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Dopamine linked to mentalizing abilities

A link between the neurotransmitter dopamine and the mentalizing abilities of healthy people has been identified.

Studies uncover the critical role of sleep in the formation of memories

A lack of sleep can make it extraordinarily difficult to retain information. Two new studies uncover why this is and what is happening inside the brain during sleep and sleep deprivation to help or harm the formation of memories.

Neural balance in the brain is associated with brain maturity and better cognitive ability

The E/I ratio of children decreases with healthy development. Children with a lower E/I ratio were observed to have better performance than their peers in cognitive tests such as memory and intelligence, according to researchers.

Confronting trauma alleviates chronic pain among older veterans

A new study found chronic pain among older adults could be significantly reduced through a newly developed psychotherapy that works by confronting past trauma and stress-related emotions that can exacerbate pain symptoms.

After major traumatic brain injury, more blood transfusions could mean better outcomes

Increased use of blood transfusions after major traumatic brain injury could help people hospitalized in intensive care units regain greater functional independence and a better quality of life, according to new research.

Promising gene therapy for FOXG1 syndrome

A viral gene therapy has reversed some brain abnormalities in infant mice with FOXG1 syndrome, a significant step toward one day treating children with this severe neurodevelopmental disorder.

Brain regions that bias the brain’s response to pleasure in bipolar disorder identified

Momentary shifts in mood, even those lasting just a matter of seconds, profoundly alter the brain’s response to pleasurable experiences in people with bipolar disorder, finds a new study.

Exposure to heat and cold in early life may affect development of white matter in the brain

Brain scans of more than 2,000 preadolescents suggests that early life exposure to heat and cold may have lasting effects on the microstructure of white matter in the brain, especially when living in poorer neighborhoods. The study highlights the vulne…

Just thinking about a location activates mental maps in the brain

Researchers found that mental representations known as cognitive maps, located in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex, are activated when the brain performs mental simulations of a navigational route.

Do traumatic life experiences impact perception of distressing imagery?

Researchers have examined viewer responses to images of distressing and neutrally decorated masks and whether personal life history, particularly past experiences of trauma and difficulty, affected how the person perceived the imagery.