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Stress in pregnancy may influence baby brain development

Infants’ brains may be shaped by levels of stress their mother experiences during pregnancy, a brain scanning study has revealed.

AI helps scientists understand brain activity behind thoughts

Researchers have developed artificial intelligence (AI) models that help them better understand the brain computations that underlie thoughts.

Anxiety associated with faster Alzheimer’s disease onset

Anxiety is associated with an increased rate of progression from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study.

Cocoa flavanols boost brain oxygenation, cognition in healthy adults

The brains of healthy adults recovered faster from a mild vascular challenge and performed better on complex tests if the participants consumed cocoa flavanols beforehand, researchers report. In the study, 14 of 18 participants saw these improvements a…

Brain waves guide us in spotlighting surprises

Neuroscientists have found that the dynamic interplay of different brain wave frequencies, rather than dedicated circuitry, appears to govern the brain’s knack for highlighting what’s surprising and downplaying what’s predictable.

Scientists identify brain cells that help drive bodily reaction to fear, anxiety

Scientists have discovered that artificially forcing the activity of BNST cells in mice produced an arousal response in the form of dilated pupils and faster heart rate, and worsened anxiety-like behaviors. This helps illuminate the neural roots of emo…

A hunger for social contact

Neuroscientists have found that the longings for social interaction felt during isolation are neurologically very similar to the food cravings people experience when hungry.

Newfound ability to change baby brain activity could lead to rehabilitation for injured brains

Researchers have identified the brain activity for the first time in a newborn baby when they are learning an association between different types of sensory experiences. Using advanced MRI scanning techniques and robotics, the researchers found that a …

Magnetic brain waves to detect injury and disease

Researchers have designed a new Optically Pumped Magnetometer (OPM) sensor for magnetoencephalography (MEG). The sensor is smaller and more robust in detecting magnetic brain signals and distinguishing them from background noise than existing sensors. …

Memories create ‘fingerprints’ that reveal how the brain is organized

While the broad architecture and organization of the human brain is universal, new research shows how the differences between how people reimagine common scenarios can be observed in brain activity and quantified. These unique neurological signatures c…