Neuroscience

A new piece from Literary Hub examines common misconceptions surrounding the neurotransmitter dopamine.

10. maj 2026 Rapporteret af AI

Researchers have uncovered a neural signal involving the TRPV4 molecule that tells the brain when scratching an itch has provided enough relief. Experiments in mice showed that without this signal, scratching episodes become prolonged even as overall frequency drops.

Researchers at the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca have found that dreams are structured by individual traits and real-world events, rather than being random. Analyzing over 3,700 dream reports from 287 participants, the team used AI tools to reveal how the brain reshapes daily experiences into imaginative scenarios. The study highlights influences like mind-wandering tendencies and the COVID-19 pandemic on dream content.

27. april 2026 Rapporteret af AI

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have pinpointed a brain region called the caudal granular insular cortex, or CGIC, that acts as a switch turning acute pain into chronic pain. In animal studies, disabling this circuit prevented chronic pain from developing or reversed it once established. The findings, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, open paths to new treatments beyond opioids.

Researchers at the University of Toronto Scarborough have found that feeling mentally sharp on a given day can boost productivity by up to 40 minutes. The study, published in Science Advances, tracked university students over 12 weeks and connected clearer thinking to setting and achieving bigger goals. Factors like sleep and workload influence these daily fluctuations.

15. april 2026 Rapporteret af AI Faktatjekket

People who reported more mentally stimulating experiences from childhood through older age were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and tended to develop symptoms years later than peers with the lowest enrichment, according to an observational study published in Neurology.