Male worms can activate two conflicting memories—mating and starvation—when encountering the same odor, but only one influences their behavior.

Adolescents are known for making less optimal, noisy decisions, but a recent study reveals that these tendencies decrease with age and are linked to improvements in complex decision-making skills. Researchers found that decision noise, or variability in choices, mediates age-related gains in goal-directed behaviors and adaptability.

New research has identified distinct neural circuits for the anti-anxiety and hallucinogenic effects of psychedelics. Using the psychedelic DOI in mice, researchers demonstrated that anxiety reduction persists long after hallucinatory effects subside.

How young people use social media impacts their mental health more than how much time they spend on it. Researchers found that reducing harmful comparisons and fostering meaningful connections online can improve mental well-being, reducing loneliness, anxiety, and depression.

Researchers have identified how low-dose ketamine alleviates depression by selectively targeting specific NMDA receptors in the brain. Unlike high-dose anesthetic effects, low-dose ketamine binds to lateral grooves on NMDA receptors, enhancing excitatory transmission and long-term synaptic changes.

Beer-only drinkers have the lowest diet quality, highest caloric intake, and lowest physical activity levels compared to those who drink wine, liquor, or a combination. Researchers analyzed over 1,900 U.S. adults and found beer drinkers scored lowest on the Healthy Eating Index, while wine drinkers scored highest.

A new study reveals that changes in gut microbial load, influenced by factors like diet, age, and antibiotics, drive the presence of bacteria previously linked to diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. Using a machine learning model, researchers found that microbial load variations explained bacterial signatures in patients' microbiomes more strongly than the diseases themselves.

Traditional paranormal beliefs, such as witchcraft and religious superstition, are linked to higher stress and reduced coping ability, while new age beliefs, like spiritualism and precognition, show no such link. Researchers used an improved scale to analyze responses from over 3,000 participants, revealing that traditional beliefs may reflect anxieties about external control. The findings highlight the psychological differences between belief types but cannot confirm cause-and-effect relationships.

Researchers released new clinical guidelines for treating restless legs syndrome (RLS), emphasizing patient-centered care and evidence-based updates. Iron supplementation is now a key recommendation, addressing low brain iron as a cause of RLS. Dopamine agonists like pramipexole and ropinirole are de-emphasized due to risks of worsening symptoms, while newer treatments such as alpha-2-delta ligands, nerve stimulation, and low-dose opioids gain conditional or strong recommendations.

A study investigated how cannabis use influences metabolomic patterns linked to psychotic-like experiences in adolescents. Blood samples revealed that non-cannabis users showed inflammatory metabolic changes associated with hallucinations, while cannabis users exhibited shifts in energy-related metabolites tied to brain ketogenesis. These findings suggest that cannabis use may trigger distinct molecular pathways in psychotic-like experiences.

New research on zebra finches reveals that stress spreads within social groups, even affecting individuals not directly exposed to stressors. Birds in groups with more stressed members showed reduced movement and changes in social behavior, such as fewer social bonds.

A new study links hallucinogen-related emergency department visits to a 21-fold increased risk of schizophrenia compared to the general population. Even after accounting for other mental health disorders and substance use, individuals faced a 3.5-fold higher risk.

A study reveals that the genetic mutation causing Huntington’s disease (HD) enhances brain development and intelligence in early life, but leads to degeneration in adulthood. Children with the HD gene exhibit larger brains and higher IQs than those without the mutation.

A new study finds that brief isolation increases threat sensitivity in teens, even if they remain connected online. Adolescents isolated in a room for several hours showed heightened physiological stress and anxious responses to potential threats, regardless of whether they had access to smartphones.

A new study examined vocal expressions of emotion across 131 languages, exploring similarities in emotional interjections and comparing them to non-linguistic sounds like cries and laughter. The research aimed to understand whether shared vocal patterns exist globally and if these patterns relate to our evolutionary roots in vocal communication. The team found that vocal expressions of pain, like "Ouch!", showed consistent vowel forms across languages, while disgust and joy did not.

A novel machine learning model called Temporal Autoencoders for Causal Inference (TACI) accurately detects changing cause-and-effect relationships in complex, time-varying systems like weather patterns and brain activity. By analyzing both synthetic and real data, TACI captures dynamic interactions and quantifies shifts in strength or direction over time. Tested on long-term weather data and brain imaging in monkeys, TACI successfully pinpointed when causal connections emerged, weakened, or reversed.

Researchers have identified a protein, TMEM16F, that appears to aid the spread of Parkinson’s pathology in the brain. They found that a mutation in this protein promotes the secretion of a harmful form of α-synuclein, which moves through nerve cells, forming toxic Lewy bodies.

A new study has revealed how genetic variations in the SI gene, which affects sucrose digestion, influence dietary preferences and intake of sugary foods. Researchers found that individuals with limited sucrose-digesting ability, due to specific genetic variations, showed reduced sugar cravings and consumption. This discovery opens up the potential to develop targeted treatments to reduce sugar intake on a population level, potentially reducing the incidence of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

New research shows that how owners perceive their dogs—as friends, family, or security guards—shapes the way they care for them. Surveying over 800 dog owners, researchers found that people who view dogs as family often form closer bonds and dedicate more time to them, while others keep dogs mainly for companionship or practical roles. This generational shift in perception highlights a growing trend of treating dogs as family members.