#braindevelopment — Public Fediverse posts

Laughter Rewires Brain Architecture and Lowers Cognitive Load

Summary: A comprehensive neurodevelopmental analysis established that laughter is a complex biological engine that directly shapes early brain…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Health #braindevelopment #brainresearch #cognition #developmentalneuroscience #laughter #neural-synchrony #neurobiology #neurodevelopment #Neuroscience #TaylorandFrancisGroup
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/665180/

Laughter Rewires Brain Architecture and Lowers Cognitive Load

Summary: A comprehensive neurodevelopmental analysis established that laughter is a complex biological engine that directly shapes early brain…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Health #braindevelopment #brainresearch #cognition #developmentalneuroscience #laughter #neural-synchrony #neurobiology #neurodevelopment #Neuroscience #TaylorandFrancisGroup
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/665180/

DATE: May 22, 2026 at 08:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: Higher body mass index in youth linked to altered brain connectivity

URL: https://www.psypost.org/higher-body-mass-index-in-youth-linked-to-altered-brain-connectivity/

Children and adolescents with a higher body mass index show distinct differences in their brain activity and the ways different brain regions communicate with one another. These neurological patterns point to a reduction in the brain’s natural inhibitory systems, which might make it harder for to change deeply ingrained habits. The findings were recently published in Clinical Neurophysiology.

The human brain continues to develop and rewire itself heavily throughout childhood and adolescence. The frontal cortex, a brain area responsible for impulse control and complex decision making, is among the last regions to fully mature. During this lengthy developmental window, the brain is highly sensitive to environmental factors. Such external influences include nutrition, physical activity, and overall body weight.

Animal models have shown that diets high in fat and sugar can disrupt the delicate equilibrium of the brain. Brain cells communicate using a mix of excitatory signals that increase activity and inhibitory signals that quiet activity down. Proper brain function relies on maintaining a steady balance between these two forces.

In rodents, researchers found that obesity related diets damaged specialized inhibitory cells in the frontal cortex. These cells are typically wrapped in a protective mesh called a perineuronal net. High fat diets appeared to erode this protective mesh, leaving the inhibitory cells vulnerable to damage.

When these inhibitory cells fail to function properly, the brain loses its ability to hit the neurological brakes. This results in a state of hyper-excitability. A research team wanted to see if human youths with higher body weights exhibited neurological patterns similar to this disinhibited state.

Amy C. Reichelt, a researcher at Western University and the University of Adelaide, led the investigation. She worked alongside Benjamin T. Dunkley from the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, as well as a team of other specialists. Together, they designed a study to directly measure brain activity in young volunteers.

The researchers recruited 32 children and teenagers, ranging in age from eight to 19 years old. They calculated each participant’s body mass index, a standard medical metric based on a ratio of height to weight. The cohort was divided into two groups based on how their body mass index compared to standard growth charts for their specific age and sex.

One group consisted of 15 youths with a lower body mass index, falling within average ranges. The other group included 17 youths with a higher body mass index, falling into the overweight or obese categories. Both groups were matched as closely as possible for age and height.

To measure brain activity, the team used a noninvasive imaging technique called magnetoencephalography. This technology relies on highly sensitive sensors to detect the tiny magnetic fields generated by the electrical activity of neurons. This method offers incredibly detailed information about the timing and rapid frequency of brain waves. It can track neural oscillations millisecond by millisecond.

Instead of asking participants to perform an active cognitive puzzle, the researchers had them undergo a resting state scan. Participants laid in the scanner and watched a computer generated, abstract video landscape for five minutes. This neutral video helped the subjects stay still while allowing their minds to wander naturally. The approach allowed the scientists to record the brain’s spontaneous background activity.

The researchers analyzed the resulting brain wave data, focusing on rhythmic oscillations. They found that the youths with a higher body mass index exhibited notable differences in high frequency rhythms known as gamma brain waves. Gamma waves are fast electrical rhythms generated when excitatory and inhibitory cells engage with one another.

In the higher body weight group, gamma activity was highly elevated across many different cortical lobes. The researchers found the boldest effects in the posteromedial cortex and the temporoparietal junction, which are areas involved in directing attention. Elevated gamma activity is often interpreted as a sign that the brain’s natural inhibitory systems are not exerting enough control.

The team also looked at aperiodic activity, which is the constant background electrical static in the brain. They measured the slope of this background noise, a common metric that scientists use to gauge the overall balance of excitation and inhibition in neural tissues. The higher weight group had a shallower slope, pointing to a relative lack of neural inhibition.

These background noise differences were most prominent in the frontal cortex and midline parietal regions. The frontal cortex is deeply involved in top down cognitive control and mental flexibility. Alterations here suggest a potential difficulty in regulating impulses and adjusting to new rules.

Beyond isolating localized brain areas, the researchers examined how specialized brain networks communicated with each other. The brain relies on interconnected webs of regions passing information back and forth. For example, the default mode network is active during internal thought, while the central executive network handles focused working memory tasks.

The salience network is another structural web, responsible for detecting relevant stimuli in the environment and deciding what the brain should pay attention to. The researchers mapped the connections between these distinct networks by looking at how their signals synchronized. In youths with a higher body mass index, they observed weakened communication in lower frequency brain waves like delta and theta rhythms.

Specifically, there were reduced connections between the salience network and networks responsible for driving motivated behaviors. Conversely, the same group showed unusually strong connections in high frequency gamma waves. These tighter high frequency bonds appeared between the default mode network and the central executive network.

This specific combination of weakened low frequency bonds and enhanced high frequency bonds points to an overall loss of efficiency. The typical pathways used to coordinate thoughts and behaviors appeared reorganized in the higher weight group. This could mean the brain is working harder to transmit the same amount of information.

The researchers note several caveats to their experimental approach. Body mass index is an imperfect tool, taking only height and weight into account. It cannot distinguish between muscle mass and adipose tissue. This means it does not always provide an exact reflection of an individual’s body fat percentage.

The relatively small number of participants also means these results should be viewed as preliminary. The observational design of the study means that the researchers cannot state that a higher body mass index caused the brain functioning changes. It remains entirely possible that preexisting brain differences made certain youths more susceptible to excess weight gain.

The scientists also did not track the participants’ daily diets, physical activity levels, or perform behavioral cognitive tests. As a result, the real world implications of these neural shifts are not yet known. It remains a mystery how these specific brain wave patterns translate to daily decision making, academic performance, or emotional regulation.

Future research could incorporate detailed dietary tracking and extensive cognitive assessments alongside brain imaging. The researchers suggest that weakened inhibitory signaling in the frontal cortex could directly influence decision making around food over the long term. Without robust inhibitory control, individuals might find it much harder to resist eating highly palatable foods.

Over time, this could create a feedback loop where dietary habits alter brain development, which in turn entrenches those same dietary habits. Understanding how body weight relates to adolescent brain development might eventually help medical professionals design better strategies for supporting both mental and physical health.

The study, “Elevated body mass index in youth is associated with neural disinhibition and internetwork functional dysconnectivity: A magnetoencephalography study,” was authored by A.C. Reichelt, E. Daskalakis, J. Cohen, K.G. Solar, M. Saberi, M. Ventresca, M. Ali, R. Zamyadi, V. Bhat, S.E. Scratch, J. Hamilton, and B.T. Dunkley.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/higher-body-mass-index-in-youth-linked-to-altered-brain-connectivity/

-------------------------------------------------

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NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #BMIinYouth #BrainConnectivity #NeuralDisinhibition #GammaWaves #Magnetoencephalography #AdolescentHealth #FrontalCortex #InhibitoryControl #BrainDevelopment #ObesityResearch

DATE: May 22, 2026 at 08:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: Higher body mass index in youth linked to altered brain connectivity

URL: https://www.psypost.org/higher-body-mass-index-in-youth-linked-to-altered-brain-connectivity/

Children and adolescents with a higher body mass index show distinct differences in their brain activity and the ways different brain regions communicate with one another. These neurological patterns point to a reduction in the brain’s natural inhibitory systems, which might make it harder for to change deeply ingrained habits. The findings were recently published in Clinical Neurophysiology.

The human brain continues to develop and rewire itself heavily throughout childhood and adolescence. The frontal cortex, a brain area responsible for impulse control and complex decision making, is among the last regions to fully mature. During this lengthy developmental window, the brain is highly sensitive to environmental factors. Such external influences include nutrition, physical activity, and overall body weight.

Animal models have shown that diets high in fat and sugar can disrupt the delicate equilibrium of the brain. Brain cells communicate using a mix of excitatory signals that increase activity and inhibitory signals that quiet activity down. Proper brain function relies on maintaining a steady balance between these two forces.

In rodents, researchers found that obesity related diets damaged specialized inhibitory cells in the frontal cortex. These cells are typically wrapped in a protective mesh called a perineuronal net. High fat diets appeared to erode this protective mesh, leaving the inhibitory cells vulnerable to damage.

When these inhibitory cells fail to function properly, the brain loses its ability to hit the neurological brakes. This results in a state of hyper-excitability. A research team wanted to see if human youths with higher body weights exhibited neurological patterns similar to this disinhibited state.

Amy C. Reichelt, a researcher at Western University and the University of Adelaide, led the investigation. She worked alongside Benjamin T. Dunkley from the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, as well as a team of other specialists. Together, they designed a study to directly measure brain activity in young volunteers.

The researchers recruited 32 children and teenagers, ranging in age from eight to 19 years old. They calculated each participant’s body mass index, a standard medical metric based on a ratio of height to weight. The cohort was divided into two groups based on how their body mass index compared to standard growth charts for their specific age and sex.

One group consisted of 15 youths with a lower body mass index, falling within average ranges. The other group included 17 youths with a higher body mass index, falling into the overweight or obese categories. Both groups were matched as closely as possible for age and height.

To measure brain activity, the team used a noninvasive imaging technique called magnetoencephalography. This technology relies on highly sensitive sensors to detect the tiny magnetic fields generated by the electrical activity of neurons. This method offers incredibly detailed information about the timing and rapid frequency of brain waves. It can track neural oscillations millisecond by millisecond.

Instead of asking participants to perform an active cognitive puzzle, the researchers had them undergo a resting state scan. Participants laid in the scanner and watched a computer generated, abstract video landscape for five minutes. This neutral video helped the subjects stay still while allowing their minds to wander naturally. The approach allowed the scientists to record the brain’s spontaneous background activity.

The researchers analyzed the resulting brain wave data, focusing on rhythmic oscillations. They found that the youths with a higher body mass index exhibited notable differences in high frequency rhythms known as gamma brain waves. Gamma waves are fast electrical rhythms generated when excitatory and inhibitory cells engage with one another.

In the higher body weight group, gamma activity was highly elevated across many different cortical lobes. The researchers found the boldest effects in the posteromedial cortex and the temporoparietal junction, which are areas involved in directing attention. Elevated gamma activity is often interpreted as a sign that the brain’s natural inhibitory systems are not exerting enough control.

The team also looked at aperiodic activity, which is the constant background electrical static in the brain. They measured the slope of this background noise, a common metric that scientists use to gauge the overall balance of excitation and inhibition in neural tissues. The higher weight group had a shallower slope, pointing to a relative lack of neural inhibition.

These background noise differences were most prominent in the frontal cortex and midline parietal regions. The frontal cortex is deeply involved in top down cognitive control and mental flexibility. Alterations here suggest a potential difficulty in regulating impulses and adjusting to new rules.

Beyond isolating localized brain areas, the researchers examined how specialized brain networks communicated with each other. The brain relies on interconnected webs of regions passing information back and forth. For example, the default mode network is active during internal thought, while the central executive network handles focused working memory tasks.

The salience network is another structural web, responsible for detecting relevant stimuli in the environment and deciding what the brain should pay attention to. The researchers mapped the connections between these distinct networks by looking at how their signals synchronized. In youths with a higher body mass index, they observed weakened communication in lower frequency brain waves like delta and theta rhythms.

Specifically, there were reduced connections between the salience network and networks responsible for driving motivated behaviors. Conversely, the same group showed unusually strong connections in high frequency gamma waves. These tighter high frequency bonds appeared between the default mode network and the central executive network.

This specific combination of weakened low frequency bonds and enhanced high frequency bonds points to an overall loss of efficiency. The typical pathways used to coordinate thoughts and behaviors appeared reorganized in the higher weight group. This could mean the brain is working harder to transmit the same amount of information.

The researchers note several caveats to their experimental approach. Body mass index is an imperfect tool, taking only height and weight into account. It cannot distinguish between muscle mass and adipose tissue. This means it does not always provide an exact reflection of an individual’s body fat percentage.

The relatively small number of participants also means these results should be viewed as preliminary. The observational design of the study means that the researchers cannot state that a higher body mass index caused the brain functioning changes. It remains entirely possible that preexisting brain differences made certain youths more susceptible to excess weight gain.

The scientists also did not track the participants’ daily diets, physical activity levels, or perform behavioral cognitive tests. As a result, the real world implications of these neural shifts are not yet known. It remains a mystery how these specific brain wave patterns translate to daily decision making, academic performance, or emotional regulation.

Future research could incorporate detailed dietary tracking and extensive cognitive assessments alongside brain imaging. The researchers suggest that weakened inhibitory signaling in the frontal cortex could directly influence decision making around food over the long term. Without robust inhibitory control, individuals might find it much harder to resist eating highly palatable foods.

Over time, this could create a feedback loop where dietary habits alter brain development, which in turn entrenches those same dietary habits. Understanding how body weight relates to adolescent brain development might eventually help medical professionals design better strategies for supporting both mental and physical health.

The study, “Elevated body mass index in youth is associated with neural disinhibition and internetwork functional dysconnectivity: A magnetoencephalography study,” was authored by A.C. Reichelt, E. Daskalakis, J. Cohen, K.G. Solar, M. Saberi, M. Ventresca, M. Ali, R. Zamyadi, V. Bhat, S.E. Scratch, J. Hamilton, and B.T. Dunkley.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/higher-body-mass-index-in-youth-linked-to-altered-brain-connectivity/

-------------------------------------------------

DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #BMIinYouth #BrainConnectivity #NeuralDisinhibition #GammaWaves #Magnetoencephalography #AdolescentHealth #FrontalCortex #InhibitoryControl #BrainDevelopment #ObesityResearch

DATE: May 22, 2026 at 08:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: Higher body mass index in youth linked to altered brain connectivity

URL: https://www.psypost.org/higher-body-mass-index-in-youth-linked-to-altered-brain-connectivity/

Children and adolescents with a higher body mass index show distinct differences in their brain activity and the ways different brain regions communicate with one another. These neurological patterns point to a reduction in the brain’s natural inhibitory systems, which might make it harder for to change deeply ingrained habits. The findings were recently published in Clinical Neurophysiology.

The human brain continues to develop and rewire itself heavily throughout childhood and adolescence. The frontal cortex, a brain area responsible for impulse control and complex decision making, is among the last regions to fully mature. During this lengthy developmental window, the brain is highly sensitive to environmental factors. Such external influences include nutrition, physical activity, and overall body weight.

Animal models have shown that diets high in fat and sugar can disrupt the delicate equilibrium of the brain. Brain cells communicate using a mix of excitatory signals that increase activity and inhibitory signals that quiet activity down. Proper brain function relies on maintaining a steady balance between these two forces.

In rodents, researchers found that obesity related diets damaged specialized inhibitory cells in the frontal cortex. These cells are typically wrapped in a protective mesh called a perineuronal net. High fat diets appeared to erode this protective mesh, leaving the inhibitory cells vulnerable to damage.

When these inhibitory cells fail to function properly, the brain loses its ability to hit the neurological brakes. This results in a state of hyper-excitability. A research team wanted to see if human youths with higher body weights exhibited neurological patterns similar to this disinhibited state.

Amy C. Reichelt, a researcher at Western University and the University of Adelaide, led the investigation. She worked alongside Benjamin T. Dunkley from the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, as well as a team of other specialists. Together, they designed a study to directly measure brain activity in young volunteers.

The researchers recruited 32 children and teenagers, ranging in age from eight to 19 years old. They calculated each participant’s body mass index, a standard medical metric based on a ratio of height to weight. The cohort was divided into two groups based on how their body mass index compared to standard growth charts for their specific age and sex.

One group consisted of 15 youths with a lower body mass index, falling within average ranges. The other group included 17 youths with a higher body mass index, falling into the overweight or obese categories. Both groups were matched as closely as possible for age and height.

To measure brain activity, the team used a noninvasive imaging technique called magnetoencephalography. This technology relies on highly sensitive sensors to detect the tiny magnetic fields generated by the electrical activity of neurons. This method offers incredibly detailed information about the timing and rapid frequency of brain waves. It can track neural oscillations millisecond by millisecond.

Instead of asking participants to perform an active cognitive puzzle, the researchers had them undergo a resting state scan. Participants laid in the scanner and watched a computer generated, abstract video landscape for five minutes. This neutral video helped the subjects stay still while allowing their minds to wander naturally. The approach allowed the scientists to record the brain’s spontaneous background activity.

The researchers analyzed the resulting brain wave data, focusing on rhythmic oscillations. They found that the youths with a higher body mass index exhibited notable differences in high frequency rhythms known as gamma brain waves. Gamma waves are fast electrical rhythms generated when excitatory and inhibitory cells engage with one another.

In the higher body weight group, gamma activity was highly elevated across many different cortical lobes. The researchers found the boldest effects in the posteromedial cortex and the temporoparietal junction, which are areas involved in directing attention. Elevated gamma activity is often interpreted as a sign that the brain’s natural inhibitory systems are not exerting enough control.

The team also looked at aperiodic activity, which is the constant background electrical static in the brain. They measured the slope of this background noise, a common metric that scientists use to gauge the overall balance of excitation and inhibition in neural tissues. The higher weight group had a shallower slope, pointing to a relative lack of neural inhibition.

These background noise differences were most prominent in the frontal cortex and midline parietal regions. The frontal cortex is deeply involved in top down cognitive control and mental flexibility. Alterations here suggest a potential difficulty in regulating impulses and adjusting to new rules.

Beyond isolating localized brain areas, the researchers examined how specialized brain networks communicated with each other. The brain relies on interconnected webs of regions passing information back and forth. For example, the default mode network is active during internal thought, while the central executive network handles focused working memory tasks.

The salience network is another structural web, responsible for detecting relevant stimuli in the environment and deciding what the brain should pay attention to. The researchers mapped the connections between these distinct networks by looking at how their signals synchronized. In youths with a higher body mass index, they observed weakened communication in lower frequency brain waves like delta and theta rhythms.

Specifically, there were reduced connections between the salience network and networks responsible for driving motivated behaviors. Conversely, the same group showed unusually strong connections in high frequency gamma waves. These tighter high frequency bonds appeared between the default mode network and the central executive network.

This specific combination of weakened low frequency bonds and enhanced high frequency bonds points to an overall loss of efficiency. The typical pathways used to coordinate thoughts and behaviors appeared reorganized in the higher weight group. This could mean the brain is working harder to transmit the same amount of information.

The researchers note several caveats to their experimental approach. Body mass index is an imperfect tool, taking only height and weight into account. It cannot distinguish between muscle mass and adipose tissue. This means it does not always provide an exact reflection of an individual’s body fat percentage.

The relatively small number of participants also means these results should be viewed as preliminary. The observational design of the study means that the researchers cannot state that a higher body mass index caused the brain functioning changes. It remains entirely possible that preexisting brain differences made certain youths more susceptible to excess weight gain.

The scientists also did not track the participants’ daily diets, physical activity levels, or perform behavioral cognitive tests. As a result, the real world implications of these neural shifts are not yet known. It remains a mystery how these specific brain wave patterns translate to daily decision making, academic performance, or emotional regulation.

Future research could incorporate detailed dietary tracking and extensive cognitive assessments alongside brain imaging. The researchers suggest that weakened inhibitory signaling in the frontal cortex could directly influence decision making around food over the long term. Without robust inhibitory control, individuals might find it much harder to resist eating highly palatable foods.

Over time, this could create a feedback loop where dietary habits alter brain development, which in turn entrenches those same dietary habits. Understanding how body weight relates to adolescent brain development might eventually help medical professionals design better strategies for supporting both mental and physical health.

The study, “Elevated body mass index in youth is associated with neural disinhibition and internetwork functional dysconnectivity: A magnetoencephalography study,” was authored by A.C. Reichelt, E. Daskalakis, J. Cohen, K.G. Solar, M. Saberi, M. Ventresca, M. Ali, R. Zamyadi, V. Bhat, S.E. Scratch, J. Hamilton, and B.T. Dunkley.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/higher-body-mass-index-in-youth-linked-to-altered-brain-connectivity/

-------------------------------------------------

DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #BMIinYouth #BrainConnectivity #NeuralDisinhibition #GammaWaves #Magnetoencephalography #AdolescentHealth #FrontalCortex #InhibitoryControl #BrainDevelopment #ObesityResearch

DATE: May 22, 2026 at 08:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: Higher body mass index in youth linked to altered brain connectivity

URL: https://www.psypost.org/higher-body-mass-index-in-youth-linked-to-altered-brain-connectivity/

Children and adolescents with a higher body mass index show distinct differences in their brain activity and the ways different brain regions communicate with one another. These neurological patterns point to a reduction in the brain’s natural inhibitory systems, which might make it harder for to change deeply ingrained habits. The findings were recently published in Clinical Neurophysiology.

The human brain continues to develop and rewire itself heavily throughout childhood and adolescence. The frontal cortex, a brain area responsible for impulse control and complex decision making, is among the last regions to fully mature. During this lengthy developmental window, the brain is highly sensitive to environmental factors. Such external influences include nutrition, physical activity, and overall body weight.

Animal models have shown that diets high in fat and sugar can disrupt the delicate equilibrium of the brain. Brain cells communicate using a mix of excitatory signals that increase activity and inhibitory signals that quiet activity down. Proper brain function relies on maintaining a steady balance between these two forces.

In rodents, researchers found that obesity related diets damaged specialized inhibitory cells in the frontal cortex. These cells are typically wrapped in a protective mesh called a perineuronal net. High fat diets appeared to erode this protective mesh, leaving the inhibitory cells vulnerable to damage.

When these inhibitory cells fail to function properly, the brain loses its ability to hit the neurological brakes. This results in a state of hyper-excitability. A research team wanted to see if human youths with higher body weights exhibited neurological patterns similar to this disinhibited state.

Amy C. Reichelt, a researcher at Western University and the University of Adelaide, led the investigation. She worked alongside Benjamin T. Dunkley from the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, as well as a team of other specialists. Together, they designed a study to directly measure brain activity in young volunteers.

The researchers recruited 32 children and teenagers, ranging in age from eight to 19 years old. They calculated each participant’s body mass index, a standard medical metric based on a ratio of height to weight. The cohort was divided into two groups based on how their body mass index compared to standard growth charts for their specific age and sex.

One group consisted of 15 youths with a lower body mass index, falling within average ranges. The other group included 17 youths with a higher body mass index, falling into the overweight or obese categories. Both groups were matched as closely as possible for age and height.

To measure brain activity, the team used a noninvasive imaging technique called magnetoencephalography. This technology relies on highly sensitive sensors to detect the tiny magnetic fields generated by the electrical activity of neurons. This method offers incredibly detailed information about the timing and rapid frequency of brain waves. It can track neural oscillations millisecond by millisecond.

Instead of asking participants to perform an active cognitive puzzle, the researchers had them undergo a resting state scan. Participants laid in the scanner and watched a computer generated, abstract video landscape for five minutes. This neutral video helped the subjects stay still while allowing their minds to wander naturally. The approach allowed the scientists to record the brain’s spontaneous background activity.

The researchers analyzed the resulting brain wave data, focusing on rhythmic oscillations. They found that the youths with a higher body mass index exhibited notable differences in high frequency rhythms known as gamma brain waves. Gamma waves are fast electrical rhythms generated when excitatory and inhibitory cells engage with one another.

In the higher body weight group, gamma activity was highly elevated across many different cortical lobes. The researchers found the boldest effects in the posteromedial cortex and the temporoparietal junction, which are areas involved in directing attention. Elevated gamma activity is often interpreted as a sign that the brain’s natural inhibitory systems are not exerting enough control.

The team also looked at aperiodic activity, which is the constant background electrical static in the brain. They measured the slope of this background noise, a common metric that scientists use to gauge the overall balance of excitation and inhibition in neural tissues. The higher weight group had a shallower slope, pointing to a relative lack of neural inhibition.

These background noise differences were most prominent in the frontal cortex and midline parietal regions. The frontal cortex is deeply involved in top down cognitive control and mental flexibility. Alterations here suggest a potential difficulty in regulating impulses and adjusting to new rules.

Beyond isolating localized brain areas, the researchers examined how specialized brain networks communicated with each other. The brain relies on interconnected webs of regions passing information back and forth. For example, the default mode network is active during internal thought, while the central executive network handles focused working memory tasks.

The salience network is another structural web, responsible for detecting relevant stimuli in the environment and deciding what the brain should pay attention to. The researchers mapped the connections between these distinct networks by looking at how their signals synchronized. In youths with a higher body mass index, they observed weakened communication in lower frequency brain waves like delta and theta rhythms.

Specifically, there were reduced connections between the salience network and networks responsible for driving motivated behaviors. Conversely, the same group showed unusually strong connections in high frequency gamma waves. These tighter high frequency bonds appeared between the default mode network and the central executive network.

This specific combination of weakened low frequency bonds and enhanced high frequency bonds points to an overall loss of efficiency. The typical pathways used to coordinate thoughts and behaviors appeared reorganized in the higher weight group. This could mean the brain is working harder to transmit the same amount of information.

The researchers note several caveats to their experimental approach. Body mass index is an imperfect tool, taking only height and weight into account. It cannot distinguish between muscle mass and adipose tissue. This means it does not always provide an exact reflection of an individual’s body fat percentage.

The relatively small number of participants also means these results should be viewed as preliminary. The observational design of the study means that the researchers cannot state that a higher body mass index caused the brain functioning changes. It remains entirely possible that preexisting brain differences made certain youths more susceptible to excess weight gain.

The scientists also did not track the participants’ daily diets, physical activity levels, or perform behavioral cognitive tests. As a result, the real world implications of these neural shifts are not yet known. It remains a mystery how these specific brain wave patterns translate to daily decision making, academic performance, or emotional regulation.

Future research could incorporate detailed dietary tracking and extensive cognitive assessments alongside brain imaging. The researchers suggest that weakened inhibitory signaling in the frontal cortex could directly influence decision making around food over the long term. Without robust inhibitory control, individuals might find it much harder to resist eating highly palatable foods.

Over time, this could create a feedback loop where dietary habits alter brain development, which in turn entrenches those same dietary habits. Understanding how body weight relates to adolescent brain development might eventually help medical professionals design better strategies for supporting both mental and physical health.

The study, “Elevated body mass index in youth is associated with neural disinhibition and internetwork functional dysconnectivity: A magnetoencephalography study,” was authored by A.C. Reichelt, E. Daskalakis, J. Cohen, K.G. Solar, M. Saberi, M. Ventresca, M. Ali, R. Zamyadi, V. Bhat, S.E. Scratch, J. Hamilton, and B.T. Dunkley.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/higher-body-mass-index-in-youth-linked-to-altered-brain-connectivity/

-------------------------------------------------

DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

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-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #BMIinYouth #BrainConnectivity #NeuralDisinhibition #GammaWaves #Magnetoencephalography #AdolescentHealth #FrontalCortex #InhibitoryControl #BrainDevelopment #ObesityResearch

DATE: May 22, 2026 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: Neuroscientists discover the brain’s memory center starts “full” and prunes itself down to optimize learning

URL: https://www.psypost.org/neuroscientists-discover-the-brains-memory-center-starts-full-and-prunes-itself-down-to-optimize-learning/

A newly discovered developmental process reveals that the brain’s primary memory center starts out with an excess of tangled, random connections that get pruned away to form a highly structured, efficient network as an animal grows. These physical and functional changes optimize the brain’s capacity to store and retrieve memories over a lifetime. The study detailing this transformation was recently published in the journal Nature Communications.

The hippocampus is a seahorse-shaped region deep within the brain that handles memory formation and spatial navigation. Within this region lies a specialized circuit called the CA3 network. This area acts as an autoassociative memory system, meaning it helps the brain recall a complete memory from just a tiny fragment of information. For example, the network allows a person to remember an entire childhood kitchen just from the smell of a single spice.

To accomplish this feat, nerve cells in this region communicate through electrical and chemical junctions called synapses. The brain’s elasticity allows these connections to grow stronger or weaker over time as an animal learns new things. While researchers understand how this network operates in an adult brain, the way it physically takes shape after birth has remained unclear.

Researchers at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria wanted to understand how this vital memory network develops. Two competing philosophical and biological models framed their approach. The first model is the tabula rasa, or blank slate theory. This concept suggests that the brain starts with very few connections and slowly builds them up as the animal experiences the world.

The opposing model is the tabula plena, or full slate theory. In this scenario, the brain begins with an overabundance of connections that are gradually trimmed away, leaving only the most necessary pathways. Neuroscientist Victor Vargas-Barroso led the investigation to find out which model correctly describes the developing hippocampus. Vargas-Barroso worked alongside Peter Jonas, a professor of life sciences at the institute, to map the circuitry of the mouse brain.

To trace the wiring of this brain region, the research team examined mouse brains at three distinct developmental stages. They looked at mice shortly after birth, during adolescence, and in adulthood. The team used an advanced recording technique called multicellular patch-clamp recording. This method allowed them to monitor the tiny electrical signals of up to eight individual nerve cells at the exact same time.

By stimulating one cell and listening to the responses of the others, the team could map exactly which neurons were communicating with one another. To physically see these connections, they filled the cells with a specialized dye. This allowed the researchers to reconstruct three-dimensional models of the nerve cells using high-resolution microscopes. In total, they tested more than seven thousand potential connections between nerve cells.

Through this mapping process, the researchers observed a massive shift in how the cells were linked. In the youngest mice, the nerve cells were densely packed with connections that seemed to form at random. As the mice grew into adulthood, the total number of connections dropped. The network shifted from being highly localized and dense to becoming sparse, widespread, and highly structured.

“This discovery was quite surprising,” Jonas said in a press release. “Intuitively, one might expect that a network grows and becomes denser over time. Here, we see the opposite. It follows what we call a pruning model: it starts out full, and then it becomes streamlined and optimized.”

The physical shapes of the neurons also changed in unexpected ways. Nerve cells have two main types of branches: axons that send signals and dendrites that receive them. The team found that the signal-sending axons actually grew shorter and less complex as the animal aged.

In contrast, the signal-receiving dendrites continued to grow and develop more receptor sites. This means the trimming process was heavily one-sided, mainly affecting the outbound communication cables of the nerve cells. In the adult mice, the remaining axon connections became clumped into specific, specialized patches rather than being spread evenly.

Beyond the physical wiring, the team discovered a major shift in how the cells transmitted electrical messages. In the immature brain, single connections between cells were incredibly strong. A single signal from one neuron was often enough to make the receiving cell fire off its own electrical pulse. Researchers refer to this as a near-detonating effect.

In adult mice, these individual connections became much weaker. A single incoming signal was no longer enough to trigger a response in the receiving cell. Instead, the adult nerve cell required simultaneous signals from multiple different neighbors to reach the threshold for firing.

This shift means the mature brain relies on integrating multiple pieces of information at once, rather than reacting strongly to a single input. The brain moves from a system that relies on timing to a system that detects spatial coincidences. To see how these physical changes affected memory, the researchers built a computer simulation of a network with one hundred thousand neurons.

In the computer simulation, they tested how different types of connectivity influenced the network’s ability to recall stored patterns. The results showed that moving from a dense, highly reactive network to a sparse, weaker, and wider network actually maximized the system’s memory storage capacity. A specialized network of weaker connections proved much more efficient at retrieving information.

Jonas suspects that starting with a massive tangle of connections allows neurons to link up quickly in early development. This brain region does not just store visual, smell, or sound information in isolation. It links all these sensory inputs together into a cohesive memory.

“That’s a complex task for neurons,” Jonas explained in the release. “An initially exuberant connectivity, followed by selective pruning, might be exactly what enables this integration.” Without this dense starting point, neurons would be too far apart to find each other, making communication nearly impossible.

While these results offer a new understanding of brain maturation, the study has a few limitations. The researchers conducted their mapping on thin slices of brain tissue. Because they only looked at specific slices, they could not observe long-distance connections that run across the entire brain. The exact biological mechanisms that drive the physical trimming of the axons also remain unidentified.

Future research will need to explore what triggers this selective pruning process. Scientists suspect that specialized immune cells in the brain might act as the biological shears that cut away the excess connections. Specific types of inhibitory nerve cells that develop during adolescence might also play a role in this physical remodeling.

Researchers also want to use live imaging techniques to watch individual synapses appear and disappear over time in a living animal. This live imaging could reveal whether the structured patterns seen in adult brains are pre-programmed by genetics or carved out by the animal’s daily life experiences. Currently, it is not clear how the brain knows which connections to keep and which to cut.

The findings might also shed light on human development. Humans develop episodic memory relatively late, around two years after birth. This developmental milestone roughly matches the timeline of the adolescent mice in this study.

This timeline might help explain infantile amnesia, which is the inability of adults to remember events from their earliest years. The memories might form in the dense early network, but they become inaccessible once the brain prunes its connections. Further studies in the human brain will be necessary to confirm if our own memories follow this exact same developmental path.

The study, “Developmental emergence of sparse and structured synaptic connectivity in the hippocampal CA3 memory circuit,” was authored by Victor Vargas-Barroso, Jake F. Watson, Andrea Navas-Olive, Alois Schlögl, and Peter Jonas.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/neuroscientists-discover-the-brains-memory-center-starts-full-and-prunes-itself-down-to-optimize-learning/

-------------------------------------------------

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Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #MemoryPruning #HippocampusCA3 #Neuroscience #BrainDevelopment #SynapticConnectivity #MemoryFormation #NeuralPruning #NatureCommunications #LearningOptimization #NeuralNetworks

DATE: May 22, 2026 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: Neuroscientists discover the brain’s memory center starts “full” and prunes itself down to optimize learning

URL: https://www.psypost.org/neuroscientists-discover-the-brains-memory-center-starts-full-and-prunes-itself-down-to-optimize-learning/

A newly discovered developmental process reveals that the brain’s primary memory center starts out with an excess of tangled, random connections that get pruned away to form a highly structured, efficient network as an animal grows. These physical and functional changes optimize the brain’s capacity to store and retrieve memories over a lifetime. The study detailing this transformation was recently published in the journal Nature Communications.

The hippocampus is a seahorse-shaped region deep within the brain that handles memory formation and spatial navigation. Within this region lies a specialized circuit called the CA3 network. This area acts as an autoassociative memory system, meaning it helps the brain recall a complete memory from just a tiny fragment of information. For example, the network allows a person to remember an entire childhood kitchen just from the smell of a single spice.

To accomplish this feat, nerve cells in this region communicate through electrical and chemical junctions called synapses. The brain’s elasticity allows these connections to grow stronger or weaker over time as an animal learns new things. While researchers understand how this network operates in an adult brain, the way it physically takes shape after birth has remained unclear.

Researchers at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria wanted to understand how this vital memory network develops. Two competing philosophical and biological models framed their approach. The first model is the tabula rasa, or blank slate theory. This concept suggests that the brain starts with very few connections and slowly builds them up as the animal experiences the world.

The opposing model is the tabula plena, or full slate theory. In this scenario, the brain begins with an overabundance of connections that are gradually trimmed away, leaving only the most necessary pathways. Neuroscientist Victor Vargas-Barroso led the investigation to find out which model correctly describes the developing hippocampus. Vargas-Barroso worked alongside Peter Jonas, a professor of life sciences at the institute, to map the circuitry of the mouse brain.

To trace the wiring of this brain region, the research team examined mouse brains at three distinct developmental stages. They looked at mice shortly after birth, during adolescence, and in adulthood. The team used an advanced recording technique called multicellular patch-clamp recording. This method allowed them to monitor the tiny electrical signals of up to eight individual nerve cells at the exact same time.

By stimulating one cell and listening to the responses of the others, the team could map exactly which neurons were communicating with one another. To physically see these connections, they filled the cells with a specialized dye. This allowed the researchers to reconstruct three-dimensional models of the nerve cells using high-resolution microscopes. In total, they tested more than seven thousand potential connections between nerve cells.

Through this mapping process, the researchers observed a massive shift in how the cells were linked. In the youngest mice, the nerve cells were densely packed with connections that seemed to form at random. As the mice grew into adulthood, the total number of connections dropped. The network shifted from being highly localized and dense to becoming sparse, widespread, and highly structured.

“This discovery was quite surprising,” Jonas said in a press release. “Intuitively, one might expect that a network grows and becomes denser over time. Here, we see the opposite. It follows what we call a pruning model: it starts out full, and then it becomes streamlined and optimized.”

The physical shapes of the neurons also changed in unexpected ways. Nerve cells have two main types of branches: axons that send signals and dendrites that receive them. The team found that the signal-sending axons actually grew shorter and less complex as the animal aged.

In contrast, the signal-receiving dendrites continued to grow and develop more receptor sites. This means the trimming process was heavily one-sided, mainly affecting the outbound communication cables of the nerve cells. In the adult mice, the remaining axon connections became clumped into specific, specialized patches rather than being spread evenly.

Beyond the physical wiring, the team discovered a major shift in how the cells transmitted electrical messages. In the immature brain, single connections between cells were incredibly strong. A single signal from one neuron was often enough to make the receiving cell fire off its own electrical pulse. Researchers refer to this as a near-detonating effect.

In adult mice, these individual connections became much weaker. A single incoming signal was no longer enough to trigger a response in the receiving cell. Instead, the adult nerve cell required simultaneous signals from multiple different neighbors to reach the threshold for firing.

This shift means the mature brain relies on integrating multiple pieces of information at once, rather than reacting strongly to a single input. The brain moves from a system that relies on timing to a system that detects spatial coincidences. To see how these physical changes affected memory, the researchers built a computer simulation of a network with one hundred thousand neurons.

In the computer simulation, they tested how different types of connectivity influenced the network’s ability to recall stored patterns. The results showed that moving from a dense, highly reactive network to a sparse, weaker, and wider network actually maximized the system’s memory storage capacity. A specialized network of weaker connections proved much more efficient at retrieving information.

Jonas suspects that starting with a massive tangle of connections allows neurons to link up quickly in early development. This brain region does not just store visual, smell, or sound information in isolation. It links all these sensory inputs together into a cohesive memory.

“That’s a complex task for neurons,” Jonas explained in the release. “An initially exuberant connectivity, followed by selective pruning, might be exactly what enables this integration.” Without this dense starting point, neurons would be too far apart to find each other, making communication nearly impossible.

While these results offer a new understanding of brain maturation, the study has a few limitations. The researchers conducted their mapping on thin slices of brain tissue. Because they only looked at specific slices, they could not observe long-distance connections that run across the entire brain. The exact biological mechanisms that drive the physical trimming of the axons also remain unidentified.

Future research will need to explore what triggers this selective pruning process. Scientists suspect that specialized immune cells in the brain might act as the biological shears that cut away the excess connections. Specific types of inhibitory nerve cells that develop during adolescence might also play a role in this physical remodeling.

Researchers also want to use live imaging techniques to watch individual synapses appear and disappear over time in a living animal. This live imaging could reveal whether the structured patterns seen in adult brains are pre-programmed by genetics or carved out by the animal’s daily life experiences. Currently, it is not clear how the brain knows which connections to keep and which to cut.

The findings might also shed light on human development. Humans develop episodic memory relatively late, around two years after birth. This developmental milestone roughly matches the timeline of the adolescent mice in this study.

This timeline might help explain infantile amnesia, which is the inability of adults to remember events from their earliest years. The memories might form in the dense early network, but they become inaccessible once the brain prunes its connections. Further studies in the human brain will be necessary to confirm if our own memories follow this exact same developmental path.

The study, “Developmental emergence of sparse and structured synaptic connectivity in the hippocampal CA3 memory circuit,” was authored by Victor Vargas-Barroso, Jake F. Watson, Andrea Navas-Olive, Alois Schlögl, and Peter Jonas.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/neuroscientists-discover-the-brains-memory-center-starts-full-and-prunes-itself-down-to-optimize-learning/

-------------------------------------------------

DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #MemoryPruning #HippocampusCA3 #Neuroscience #BrainDevelopment #SynapticConnectivity #MemoryFormation #NeuralPruning #NatureCommunications #LearningOptimization #NeuralNetworks

DATE: May 22, 2026 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: Neuroscientists discover the brain’s memory center starts “full” and prunes itself down to optimize learning

URL: https://www.psypost.org/neuroscientists-discover-the-brains-memory-center-starts-full-and-prunes-itself-down-to-optimize-learning/

A newly discovered developmental process reveals that the brain’s primary memory center starts out with an excess of tangled, random connections that get pruned away to form a highly structured, efficient network as an animal grows. These physical and functional changes optimize the brain’s capacity to store and retrieve memories over a lifetime. The study detailing this transformation was recently published in the journal Nature Communications.

The hippocampus is a seahorse-shaped region deep within the brain that handles memory formation and spatial navigation. Within this region lies a specialized circuit called the CA3 network. This area acts as an autoassociative memory system, meaning it helps the brain recall a complete memory from just a tiny fragment of information. For example, the network allows a person to remember an entire childhood kitchen just from the smell of a single spice.

To accomplish this feat, nerve cells in this region communicate through electrical and chemical junctions called synapses. The brain’s elasticity allows these connections to grow stronger or weaker over time as an animal learns new things. While researchers understand how this network operates in an adult brain, the way it physically takes shape after birth has remained unclear.

Researchers at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria wanted to understand how this vital memory network develops. Two competing philosophical and biological models framed their approach. The first model is the tabula rasa, or blank slate theory. This concept suggests that the brain starts with very few connections and slowly builds them up as the animal experiences the world.

The opposing model is the tabula plena, or full slate theory. In this scenario, the brain begins with an overabundance of connections that are gradually trimmed away, leaving only the most necessary pathways. Neuroscientist Victor Vargas-Barroso led the investigation to find out which model correctly describes the developing hippocampus. Vargas-Barroso worked alongside Peter Jonas, a professor of life sciences at the institute, to map the circuitry of the mouse brain.

To trace the wiring of this brain region, the research team examined mouse brains at three distinct developmental stages. They looked at mice shortly after birth, during adolescence, and in adulthood. The team used an advanced recording technique called multicellular patch-clamp recording. This method allowed them to monitor the tiny electrical signals of up to eight individual nerve cells at the exact same time.

By stimulating one cell and listening to the responses of the others, the team could map exactly which neurons were communicating with one another. To physically see these connections, they filled the cells with a specialized dye. This allowed the researchers to reconstruct three-dimensional models of the nerve cells using high-resolution microscopes. In total, they tested more than seven thousand potential connections between nerve cells.

Through this mapping process, the researchers observed a massive shift in how the cells were linked. In the youngest mice, the nerve cells were densely packed with connections that seemed to form at random. As the mice grew into adulthood, the total number of connections dropped. The network shifted from being highly localized and dense to becoming sparse, widespread, and highly structured.

“This discovery was quite surprising,” Jonas said in a press release. “Intuitively, one might expect that a network grows and becomes denser over time. Here, we see the opposite. It follows what we call a pruning model: it starts out full, and then it becomes streamlined and optimized.”

The physical shapes of the neurons also changed in unexpected ways. Nerve cells have two main types of branches: axons that send signals and dendrites that receive them. The team found that the signal-sending axons actually grew shorter and less complex as the animal aged.

In contrast, the signal-receiving dendrites continued to grow and develop more receptor sites. This means the trimming process was heavily one-sided, mainly affecting the outbound communication cables of the nerve cells. In the adult mice, the remaining axon connections became clumped into specific, specialized patches rather than being spread evenly.

Beyond the physical wiring, the team discovered a major shift in how the cells transmitted electrical messages. In the immature brain, single connections between cells were incredibly strong. A single signal from one neuron was often enough to make the receiving cell fire off its own electrical pulse. Researchers refer to this as a near-detonating effect.

In adult mice, these individual connections became much weaker. A single incoming signal was no longer enough to trigger a response in the receiving cell. Instead, the adult nerve cell required simultaneous signals from multiple different neighbors to reach the threshold for firing.

This shift means the mature brain relies on integrating multiple pieces of information at once, rather than reacting strongly to a single input. The brain moves from a system that relies on timing to a system that detects spatial coincidences. To see how these physical changes affected memory, the researchers built a computer simulation of a network with one hundred thousand neurons.

In the computer simulation, they tested how different types of connectivity influenced the network’s ability to recall stored patterns. The results showed that moving from a dense, highly reactive network to a sparse, weaker, and wider network actually maximized the system’s memory storage capacity. A specialized network of weaker connections proved much more efficient at retrieving information.

Jonas suspects that starting with a massive tangle of connections allows neurons to link up quickly in early development. This brain region does not just store visual, smell, or sound information in isolation. It links all these sensory inputs together into a cohesive memory.

“That’s a complex task for neurons,” Jonas explained in the release. “An initially exuberant connectivity, followed by selective pruning, might be exactly what enables this integration.” Without this dense starting point, neurons would be too far apart to find each other, making communication nearly impossible.

While these results offer a new understanding of brain maturation, the study has a few limitations. The researchers conducted their mapping on thin slices of brain tissue. Because they only looked at specific slices, they could not observe long-distance connections that run across the entire brain. The exact biological mechanisms that drive the physical trimming of the axons also remain unidentified.

Future research will need to explore what triggers this selective pruning process. Scientists suspect that specialized immune cells in the brain might act as the biological shears that cut away the excess connections. Specific types of inhibitory nerve cells that develop during adolescence might also play a role in this physical remodeling.

Researchers also want to use live imaging techniques to watch individual synapses appear and disappear over time in a living animal. This live imaging could reveal whether the structured patterns seen in adult brains are pre-programmed by genetics or carved out by the animal’s daily life experiences. Currently, it is not clear how the brain knows which connections to keep and which to cut.

The findings might also shed light on human development. Humans develop episodic memory relatively late, around two years after birth. This developmental milestone roughly matches the timeline of the adolescent mice in this study.

This timeline might help explain infantile amnesia, which is the inability of adults to remember events from their earliest years. The memories might form in the dense early network, but they become inaccessible once the brain prunes its connections. Further studies in the human brain will be necessary to confirm if our own memories follow this exact same developmental path.

The study, “Developmental emergence of sparse and structured synaptic connectivity in the hippocampal CA3 memory circuit,” was authored by Victor Vargas-Barroso, Jake F. Watson, Andrea Navas-Olive, Alois Schlögl, and Peter Jonas.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/neuroscientists-discover-the-brains-memory-center-starts-full-and-prunes-itself-down-to-optimize-learning/

-------------------------------------------------

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NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #MemoryPruning #HippocampusCA3 #Neuroscience #BrainDevelopment #SynapticConnectivity #MemoryFormation #NeuralPruning #NatureCommunications #LearningOptimization #NeuralNetworks

DATE: May 21, 2026 at 08:27AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHOLOGY FEED

TITLE: Common pesticide linked to hidden brain damage, scientists warn

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260520233218.htm

Scientists have uncovered alarming new evidence that a common insecticide may leave lasting marks on the developing brain before a child is even born. Researchers studying New York City children found that prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos — a pesticide once widely used indoors and still used in agriculture — was linked to widespread brain abnormalities and weaker motor skills years later.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260520233218.htm

-------------------------------------------------

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Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #PrenatalExposure #Chlorpyrifos #PesticideWarning #BrainDevelopment #ChildHealth #EnvironmentalToxins #PrenatalHealth #Neurodevelopment #PublicHealthAlerts #MotherChildProtection

DATE: May 21, 2026 at 09:31AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Childhood junk food may rewire the brain for life

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260520093807.htm

Eating too much junk food early in life may rewire the brain in ways that last into adulthood, even after switching to a healthier diet. Scientists found that high-fat, high-sugar diets changed feeding behavior and disrupted appetite-control regions in the brain. Excitingly, certain gut-friendly bacteria and prebiotic fibers appeared to help undo some of the damage.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260520093807.htm

-------------------------------------------------

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Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #ChildhoodNutrition #JunkFoodImpact #BrainDevelopment #AppetiteControl #HighFatHighSugar #Gut microbiome #Prebiotics #HealthyDietRestart #FoodChoicesMatter #BrainPlasticity

DATE: May 21, 2026 at 09:31AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Childhood junk food may rewire the brain for life

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260520093807.htm

Eating too much junk food early in life may rewire the brain in ways that last into adulthood, even after switching to a healthier diet. Scientists found that high-fat, high-sugar diets changed feeding behavior and disrupted appetite-control regions in the brain. Excitingly, certain gut-friendly bacteria and prebiotic fibers appeared to help undo some of the damage.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260520093807.htm

-------------------------------------------------

DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #ChildhoodNutrition #JunkFoodImpact #BrainDevelopment #AppetiteControl #HighFatHighSugar #Gut microbiome #Prebiotics #HealthyDietRestart #FoodChoicesMatter #BrainPlasticity

DATE: May 21, 2026 at 09:31AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Childhood junk food may rewire the brain for life

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260520093807.htm

Eating too much junk food early in life may rewire the brain in ways that last into adulthood, even after switching to a healthier diet. Scientists found that high-fat, high-sugar diets changed feeding behavior and disrupted appetite-control regions in the brain. Excitingly, certain gut-friendly bacteria and prebiotic fibers appeared to help undo some of the damage.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260520093807.htm

-------------------------------------------------

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Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #ChildhoodNutrition #JunkFoodImpact #BrainDevelopment #AppetiteControl #HighFatHighSugar #Gut microbiome #Prebiotics #HealthyDietRestart #FoodChoicesMatter #BrainPlasticity

DATE: May 18, 2026 at 04:15AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Scientists think they’ve cracked the mystery of human right-handedness

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260517211429.htm

A new study suggests humans became overwhelmingly right-handed because of two major evolutionary shifts: walking on two legs and developing much larger brains. Researchers found that as human ancestors evolved, their right-hand preference steadily intensified — transforming a mild tendency into one of humanity’s most distinctive traits.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260517211429.htm

-------------------------------------------------

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NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #RightHandedness #HumanEvolution #BrainDevelopment #Bipedalism #Lateralization #Neurology #CognitiveScience #AncientHumans #HandednessResearch #EvolutionaryBiology

DATE: May 18, 2026 at 04:15AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Scientists think they’ve cracked the mystery of human right-handedness

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260517211429.htm

A new study suggests humans became overwhelmingly right-handed because of two major evolutionary shifts: walking on two legs and developing much larger brains. Researchers found that as human ancestors evolved, their right-hand preference steadily intensified — transforming a mild tendency into one of humanity’s most distinctive traits.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260517211429.htm

-------------------------------------------------

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Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

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READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #RightHandedness #HumanEvolution #BrainDevelopment #Bipedalism #Lateralization #Neurology #CognitiveScience #AncientHumans #HandednessResearch #EvolutionaryBiology

DATE: May 18, 2026 at 04:15AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Scientists think they’ve cracked the mystery of human right-handedness

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260517211429.htm

A new study suggests humans became overwhelmingly right-handed because of two major evolutionary shifts: walking on two legs and developing much larger brains. Researchers found that as human ancestors evolved, their right-hand preference steadily intensified — transforming a mild tendency into one of humanity’s most distinctive traits.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260517211429.htm

-------------------------------------------------

DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.

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Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #RightHandedness #HumanEvolution #BrainDevelopment #Bipedalism #Lateralization #Neurology #CognitiveScience #AncientHumans #HandednessResearch #EvolutionaryBiology

DATE: May 16, 2026 at 02:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: Unpredictable childhoods may hinder a young adult’s ability to take positive risks

URL: https://www.psypost.org/unpredictable-childhoods-may-hinder-a-young-adults-ability-to-take-positive-risks/

A 7-year longitudinal study found that adolescents who experienced more unpredictable life events tend to show higher levels of activation in the frontoparietal region of the brain during a cognitive control task. Because a maturing brain should require less effort to complete these tasks, this higher activation suggests a less efficient brain network. In turn, this inefficiency was associated with a lower willingness to take positive social risks (e.g., exploring a new career, voicing an unpopular opinion, starting a conversation) in young adulthood. The paper was published in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience.

Positive social risks are situations in which a person takes a chance in social life in order to create a positive outcome or long-term benefit. They include actions such as starting a conversation, apologizing first, asking for help, offering help, admitting a mistake, or expressing honest feelings. These actions are “risks” because the other person may reject us, criticize us, misunderstand us, or fail to respond warmly. They are “positive” because they can lead to trust, friendship, cooperation, forgiveness, learning, and stronger relationships.

For example, inviting a new classmate to join a group may feel uncomfortable, but it can help that person feel accepted. Telling the truth respectfully can also be a positive social risk because it may improve communication even if it feels difficult at first. Positive social risks are important because many valuable relationships and opportunities begin with someone being brave enough to act first. They also help people develop confidence, empathy, and social skills. Without positive social risks, people avoid rejection but also miss chances for connection, career advancement, and personal growth.

Study author Morgan Lindenmuth and his colleagues explored how unpredictable negative life events in childhood may be associated with positive social risk taking in adolescence and early adulthood through changes in cognitive development. Studies indicate that experiencing a chaotic environment in childhood is associated with a “fast” life strategy, leading to higher aggression and harmful risk-taking. The authors of this study hypothesized that an unpredictable environment may also reduce positive risk taking by altering how the developing brain wires its decision-making centers.

They conducted a longitudinal study that followed 167 adolescents from a southeastern state in the United States for 7 years. Participating adolescents were 13-14 years old at the start of the study. 78% of them identified as White.

During the study period, participants and their parents completed self-report questionnaires, and the teens completed behavioral and neuroimaging tasks once a year at the university offices of the study authors. Parents completed an assessment of negative life events in their children’s lives during the first 4 years of the study (using the Child and Adolescent Survey of Experiences). To measure “unpredictability,” the researchers specifically focused on four events related to instability: changes in cohabitation (someone moving in or out), parental job loss, and changes in residence (moving).

At these annual check-ins, study participants also completed an assessment of cognitive control (the Multi-Source Interference Task) while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The task required them to view three digits and press a button to indicate which one was different, testing their ability to ignore distractions and focus. When the study participants reached young adulthood (between 18 and 21 years old), they completed an assessment measuring their likelihood of engaging in positive social risk taking (the Domain Specific Risk-Taking Scale).

The researchers used statistical modeling to track the adolescents’ brain development over the four years of fMRI scans. The results showed that, generally, frontoparietal activation decreased as the teens got older, reflecting a maturing, more efficient brain network. However, adolescents who experienced more unpredictable life events during this period had higher levels of frontoparietal activation by age 17, suggesting their cognitive control processing was less efficient than their peers.

In turn, this higher brain activation at age 17 was associated with slightly lower positive social risk taking when participants were between 18 and 21 years old.

The study authors tested a statistical mediation model proposing that unpredictability (as reported by parents when participants were 14-17 years old) hinders the development of the brain’s cognitive control centers, leading to increased, inefficient activation in the frontoparietal region at age 17. In turn, this less mature brain functioning leads to a lower willingness to take positive social risks in young adulthood (18-21 years of age). The results showed a significant “indirect effect,” meaning this chain of events is highly plausible.

“The findings have important implications for understanding the antecedents of risk-taking behaviors by highlighting the role of neurocognitive functioning in linking environmental unpredictability to positive social risk outcomes,” the study authors concluded.

The study contributes to the scientific understanding of how childhood experiences physically alter the brain and shape personality characteristics observed in adulthood. However, it should be noted that the observed associations were relatively weak, and simple bivariate correlations did not indicate a direct, straight-line association between unpredictability in adolescence and positive social risk taking in young adulthood (the connection only appeared when factoring in the brain development data).

The paper, “Environmental Unpredictability Predicts Positive Social Risk Taking through Neural Cognitive Control,” was authored by Morgan Lindenmuth, Celina Meyer, Jacob Lee, Laurence Steinberg, Brooks Casas, and Jungmeen Kim-Spoon.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/unpredictable-childhoods-may-hinder-a-young-adults-ability-to-take-positive-risks/

-------------------------------------------------

DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #UnpredictableChildhoods #PositiveSocialRisks #CognitiveControl #Frontoparietal #Neuroscience #BrainDevelopment #AdolescentToAdult #RiskTaking #Neurodevelopment #SocialCognition

DATE: May 16, 2026 at 02:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: Unpredictable childhoods may hinder a young adult’s ability to take positive risks

URL: https://www.psypost.org/unpredictable-childhoods-may-hinder-a-young-adults-ability-to-take-positive-risks/

A 7-year longitudinal study found that adolescents who experienced more unpredictable life events tend to show higher levels of activation in the frontoparietal region of the brain during a cognitive control task. Because a maturing brain should require less effort to complete these tasks, this higher activation suggests a less efficient brain network. In turn, this inefficiency was associated with a lower willingness to take positive social risks (e.g., exploring a new career, voicing an unpopular opinion, starting a conversation) in young adulthood. The paper was published in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience.

Positive social risks are situations in which a person takes a chance in social life in order to create a positive outcome or long-term benefit. They include actions such as starting a conversation, apologizing first, asking for help, offering help, admitting a mistake, or expressing honest feelings. These actions are “risks” because the other person may reject us, criticize us, misunderstand us, or fail to respond warmly. They are “positive” because they can lead to trust, friendship, cooperation, forgiveness, learning, and stronger relationships.

For example, inviting a new classmate to join a group may feel uncomfortable, but it can help that person feel accepted. Telling the truth respectfully can also be a positive social risk because it may improve communication even if it feels difficult at first. Positive social risks are important because many valuable relationships and opportunities begin with someone being brave enough to act first. They also help people develop confidence, empathy, and social skills. Without positive social risks, people avoid rejection but also miss chances for connection, career advancement, and personal growth.

Study author Morgan Lindenmuth and his colleagues explored how unpredictable negative life events in childhood may be associated with positive social risk taking in adolescence and early adulthood through changes in cognitive development. Studies indicate that experiencing a chaotic environment in childhood is associated with a “fast” life strategy, leading to higher aggression and harmful risk-taking. The authors of this study hypothesized that an unpredictable environment may also reduce positive risk taking by altering how the developing brain wires its decision-making centers.

They conducted a longitudinal study that followed 167 adolescents from a southeastern state in the United States for 7 years. Participating adolescents were 13-14 years old at the start of the study. 78% of them identified as White.

During the study period, participants and their parents completed self-report questionnaires, and the teens completed behavioral and neuroimaging tasks once a year at the university offices of the study authors. Parents completed an assessment of negative life events in their children’s lives during the first 4 years of the study (using the Child and Adolescent Survey of Experiences). To measure “unpredictability,” the researchers specifically focused on four events related to instability: changes in cohabitation (someone moving in or out), parental job loss, and changes in residence (moving).

At these annual check-ins, study participants also completed an assessment of cognitive control (the Multi-Source Interference Task) while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The task required them to view three digits and press a button to indicate which one was different, testing their ability to ignore distractions and focus. When the study participants reached young adulthood (between 18 and 21 years old), they completed an assessment measuring their likelihood of engaging in positive social risk taking (the Domain Specific Risk-Taking Scale).

The researchers used statistical modeling to track the adolescents’ brain development over the four years of fMRI scans. The results showed that, generally, frontoparietal activation decreased as the teens got older, reflecting a maturing, more efficient brain network. However, adolescents who experienced more unpredictable life events during this period had higher levels of frontoparietal activation by age 17, suggesting their cognitive control processing was less efficient than their peers.

In turn, this higher brain activation at age 17 was associated with slightly lower positive social risk taking when participants were between 18 and 21 years old.

The study authors tested a statistical mediation model proposing that unpredictability (as reported by parents when participants were 14-17 years old) hinders the development of the brain’s cognitive control centers, leading to increased, inefficient activation in the frontoparietal region at age 17. In turn, this less mature brain functioning leads to a lower willingness to take positive social risks in young adulthood (18-21 years of age). The results showed a significant “indirect effect,” meaning this chain of events is highly plausible.

“The findings have important implications for understanding the antecedents of risk-taking behaviors by highlighting the role of neurocognitive functioning in linking environmental unpredictability to positive social risk outcomes,” the study authors concluded.

The study contributes to the scientific understanding of how childhood experiences physically alter the brain and shape personality characteristics observed in adulthood. However, it should be noted that the observed associations were relatively weak, and simple bivariate correlations did not indicate a direct, straight-line association between unpredictability in adolescence and positive social risk taking in young adulthood (the connection only appeared when factoring in the brain development data).

The paper, “Environmental Unpredictability Predicts Positive Social Risk Taking through Neural Cognitive Control,” was authored by Morgan Lindenmuth, Celina Meyer, Jacob Lee, Laurence Steinberg, Brooks Casas, and Jungmeen Kim-Spoon.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/unpredictable-childhoods-may-hinder-a-young-adults-ability-to-take-positive-risks/

-------------------------------------------------

DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #UnpredictableChildhoods #PositiveSocialRisks #CognitiveControl #Frontoparietal #Neuroscience #BrainDevelopment #AdolescentToAdult #RiskTaking #Neurodevelopment #SocialCognition

DATE: May 16, 2026 at 02:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: Unpredictable childhoods may hinder a young adult’s ability to take positive risks

URL: https://www.psypost.org/unpredictable-childhoods-may-hinder-a-young-adults-ability-to-take-positive-risks/

A 7-year longitudinal study found that adolescents who experienced more unpredictable life events tend to show higher levels of activation in the frontoparietal region of the brain during a cognitive control task. Because a maturing brain should require less effort to complete these tasks, this higher activation suggests a less efficient brain network. In turn, this inefficiency was associated with a lower willingness to take positive social risks (e.g., exploring a new career, voicing an unpopular opinion, starting a conversation) in young adulthood. The paper was published in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience.

Positive social risks are situations in which a person takes a chance in social life in order to create a positive outcome or long-term benefit. They include actions such as starting a conversation, apologizing first, asking for help, offering help, admitting a mistake, or expressing honest feelings. These actions are “risks” because the other person may reject us, criticize us, misunderstand us, or fail to respond warmly. They are “positive” because they can lead to trust, friendship, cooperation, forgiveness, learning, and stronger relationships.

For example, inviting a new classmate to join a group may feel uncomfortable, but it can help that person feel accepted. Telling the truth respectfully can also be a positive social risk because it may improve communication even if it feels difficult at first. Positive social risks are important because many valuable relationships and opportunities begin with someone being brave enough to act first. They also help people develop confidence, empathy, and social skills. Without positive social risks, people avoid rejection but also miss chances for connection, career advancement, and personal growth.

Study author Morgan Lindenmuth and his colleagues explored how unpredictable negative life events in childhood may be associated with positive social risk taking in adolescence and early adulthood through changes in cognitive development. Studies indicate that experiencing a chaotic environment in childhood is associated with a “fast” life strategy, leading to higher aggression and harmful risk-taking. The authors of this study hypothesized that an unpredictable environment may also reduce positive risk taking by altering how the developing brain wires its decision-making centers.

They conducted a longitudinal study that followed 167 adolescents from a southeastern state in the United States for 7 years. Participating adolescents were 13-14 years old at the start of the study. 78% of them identified as White.

During the study period, participants and their parents completed self-report questionnaires, and the teens completed behavioral and neuroimaging tasks once a year at the university offices of the study authors. Parents completed an assessment of negative life events in their children’s lives during the first 4 years of the study (using the Child and Adolescent Survey of Experiences). To measure “unpredictability,” the researchers specifically focused on four events related to instability: changes in cohabitation (someone moving in or out), parental job loss, and changes in residence (moving).

At these annual check-ins, study participants also completed an assessment of cognitive control (the Multi-Source Interference Task) while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The task required them to view three digits and press a button to indicate which one was different, testing their ability to ignore distractions and focus. When the study participants reached young adulthood (between 18 and 21 years old), they completed an assessment measuring their likelihood of engaging in positive social risk taking (the Domain Specific Risk-Taking Scale).

The researchers used statistical modeling to track the adolescents’ brain development over the four years of fMRI scans. The results showed that, generally, frontoparietal activation decreased as the teens got older, reflecting a maturing, more efficient brain network. However, adolescents who experienced more unpredictable life events during this period had higher levels of frontoparietal activation by age 17, suggesting their cognitive control processing was less efficient than their peers.

In turn, this higher brain activation at age 17 was associated with slightly lower positive social risk taking when participants were between 18 and 21 years old.

The study authors tested a statistical mediation model proposing that unpredictability (as reported by parents when participants were 14-17 years old) hinders the development of the brain’s cognitive control centers, leading to increased, inefficient activation in the frontoparietal region at age 17. In turn, this less mature brain functioning leads to a lower willingness to take positive social risks in young adulthood (18-21 years of age). The results showed a significant “indirect effect,” meaning this chain of events is highly plausible.

“The findings have important implications for understanding the antecedents of risk-taking behaviors by highlighting the role of neurocognitive functioning in linking environmental unpredictability to positive social risk outcomes,” the study authors concluded.

The study contributes to the scientific understanding of how childhood experiences physically alter the brain and shape personality characteristics observed in adulthood. However, it should be noted that the observed associations were relatively weak, and simple bivariate correlations did not indicate a direct, straight-line association between unpredictability in adolescence and positive social risk taking in young adulthood (the connection only appeared when factoring in the brain development data).

The paper, “Environmental Unpredictability Predicts Positive Social Risk Taking through Neural Cognitive Control,” was authored by Morgan Lindenmuth, Celina Meyer, Jacob Lee, Laurence Steinberg, Brooks Casas, and Jungmeen Kim-Spoon.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/unpredictable-childhoods-may-hinder-a-young-adults-ability-to-take-positive-risks/

-------------------------------------------------

DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #UnpredictableChildhoods #PositiveSocialRisks #CognitiveControl #Frontoparietal #Neuroscience #BrainDevelopment #AdolescentToAdult #RiskTaking #Neurodevelopment #SocialCognition

Harsh Parenting Biologically Distorts Child Stress Regulation

Summary: A new study provides biological proof for how aggressive parenting alters a child’s ability to handle stress.…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Health #braindevelopment #brainresearch #developmentalneuroscience #Mentalhealth #neurobiology #neurodevelopment #Neuroscience #Parenting #PennState #Psychology #stress
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/646290/

Harsh Parenting Biologically Distorts Child Stress Regulation

Summary: A new study provides biological proof for how aggressive parenting alters a child’s ability to handle stress.…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Health #braindevelopment #brainresearch #developmentalneuroscience #Mentalhealth #neurobiology #neurodevelopment #Neuroscience #Parenting #PennState #Psychology #stress
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/646290/

People who are blind from birth never develop schizophrenia – what this tells us about the psychiatric condition
#Health #Schizophrenia #Neuroscience #MentalHealth #BrainScience #CognitiveScience #MedicalScience #BrainDevelopment #Psychiatry #Blindness
https://the-14.com/people-who-are-blind-from-birth-never-develop-schizophrenia-what-this-tells-us-about-the-psychiatric-condition/

People who are blind from birth never develop schizophrenia – what this tells us about the psychiatric condition
#Health #Schizophrenia #Neuroscience #MentalHealth #BrainScience #CognitiveScience #MedicalScience #BrainDevelopment #Psychiatry #Blindness
https://the-14.com/people-who-are-blind-from-birth-never-develop-schizophrenia-what-this-tells-us-about-the-psychiatric-condition/

People who are blind from birth never develop schizophrenia – what this tells us about the psychiatric condition
#Health #Schizophrenia #Neuroscience #MentalHealth #BrainScience #CognitiveScience #MedicalScience #BrainDevelopment #Psychiatry #Blindness
https://the-14.com/people-who-are-blind-from-birth-never-develop-schizophrenia-what-this-tells-us-about-the-psychiatric-condition/

People who are blind from birth never develop schizophrenia – what this tells us about the psychiatric condition
#Health #Schizophrenia #Neuroscience #MentalHealth #BrainScience #CognitiveScience #MedicalScience #BrainDevelopment #Psychiatry #Blindness
https://the-14.com/people-who-are-blind-from-birth-never-develop-schizophrenia-what-this-tells-us-about-the-psychiatric-condition/

People who are blind from birth never develop schizophrenia – what this tells us about the psychiatric condition
#Health #Schizophrenia #Neuroscience #MentalHealth #BrainScience #CognitiveScience #MedicalScience #BrainDevelopment #Psychiatry #Blindness
https://the-14.com/people-who-are-blind-from-birth-never-develop-schizophrenia-what-this-tells-us-about-the-psychiatric-condition/

https://www.europesays.com/uk/924936/ Language and Empathy Have Distinct Origins in the Developing Brain #BrainConnectivity #BrainDevelopment #cognition #CognitiveEvolution #DevelopmentalNeuroscience #fMRI #Health #LanguageDevelopment #neurodevelopment #Neuroscience #OhioStateUniversity #SuperiorTemporalLobe #TheoryOfMind #UK #UnitedKingdom

New Rare Genetic Neurodevelopmental Disorder Identified

Summary: Researchers have identified a previously unknown rare genetic disease named RPN1-CDG. The study used whole exome sequencing…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Health #braindevelopment #CDG #Genetics #glycosylation #neurodevelopment #Neurodevelopmentaldisorders #Neuroscience #OSTComplex #RibophorinI #RPN1-CDG #SanfordBurnhamPrebys #Wholeexomesequencing
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/585471/

New Rare Genetic Neurodevelopmental Disorder Identified

Summary: Researchers have identified a previously unknown rare genetic disease named RPN1-CDG. The study used whole exome sequencing…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Health #braindevelopment #CDG #Genetics #glycosylation #neurodevelopment #Neurodevelopmentaldisorders #Neuroscience #OSTComplex #RibophorinI #RPN1-CDG #SanfordBurnhamPrebys #Wholeexomesequencing
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/585471/

90% pregnant moms lack choline in diet affecting baby’s brain: French biochemist suggests ways to meet daily needs

Eating whole foods and exercising regularly are impo…
#dining #cooking #diet #food #Frenchdiet #braindevelopment #choline #fetalgrowth #francais #france #French #frenchdiet #howtogetcholineinfood #neurologicaldefects #pregnantmoms
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2571642/90-pregnant-moms-lack-choline-in-diet-affecting-babys-brain-french-biochemist-suggests-ways-to-meet-daily-needs/

90% pregnant moms lack choline in diet affecting baby’s brain: French biochemist suggests ways to meet daily needs

Eating whole foods and exercising regularly are impo…
#dining #cooking #diet #food #Frenchdiet #braindevelopment #choline #fetalgrowth #francais #france #French #frenchdiet #howtogetcholineinfood #neurologicaldefects #pregnantmoms
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2571642/90-pregnant-moms-lack-choline-in-diet-affecting-babys-brain-french-biochemist-suggests-ways-to-meet-daily-needs/

90% pregnant moms lack choline in diet affecting baby’s brain: French biochemist suggests ways to meet daily needs

Eating whole foods and exercising regularly are impo…
#dining #cooking #diet #food #Frenchdiet #braindevelopment #choline #fetalgrowth #francais #france #French #frenchdiet #howtogetcholineinfood #neurologicaldefects #pregnantmoms
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2571642/90-pregnant-moms-lack-choline-in-diet-affecting-babys-brain-french-biochemist-suggests-ways-to-meet-daily-needs/

90% pregnant moms lack choline in diet affecting baby’s brain: French biochemist suggests ways to meet daily needs

Eating whole foods and exercising regularly are impo…
#dining #cooking #diet #food #Frenchdiet #braindevelopment #choline #fetalgrowth #francais #france #French #frenchdiet #howtogetcholineinfood #neurologicaldefects #pregnantmoms
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2571642/90-pregnant-moms-lack-choline-in-diet-affecting-babys-brain-french-biochemist-suggests-ways-to-meet-daily-needs/

90% pregnant moms lack choline in diet affecting baby’s brain: French biochemist suggests ways to meet daily needs https://www.diningandcooking.com/2571642/90-pregnant-moms-lack-choline-in-diet-affecting-babys-brain-french-biochemist-suggests-ways-to-meet-daily-needs/ #BrainDevelopment #choline #FetalGrowth #francais #france #French #FrenchDiet #HowToGetCholineInFood #NeurologicalDefects #PregnantMoms

90% pregnant moms lack choline in diet affecting baby’s brain: French biochemist suggests ways to meet daily needs https://www.diningandcooking.com/2571642/90-pregnant-moms-lack-choline-in-diet-affecting-babys-brain-french-biochemist-suggests-ways-to-meet-daily-needs/ #BrainDevelopment #choline #FetalGrowth #francais #france #French #FrenchDiet #HowToGetCholineInFood #NeurologicalDefects #PregnantMoms

90% pregnant moms lack choline in diet affecting baby’s brain: French biochemist suggests ways to meet daily needs https://www.diningandcooking.com/2571642/90-pregnant-moms-lack-choline-in-diet-affecting-babys-brain-french-biochemist-suggests-ways-to-meet-daily-needs/ #BrainDevelopment #choline #FetalGrowth #francais #france #French #FrenchDiet #HowToGetCholineInFood #NeurologicalDefects #PregnantMoms

Elevated levels of lead in childrens' blood from mining? We'd rather not know

NSW Health continues to use machine known to produce inaccurate results to test child blood lead levels >>
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/mar/09/nsw-health-children-blood-lead-levels-test-machine-inaccurate-results

Environment watchdog buried report on lead in children’s blood to placate mining companies, emails show >>
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/sep/05/
#mining #contamination #children #BrainDevelopment #lead #WillfulIgnorance #NSW #NegativeExternalities #EPA #harm

It may feel like just another nappy change: wipes, cream, fresh nappy, repeat.
But each cuddle, smile and sing‑song voice is helping your baby’s brain build powerful connections for learning, trust and emotional regulation.
In this piece, Dr Raphaela Itzikowitz, Specialist Paediatrician, shares her insights on how everyday baby care builds brilliant brains.

Read more here:https://zurl.co/jfdmH

#BabyYumYum #BYY #ParentingTips #BabyCare #BrainDevelopment #EarlyLearning

#ketones #braindevelopment #brainhealth #ketosis #fasting #nutrition #health #science #biology #wellbeingcoach #wellnessblog #wellnesswins #wellnessmatters #holisticwellbeing #wellnessmama #wellnesscoaches #wellnessproducts #wellbeing https://mastodon.social/@biohackingpathway/116122966106933828

No, your brain doesn’t suddenly ‘fully develop’ at 25. Here’s what the neuroscience actually shows
#Science #Neuroscience #BrainDevelopment #FrontalLobe #Psychology #BrainHealth #Neuroplasticity #Research #GenZ #ScienceExplained #MentalHealth #HumanBrain
https://the-14.com/no-your-brain-doesnt-suddenly-fully-develop-at-25-heres-what-the-neuroscience-actually-shows/

No, your brain doesn’t suddenly ‘fully develop’ at 25. Here’s what the neuroscience actually shows
#Science #Neuroscience #BrainDevelopment #FrontalLobe #Psychology #BrainHealth #Neuroplasticity #Research #GenZ #ScienceExplained #MentalHealth #HumanBrain
https://the-14.com/no-your-brain-doesnt-suddenly-fully-develop-at-25-heres-what-the-neuroscience-actually-shows/

No, your brain doesn’t suddenly ‘fully develop’ at 25. Here’s what the neuroscience actually shows
#Science #Neuroscience #BrainDevelopment #FrontalLobe #Psychology #BrainHealth #Neuroplasticity #Research #GenZ #ScienceExplained #MentalHealth #HumanBrain
https://the-14.com/no-your-brain-doesnt-suddenly-fully-develop-at-25-heres-what-the-neuroscience-actually-shows/

No, your brain doesn’t suddenly ‘fully develop’ at 25. Here’s what the neuroscience actually shows
#Science #Neuroscience #BrainDevelopment #FrontalLobe #Psychology #BrainHealth #Neuroplasticity #Research #GenZ #ScienceExplained #MentalHealth #HumanBrain
https://the-14.com/no-your-brain-doesnt-suddenly-fully-develop-at-25-heres-what-the-neuroscience-actually-shows/

No, your brain doesn’t suddenly ‘fully develop’ at 25. Here’s what the neuroscience actually shows
#Science #Neuroscience #BrainDevelopment #FrontalLobe #Psychology #BrainHealth #Neuroplasticity #Research #GenZ #ScienceExplained #MentalHealth #HumanBrain
https://the-14.com/no-your-brain-doesnt-suddenly-fully-develop-at-25-heres-what-the-neuroscience-actually-shows/

RE: https://mastodon.green/@gerrymcgovern/115650272749921009

One of this article's many great points: Using #GenAI is a "metacognitive mirage".

> When participants used #ChatGPT to draft essays, brain scans revealed [-47%] in neural connectivity across regions associated with memory, language, and critical reasoning. Their brains worked less, but they felt just as engaged
> Students aren’t just learning less; their brains are learning not to learn.

#cognitiveDebt #StochasticParrots #MRI #brainDevelopment

#Chatversity replaces learning with cheating.

Another reason why you really can't beat yourself up over mistakes in the past -

Human #brains have 5 distinct 'epochs' in a lifetime, study finds https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/human-brains-5-epochs-development-rcna245663

#braindevelopment #research #neuroimaging #neuralnetwork #mentalhealth #brainarchitecture

Brain has five 'eras' with adult mode not starting until early 30s

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/nov/25/brain-human-cognitive-development-life-stages-cambridge-study

#HackerNews #BrainDevelopment #CognitiveScience #AdultLife #Stages #Neuroscience

Brain has five 'eras' with adult mode not starting until early 30s

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/nov/25/brain-human-cognitive-development-life-stages-cambridge-study

#HackerNews #BrainDevelopment #CognitiveScience #AdultLife #Stages #Neuroscience

Brain has five 'eras' with adult mode not starting until early 30s

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/nov/25/brain-human-cognitive-development-life-stages-cambridge-study

#HackerNews #BrainDevelopment #CognitiveScience #AdultLife #Stages #Neuroscience

Brain has five 'eras' with adult mode not starting until early 30s

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/nov/25/brain-human-cognitive-development-life-stages-cambridge-study

#HackerNews #BrainDevelopment #CognitiveScience #AdultLife #Stages #Neuroscience