Psychiatry News and Research

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Psychiatry is the treatment, study and prevention of mental disorders.

Unraveling the Genetic Blueprint of the Deep Brain

Researchers have discovered 254 genetic variations that influence important “deep brain” structures, such as those that govern memory, motor skills, addictive behaviors, and more, in one of the biggest-ever investigations of DNA and brain volume.

22 Oct 2024

High Potency Cannabis Leaves Unique DNA Signature, Study Shows

Published in Molecular Psychiatry, this is the first study to suggest that the use of high potency cannabis leaves a distinct mark on DNA, providing valuable insights into the biological impact of cannabis use.

16 Oct 2024

New Tool START Enables Precision Mapping of Neuronal Connectivity

Scientists at the Salk Institute are unveiling a new brain-mapping neurotechnology called Single Transcriptome Assisted Rabies Tracing (START). The cutting-edge tool combines two advanced technologies-;monosynaptic rabies virus tracing and single-cell transcriptomics-;to map the brain's intricate neuronal connections with unparalleled precision.

1 Oct 2024

Bipolar Disorder and Epilepsy Share Genetic Roots

A team of researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences has uncovered compelling evidence of a genetic link between bipolar disorder type I (BD-I) and epilepsy, potentially revolutionizing our understanding of these complex neuropsychiatric conditions.

1 Oct 2024

Research Reveals How the Brain Encodes Time and Experiences at the Neuronal Level

A landmark study led by UCLA Health has begun to unravel one of the fundamental mysteries in neuroscience – how the human brain encodes and makes sense of the flow of time and experiences.

26 Sep 2024

Harnessing the Power of Gut Bacteria to Combat Drug Resistance

There are approximately 100 trillion microbes in the human gut on average, and many of them are always vying for scarce resources.

20 Aug 2024

Electrical Recordings Illuminate Neural Basis of Inferential Reasoning

It takes brains to infer how any two things in the world relate to each other, whether it's the way bad weather links to commuting delays or how environmental conditions lead to the evolution of species.

16 Aug 2024

Peers' Genetic Traits Impact Long-Term Risk for Substance Use and Psychiatric Disorders

Mom always said, "Choose your friends wisely." Now a study led by a Rutgers Health professor shows she was onto something: Their traits can rub off on you – especially ones that are in their genes.

12 Aug 2024

Single-Cell Analysis Uncovers Impact of TREM2 Mutation on Beta-Amyloid Plaques

Researchers led by the University of California, Irvine have discovered how the TREM2 R47H genetic mutation causes certain brain areas to develop abnormal protein clumps, called beta-amyloid plaques, associated with late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

8 Aug 2024

Study Explores the Role of Sex-Biased Gene Expression in Autism Risk During Prenatal Development

The cortex of prenatal donors to determine differentially expressed genes based on sex and potentially identify molecular and cellular mechanisms that contribute to ASD.

7 Aug 2024

New Model Reveals Underlying Similarity in Mammalian Brain Shapes

A novel method for characterizing the cerebral cortex's shape has been devised by researchers, who also present evidence that cortices in all mammalian species share a common, fractal design.

31 Jul 2024

Scripps Research Unveils Brain Neurons That Control First Bite and Drinking Behavior

Do you grab a fork and take a first bite of cake, or say no and walk away? Our motivation to eat is driven by a complex web of cells in the brain that use signals from within the body, as well as sensory information about the food in front of us, to determine our behaviors.

12 Jul 2024

Key Brain Cells Discovered in Delaying First Bite of Food

Scientists at Scripps Research have pinpointed a group of neurons in the previously overlooked parasubthalamic nucleus (PSTN) that govern the initiation of feeding behavior.

11 Jul 2024

Christchurch Variant Offers Protection Against Early-Onset Alzheimer's

A scientific story that began with a discovery in just one extraordinary patient is now panning out.

21 Jun 2024

Genetic Insights into Coffee Consumption and Health Implications

Coffee drinking is a heritable habit, and one that carries a certain amount of genetic baggage.

20 Jun 2024

Comprehensive Analysis of Gene-Isoform Variation Unlocks Secrets of Brain Development

A team led by researchers at UCLA and the University of Pennsylvania has produced a first-of-its kind catalog of gene-isoform variation in the developing human brain.

24 May 2024

A New AI Model that can Distinguish Between Male and Female Brain Activity

Researchers at Stanford Medicine have developed a new artificial intelligence model that can distinguish between male and female brain activity scans with over 90% accuracy.

20 Feb 2024

Pain-Triggered Oxytocin in the Brain Leads Mice to Shun Bullies

Mice, like humans, fight for mates and territory, form intricate social groups, and learn when it is safer to stay away from particular opponents.

25 Jan 2024

New Technology Enables Minimally-Invasive, High-Resolution Recording of Brain Activity

Sensors built with a new manufacturing approach are capable of recording activity deep within the brain from large populations of individual neurons–with a resolution of as few as one or two neurons–in humans as well as a range of animal models, according to a study published in the Jan. 17, 2024 issue of the journal Nature Communications.

18 Jan 2024

Genetic Twist in Tiny Protein Protects Against Parkinson's

A previously unidentified genetic mutation in a small protein provides significant protection against Parkinson's disease and offers a new direction for exploring potential treatments, according to a new USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology study.

3 Jan 2024