THEPSYCHOLOGYTURKEY

New research has highlighted the profound link between dietary choices and brain health. http://dlvr.it/T64DDD

Researchers have discovered the neural circuitry in the spinal cord that allows brain-independent motor learning. The study found two critical groups of spinal cord neurons, one necessary for new adaptive learning, and another for recalling adaptations once they have been learned. The findings could help scientists develop ways to assist motor recovery after spinal cord injury. http://dlvr.it/T63bP4

Researchers have developed a new tool to better understand how chemicals like dopamine and epinephrine interact with neurons. http://dlvr.it/T61MYx

Bursts of brain rhythms with 'beta' frequencies control where and when neurons in the cortex process sensory information and plan responses. Studying these bursts would improve understanding of cognition and clinical disorders, researchers argue in a new review. http://dlvr.it/T5wfN5

Using state-of-the-art microscopy techniques, researchers have shed new light on the underlying mechanisms driving Alzheimer's disease. http://dlvr.it/T5wRSy

Social interactions synchronize brain activity within individuals and between individuals. In a new study, researchers compared brain synchronization between pairs of people with relatively strong social ties (acquaintance pairs) and pairs with almost no social ties (stranger pairs). The study found that during a cooperative task, the stranger pairs exhibited more closely connected brain networks compared to the acquaintance pairs. These findings challenge the conventional understanding that stronger social bonds lead to greater brain synchronization. http://dlvr.it/T5wB0Y

A growing body of research shows that exposure to air pollution, especially during pregnancy and childhood, may have a negative impact on brain development. Now a study has found that exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) during the first two years of life is associated with poorer attention capacity in children aged 4 to 8, especially in boys. NO2 is a pollutant that comes mainly from traffic emissions. http://dlvr.it/T5sHTY

Contrary to previous assumptions, nerve cells in the human neocortex are wired differently than in mice. The study found that human neurons communicate in one direction, while in mice, signals tend to flow in loops. This increases the efficiency and capacity of the human brain to process information. These discoveries could further the development of artificial neural networks. http://dlvr.it/T5lmQt

A sensitive perception of the environment is crucial for guiding our behavior. However, an overly sensitive response of the brain's neural circuits to stimuli can lead to neurodevelopmental disorders such as epilepsy. Researchers now report how neuronal networks in the mouse brain are fine-tuned. http://dlvr.it/T5lZyx

In posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), intrusive thoughts, changes in mood, and other symptoms after exposure to trauma can greatly impact a person's quality of life. About 6 percent of people who experience trauma develop the disorder, but scientists don't yet understand the neurobiology underlying PTSD. Now, a new genetic study of more than 1.2 million people has pinpointed 95 loci, or locations in the genome, that are associated with risk of developing PTSD, including 80 that had not been previously identified. http://dlvr.it/T5lZpc

Engineers have developed the smallest implantable brain stimulator demonstrated in a human patient that could revolutionize treatment for drug-resistant depression and other psychiatric or neurological disorders. http://dlvr.it/T5l5GG

Thought emerges and is controlled in the brain via the rhythmically and spatially coordinated activity of millions of neurons, scientists argue in a new article. Understanding cognition and its disorders requires studying it at that level. http://dlvr.it/T5j282

Scientists created four cannabis-derived CBN analogs (chemical look-a-likes) with enhanced neuroprotective properties and potential for therapeutic application in neurological disorders like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and traumatic brain injury. Their findings reveal novel aspects of CBN's neuroprotective activity and demonstrate the clinical potential of CBN and value of studying its analogs. http://dlvr.it/T5fh98

Investigators have discovered how brain cells responsible for working memory--the type required to remember a phone number long enough to dial it--coordinate intentional focus and short-term storage of information. http://dlvr.it/T5f1Xt

Researchers conducted a survey to understand how the mental health of displaced Ukrainians has been affected by the ongoing war. Their findings describe high levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and generalized anxiety among both refugees and people displaced within Ukraine. http://dlvr.it/T5f1Lx

Researchers have advanced the understanding of how the cerebral cortex develops by tracing the lineage of certain brain cells. http://dlvr.it/T5cB8g

A new study offers a first look into the complex molecular changes that occur in brain cells with Lewy bodies, which are key pathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease and some dementias. The findings reveal that brain cells with Lewy bodies exhibit a specific gene expression pattern akin to a disease-related fingerprint. http://dlvr.it/T5bByG

A study on the effects of a junk food diet on rats reinforces scientific understanding about the gut-brain connection. http://dlvr.it/T5Zpbj

Researchers have discovered that an FDA-approved epilepsy drug can prevent or slow the growth of NF1-linked optic gliomas in mice, laying the groundwork for a clinical trial. http://dlvr.it/T5ZpKY