Neuroscience

A new study shows that slowing breathing rates can reduce anxiety-like behaviors even without any conscious effort or belief in its effects. Researchers used mice to demonstrate that the benefits come from physiological changes rather than placebo. The findings were presented at a summit in Los Angeles earlier this month.

May 03, 2026 由 AI 报道

Researchers at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria have found that the brain's memory center, the hippocampus, begins life with a dense, seemingly random network of connections rather than a blank slate. This network refines itself through pruning, becoming more organized and efficient over time. The discovery challenges the traditional tabula rasa concept.

A new study published this month by the American Psychological Association reveals that heavy reliance on AI tools for workplace tasks correlates with reduced confidence in personal abilities and less sense of ownership over work. Researchers observed that users who rarely modify AI outputs feel less confident in their independent reasoning. The findings highlight trade-offs between speed and depth in AI-assisted work.

April 24, 2026 由 AI 报道

A study involving 73 people with mild cognitive impairment or early dementia found that tailored treatment plans targeting nutritional deficiencies, infections and other factors led to significant cognitive improvements after nine months. Participants in the intervention group saw their overall cognitive scores rise by 13.7 points, while the control group declined by 4.5 points. The approach combines medical interventions with lifestyle changes like diet, exercise and cognitive training.

Researchers have identified brain connectivity patterns tied to autism symptom severity in children diagnosed with either autism or ADHD. The findings, from a study led by the Child Mind Institute, suggest shared biological mechanisms across these conditions regardless of formal diagnosis. These patterns align with genetic activity involved in neural development.

April 09, 2026 由 AI 报道 事实核查

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University report that some gut bacteria can make unusually inflammatory forms of glycogen and that this microbial glycogen can trigger immune activity linked to brain inflammation in models of disease tied to the C9orf72 mutation. In patient stool samples, the team found these glycogen forms more often in ALS and C9orf72-related frontotemporal dementia than in healthy controls, and enzymatically breaking down glycogen in the gut improved outcomes in mice.