The experience of awe may be fleeting, but its impact on brain function has lasting psychological benefits. Here’s how to start cultivating it in your daily life.

Summary: A new study challenges the belief that larger groups reduce cooperation, showing instead that flexible social connections enhance teamwork. Researchers found that in a prisoner’s dilemma game, participants in bigger groups cooperated more frequently, despite memory limitations.

Brain scans revealed that when memories of past interactions were unclear, participants relied on prosocial instincts to guide behavior. Key brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens, helped balance memory, reward, and decision-making.

The study looked at the effect of cannabis use on young adults who are recent or heavy users

AURORA, Colo., Jan. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A new study published today in JAMA Network Open explores the effects of both recent and lifetime cannabis use on brain function during cognitive tasks.

The study, the largest of its kind ever to be completed, examined the effects of cannabis use on over 1,000 young adults aged 22 to 36 using brain imaging technology. The researchers found that 63% of heavy lifetime cannabis users exhibited reduced brain activity during a working memory task, while 68% of recent users also demonstrated a similar impact.

A new study has uncovered the role that a specific molecule in the brain plays in maintaining long-term memory.