THEPSYCHOLOGYTURKEY

Researchers have identified the mechanism for why and how one brain region differs in size between male and female rats. The study found that immune system cells in the brains of females consume and digest neurons to sculp a region of the brain during development and that later affects behavioral preferences in adulthood. http://dlvr.it/SnDyDl

Scientists found parallels between the neural circuitry that guides locomotion in sea slugs and in more complex animals like mammals. http://dlvr.it/Sn9wrz

Scientists found that blood markers of two saturated fatty acids along with certain omega-6, -7 and -9 fatty acids correlated with better scores on tests of memory and were associated with larger brain structures in the frontal, temporal, parietal and insular cortices. http://dlvr.it/Sn7lfB

A study takes a closer look at the neurobiology of psychedelic experiences caused by nitrous oxide, ketamine and LSD. http://dlvr.it/Sn7Vc8

A recent study on Spotify data reveals which types of music are used to help listeners focus while studying and fall asleep. http://dlvr.it/Sn6P0c

New research shows that rhythmic brain activity is key to temporarily maintaining important information in memory. Researchers found brain rhythms -- or patterns of neuronal activity -- organize the bursts of activity in the brain that maintain short-term connections. http://dlvr.it/Sn5tFs

Even mild concussion can cause long-lasting effects to the brain, according to researchers. Using data from a Europe-wide study, the team has shown that for almost a half of all people who receive a knock to the head, there are changes in how regions of the brain communicate with each other, potentially causing long term symptoms such as fatigue and cognitive impairment. http://dlvr.it/Sn4grr

Problems with the brain's ability to 'prune' itself of unnecessary connections may underlie a wide range of mental health disorders that begin during adolescence, according to research published today. The findings may help explain why people are often affected by more than one mental health disorder, and may in future help identify those at greatest risk. http://dlvr.it/Sn3Kxq

Conditioning that once worked with Pavlov's dog does also work with an artificially induced change in nerve cell activity. http://dlvr.it/Sn0sJL

Researchers have found that an extra copy of a gene in Down syndrome patients causes improper development of neurons in mice. http://dlvr.it/Smtncw

Researchers have identified neurons in the brain that may contribute to some of the earliest symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, making it a good target for potential new drugs to treat the disease. http://dlvr.it/Smqyrg

Researchers have identified the cause of an inherited metabolic disease common among people with Lumbee and other Native American heritage, overturning decades of settled science and pointing to new, more effective therapies. http://dlvr.it/Smqyd5

When a person reads a sentence, two distinct networks in the brain are activated, working together to integrate the meanings of the individual words to obtain more complex, higher-order meaning, according to a new study. http://dlvr.it/SmmvGH

Researchers have found that a promising stroke therapy, known as antisense oligonucleotides, is preferentially taken up from the blood into areas of stroke damage in the brain when the molecules are linked to a specific kind of lipid. This therapy can be given relatively late after a stroke occurs, and is hoped to lead to reduced stroke-related disabilities. http://dlvr.it/SmljQx

Students whose brainwaves are more in sync with their classmates and teacher are likely to learn better than those lacking this 'brain-to-brain synchrony,' shows a new study by a team of psychology and education researchers. http://dlvr.it/SmjpjS

High levels of the body's own cannabinoid substances protect against developing addiction in individuals previously exposed to childhood maltreatment, according to a new study. The brains of those who had not developed an addiction following childhood maltreatment seem to process emotion-related social signals better. http://dlvr.it/Smh2wj

The consumption of fermented products is on the rise, and drinks like kombucha and kefir have gone viral in their popularity. But is there more to this than consumers searching for natural and healthy foods? http://dlvr.it/SmYGVh

A type of cell usually characterized as the brain's support system appears to play an important role in OCD, providing a surprising new clue about potential therapeutic strategies for the disorder. http://dlvr.it/SmQfrX

Brain scans taken during table tennis reveal differences in how we respond to human versus machine opponents. http://dlvr.it/SmKCsl

Brain development does not occur uniformly across the brain, but follows a newly identified developmental sequence, according to a new study. Brain regions that support cognitive, social, and emotional functions appear to remain malleable -- or capable of changing, adapting, and remodeling -- longer than other brain regions, rendering youth sensitive to socioeconomic environments through adolescence. http://dlvr.it/SmGqCs

High blood pressure in early adulthood is associated with worse brain health in late life, according to a new study. Men, compared to women, may be more vulnerable to the detrimental effects of high blood pressure on the brain for some brain regions. http://dlvr.it/Sm8TQm

A brimming inbox on Monday morning sets your head spinning. You take a moment to breathe and your mind clears enough to survey the emails one by one. This calming effect occurs thanks to a newly discovered brain circuit involving a lesser-known type of brain cell, the astrocyte. According to new research, astrocytes tune into and moderate the chatter between overactive neurons. http://dlvr.it/Sm66Ln

Researchers have developed a system that connects two neurons by using light-emitting enzymes and light-sensitive ion channels. http://dlvr.it/Sm5n7c

Feeling like we have a degree of control makes us tolerate pain better. In the case of fibromyalgia, however, this simply doesn't work. A study provides clues as to why. http://dlvr.it/Sm3cc6

In a new study, researchers found that after traumatic brain injury, the brain's immune system cells' internal recycling function slowed dramatically, allowing waste products to build up and interfere with recovery from injury. http://dlvr.it/Sm3MyQ

Genes influence different structures and the function of the brain. These in turn explain differences in behavior. Analyzing all three aspects at once is a challenge -- but has now been achieved. http://dlvr.it/Sm2ytD

New research zeroes in on the root cause of adverse health effects from disruption of the body's circadian rhythms, which typically occurs from jet lag and rotating work shifts. http://dlvr.it/SlxZwP

The simple amino acid glycine looks to be a previously unknown contributor to depression. http://dlvr.it/SlxFbd

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a promising therapy for treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). A new study has found that mapping neural connections in the brains of OCD patients offers key insights that explain the observed improvements in their clinical outcomes after DBS. http://dlvr.it/Sltz7K