from the UK Biobank, researchers found that even when patients experience similar symptoms, their underlying neurobiology may differ significantly.
Brain Age Gap May Predict Cognitive Decline
A new study reveals that the brain age gap—the difference between a brain’s biological age and chronological age—may influence how risk factors like diabetes and high blood pressure affect cognitive function. Using machine learning to analyze brain scans from over 1,400 older adults, researchers found that a greater brain age gap was linked to poorer […]