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Why spending a long time on your phone isn’t bad for mental health

General smartphone usage is a poor predictor of anxiety, depression or stress say researchers, who advise caution when it comes to digital detoxes. Researchers measured the time spent on smartphones by 199 iPhone users and 46 Android users for one week…

Cortex over reflex: Study traces circuits where executive control overcomes instinct

Via circuit tracing and behavioral manipulation using optogenetics, a new study shows that a region of the prefrontal cortex connects to the superior colliculus to override the SC’s reflexive action when executive control is necessary.

Scientists reveal regions of the brain where serotonin promotes patience

In a study on mice scientists pinpoint specific areas of the brain that individually promote patience through the action of serotonin.

High blood pressure in midlife is linked to increased brain damage in later life

Higher than normal blood pressure is linked to more extensive brain damage in the elderly, according to a new study. In particular, the study found that there was a strong association between diastolic blood pressure (the blood pressure between heart b…

Basketball on the brain: Neuroscientists use sports to study surprise

Neuroscientists tracked the brains and pupils of self-described basketball fans as they watched March Madness games, to study how people process surprise — an unexpected change of circumstances that shifts an anticipated outcome. They found that that …

Everyday activities enhance personal well-being

Physical activity makes happy and is important to maintain psychic health. Researchers studied the brain regions which play a central role in this process. Their findings reveal that even everyday activities, such as climbing stairs, significantly enha…

New mechanism of pain control revealed

Researchers have identified a unique population of astrocytes in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord of mice that produces pain hypersensitivity when activated by neurons carrying signals down from the brain. The findings indicate that the role of desce…

Team uses copper to image Alzheimer’s aggregates in the brain

A proof-of-concept study conducted in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease offers new evidence that copper isotopes can be used to detect the amyloid-beta protein deposits that form in the brains of people living with — or at risk of developing — Alz…

Why experiences are better gifts for older children

What should we get for our kids this holiday? As children get older, giving them something they can experience (live through) instead of material things makes them happier, according to new research.

Hormone found to switch off hunger could help tackle obesity

A hormone that can suppress food intake and increase the feeling of fullness in mice has shown similar results in humans and non-human primates, says a new study.