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Neuroscientists reveal intriguing impact of light on human cognition and brain activity

Recent research has shed light on how different levels of illuminance—the measure of the amount of light—can enhance alertness and cognitive performance in humans. The study found that higher light levels affect specific areas of the brain region known as the hypothalamus, enhancing certain cognitive functions during tasks that involve executive and emotional processing. The findings were published in the journal   eLife . The primary motivation behind the study was to understand how varying intensities of light impact the human brain, particularly the hypothalamus, which plays a crucial role in regulating sleep, wakefulness, and cognitive functions. Light exposure is known to affect these areas in animal brains, but the specifics of these effects in humans remained unclear. Animal models have shown that certain brain regions respond to light in ways that affect behavior, but humans have different physiological and neurological complexities. For example, the human cortex matures la...
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Sleep May Not Aid Brain Detox

Summary:  A new study challenges the prevailing theory that sleep aids in the detoxification of the brain. Researchers found that the brain’s toxin clearance is significantly reduced during sleep and even more so under anesthesia, as shown by the slower movement and clearance of a fluorescent dye in the brains of mice. Contrary to previous beliefs that sleep enhances the glymphatic system’s function, these findings suggest that being awake might actually be more effective in clearing brain toxins. This research calls for a deeper investigation into the role of sleep and its implications for conditions like dementia. Key Facts: Toxin clearance rates dropped by 30% in sleeping mice and 50% under anesthesia compared to their awake counterparts. Previous studies, supporting sleep as a time for brain detoxification, used indirect measurement methods, making this direct study a significant pivot. The findings may reshape our understanding of sleep’s benefits, particularly relating to bra...
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The neuroscience of greed: A glimpse into our brain’s reaction to fear and desire

In a recent study published in   Behavioral and Brain Functions , scientists have delved into the interplay between fear and greed, revealing intriguing insights into our brain’s workings. By examining how individuals’ brains react to negative emotional faces, the research sheds light on the neurological underpinnings of dispositional greed, offering a novel perspective on the age-old adage of fear and greed driving human behavior. The scientific investigation was motivated by the desire to bridge a gap in our understanding of the neurobiological roots of greed, especially outside the financial realm. While fear often leads to defensive actions, greed pushes individuals towards risk-taking and aggressive behaviors. This divergence, particularly evident in financial decision-making, suggests a complex relationship between our emotional responses and behavioral outcomes. The researchers aimed to explore this relationship further by focusing on how the brain’s reaction to negative emo...
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New study reveals regular exercise is linked to lower drug dependency

In recent years, the intersection between physical exercise and its effects on substance use disorders has garnered significant interest within the scientific community. A new study delves into this relationship, exploring how regular physical activity might influence the severity of dependence among individuals who use illicit substances. The research, published in the  Journal of Psychoactive Drugs , provides evidence that engaging in frequent exercise may be associated with lower levels of dependency on various drugs. Substance use disorders represent a significant challenge to public health systems worldwide, characterized by high rates of relapse post-treatment. Traditional approaches to addiction treatment have often focused on psychological and pharmacological interventions, yet emerging evidence suggests that supplementary strategies, such as exercise, could offer additional benefits. The rationale behind this study is rooted in the complex interplay between physical activi...
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Antibody therapy makes the immune systems of old mice young again

A novel antibody therapy makes the immune system of old mice appear younger, allowing the animals to better fend off infections and reduce inflammation. Antibodies are proteins that can target and attack certain cells. An experimental therapy has been found to rejuvenate the immune systems of older mice, enhancing their capacity to combat infections. Should this treatment prove effective in humans, it could potentially reverse the age-related deterioration in immunity that renders older individuals more vulnerable to diseases. This decline in immunity might stem from alterations in our blood stem cells, which have the potential to evolve into any blood cell type, including vital elements of the immune system. With age, an increasing number of these stem cells are inclined to generate certain immune cells rather than others, according to Jason Ross from Stanford University in California. Such an imbalance compromises the immune system's infection-fighting abilities and contributes t...
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Study identifies multi-organ response to seven days without food

New findings reveal that the body undergoes significant, systematic changes across multiple organs during prolonged periods of fasting. The results demonstrate evidence of health benefits beyond weight loss, but also show that any potentially health-altering changes appear to occur only after three days without food. New findings reveal that the body undergoes significant, systematic changes across multiple organs during prolonged periods of fasting. The results demonstrate evidence of health benefits beyond weight loss, but also show that any potentially health-altering changes appear to occur only after three days without food. The study, published today in  Nature Metabolism,  advances our understanding of what's happening across the body after prolonged periods without food. By identifying the potential health benefits from fasting and their underlying molecular basis, researchers from Queen Mary University of London's Precision Healthcare University Research Institute (PH...
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Is ‘Bed Rotting’ Good or Bad for Your Sleep?

“Bed rotting,” or staying in bed all day, has been touted as a self-care routine on TikTok, but it might actually make you feel worse. Here’s why that happens and how you can snap out of it. The grueling stretch between New Year’s Day and springtime can seem interminable. It’s tempting to spend the long, gray months in hibernation mode with a book or your phone while you await brighter days. Enter “bed rotting,”   the Internet’s new favorite inactive activity . More entertaining than just sleeping in and somehow even less productive than being a couch potato, choosing to bed rot is a popular TikTok mental health trend associated with “reclaiming” time that might otherwise be spent on working, exercising, studying or other “productive” activities. It may mean you opt to stay in bed from sunrise to sunset for perhaps even a whole weekend or more, only leaving it to use the bathroom, get food or retrieve other essentials. Some “rotters” report feeling rejuvenated afterward. One Reddit...
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