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Nature relieves physical pain: pain-related signals in the brain are reduced

Neuroscientists have shown that experiencing nature can alleviate acute physical pain. Surprisingly, simply watching nature videos was enough to relieve pain. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, the researchers found that acute pain was rated …

Thinking outside the box: Uncovering a novel approach to brainwave monitoring

Researchers have found a new way to more precisely detect and monitor brain cell activity during deep brain stimulation, a common treatment for movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and tremor. This precision may help doctors adjust electrode …

Dopamine’s unexpected role in memory devaluation

New research expands on current understanding of the brain chemical dopamine, finding that it plays a role in reducing the value of memories associated with rewards. The study opens new avenues for understanding dopamine’s role in the brain.

Do brain changes remain after recovery from concussion?

For college athletes with concussion, brain changes may remain visible in brain scans up to a year after they are cleared to return to play, according to a new study.

Vocal changes in birds may predict age-related disorders in people, study finds

Neuroscientists have found a link between vocal changes and the aging brain in zebra finch songbirds, which could help lead to earlier diagnoses for disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases in people.

Dopamine signals in primate brains

We’re all familiar with Pavlovian conditioning, in which a reward-anticipatory behavior follows a reward-predicting stimulus. Perhaps you experience it yourself when passing a cafe or restaurant and catching a whiff of something delectable. Behind this…

How the brain uses ‘building blocks’ to navigate social interactions

Our brains use basic ‘building blocks’ of information to keep track of how people interact, enabling us to navigate complex social interactions, finds a new study.

Butterflies choose mates because they are more attractive, not just easier to see

A simple neural change alters mating preferences in male butterflies, aiding rapid behavioral evolution, researchers report.

Good parenting helps, but has limits under major deprivation

Parenting skills can make a big difference in fostering a newborn’s language acquisition and cognition, but there may be a limit to how far parenting can go to make up the challenges to developing this skill in those born in highly disadvantaged backgr…

Study pinpoints the impact of prenatal stress across 27 weeks of pregnancy

Researchers found new insights on the timing of prenatal stress and its effect on infant stress reactivity and temperament — including differences between genders.