News Feed
- NIMH Intramural Research Program Training Opportunitiesby National Institute of Mental Health on December 5, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Attend a virtual session to learn about training opportunities in the NIMH Intramural Research Program.
- To help autonomous vehicles make moral decisions, researchers ditch the 'trolley problem'on December 1, 2023 at 5:36 pm
Researchers have developed a new experiment to better understand what people view as moral and immoral decisions related to driving vehicles, with the goal of collecting data to train autonomous vehicles how to make 'good' decisions. The work is designed to capture a more realistic array of moral challenges in traffic than the widely discussed life-and-death scenario inspired by the so-called 'trolley problem.'
- Scientists use A.I.-generated images to map visual functions in the brainon November 30, 2023 at 7:54 pm
Researchers have demonstrated the use of AI-selected natural images and AI-generated synthetic images as neuroscientific tools for probing the visual processing areas of the brain. The goal is to apply a data-driven approach to understand how vision is organized while potentially removing biases that may arise when looking at responses to a more limited set of researcher-selected images.
- Despite pressures facing young families, parents take precious moments to play with their babieson November 30, 2023 at 7:54 pm
Four in five primary caregivers of nine-month-old babies reported cuddling, talking and playing with their little one several times a day, in the first national long-term study of babies in over two decades.
- Researchers develop new brain network modeling tools to advance Alzheimer's disease researchon November 30, 2023 at 7:54 pm
Researchers are collaborating on a novel approach to use neuroimaging and network modeling tools -- previously developed to analyze brains of patients in the clinic -- to investigate Alzheimer's disease progression in preclinical animal models.
- Researchers discover new classes of RNA for learning and memoryon November 30, 2023 at 4:32 pm
Researchers have discovered a new way ribonucleic acid (RNA) impacts fear-related learning and memory. Researchers demonstrated that a noncoding RNA known as Gas5 coordinates the trafficking and clustering of RNA molecules inside the long processes of neurons, and orchestrating neuronal excitability in real time that contributes to learning and memory. This study builds on earlier findings this year which identified a separate population of learning-related RNAs that accumulate near the synapse -- the junction between neurons that allow them to communicate. In that paper, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, they uncovered several new synapse-specific RNA that harbour a specific chemical tag called N6-methyladenosine (m6A).
- What makes sustainable consumption so difficulton November 30, 2023 at 4:32 pm
When it comes to self-discipline, psychological research traditionally focuses on individual responsibility. Some researchers believe this is too short-sighted. Self-discipline doesn't work without effective regulation.
- Optimistic thinking linked with lower cognitive abilitieson November 30, 2023 at 4:32 pm
Optimistic thinking has long been immortalized in self-help books as the key to happiness, good health and longevity but it can also lead to poor decision making, with particularly serious implications for people's financial wellbeing.
- Brain waves usually found in sleep can protect against epileptic activityon November 30, 2023 at 4:32 pm
Slow waves that usually only occur in the brain during sleep are also present during wakefulness in people with epilepsy and may protect against increased brain excitability associated with the condition, finds a new study.
- Lost brain function restored in mice after strokeon November 30, 2023 at 4:32 pm
Researchers have succeeded in restoring lost brain function in mouse models of stroke using small molecules that in the future could potentially be developed into a stroke recovery therapy.
- Parental engagement positively associated with safer driving among young people, UGR study findson November 30, 2023 at 4:31 pm
The results show that while close supervision may be linked to increased anxiety when driving, it is also associated with a more cautious attitude behind the wheel.
- Climate: Why disinformation is so persistenton November 30, 2023 at 4:30 pm
Melting of glaciers, rising sea levels, extreme heat waves: the consequences of climate change are more visible than ever, and the scientific community has confirmed that humans are responsible. Yet studies show that a third of the population still doubts or disputes these facts. The cause is disinformation spread by certain vested interests. To try and prevent this phenomenon, a team has developed and tested six psychological interventions on nearly 7,000 participants from twelve countries. The research highlights the extremely persuasive nature of disinformation and the need to strengthen our efforts to combat it.
- Early body contact develops premature babies' social skillson November 30, 2023 at 4:30 pm
Skin-to-skin contact between parent and infant during the first hours after a very premature birth helps develop the child's social skills. The study also shows that fathers may play a more important role than previous research has shown.
- Distinct brain activity triggered by memories of traumaon November 30, 2023 at 4:30 pm
It is well known that people who have lived through traumatic events like sexual assault, domestic abuse, or violent combat can experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including terrifying flashbacks, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the incident. But what exactly happens in the brains of PTSD patients as they recall these traumatic events? Are they remembered the same way as, say, the loss of a beloved pet -- or, for that matter, a relaxing walk on the beach?
- Even a joyous holiday season can cause stress for most Americanson November 30, 2023 at 5:00 am
Nearly nine in 10 U.S. adults say something causes them stress during the holiday season
- Even a joyous holiday season can cause stress for most Americanson November 30, 2023 at 12:00 am
Nearly nine in 10 U.S. adults say something causes them stress during the holiday season
- Infographic: Changes in stress levels during the holiday seasonon November 30, 2023 at 12:00 am
Detail for a graphic describing the changes in stress levels during the holiday season.
- Infographic: Causes of stress during the holiday seasonon November 30, 2023 at 12:00 am
Detail for a graphic describing the causes of stress during the holiday season.
- Very high levels of 'good cholesterol' may be associated with dementia risk: studyon November 29, 2023 at 11:43 pm
Abnormally high levels of HDL-C, colloquially known as 'good cholesterol', are associated with an increased risk of dementia in older adults.
- Brittle stars can learn just fine -- even without a brainon November 29, 2023 at 10:42 pm
We humans are fixated on big brains as a proxy for smarts. But headless animals called brittle stars have no brains at all and still manage to learn through experience, new research reveals. These shy marine creatures have no brain to speak of -- just nerve cords running down each of their five wiggly arms. But that seems to be enough to learn by association, researchers report.