Researchers identified a neural circuit connecting the brain’s reward and stress systems. In mice, chronic stress increased anxiety and activated stress-responsive neurons, while consuming palatable food reversed these effects.
Category: neuroscience – Page 3
Connectomics and the neural basis of behaviour
Methods to acquire and process synaptic-resolution electron-microscopy datasets have progressed very rapidly, allowing production and annotation of larger, more complete connectomes. More accurate neuronal matching techniques are enriching cell type data with gene expression, neuron activity, behaviour and developmental information, providing ways to test hypotheses of circuit function. In a variety of behaviours such as learned and innate olfaction, navigation and sexual behaviour, connectomics has already revealed interconnected modules with a hierarchical structure, recurrence and integration of sensory streams.
Non-invasive brain stimulation: current and future applications in neurology
Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) shows considerable promise as a therapeutic strategy for neurological and psychiatric disorders. This Review explores the role of NIBS techniques, including repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial electrical stimulation, for treating cognitive impairments, speech and language difficulties, and motor control deficits in people with neurodegenerative or brain lesion disorders.
Bridging ADHD and Metabolic Disorders: Insights into Shared Mechanisms and Clinical Implications
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, impulsivity and/or hyperactivity. In recent years, metabolic alterations, primarily obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes, have emerged as frequent comorbidities in individuals with ADHD, suggesting a bidirectional relationship between neurodevelopmental and metabolic dysfunctions. Emerging evidence indicates that dysregulation of dopaminergic signaling, disturbances in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and chronic low-grade inflammation are central to both ADHD symptomatology and metabolic impairments. For instance, alterations in dopamine-related genes (e.g., DRD4, DAT1) not only affect cognitive and behavioral functions but also play a role in appetite regulation and glucose homeostasis. Epidemiological studies further demonstrate that individuals with ADHD exhibit poorer glycemic control and a higher prevalence of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, while early-life metabolic challenges such as maternal diabetes may predispose offspring to ADHD. This review aims to comprehensively synthesize the epidemiological, genetic, and pathogenetic evidence linking ADHD to metabolic alterations. We discuss key pathophysiological pathways—including dopaminergic dysregulation, HPA axis disturbances, inflammation, and oxidative stress—and evaluate their contributions to the co-occurrence of ADHD and metabolic disorders. In addition, we explore the clinical implications and integrated treatment approaches that encompass lifestyle modifications, pharmacological therapies, and multidisciplinary care. Finally, we outline future research directions to develop personalized and holistic interventions.
This Company is Making Bodiless Heads 😳 | Mattcast #567
Is this the most controversial biotech advancement yet? 🧠 Inside this sneak peek of Mattcast #567, we break down a groundbreaking medical tech company testing on bodiless heads for neurological research.
New standard video episodes drop weekly! Hit follow to never miss a breakdown of the wildest advancements in future science and tech news.
#Biotech #MedicalTech #FutureScience #Mattcast #Neurology #TechNews #Walljangers #TechPodcast #Neuroscience #BiotechNews #SciFiTech
The Science of Human Potential: How the Brain Shapes Aging, Health & Performance | Dr. Srini Pillay
What if aging isn’t just biology…but also psychology — and your brain is quietly shaping how fast you age every day?
Dr. Srini Pillay, MD (https://drsrinipillay.com/) is a Harvard-trained psychiatrist, brain researcher, entrepreneur, author, and expert in the science of human potential, resilience, and longevity.
Dr. Pillay previously served as Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and directed both the Outpatient Anxiety Disorders Program and the Panic Disorders Research Program in Brain Imaging at McLean Hospital, one of the world’s leading psychiatric institutions.
Over the course of his career, Dr. Pillay has focused on understanding how the brain shapes performance, creativity, emotional health, leadership, and even biological aging. His work bridges neuroscience, psychiatry, technology, and human behavior — translating cutting-edge brain science into practical tools for individuals, organizations, and healthcare systems.
Dr. Pillay is the co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Reulay (https://www.reulay.com/), an AI-driven digital therapeutics and mindset technology company focused on healthy longevity, stress reduction, and human performance. He is also founder of the NeuroBusiness Group (https://nbgcorporate.com/), where he works with leaders and organizations around the world on brain-based approaches to innovation, adaptability, resilience, and navigating complexity in the age of AI.
Dr. Pillay is the author of several influential books including Tinker Dabble Doodle Try (https://www.amazon.com/Tinker-Dabble-?tag=lifeboatfound-20… which explores the neuroscience of creativity and the untapped power of the brain’s unconscious processing systems.
Vulnerable ALS neurons reveal molecular warning signs before cell death begins
A new study from the Knight Initiative for Brain Resilience researchers may help explain an enduring mystery about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): why the disease kills off some of the brain and spinal cord’s movement-controlling neurons while others show greater resilience.
As ALS progresses, more and more of those motor neurons degenerate and die. As a result, patients lose control of their bodies and become unable to breathe. Many people are diagnosed in middle to late adulthood, and most survive only three to five years after diagnosis.
“It’s a cruelly rapid disease,” said Olivia Gautier, a postdoctoral scholar in the lab of Knight Initiative researcher Aaron Gitler, the Stanford Medicine Basic Science Professor and a professor of genetics at Stanford Medicine.
The Placenta: The Organ That Programs Human Health Before Birth | Dr. Perrie O’Tierney-Ginn
Dr. Perrie O’Tierney-Ginn, Ph.D. — Executive Director of the Woman, Mother & Baby Research Institute — Tufts.
Before your heart, brain, or lungs fully developed, one remarkable temporary organ was making decisions that may influence your health for decades. Dr. Perrie O’Tierney-Ginn (https://www.placentascience.com/) explains why the placenta could be the most important organ you’ve never thought about.
Dr. Perrie O’Tierney-Ginn, Ph.D. is Executive Director of the Woman, Mother & Baby Research Institute at Tufts Medical Center (https://www.tuftsmedicine.org/researc… and a Research Associate Professor in both Obstetrics & Gynecology at Tufts University School of Medicine (https://www.tuftsmedicine.org/researc… and the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy (https://nutrition.tufts.edu/academics…).
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