#prefrontalcortex — Public Fediverse posts

DATE: August 3, 2026 at 09:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
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TITLE: Migraines are linked to accelerated brain aging in regions tied to memory and emotion

URL: https://www.psypost.org/migraines-are-linked-to-accelerated-brain-aging-in-regions-tied-to-memory-and-em/

Migraines might affect the biological age of the human brain, adding years to its appearance on medical scans. A recent study found that individuals who suffer from migraines show patterns of accelerated brain aging, particularly in areas related to emotion and cognition. These findings, published in Brain Communications, suggest that the condition places a physical toll on the brain that goes beyond the immediate pain of a headache.

A migraine is a neurological condition characterized by intense, recurring headaches. Patients frequently experience nausea, light sensitivity, and visual disturbances. The condition also carries a heavy burden that extends into mental health, with many patients reporting mood changes, brain fog, and difficulties with memory or focus. Because of these wide-ranging symptoms, scientists have begun to view migraines as a disorder that impacts the entire brain environment.

Researchers assess overall brain health by estimating a person’s biological brain age. The brain is primarily composed of gray matter and white matter. Gray matter contains the cell bodies of neurons and is responsible for processing information, while white matter acts as the communication network connecting different regions. As humans grow older, gray matter volume naturally decreases.

By analyzing the volume of gray matter in a magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, scan, computers can predict how old a person is. If the predicted age is higher than the person’s actual chronological age, they have a positive brain-age gap. This gap suggests the brain is undergoing accelerated age-related changes.

Previous research indicated a potential link between chronic migraines and an older-looking brain. Hung-Yu Liu, Kun-Hsien Chou, Shuu-Jiun Wang, and colleagues at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and Taipei Veterans General Hospital in Taiwan wanted to build on this foundation. They designed a study to map exactly where this accelerated aging occurs across the brain and to see if structural changes corresponded to a patient’s specific symptoms.

The researchers first had to establish a baseline for normal brain aging. They gathered MRI scans from 1,318 healthy individuals ranging in age from 20 to 92. The scans were T1-weighted, a standard imaging technique that provides high-contrast pictures of brain tissue, making it easy to distinguish gray matter from white matter.

Using a technique that measures the exact volume of brain tissue voxel by voxel, the researchers mapped the gray matter across 442 distinct brain regions for every healthy participant. A voxel is essentially a three-dimensional pixel representing a tiny cube of brain tissue. They fed this large dataset into a machine-learning program, teaching the computer to recognize the normal volume of gray matter expected at any given age.

With the predictive model trained, the research team applied it to a clinical group. They recruited 110 patients who sought treatment at a specialized headache clinic for migraines, alongside 70 healthy adults without a history of migraines or neurological disorders. The migraine patients had never taken preventative daily medications for their condition. The computer model analyzed the new MRI scans and estimated a brain age for each participant based entirely on their gray matter volume.

The researchers found an observable difference between the two groups on a whole-brain level. The model estimated that the migraine group had a global brain-age gap of about 4.24 years. In other words, the computer thought the migraine patients were over four years older than their actual birth dates based on the physical appearance of their brains. The healthy control group did not show this wide gap.

After looking at the brain as a whole, the researchers zoomed in on the 442 specific regions to see if the aging was localized. They found 66 regions where migraine patients exhibited elevated aging patterns. No brain regions showed a decreased biological age. The older-looking areas were largely concentrated in the prefrontal, frontal, parietal, and temporal cortices, as well as the amygdala.

These specific brain areas overlap heavily with networks involved in pain perception, emotional regulation, and cognitive control. The amygdala, for instance, is a small, almond-shaped structure deep in the brain that plays a primary role in processing emotions like fear and anxiety. The frontal cortex handles complex decision-making and control over behaviors.

The research team wanted to know if this regional aging was tied to how severe a patient’s condition was. They used a statistical tool designed to find hidden relationships between two sets of variables. They compared the specific regional brain-age gaps to clinical profiles, which included headache frequency, the number of days a patient took abortive painkillers, and depression scores. They found that a combination of these clinical factors was associated with the regional aging patterns.

To further understand the implications of these anatomical changes, the researchers performed a functional decoding analysis. They took the coordinates of the 66 aged brain regions and cross-referenced them with a large database of past neurological studies. This database catalogs which parts of the brain activate during specific human behaviors. The analysis revealed that the aged regions are primarily responsible for cognitive tasks like attention, working memory, and language, as well as auditory processing and inhibitory control.

The study maps a relationship between migraines and biological aging, but the cross-sectional design means it cannot prove that migraines directly cause the brain to age faster. The researchers measured a single point in time. It remains possible that pre-existing structural differences make certain individuals more susceptible to developing migraines in the first place. Biological aging involves many factors, including genetics, environment, and lifestyle choices.

The study participants were recruited from a specialized headache clinic, meaning they might experience a higher disease burden than the average person. The findings might not apply broadly to individuals who only experience occasional, mild headaches. Additionally, the research team did not directly assess the patients’ cognitive abilities. While the brain scans showed accelerated aging in areas related to memory and attention, future studies will need to involve formal cognitive testing to determine if these structural differences result in noticeable memory or thinking challenges in daily life.

The researchers noted that future longitudinal studies could track patients over several years to watch the aging process unfold in real-time. This type of research could determine if the aging trajectory slows down when patients begin taking preventative migraine medications.

The study, “Accelerated brain ageing in migraine: a multilevel MRI-based brain-age modelling study,” was authored by Hung-Yu Liu, Chen-Yuan Kuo, Pei-Lin Lee, Yi-Hsuan Liu, Wei-Ta Chen, Shih-Pin Chen, Yen-Feng Wang, Ching-Po Lin, Kun-Hsien Chou, and Shuu-Jiun Wang.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/migraines-are-linked-to-accelerated-brain-aging-in-regions-tied-to-memory-and-em/

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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #MigrainesAndBrainAging #BrainAgeGap #MigraineResearch #Neuro aging #AmygdalaAndEmotion #CognitionAndMemory #MRIBrainImaging #PrefrontalCortex #HealthyBrainScience #BrainHealthAwareness

DATE: July 17, 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. **
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TITLE: Neuroscientists find a teamwork paradox: highly synchronized brains perform worse at complex tasks

URL: https://www.psypost.org/neuroscientists-find-a-teamwork-paradox-highly-synchronized-brains-perform-worse-at-complex-tasks/

A recent study published in the journal NeuroImage suggests that when people collaborate on a video game, their brain activity aligns, but this synchronization does not necessarily result in better performance. The findings indicate that the way human brains link up during teamwork is highly complex. This provides evidence that shared brain patterns might not directly cause successful collaboration.

When people interact, their brain waves often start to match up in real time. This phenomenon is known as inter-brain synchrony. To study this, scientists use a technique called hyperscanning, which allows them to record the brain activity of multiple people at the exact same time. Previous research provides evidence that this mental alignment happens during cooperative tasks, like playing games or solving puzzles.

Two specific areas of the brain are highly active during social interactions. The prefrontal cortex handles complex cognitive functions, such as planning, decision-making, and understanding what other people are thinking. The right temporoparietal junction acts as a central hub for social skills, specifically helping individuals take another person’s perspective.

A team of scientists from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, including S.H. Jessica Tan, S.P. Jessie Leuk, and Wei-Peng Teo, designed a project to explore the causal relationship between brain alignment and teamwork. The authors wanted to know if brain synchrony directly causes better cooperation, or if it is just a byproduct of interacting.

To test this, the research team used a technique called transcranial magnetic stimulation. This method uses brief magnetic fields to temporarily speed up or slow down neural activity in targeted brain regions. By altering activity in the right temporoparietal junction, the researchers hoped to see if changes in this social brain area would affect how well two people collaborated.

The researchers recruited 33 pairs of same-gender strangers for the experiment. Each pair participated in three separate sessions involving a classic puzzle video game, Tetris. During each session, the participants played the game both individually and collaboratively for seven minutes.

In the individual version of the game, each person controlled their own falling blocks. In the collaborative version, the pair shared a single game screen. One person was strictly responsible for moving the blocks left and right, and the other person was responsible for rotating the blocks.

The participants were not allowed to speak to each other during the cooperative game. This rule forced them to anticipate their partner’s next move and rely on turn-taking. By restricting verbal communication, the scientists could observe non-verbal teamwork in action.

To measure brain activity, the scientists used a technology called functional near-infrared spectroscopy. This non-invasive method uses sensors placed on the head to shine near-infrared light through the skull. By measuring how that light is absorbed, the sensors can track changes in blood flow to different parts of the brain. The researchers placed these sensors over the participants’ prefrontal cortex and right temporoparietal junction.

During two of the three sessions, one randomly selected person in each pair received a brief, safe burst of magnetic brain stimulation before the game started. One session used an uninterrupted stimulation pattern known to temporarily slow down brain activity in the right temporoparietal junction. Another session used a pulsing pattern designed to temporarily boost activity in that same area. The third session served as a baseline, meaning no stimulation was applied.

The brain scans revealed that the participants experienced much stronger brain synchrony when they played Tetris together compared to when they played alone or rested. This synchronization was notably stronger in the prefrontal cortex than in the right temporoparietal junction.

Modulating the right temporoparietal junction with magnetic stimulation did not change how well the participants played together. The stimulation also did not change the level of brain synchrony between the partners. The scientists noted that altering the brain activity of just one person might not be enough to disrupt a shared interaction, as the other person’s brain might naturally adapt to maintain the social connection.

The data also revealed a surprising pattern regarding game performance. The researchers measured success by looking at the number of block rows completed, as well as the number of combination moves made. Combination moves occur when multiple rows are eliminated at exactly the same time.

The authors found a negative relationship between brain synchrony in the prefrontal cortex and the number of combination moves the pair achieved. Essentially, pairs who exhibited higher levels of mental alignment actually performed worse at setting up complex, high-scoring moves. This suggests that high neural alignment does not always guarantee a successful outcome in strategic tasks.

The participants also filled out questionnaires about their partners before and after the games. The responses showed that participants consistently rated their partners as more likable after collaborating. This positive social feeling occurred regardless of how poorly they performed or whether they received brain stimulation.

Several factors limit how these findings can be applied to real-world interactions. The study required participants to play Tetris across three different sessions, which likely allowed them to learn the game and adapt to their partner’s style over time. This learning effect could influence how their brains synced up during later sessions.

The equipment used for the study also relied on a limited number of sensors, tracking only specific parts of the brain. Future research could benefit from using more advanced scanning techniques that observe the entire brain at once. This would help map out exactly how different neural networks respond to social interaction and magnetic stimulation.

It is also possible that the observed brain synchrony was partially caused by both participants watching the exact same falling blocks on a screen. When two people look at identical visual inputs, their brains can process the information in similar ways, which can mimic the appearance of a deeper social connection.

To separate genuine social synchrony from shared visual processing, scientists suggest adding a control condition in future studies. For instance, participants could watch a recording of a game without actually playing together. This would help verify if the brain alignment is truly based on teamwork.

The negative relationship between brain synchrony and game performance highlights the need to reevaluate how we understand mental alignment. Higher brain synchrony is often assumed to mean better teamwork and information sharing. This new evidence suggests that the function of inter-brain synchrony is highly nuanced.

Higher levels of synchronization tend to emerge during teamwork, but they might reflect the cognitive effort required to figure out a partner’s strategy rather than successful execution. More studies are needed to unpack the exact reasons why brain waves align and how this biological process affects human relationships.

The study, “Inter-brain synchrony during collaborative gaming: an investigation using theta-burst stimulation at the right temporal-parietal junction,” was authored by S.H. Jessica Tan, S.P. Jessie Leuk, and Wei-Peng Teo.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/neuroscientists-find-a-teamwork-paradox-highly-synchronized-brains-perform-worse-at-complex-tasks/

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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #InterbrainSynchrony #TeamworkParadox #NeuroscienceFindings #Hyperscanning #RightTPJ #PrefrontalCortex #CollaborativeGaming #TetrisStudy #BrainStimulation #NeuroImageResearch

Excitatory input from #PrefrontalCortex to #hippocampus pyramidal cells is believed to be mediated through the thalamic nucleus reuniens. @mick &co show in rodents that this brain pathway is unexpectedly minor, contrary to assumptions in the field
@PLOSBiology plos.io/48u6mle

What role does #myelination play in #PrefrontalCortex development? This study shows that juvenile #demyelination disrupts PV #interneuron firing & self-inhibition, revealing a developmental window where myelination is essential for long-term cortical function @PLOSBiology https://plos.io/4mI4lVO

Something I always wondered about people with #tourettes and #ticdisorders:

We're almost always empaths.

The part of our brain - the #prefrontalcortex - responsible for #empathy is slightly larger than usual while the part of our brain in our #basalganglia regulating motor planning/control, has faulty neuro-pathways and shrunken parts.

More connections to the PFC as an adaptation, resulting in glitchy motor controls but perhaps very deep emotions.

#writing #mentalhealth #neuroscience

Lateral #PrefrontalCortex is involved in executive functions, but what roles do distinct anatomical subregions play? This study shows that caudal VLPF specializes in visual input processing, while middle areas support context-based behavioral planning @PLOSBiology https://plos.io/4ljEz9W

What role do cortical regions play in #mathematical learning? This study reveals the causal role of dorsolateral #PrefrontalCortex & #frontoparietal network in #math learning using #transcranial neuromodulation in human participants @PLOSBiology https://plos.io/45SyMUI

Recent Discoveries: The Molecular Complexity of Our Brain’s Decision-Maker

#PrefrontalCortex #Neuroscience #BrainResearch #CellularDiversity #Neurobiology #BrainCircuits #Neuromodulation #MentalHealth #Neurogenomics #CognitiveScience

https://youtube.com/shorts/tIYGcHtwOTs?feature=share

Inside the Mind: Exploring the Brain’s Decision-Making Hub

#BrainScience #Neuroscience #PrefrontalCortex #LimbicSystem #NeuralNetworks #MentalHealth #Cognition #Emotion #BrainConnectivity #Neuroplasticity #MindAndBody #SelfAwareness #BrainFunction #StressResilience #SocialBrain #BrainResearch #InnerWorld #BrainMechanisms #HealthyBrain

https://youtube.com/shorts/xzxdXP1li-I?feature=share

Journey into the Mind: How Brain Networks Enable Thought, Emotion, and Social Life

#BrainScience #Neuroscience #PrefrontalCortex #DefaultModeNetwork #SelfReflection #Memory #SocialCognition #BrainHealth #Neuroplasticity #MentalWellness #Neurochemistry #StressAndBrain #CognitiveScience #BrainConnections #MindAndBrain

https://youtube.com/shorts/rMO3K_97PCY?feature=share

The medial #PrefrontalCortex (mPFC) is a key brain area for pain sensation & #ChronicPain. This study shows that modulation of a circuit projecting from nucleus reuniens of the thalamus to mPFC improves neural & behavioral indicators of chronic pain in mice @PLOSBiology https://plos.io/4mpMuEj

Unlocking the Secrets of the Mind: Neuro-Philosophy and Emotional Processing

#NeuroPhilosophy #EmotionalProcessing #BrainScience #PrefrontalCortex #Amygdala #CulturalPsychology #Neuroscience #MindMatters #EmotionsExplained #BrainFacts #Psychology #EmotionalIntelligence #CognitiveScience #ScienceOfEmotion #MentalHealth

https://youtube.com/shorts/1wnXeytSvYw?feature=share

#PostdocJob #France

"For a collaborative project with Brice Bathellier (Institut Pasteur), we are looking for a postdoc studying #PrefrontalCortex network activity combined with computational approaches during memory consolidation in a mouse model of #Alzheimers Disease. Please see this link"

#Bordeaux #Neuroscience

@mick
Cool stuff, congrats!!
Were there no connections between Nucleus Reuniens and Dentate Gyrus or CA3?

I also wonder what you think of this commentary on Ito et al., 2015, by Blake Porter: https://www.blakeporterneuro.com/writing/science-writing/commentary/ito_et_al_2015_commentary/ 👀

#Hippocampus #PrefrontalCortex #NucleusReuniens #Neuroscience

When blind faith in false beliefs makes you see things that aren't there

https://tube.xy-space.de/w/qj2WXzuLJRNqwQ2uFRHdC2

#RespectYoungAdults #Neurology #teens #teenagers #rights #respect #YoungAdults #puberty #adolescence #Puritan #SexPhobic #Tradition #SexPhobia #StopTheHysteria #StopTheHate #brains #BrainDevelopment #SexualDevelopment #Evolution #Logic #Maladaptive #deficient #BodilyAutonomy #Agency #DeficientBrains #Undeveloped #FrontalLobe #PrefrontalCortex #Biology #Discrimination

Updated #bioRxiv preprint:

Comparing representations of planning and habit in #hippocampus, #PrefrontalCortex, and dorsolateral #striatum as rats navigate complex and simple environments.

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.03.11.584503v2

#neuroscience

Ravens and parrots with brains of 5–20 grams demonstrate cognitive abilities similar to those of great apes, whose brains weigh approximately 400 grams. 😮 An interesting article about why birds can support complex cognition with such small brains + a hypothesis about the minimum neurological requirements for this:

🦜 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2023.11.002

#evolution #neuron #prefrontalcortex #mammals #cognition

@Learning @cogneurophys some gems in there we take for granted now, but went against the grain or were simply unknown at the time. Remarkable opus. #prefrontalcortex #neuropsychology #HippocampusGurus #HippocampusHistory #neuroscience #cognitivepsych

Sneak peek at one of the projects that #prefrontalcortex is working on using #NeedleEngine

It is a research project on digital physiotherapeutic breathing therapy for #LongCovid patients using #VR technology

#webgl #webxr #madewithneedle #madewithunity #threejs

Happy to see this out today. Tootprint (is that a thing) coming soon! #neuroscience #prefrontalcortex #fMRI https://www.jneurosci.org/content/43/15/2741

Ida Momennejad (#Microsoft Research) presents "A rubric for human-like agents and NeuroAI"

The main take-away reinforces a recurring message at the #Philosophy of #DeepLearning #conference at #nyu

What #AI needs to be more like humans is
- #system2
- #attention
- #control

In this case, the claim is that it #LLMs need a #prefrontalCortex (https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2021.0446).

See also Russell, O'Reilly, and Bengio, 2020: https://baicsworkshop.github.io/pdf/BAICS_10.pdf