#brainstructure — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #brainstructure, aggregated by home.social.
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DATE: July 28, 2026 at 06:00PM
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: Elevated body mass index might lead to lower cortical thickness, study finds
URL: https://www.psypost.org/elevated-body-mass-index-might-lead-to-lower-cortical-thickness-study-finds/
A Mendelian randomization study found that elevated body mass index might be a cause of lower cortical thickness. This was particularly prominent in the precentral and fusiform gyrus regions of the brain. The paper was published in Molecular Psychiatry.
Obesity is a chronic condition characterized by an excessive accumulation of body fat that can impair health and well-being. It is commonly assessed using body mass index, or BMI, which is calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters. A BMI between 25 and 30 suggests a person is overweight, while a BMI of 30 or more indicates obesity. Although BMI is useful for population-level screening, it is a rough measure that does not directly evaluate body fat or show how fat is distributed throughout the body.
Obesity develops through an interaction of genetic, biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors. In modern environments, high-calorie foods tend to be readily available while opportunities for everyday physical activity tend to be reduced. Studies provide evidence that diets based on foods rich in both easily digestible sugars and fats contribute heavily to weight gain. This is exactly the composition of many popular modern foods.
Obesity increases the risk of many adverse health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea, joint problems, and some cancers. It can also affect mental health and expose people to stigma and discrimination, which may reduce their quality of life.
Study author Jodie N. Painter and her colleagues note that previous research links obesity to certain structural changes in the brain. Until now, it was unknown whether these changes preceded obesity or were the consequences of weight gain. Fat tissue secretes proteins called pro-inflammatory cytokines that cause low-grade inflammation in individuals with obesity. The researchers suspected this inflammation could potentially lead to the observed adverse changes in the brain.
The authors conducted a study using Mendelian randomization to see whether an elevated body mass index causes changes in the brain. The brain changes were measured as reduced cortical thickness, which refers to the depth of the brain’s outer layer of gray matter. Mendelian randomization is a research approach that uses naturally inherited genetic differences as proxies for environmental exposures. This helps scientists test whether an observed association is likely to reflect a direct cause-and-effect relationship.
This analysis was based on genome-wide association studies, which scan the entire genetic codes of large populations to find variations linked to specific traits. The genetic data for body mass index came from large international research consortiums that pool health information from hundreds of thousands of people. Specifically, the researchers used combined genetic data from up to 681,275 individuals of European ancestry. Data for the additional risk factors were drawn from other previously published genetic scans.
These additional factors included estimates of visceral fat, which is fat stored deep inside the belly around internal organs. The researchers also looked at fasting blood sugar, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein, a type of cholesterol that helps clear other cholesterols from the bloodstream. Finally, they included blood pressure and C-reactive protein, a substance that indicates the level of inflammation in the body.
Neuroimaging outcome data came from another massive international scientific collaborative group that studies the brain. This group provided genetic studies of global and regional cortical thickness in up to 23,183 individuals. The results showed that a higher body mass index was associated with lower average global cortical thickness. This association was particularly prominent in the precentral and fusiform gyrus regions of the brain.
The precentral gyrus controls voluntary movement, while the fusiform gyrus supports high-level visual recognition, especially of faces and words. More visceral fat and higher levels of the inflammatory blood marker C-reactive protein were also associated with lower cortical thickness. These associations tended to be stronger in areas where lower cortical thickness was already linked to a higher body mass index. In contrast, the researchers found very few associations between cortical thickness and blood pressure or metabolic blood markers.
The study authors concluded that their findings provide evidence for a causal effect of body mass index on lower cortical thickness. They recommend future research to explore how this effect on brain structure might increase the risk for neuropsychiatric conditions.
The study contributes to the scientific understanding of the structural brain changes induced by obesity. However, the scientists primarily investigated whether an elevated body mass index causes brain changes, rather than the reverse. A Mendelian randomization study like this can strengthen causal inferences but cannot provide definitive proof, as the research design depends on a number of assumptions.
The paper, “Deciphering the causal influence of BMI and related metabolic, inflammatory, and cardiovascular factors on brain structure: a Mendelian Randomization Study,” was authored by Jodie N. Painter, Alexander Refisch, Moritz Rau, Martin Walter, Scott Mackey, Jennifer Laurent, Paul M. Thompson, Katrina L. Grasby, Tomas Hajek, Sarah E. Medland, and Nils Opel.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/elevated-body-mass-index-might-lead-to-lower-cortical-thickness-study-finds/
-------------------------------------------------
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
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #BMI #ObesityBrainLink #CorticalThickness #MendelianRandomization #BrainStructure #PrecentralGyrus #FusiformGyrus #Inflammation #NeuropsychiatricRisk #BiomedicalResearch
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DATE: July 28, 2026 at 06:00PM
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: Elevated body mass index might lead to lower cortical thickness, study finds
URL: https://www.psypost.org/elevated-body-mass-index-might-lead-to-lower-cortical-thickness-study-finds/
A Mendelian randomization study found that elevated body mass index might be a cause of lower cortical thickness. This was particularly prominent in the precentral and fusiform gyrus regions of the brain. The paper was published in Molecular Psychiatry.
Obesity is a chronic condition characterized by an excessive accumulation of body fat that can impair health and well-being. It is commonly assessed using body mass index, or BMI, which is calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters. A BMI between 25 and 30 suggests a person is overweight, while a BMI of 30 or more indicates obesity. Although BMI is useful for population-level screening, it is a rough measure that does not directly evaluate body fat or show how fat is distributed throughout the body.
Obesity develops through an interaction of genetic, biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors. In modern environments, high-calorie foods tend to be readily available while opportunities for everyday physical activity tend to be reduced. Studies provide evidence that diets based on foods rich in both easily digestible sugars and fats contribute heavily to weight gain. This is exactly the composition of many popular modern foods.
Obesity increases the risk of many adverse health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea, joint problems, and some cancers. It can also affect mental health and expose people to stigma and discrimination, which may reduce their quality of life.
Study author Jodie N. Painter and her colleagues note that previous research links obesity to certain structural changes in the brain. Until now, it was unknown whether these changes preceded obesity or were the consequences of weight gain. Fat tissue secretes proteins called pro-inflammatory cytokines that cause low-grade inflammation in individuals with obesity. The researchers suspected this inflammation could potentially lead to the observed adverse changes in the brain.
The authors conducted a study using Mendelian randomization to see whether an elevated body mass index causes changes in the brain. The brain changes were measured as reduced cortical thickness, which refers to the depth of the brain’s outer layer of gray matter. Mendelian randomization is a research approach that uses naturally inherited genetic differences as proxies for environmental exposures. This helps scientists test whether an observed association is likely to reflect a direct cause-and-effect relationship.
This analysis was based on genome-wide association studies, which scan the entire genetic codes of large populations to find variations linked to specific traits. The genetic data for body mass index came from large international research consortiums that pool health information from hundreds of thousands of people. Specifically, the researchers used combined genetic data from up to 681,275 individuals of European ancestry. Data for the additional risk factors were drawn from other previously published genetic scans.
These additional factors included estimates of visceral fat, which is fat stored deep inside the belly around internal organs. The researchers also looked at fasting blood sugar, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein, a type of cholesterol that helps clear other cholesterols from the bloodstream. Finally, they included blood pressure and C-reactive protein, a substance that indicates the level of inflammation in the body.
Neuroimaging outcome data came from another massive international scientific collaborative group that studies the brain. This group provided genetic studies of global and regional cortical thickness in up to 23,183 individuals. The results showed that a higher body mass index was associated with lower average global cortical thickness. This association was particularly prominent in the precentral and fusiform gyrus regions of the brain.
The precentral gyrus controls voluntary movement, while the fusiform gyrus supports high-level visual recognition, especially of faces and words. More visceral fat and higher levels of the inflammatory blood marker C-reactive protein were also associated with lower cortical thickness. These associations tended to be stronger in areas where lower cortical thickness was already linked to a higher body mass index. In contrast, the researchers found very few associations between cortical thickness and blood pressure or metabolic blood markers.
The study authors concluded that their findings provide evidence for a causal effect of body mass index on lower cortical thickness. They recommend future research to explore how this effect on brain structure might increase the risk for neuropsychiatric conditions.
The study contributes to the scientific understanding of the structural brain changes induced by obesity. However, the scientists primarily investigated whether an elevated body mass index causes brain changes, rather than the reverse. A Mendelian randomization study like this can strengthen causal inferences but cannot provide definitive proof, as the research design depends on a number of assumptions.
The paper, “Deciphering the causal influence of BMI and related metabolic, inflammatory, and cardiovascular factors on brain structure: a Mendelian Randomization Study,” was authored by Jodie N. Painter, Alexander Refisch, Moritz Rau, Martin Walter, Scott Mackey, Jennifer Laurent, Paul M. Thompson, Katrina L. Grasby, Tomas Hajek, Sarah E. Medland, and Nils Opel.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/elevated-body-mass-index-might-lead-to-lower-cortical-thickness-study-finds/
-------------------------------------------------
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
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #BMI #ObesityBrainLink #CorticalThickness #MendelianRandomization #BrainStructure #PrecentralGyrus #FusiformGyrus #Inflammation #NeuropsychiatricRisk #BiomedicalResearch
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DATE: July 27, 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: Brain structure differences in autism map onto serotonin receptor locations
URL: https://www.psypost.org/brain-structure-differences-in-autism-map-onto-serotonin-receptor-locations/
A neuroimaging study found that autistic individuals whose cortical thickness deviated most from that of neurotypical peers tended to experience greater social and communication difficulties. In autistic individuals, the cortical regions showing the greatest differences in thickness relative to neurotypical individuals also tended to have a higher density of serotonin receptors. The research provides evidence linking brain structure, neurochemistry, and behavioral traits in autism. The paper was published in Autism Research.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how a person communicates, interacts with others, processes sensory information, and experiences the world. It is called a spectrum because its characteristics and level of support needs vary widely between individuals.
Some autistic people have difficulty interpreting social cues, maintaining conversations, or understanding unwritten social rules. Others are able to communicate fluently but still find social interaction tiring, confusing, or overwhelming. Repetitive movements, strong preferences for routines, intense interests, and unusual responses to sounds, lights, textures, or smells are also common.
Autism begins early in development, although it may not be recognized until later in childhood or adulthood. It is a lifelong form of neurological difference that may bring both difficulties and strengths. Many autistic people show beneficial qualities such as strong attention to detail, deep knowledge in areas of interest, logical thinking, creativity, or exceptional memory.
Study author Livio Tarchi and his colleagues note that previous research indicates consistent structural differences between the brains of individuals with autism and their neurotypical peers. The authors suggest these differences might be connected to the brain’s neurotransmitter systems. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that carry signals between brain cells. The researchers specifically focused on systems using serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate.
The scientists investigated how structural differences in the brain might map onto the spatial distribution of these chemical messengers. They analyzed data from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange. This public dataset contains physical measurements, behavioral assessments, and brain scans collected across twenty different sites.
The data used in this analysis came from 1,035 participants. The sample included 505 autistic individuals and 530 neurotypical individuals. The average age of participants was about 17 years old. Both groups were predominantly male, reflecting historical diagnosis patterns.
The study authors used structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data to calculate deviations from expected cortical thickness. Cortical thickness refers to the depth of the brain’s outer layer of gray matter, which is responsible for complex thought and sensory processing. They measured this thickness across thousands of individual points, called vertices, on the surface of the brain. These measurements were adjusted for both the sex and age of each participant.
Next, the researchers compared these structural measurements against reference maps of neurotransmitter receptor density. Receptors are protein structures on cells that receive chemical messages. These reference maps were derived from separate, previously published imaging studies. This allowed the authors to see if areas with unusual thickness in autistic individuals aligned with regions known to have high concentrations of specific neurotransmitters.
The results showed widespread deviations in cortical thickness in the brains of autistic participants compared to neurotypical participants. The structural differences tended to be larger in areas of the brain with a higher density of serotonin receptors. The researchers did not find a similar spatial link for dopamine or glutamate receptors. At the individual level, greater deviations in cortical thickness were associated with greater difficulties in social and communication domains.
These findings provide evidence for a neurobiological link between autism, brain structure, and serotonin. However, the participants in this study were mostly male. Because brain development and cortical thickness can vary by sex, studies involving more female participants might yield different results. Future research could help clarify these connections and guide tailored support strategies for autistic individuals.
The paper, “Autism and Cortical Thickness Deviation From Neurotypical Controls: Evidence for a Spatial Association With Serotonin Receptors,” was authored by Livio Tarchi, Arne Doose, Julius Hennig, Fabio Bernardoni, Joseph A. King, Tiziana Pisano, Giovanni Castellini, Valdo Ricca, Inge Kamp-Becker, and Stefan Ehrlich.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/brain-structure-differences-in-autism-map-onto-serotonin-receptor-locations/
-------------------------------------------------
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
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AutismBrain #CorticalThickness #SerotoninReceptors #Neuroimaging #AutismResearch #Neurodevelopment #BrainStructure #SocialCommunication #NeurotypicalVsAutistic #SerotoninMapping
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DATE: July 27, 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: Brain structure differences in autism map onto serotonin receptor locations
URL: https://www.psypost.org/brain-structure-differences-in-autism-map-onto-serotonin-receptor-locations/
A neuroimaging study found that autistic individuals whose cortical thickness deviated most from that of neurotypical peers tended to experience greater social and communication difficulties. In autistic individuals, the cortical regions showing the greatest differences in thickness relative to neurotypical individuals also tended to have a higher density of serotonin receptors. The research provides evidence linking brain structure, neurochemistry, and behavioral traits in autism. The paper was published in Autism Research.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how a person communicates, interacts with others, processes sensory information, and experiences the world. It is called a spectrum because its characteristics and level of support needs vary widely between individuals.
Some autistic people have difficulty interpreting social cues, maintaining conversations, or understanding unwritten social rules. Others are able to communicate fluently but still find social interaction tiring, confusing, or overwhelming. Repetitive movements, strong preferences for routines, intense interests, and unusual responses to sounds, lights, textures, or smells are also common.
Autism begins early in development, although it may not be recognized until later in childhood or adulthood. It is a lifelong form of neurological difference that may bring both difficulties and strengths. Many autistic people show beneficial qualities such as strong attention to detail, deep knowledge in areas of interest, logical thinking, creativity, or exceptional memory.
Study author Livio Tarchi and his colleagues note that previous research indicates consistent structural differences between the brains of individuals with autism and their neurotypical peers. The authors suggest these differences might be connected to the brain’s neurotransmitter systems. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that carry signals between brain cells. The researchers specifically focused on systems using serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate.
The scientists investigated how structural differences in the brain might map onto the spatial distribution of these chemical messengers. They analyzed data from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange. This public dataset contains physical measurements, behavioral assessments, and brain scans collected across twenty different sites.
The data used in this analysis came from 1,035 participants. The sample included 505 autistic individuals and 530 neurotypical individuals. The average age of participants was about 17 years old. Both groups were predominantly male, reflecting historical diagnosis patterns.
The study authors used structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data to calculate deviations from expected cortical thickness. Cortical thickness refers to the depth of the brain’s outer layer of gray matter, which is responsible for complex thought and sensory processing. They measured this thickness across thousands of individual points, called vertices, on the surface of the brain. These measurements were adjusted for both the sex and age of each participant.
Next, the researchers compared these structural measurements against reference maps of neurotransmitter receptor density. Receptors are protein structures on cells that receive chemical messages. These reference maps were derived from separate, previously published imaging studies. This allowed the authors to see if areas with unusual thickness in autistic individuals aligned with regions known to have high concentrations of specific neurotransmitters.
The results showed widespread deviations in cortical thickness in the brains of autistic participants compared to neurotypical participants. The structural differences tended to be larger in areas of the brain with a higher density of serotonin receptors. The researchers did not find a similar spatial link for dopamine or glutamate receptors. At the individual level, greater deviations in cortical thickness were associated with greater difficulties in social and communication domains.
These findings provide evidence for a neurobiological link between autism, brain structure, and serotonin. However, the participants in this study were mostly male. Because brain development and cortical thickness can vary by sex, studies involving more female participants might yield different results. Future research could help clarify these connections and guide tailored support strategies for autistic individuals.
The paper, “Autism and Cortical Thickness Deviation From Neurotypical Controls: Evidence for a Spatial Association With Serotonin Receptors,” was authored by Livio Tarchi, Arne Doose, Julius Hennig, Fabio Bernardoni, Joseph A. King, Tiziana Pisano, Giovanni Castellini, Valdo Ricca, Inge Kamp-Becker, and Stefan Ehrlich.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/brain-structure-differences-in-autism-map-onto-serotonin-receptor-locations/
-------------------------------------------------
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
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AutismBrain #CorticalThickness #SerotoninReceptors #Neuroimaging #AutismResearch #Neurodevelopment #BrainStructure #SocialCommunication #NeurotypicalVsAutistic #SerotoninMapping
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DATE: July 17, 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: Brain structure variations are linked to different types of traumatic memories
New research reveals that the microstructural integrity of specific brain pathways is associated with how intensely a person experiences intrusive memories after a trauma. Published in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, the study suggests that distinct white matter connections correspond to different physical and emotional qualities of these recurring flashbacks.
Trauma-related intrusive memories are spontaneous and emotionally overwhelming sensory recollections. Individuals who experience them often feel as though the traumatic event is occurring in the present moment, blurring the line between past trauma and current reality. These intrusive flashbacks are a defining symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and they frequently dictate the overall severity of a person’s condition.
Despite the massive impact these intrusive memories have on quality of life, the precise neurobiological mechanisms that govern their unique properties remain poorly understood. Many people experience intrusive memories differently. Some might find that their memories are dominated by intense visual fragments, while others might feel an overwhelming sense of reliving the event physically and emotionally.
To develop better therapeutic interventions, scientists are attempting to understand the exact physical wiring in the brain that supports these varied experiences. Theoretical models propose that the sensory details of traumatic flashbacks stem from a disruption in the way different brain regions communicate.
The hippocampus, a seahorse-shaped region deep in the brain, is fundamentally responsible for forming and retrieving episodic memories. When a memory is recalled, the hippocampus usually communicates with posterior cortical systems. These outer layers of the brain are involved in processing sensory information, reconstructing mental scenes, and maintaining a person’s internal sense of self.
Steven J. Granger, a researcher at McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School, led a team to investigate the structural pathways that bridge these distinct neural systems. The researchers hypothesized that the microscopic organization of these specific cellular pathways might explain why some people have trauma memories characterized primarily by sudden intrusiveness, while others experience memories defined by a profound sense of reliving the event.
The human brain relies on white matter to facilitate this complex communication. White matter tissue acts as a biological scaffolding, built from insulated nerve fibers called axons that bundle together to connect disparate brain regions. These pathways dictate which parts of the brain can interact, controlling the speed and efficiency with which electrical signals travel.
Prior functional brain imaging indicated that the subjective qualities of intrusive memories tend to correspond with how frequently the hippocampus activates alongside other brain networks. Still, the physical structure supporting these functional networks had not yet been evaluated in relation to the everyday experience of traumatic memories.
To capture the true nature of traumatic memories as they happen, Granger and his colleagues recruited 114 adults who had survived a traumatic event. These participants were experiencing regular intrusive memories, and a majority met the criteria for a formal PTSD diagnosis.
Most laboratory studies of trauma rely on asking patients to voluntarily recall their distressing experiences in a clinical setting. To avoid this artificial environment, the research team used a smartphone application to administer periodic surveys to the participants over the course of two weeks.
This technique, known as ecological momentary assessment, allowed the team to track spontaneous memories as they struck in the real world. Several times a day, participants received prompts to report if an intrusive memory had occurred since their last check-in. If they said yes, they immediately rated the memory’s vividness, visual detail, emotional intensity, intrusiveness, and the degree to which they felt they were actively reliving the event.
After the two-week reporting period, the participants underwent a specialized type of magnetic resonance imaging. The researchers used a technique called diffusion-weighted imaging, which tracks the tiny movements of water molecules within brain tissue. Because water diffuses differently alongside cellular barriers, mapping this movement allows scientists to visualize the direction and density of white matter fibers.
Using this imaging data, the researchers calculated a metric called fractional anisotropy. This metric serves as an index of white matter microstructural integrity, essentially measuring how organized and tightly bundled the nerve fibers are within a specific pathway.
The team focused their analysis on two separate white matter pathways that connect the hippocampus to the back of the brain. The first target was the parahippocampal-parietal cingulum, a localized branch of nerve fibers linking the memory center to regions involved in mental imagery and the integration of internal thoughts.
The second target was the inferior longitudinal fasciculus. This thick band of white matter provides a direct communication route between the brain’s temporal memory areas and the visual cortex, which processes sights.
The researchers analyzed their brain scans alongside the thousands of real-world smartphone survey responses. To ensure their mathematical models were as accurate as possible, they incorporated information from their previous functional imaging studies, a statistical approach that anchors new structural data to known patterns of biological activity.
They found that the microscopic integrity of the two separate pathways corresponded to entirely different features of the trauma memories. Specifically, they discovered that a lower level of structural integrity in the parahippocampal-parietal cingulum was associated with a higher degree of memory intrusiveness.
To confirm that this association was unique to the examined memory pathway, the researchers also tested a control tract in the frontal lobe of the brain. They found no relationship between the frontal pathway and memory intrusiveness, supporting their hypothesis that the specific connection between the hippocampus and the parietal cortex plays a distinct role in managing unwanted thoughts.
This particular brain bundle projects to posterior regions that help govern memory suppression and the allocation of attention. If the structural integrity of this pathway is degraded, the brain might have a compromised ability to suppress unwanted memories, opening the door for the spontaneous and unprompted intrusions that define traumatic flashbacks.
In contrast, the researchers found that lower microstructural organization in the inferior longitudinal fasciculus was linked to a stronger sense of reliving the trauma in the present moment. This associative pathway connects memory areas to the visual cortex, playing a unique role in integrating incoming visual signals with emotional information.
When this secondary pathway is compromised, individuals might experience a failure to separate internal traumatic memories from their current visual reality. This biological blurring of boundaries could contribute to the overwhelming sensation that makes severe trauma memories so disorienting.
Because the research team conducted their brain imaging at a single point in time, the study cannot definitively determine the directionality of these relationships. It remains entirely unknown whether a natural variation in white matter integrity serves as a preexisting vulnerability that predisposes a person to intense traumatic memories after an event occurs.
Alternatively, the structural differences observed in the scans could be a biological consequence of repeatedly experiencing severe intrusive thoughts over time. The constant, repetitive retrieval of highly charged traumatic memories might physically alter the brain’s white matter pathways, similar to how repeated use changes a physical path through a forest.
Future research will require scientists to image trauma survivors repeatedly during the early aftermath of a distressing event, tracking how both the brain structure and the psychological symptoms evolve over several months or years. Additional studies involving controlled laboratory recall and naturalistic tracking in the exact same individuals could also clarify the biological overlap between voluntary and involuntary memories.
Through integrating the real-world tracking of memory experiences with advanced mapping of anatomical brain connections, researchers are gaining a deeper understanding of PTSD. Eventually, translating these physical variations into clinical profiles could help doctors pinpoint specific neural circuits, opening the door for treatments that target the specific memory symptoms a patient struggles with most.
The study, “Microstructural Integrity of Hippocampal–Posterior Cortical White Matter Is Associated With Phenomenological Properties of Trauma-Related Intrusive Memories,” was authored by Steven J. Granger, Boyu Ren, Kevin J. Clancy, Yara Pollmann, Justin T. Baker, and Isabelle M. Rosso.
-------------------------------------------------
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
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #TraumaMemories #PTSDResearch #Hippocampus #WhiteMatter #Neuroimaging #DiffusionTensorImaging #IntrusiveMemories #MemoryReliving #BrainStructure #MentalHealthScience
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DATE: July 17, 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: Brain structure variations are linked to different types of traumatic memories
New research reveals that the microstructural integrity of specific brain pathways is associated with how intensely a person experiences intrusive memories after a trauma. Published in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, the study suggests that distinct white matter connections correspond to different physical and emotional qualities of these recurring flashbacks.
Trauma-related intrusive memories are spontaneous and emotionally overwhelming sensory recollections. Individuals who experience them often feel as though the traumatic event is occurring in the present moment, blurring the line between past trauma and current reality. These intrusive flashbacks are a defining symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and they frequently dictate the overall severity of a person’s condition.
Despite the massive impact these intrusive memories have on quality of life, the precise neurobiological mechanisms that govern their unique properties remain poorly understood. Many people experience intrusive memories differently. Some might find that their memories are dominated by intense visual fragments, while others might feel an overwhelming sense of reliving the event physically and emotionally.
To develop better therapeutic interventions, scientists are attempting to understand the exact physical wiring in the brain that supports these varied experiences. Theoretical models propose that the sensory details of traumatic flashbacks stem from a disruption in the way different brain regions communicate.
The hippocampus, a seahorse-shaped region deep in the brain, is fundamentally responsible for forming and retrieving episodic memories. When a memory is recalled, the hippocampus usually communicates with posterior cortical systems. These outer layers of the brain are involved in processing sensory information, reconstructing mental scenes, and maintaining a person’s internal sense of self.
Steven J. Granger, a researcher at McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School, led a team to investigate the structural pathways that bridge these distinct neural systems. The researchers hypothesized that the microscopic organization of these specific cellular pathways might explain why some people have trauma memories characterized primarily by sudden intrusiveness, while others experience memories defined by a profound sense of reliving the event.
The human brain relies on white matter to facilitate this complex communication. White matter tissue acts as a biological scaffolding, built from insulated nerve fibers called axons that bundle together to connect disparate brain regions. These pathways dictate which parts of the brain can interact, controlling the speed and efficiency with which electrical signals travel.
Prior functional brain imaging indicated that the subjective qualities of intrusive memories tend to correspond with how frequently the hippocampus activates alongside other brain networks. Still, the physical structure supporting these functional networks had not yet been evaluated in relation to the everyday experience of traumatic memories.
To capture the true nature of traumatic memories as they happen, Granger and his colleagues recruited 114 adults who had survived a traumatic event. These participants were experiencing regular intrusive memories, and a majority met the criteria for a formal PTSD diagnosis.
Most laboratory studies of trauma rely on asking patients to voluntarily recall their distressing experiences in a clinical setting. To avoid this artificial environment, the research team used a smartphone application to administer periodic surveys to the participants over the course of two weeks.
This technique, known as ecological momentary assessment, allowed the team to track spontaneous memories as they struck in the real world. Several times a day, participants received prompts to report if an intrusive memory had occurred since their last check-in. If they said yes, they immediately rated the memory’s vividness, visual detail, emotional intensity, intrusiveness, and the degree to which they felt they were actively reliving the event.
After the two-week reporting period, the participants underwent a specialized type of magnetic resonance imaging. The researchers used a technique called diffusion-weighted imaging, which tracks the tiny movements of water molecules within brain tissue. Because water diffuses differently alongside cellular barriers, mapping this movement allows scientists to visualize the direction and density of white matter fibers.
Using this imaging data, the researchers calculated a metric called fractional anisotropy. This metric serves as an index of white matter microstructural integrity, essentially measuring how organized and tightly bundled the nerve fibers are within a specific pathway.
The team focused their analysis on two separate white matter pathways that connect the hippocampus to the back of the brain. The first target was the parahippocampal-parietal cingulum, a localized branch of nerve fibers linking the memory center to regions involved in mental imagery and the integration of internal thoughts.
The second target was the inferior longitudinal fasciculus. This thick band of white matter provides a direct communication route between the brain’s temporal memory areas and the visual cortex, which processes sights.
The researchers analyzed their brain scans alongside the thousands of real-world smartphone survey responses. To ensure their mathematical models were as accurate as possible, they incorporated information from their previous functional imaging studies, a statistical approach that anchors new structural data to known patterns of biological activity.
They found that the microscopic integrity of the two separate pathways corresponded to entirely different features of the trauma memories. Specifically, they discovered that a lower level of structural integrity in the parahippocampal-parietal cingulum was associated with a higher degree of memory intrusiveness.
To confirm that this association was unique to the examined memory pathway, the researchers also tested a control tract in the frontal lobe of the brain. They found no relationship between the frontal pathway and memory intrusiveness, supporting their hypothesis that the specific connection between the hippocampus and the parietal cortex plays a distinct role in managing unwanted thoughts.
This particular brain bundle projects to posterior regions that help govern memory suppression and the allocation of attention. If the structural integrity of this pathway is degraded, the brain might have a compromised ability to suppress unwanted memories, opening the door for the spontaneous and unprompted intrusions that define traumatic flashbacks.
In contrast, the researchers found that lower microstructural organization in the inferior longitudinal fasciculus was linked to a stronger sense of reliving the trauma in the present moment. This associative pathway connects memory areas to the visual cortex, playing a unique role in integrating incoming visual signals with emotional information.
When this secondary pathway is compromised, individuals might experience a failure to separate internal traumatic memories from their current visual reality. This biological blurring of boundaries could contribute to the overwhelming sensation that makes severe trauma memories so disorienting.
Because the research team conducted their brain imaging at a single point in time, the study cannot definitively determine the directionality of these relationships. It remains entirely unknown whether a natural variation in white matter integrity serves as a preexisting vulnerability that predisposes a person to intense traumatic memories after an event occurs.
Alternatively, the structural differences observed in the scans could be a biological consequence of repeatedly experiencing severe intrusive thoughts over time. The constant, repetitive retrieval of highly charged traumatic memories might physically alter the brain’s white matter pathways, similar to how repeated use changes a physical path through a forest.
Future research will require scientists to image trauma survivors repeatedly during the early aftermath of a distressing event, tracking how both the brain structure and the psychological symptoms evolve over several months or years. Additional studies involving controlled laboratory recall and naturalistic tracking in the exact same individuals could also clarify the biological overlap between voluntary and involuntary memories.
Through integrating the real-world tracking of memory experiences with advanced mapping of anatomical brain connections, researchers are gaining a deeper understanding of PTSD. Eventually, translating these physical variations into clinical profiles could help doctors pinpoint specific neural circuits, opening the door for treatments that target the specific memory symptoms a patient struggles with most.
The study, “Microstructural Integrity of Hippocampal–Posterior Cortical White Matter Is Associated With Phenomenological Properties of Trauma-Related Intrusive Memories,” was authored by Steven J. Granger, Boyu Ren, Kevin J. Clancy, Yara Pollmann, Justin T. Baker, and Isabelle M. Rosso.
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #TraumaMemories #PTSDResearch #Hippocampus #WhiteMatter #Neuroimaging #DiffusionTensorImaging #IntrusiveMemories #MemoryReliving #BrainStructure #MentalHealthScience
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DATE: July 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: Genetic risk for cannabis use disorder linked to brain differences in youth
URL: https://www.psypost.org/genetic-risk-for-cannabis-use-disorder-linked-to-brain-differences-in-youth/
A person’s genetic risk for developing a cannabis addiction is associated with structural brain differences during adolescence, even in individuals who have never struggled with substance abuse. The finding indicates that some brain variations previously attributed to marijuana use might partly originate from an inherited biological predisposition. The study was published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.
Bipolar disorder is a severe mental health condition characterized by dramatic shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels. People with the condition experience intense emotional states known as mood episodes, which can include periods of extreme elation or irritability, known as mania, and periods of deep sadness, known as depression. The condition often emerges during the teenage years and is a leading cause of functional disability among youth globally.
Teenagers with bipolar disorder frequently face additional psychiatric challenges throughout their schooling and home lives. Research shows that about 30 percent of youth diagnosed with bipolar disorder also have a co-occurring substance use disorder. Cannabis use disorder ranks as the most common addiction in this specific clinical group. Youth with bipolar disorder use cannabis at higher rates than the general population and face an elevated risk of developing a long-term dependency on the drug.
Heavy cannabis use has been repeatedly linked to worse outcomes for individuals with bipolar disorder. These negative impacts include a higher risk of suicide, a delayed recovery process, and an increased likelihood of experiencing psychosis. Past brain imaging studies have also noted structural differences in the brains of teenagers who regularly consume cannabis, both with and without mood disorders. The exact nature of these differences has varied across different observational reports.
Some research points to larger gray matter volume in certain brain regions among users, while other reports document smaller volumes in those same areas. Because most of these studies observe people at a single point in time, it is difficult to determine whether cannabis changes the brain or if people with preexisting brain differences are simply more likely to use the drug. To separate cause from effect in these brain measurements, scientists sometimes examine genetics. Addiction involves inherited physical traits, and modern genetic testing allows researchers to measure a person’s underlying vulnerability to an addiction before it ever develops.
Scientists do this using an advanced mathematical tool called a polygenic risk score. Unlike older tests that look for a single faulty gene, a polygenic risk score tallies up thousands of tiny genetic variations across a person’s entire DNA sequence. By comparing these variations against data from people who have a condition, researchers can calculate a customized score that estimates an individual’s overall genetic likelihood of developing that specific problem. Alysha Sultan, a researcher at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, recognized an opportunity to apply this genetics tool to brain imaging.
Sultan and her colleagues set out to discover if a high polygenic risk score for cannabis use disorder correlated with brain structure in youths, regardless of their developmental history of drug use. The researchers recruited 114 teenagers and young adults between the ages of 13 and 20. The sample included 67 youths who had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder at a specialty psychiatric clinic. The remaining 47 participants were healthy controls randomly recruited from the community who had no personal or family history of major psychiatric disorders.
The team asked all participants to provide a saliva sample. From this saliva, the scientists extracted DNA and scanned the genetic sequences to calculate a specific polygenic risk score for cannabis use disorder for every participant. To create the scoring baseline, they relied on data from a preexisting study of adults that mapped the genetic profiles of tens of thousands of people with a diagnosed cannabis dependency.
After collecting the genetic data, the researchers brought the participants in for brain imaging. They used a magnetic resonance imaging machine, commonly known as an MRI, to capture high-resolution pictures of the participants’ brains. The team focused on the cerebral cortex, the folded outer layer of the brain that manages complex thought, memory, and perception.
The researchers measured three specific physical traits of the cerebral cortex: volume, surface area, and thickness. Volume refers to the total amount of space a specific brain region takes up, while surface area measures the expanse of the folded outer layer. Thickness gauges the physical depth of the gray matter on that layer. The scientists wrote statistical models to compare these structural measurements against the participants’ genetic risk scores, accounting for variables like age, sex, and overall head size.
The neuroimaging data revealed a consistent physical pattern. Across the entire group of youths, a higher genetic risk score for cannabis use disorder matched up with localized reductions in brain size. The researchers observed lower total volume and lower surface area in a brain region called the right superior frontal gyrus. Located near the very top and front of the brain, the superior frontal gyrus is involved in higher cognitive functions such as spatial processing and working memory, which is the ability to hold and manipulate information in the mind over short periods.
The researchers also noticed a smaller surface area in a region called the left paracentral lobule. This area rests near the top center of the brain and helps process sensory information from the body. These results were evident regardless of whether the youths had bipolar disorder or whether they had ever tried cannabis. The researchers ran specialized tests that completely excluded the participants who currently or previously had a cannabis use disorder, and the structural differences remained.
When the team split the participants by diagnosis, they found similar patterns among the healthy volunteers. Healthy teenagers with a higher genetic risk for the addiction exhibited lower brain volume and surface area in both the left and the right superior frontal gyrus.
The results among the participants diagnosed with bipolar disorder were not statistically significant when analyzed on their own. The researchers suspect this outcome relates to the vast biological complexities associated with bipolar disorder itself. The youths with the condition had high rates of anxiety and attention difficulties, took various psychiatric medications, and reported different medical histories. These competing factors may alter brain structure in their own localized ways, creating statistical noise in the data that masks the subtler differences linked strictly to the cannabis risk genes.
Sultan and her colleagues pointed out a few constraints to their investigation. Addiction involves similar genetic pathways across different types of substances, meaning people with a genetic liability for cannabis use disorder often share a generalized genetic vulnerability to alcohol or nicotine. The risk scores used in the study might reflect a broader tendency toward behavioral disinhibition rather than a strict vulnerability to cannabis alone. The genetic baselines used in the study also relied on data from individuals of European ancestry, meaning the relationships might differ for people of other ethnic backgrounds.
The initial findings offer a new way to interpret past neuroimaging research. Because a genetic predisposition alone corresponds with smaller frontal brain regions, some of the brain differences previously blamed on teen marijuana use might have existed before the drug use began. The scientists suggest that longer studies following the same teenagers into adulthood could help explain how inherited vulnerabilities shape the growing brain over time.
The study, “Association of polygenic risk for cannabis use disorder with brain structure among youth with and without bipolar disorder,” was authored by Alysha A. Sultan, Clement C. Zai, Kody G. Kennedy, L. Trevor Young, Bradley J. MacIntosh, and Benjamin I. Goldstein.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/genetic-risk-for-cannabis-use-disorder-linked-to-brain-differences-in-youth/
-------------------------------------------------
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
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #CannabisUseDisorder #GeneticRisk #BrainStructure #AdolescentBrain #PolygenicRiskScore #BipolarDisorder #Neuroimaging #FrontalGyrus #CerebralCortex #YouthMentalHealth
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DATE: July 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: Genetic risk for cannabis use disorder linked to brain differences in youth
URL: https://www.psypost.org/genetic-risk-for-cannabis-use-disorder-linked-to-brain-differences-in-youth/
A person’s genetic risk for developing a cannabis addiction is associated with structural brain differences during adolescence, even in individuals who have never struggled with substance abuse. The finding indicates that some brain variations previously attributed to marijuana use might partly originate from an inherited biological predisposition. The study was published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.
Bipolar disorder is a severe mental health condition characterized by dramatic shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels. People with the condition experience intense emotional states known as mood episodes, which can include periods of extreme elation or irritability, known as mania, and periods of deep sadness, known as depression. The condition often emerges during the teenage years and is a leading cause of functional disability among youth globally.
Teenagers with bipolar disorder frequently face additional psychiatric challenges throughout their schooling and home lives. Research shows that about 30 percent of youth diagnosed with bipolar disorder also have a co-occurring substance use disorder. Cannabis use disorder ranks as the most common addiction in this specific clinical group. Youth with bipolar disorder use cannabis at higher rates than the general population and face an elevated risk of developing a long-term dependency on the drug.
Heavy cannabis use has been repeatedly linked to worse outcomes for individuals with bipolar disorder. These negative impacts include a higher risk of suicide, a delayed recovery process, and an increased likelihood of experiencing psychosis. Past brain imaging studies have also noted structural differences in the brains of teenagers who regularly consume cannabis, both with and without mood disorders. The exact nature of these differences has varied across different observational reports.
Some research points to larger gray matter volume in certain brain regions among users, while other reports document smaller volumes in those same areas. Because most of these studies observe people at a single point in time, it is difficult to determine whether cannabis changes the brain or if people with preexisting brain differences are simply more likely to use the drug. To separate cause from effect in these brain measurements, scientists sometimes examine genetics. Addiction involves inherited physical traits, and modern genetic testing allows researchers to measure a person’s underlying vulnerability to an addiction before it ever develops.
Scientists do this using an advanced mathematical tool called a polygenic risk score. Unlike older tests that look for a single faulty gene, a polygenic risk score tallies up thousands of tiny genetic variations across a person’s entire DNA sequence. By comparing these variations against data from people who have a condition, researchers can calculate a customized score that estimates an individual’s overall genetic likelihood of developing that specific problem. Alysha Sultan, a researcher at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, recognized an opportunity to apply this genetics tool to brain imaging.
Sultan and her colleagues set out to discover if a high polygenic risk score for cannabis use disorder correlated with brain structure in youths, regardless of their developmental history of drug use. The researchers recruited 114 teenagers and young adults between the ages of 13 and 20. The sample included 67 youths who had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder at a specialty psychiatric clinic. The remaining 47 participants were healthy controls randomly recruited from the community who had no personal or family history of major psychiatric disorders.
The team asked all participants to provide a saliva sample. From this saliva, the scientists extracted DNA and scanned the genetic sequences to calculate a specific polygenic risk score for cannabis use disorder for every participant. To create the scoring baseline, they relied on data from a preexisting study of adults that mapped the genetic profiles of tens of thousands of people with a diagnosed cannabis dependency.
After collecting the genetic data, the researchers brought the participants in for brain imaging. They used a magnetic resonance imaging machine, commonly known as an MRI, to capture high-resolution pictures of the participants’ brains. The team focused on the cerebral cortex, the folded outer layer of the brain that manages complex thought, memory, and perception.
The researchers measured three specific physical traits of the cerebral cortex: volume, surface area, and thickness. Volume refers to the total amount of space a specific brain region takes up, while surface area measures the expanse of the folded outer layer. Thickness gauges the physical depth of the gray matter on that layer. The scientists wrote statistical models to compare these structural measurements against the participants’ genetic risk scores, accounting for variables like age, sex, and overall head size.
The neuroimaging data revealed a consistent physical pattern. Across the entire group of youths, a higher genetic risk score for cannabis use disorder matched up with localized reductions in brain size. The researchers observed lower total volume and lower surface area in a brain region called the right superior frontal gyrus. Located near the very top and front of the brain, the superior frontal gyrus is involved in higher cognitive functions such as spatial processing and working memory, which is the ability to hold and manipulate information in the mind over short periods.
The researchers also noticed a smaller surface area in a region called the left paracentral lobule. This area rests near the top center of the brain and helps process sensory information from the body. These results were evident regardless of whether the youths had bipolar disorder or whether they had ever tried cannabis. The researchers ran specialized tests that completely excluded the participants who currently or previously had a cannabis use disorder, and the structural differences remained.
When the team split the participants by diagnosis, they found similar patterns among the healthy volunteers. Healthy teenagers with a higher genetic risk for the addiction exhibited lower brain volume and surface area in both the left and the right superior frontal gyrus.
The results among the participants diagnosed with bipolar disorder were not statistically significant when analyzed on their own. The researchers suspect this outcome relates to the vast biological complexities associated with bipolar disorder itself. The youths with the condition had high rates of anxiety and attention difficulties, took various psychiatric medications, and reported different medical histories. These competing factors may alter brain structure in their own localized ways, creating statistical noise in the data that masks the subtler differences linked strictly to the cannabis risk genes.
Sultan and her colleagues pointed out a few constraints to their investigation. Addiction involves similar genetic pathways across different types of substances, meaning people with a genetic liability for cannabis use disorder often share a generalized genetic vulnerability to alcohol or nicotine. The risk scores used in the study might reflect a broader tendency toward behavioral disinhibition rather than a strict vulnerability to cannabis alone. The genetic baselines used in the study also relied on data from individuals of European ancestry, meaning the relationships might differ for people of other ethnic backgrounds.
The initial findings offer a new way to interpret past neuroimaging research. Because a genetic predisposition alone corresponds with smaller frontal brain regions, some of the brain differences previously blamed on teen marijuana use might have existed before the drug use began. The scientists suggest that longer studies following the same teenagers into adulthood could help explain how inherited vulnerabilities shape the growing brain over time.
The study, “Association of polygenic risk for cannabis use disorder with brain structure among youth with and without bipolar disorder,” was authored by Alysha A. Sultan, Clement C. Zai, Kody G. Kennedy, L. Trevor Young, Bradley J. MacIntosh, and Benjamin I. Goldstein.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/genetic-risk-for-cannabis-use-disorder-linked-to-brain-differences-in-youth/
-------------------------------------------------
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
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #CannabisUseDisorder #GeneticRisk #BrainStructure #AdolescentBrain #PolygenicRiskScore #BipolarDisorder #Neuroimaging #FrontalGyrus #CerebralCortex #YouthMentalHealth
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How Our Environment and Genes Shape Brain Structure and Mental Health
#Neuroscience #MentalHealth #BrainScience #Genetics #Epigenetics #StressResponse #Psychology #BrainStructure #SelfEfficacy #MindAndBody
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From Head Trauma to Psychiatric Disorders: Exploring the Connection
#TraumaticBrainInjury #CTE #BrainHealth #NeuroScience #BrainInjuryRecovery #MentalHealthAwareness #DiffuseAxonalInjury #Neurotrauma #BrainStructure #PsychiatricDisorders #Neurotransmitters #BrainScans #BrainLesions #MoodDisorders #BrainTreatment #NeuroRehabilitation
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Neanderthal Genes May Cause a Rare Brain Condition That Impacts Balance and Posture
Neanderthals died out around 40,000 years ago, but a new study reveals that their genetic legacy continues to…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Genetics #Brain #brainstructure&function #humanorigins #Neanderthals #Neuroscience #Science
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/15322/ -
Romantic breakups linked to lower hippocampal brain volume in adults with childhood trauma https://www.psypost.org/romantic-breakups-linked-to-lower-hippocampal-brain-volume-in-adults-with-childhood-trauma/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #RomanticBreakup #HippocampalVolume #ChildhoodTrauma #MentalHealth #BrainStructure
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Individuals with thicker insula brain region take more cocaine when given a chance, study finds https://www.psypost.org/individuals-with-thicker-insula-brain-region-take-more-cocaine-when-given-a-chance-study-finds/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #CocaineResearch #BrainStructure #Insula #AddictionScience #DrugBehavior
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Adolescent binge drinking: Long-term effects on brain structure and function https://www.psypost.org/adolescent-binge-drinking-long-term-effects-on-brain-structure-and-function/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #AdolescentBingeDrinking #BrainStructure #BrainFunction #TeenDrinking #Neurodevelopment