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<td><span style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:20px;font-weight:bold;">PsyPost – Psychology News</span></td>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/a-dream-like-psychedelic-might-help-traumatized-veterans-reset-their-brains/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">A dream-like psychedelic might help traumatized veterans reset their brains</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 30th 2026, 08:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study suggests that the intensity of spiritual or “mystical” moments felt during psychedelic treatment may predict how well veterans recover from trauma symptoms. Researchers found that soldiers who reported profound feelings of unity and sacredness while taking ibogaine experienced lasting relief from post-traumatic stress disorder. These findings were published in the <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.120722" target="_blank">Journal of Affective Disorders</a></em>.</p>
<p>For decades, medical professionals have sought better ways to assist military personnel returning from combat. Many veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, as well as traumatic brain injuries caused by repeated exposure to blasts. These conditions often occur together and can be resistant to standard pharmaceutical treatments. The lack of effective options has led some researchers to investigate alternative therapies derived from natural sources.</p>
<p>One such substance is ibogaine. This psychoactive compound comes from the root bark of the Tabernanthe iboga shrub, which is native to Central Africa. Cultures in that region have used the plant for centuries in healing and spiritual ceremonies. In recent years, it has gained attention in the West for its potential to treat addiction and psychiatric distress. Unlike some other psychedelics, ibogaine often induces a dream-like state where users review their memories.</p>
<p>Despite anecdotal reports of success, the scientific community still has a limited understanding of how ibogaine works in the human brain. Most prior research focused on classic psychedelics like psilocybin or MDMA. The specific psychological mechanisms that might allow ibogaine to alleviate trauma symptoms remain largely unexplored.</p>
<p>Randi E. Brown, a researcher at the Stanford University School of Medicine and the VA Palo Alto Health Care System, led a team to investigate this question. They worked in collaboration with the late Nolan R. Williams and other specialists in psychiatry and behavioral sciences. The team sought to determine if the subjective quality of the drug experience mattered for recovery. They hypothesized that a “mystical experience” might be a key driver of therapeutic change.</p>
<p>The concept of a mystical experience in psychology is specific and measurable. It refers to a sensation of unity with the universe, a transcendence of time and space, and deeply felt peace or joy. It also includes a quality known as ineffability, meaning the experience is too profound to be described in words. The researchers wanted to know if veterans who felt these sensations more strongly would see better clinical results.</p>
<p>The study analyzed data from thirty male Special Operations Veterans. All participants had a history of traumatic brain injury and combat exposure. Because ibogaine is not approved for medical use in the United States, the veterans traveled to a clinic in Mexico for the treatment. This setup allowed the researchers to observe the effects of the drug in a clinical setting outside the U.S.</p>
<p>The treatment protocol involved a single administration of the drug. The medical staff combined ibogaine with magnesium sulfate. This addition is intended to protect the heart, as ibogaine can sometimes disrupt cardiac rhythms. The veterans received the medication orally after a period of fasting. They spent the session lying down with eyeshades, generally experiencing the effects internally rather than interacting with others.</p>
<p>To measure the psychological impact of the session, the researchers administered the Mystical Experiences Questionnaire. This survey asks participants to rate the intensity of various feelings, such as awe or a sense of sacredness. The researchers collected these scores immediately after the treatment concluded.</p>
<p>The team also assessed the veterans’ PTSD severity using a standardized clinical interview. They took these measurements before the treatment, immediately after, and again one month later. This allowed them to track changes in symptom severity over time. Additionally, the researchers used electroencephalography, or EEG, to record electrical activity in the brain.</p>
<p>The analysis revealed a clear statistical association between the survey responses and the clinical outcomes. Veterans who reported more intense mystical experiences showed larger reductions in PTSD severity. This pattern held true immediately after the treatment. It also persisted when the researchers checked on the participants one month later.</p>
<p>The researchers observed similar trends for other mental health measures. Higher scores on the mystical experience survey correlated with greater improvements in depression and anxiety. These findings align with previous research on other psychedelics, such as psilocybin, which has linked spiritual breakthroughs to improved mental health.</p>
<p>The study also identified changes in brain physiology. The researchers focused on a specific brain wave measurement called peak alpha frequency. This measurement reflects the speed of the brain’s electrical cycles when a person is resting but awake. High arousal states, often seen in PTSD, can be linked to faster alpha frequencies.</p>
<p>The data showed that more intense mystical experiences were associated with a slowing of this alpha frequency one month after treatment. This reduction suggests a shift away from the hyper-aroused state that characterizes trauma. The brain appeared to move toward a more relaxed mode of functioning.</p>
<p>This physiological change supports the idea that the treatment effects are biological and not just psychological. The slowing of brain rhythms may represent a lasting neural adaptation. It implies that the intense subjective experience of the drug might trigger neuroplastic changes that help the brain reset.</p>
<p>Brown and her colleagues suggest that the “ego death” often reported during mystical experiences may play a role. This phenomenon involves a temporary loss of the sense of self. It may allow individuals to detach from rigid, negative beliefs about themselves formed during trauma. When the sense of self returns, it may do so without the heavy burden of past guilt or fear.</p>
<p>The authors noted several limitations to their work. The study used an open-label design, meaning there was no placebo group for comparison. All participants knew they were receiving ibogaine. It is possible that their expectation of healing contributed to the positive results.</p>
<p>The sample size was also relatively small, consisting of only thirty individuals. Furthermore, the group was entirely male and composed of Special Operations Veterans. This specific demographic means the results may not apply to women or the general public. The unique training and resilience of these veterans might influence how they respond to such treatments.</p>
<p>The researchers also pointed out that the study relies on correlation. While the link between mystical experiences and recovery is strong, it does not prove causation. It is possible that a third, unmeasured factor causes both the mystical experience and the symptom improvement.</p>
<p>Despite these caveats, the research provides a foundation for future investigation. The authors recommend that subsequent studies use randomized, controlled designs to verify these effects. They also suggest exploring whether these psychological and physiological changes endure beyond the one-month mark.</p>
<p>Future research could also investigate the role of psychotherapy combined with the drug. In this study, the veterans received coaching but not intensive therapy during the dosing session. Combining the biological reset of ibogaine with structured psychological support might enhance the benefits.</p>
<p>This study adds to a growing body of evidence supporting the potential of psychedelic therapies. It highlights the importance of the subjective experience in the healing process. For veterans struggling with the aftermath of war, these findings offer a preliminary hope that treatments addressing both the brain and the spirit may offer relief.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.120722" target="_blank">Mystical experiences during magnesium-Ibogaine are associated with improvements in PTSD symptoms in veterans</a>,” was authored by Randi E. Brown, Jennifer I. Lissemore, Kenneth F. Shinozuka, John P. Coetzee, Afik Faerman, Clayton A. Olash, Andrew D. Geoly, Derrick M. Buchanan, Kirsten N. Cherian, Anna Chaiken, Ahmed Shamma, Malvika Sridhar, Saron A. Hunegnaw, Noriah D. Johnson, Camarin E. Rolle, Maheen M. Adamson, and Nolan R. Williams.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/fathers-boredom-proneness-associated-with-his-childrens-adhd-tendencies/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Fathers’ boredom proneness associated with his children’s ADHD tendencies</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 30th 2026, 06:00</div>
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<p><p>New research suggests that the psychological traits of mothers and fathers may influence their children’s attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder tendencies and boredom levels in distinct ways. The findings indicate that while genetic predispositions play a significant role, specific parenting styles, such as maternal control, could help manage boredom in young children. This study was published in <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-30163-6" target="_blank">Scientific Reports</a></em>.</p>
<p>Psychological research has long established a connection between high levels of boredom and various negative behavioral outcomes. Frequent boredom is often linked to issues such as pathological gambling, substance abuse, and problematic internet use. Despite these known risks, science has not fully explained the developmental mechanisms behind boredom or how it might be regulated during childhood.</p>
<p>Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, frequently co-occurs with a high susceptibility to boredom. Both conditions share characteristics such as impulsivity and difficulty maintaining attention. </p>
<p>While ADHD is generally viewed as a neurodevelopmental trait with a strong genetic component, boredom proneness may be more responsive to environmental factors. This distinction suggests that the family environment could play a significant role in shaping how children experience and manage boredom.</p>
<p>“Although high boredom proneness is associated with various maladaptive behaviors, little is known about its developmental mechanisms or how such behaviors can be regulated,” said study author Izumi Uehara of Ochanomizu University.</p>
<p>“Given evidence that children with ADHD experience heightened boredom, and that boredom proneness may be more environmentally malleable than ADHD symptoms, this study examined how parental ADHD tendencies, boredom proneness, and parenting styles relate to children’s ADHD tendencies and boredom proneness. This work represents an initial step toward understanding how early environmental factors may shape children’s capacity to regulate boredom-related behaviors.”</p>
<p>Most prior research on these topics in Japan has also focused almost exclusively on mothers. This focus has left a gap in understanding how fathers contribute to these developmental patterns.</p>
<p>The researchers aimed to address this by examining how the traits of both parents associate with their children’s behaviors. They sought to understand if the biological traits of parents or their parenting styles were stronger predictors of a child’s tendencies.</p>
<p>The research team recruited participants through an internet survey company. They specifically targeted families with children in the first through third grades of elementary school. This age range is considered a critical period for the emergence of academic and social habits. The final analysis included data from 301 pairs of parents, consisting of both a mother and a father, along with information about one child per couple.</p>
<p>The participants were predominantly from the middle class. Most parents were in their 30s or 40s. The researchers sent questionnaire packets via postal mail to families where both parents agreed to participate. This ensured that the data reflected the perspectives of both parental figures regarding the same child.</p>
<p>Parents completed several standardized psychological questionnaires. They rated their own tendencies toward ADHD using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale. They also assessed their own susceptibility to boredom using the Boredom Proneness Scale. </p>
<p>In addition, parents reported on their parenting styles using the Japanese Parenting Style Scale. This scale divides parenting into two main dimensions: responsiveness and control. Responsiveness refers to emotional warmth and support. Control refers to discipline and the regulation of behavior.</p>
<p>For the children, parents provided ratings using a standard ADHD rating scale designed for young children. Because there is no widely accepted scale for boredom proneness in this age group, parents rated their child’s daily boredom levels on a single-item scale. Parents also provided an assessment of their child’s academic performance.</p>
<p>The researchers found that ADHD tendencies and boredom proneness were closely linked within families. Parents who reported higher levels of ADHD traits also tended to report higher susceptibility to boredom. This pattern of overlapping traits was mirrored in their children. However, the study found distinct differences in how mothers and fathers appeared to influence their offspring.</p>
<p>Unexpectedly, a child’s ADHD traits were best predicted by a combination of the father’s ADHD tendencies and the father’s proneness to boredom. This suggests that a father’s susceptibility to boredom may have a unique association with the development of attention difficulties in his children.</p>
<p>“One surprising finding was that, despite mothers spending more time on childcare on average in Japan, children’s traits were specifically associated with fathers’ characteristics—most notably, a significant association between fathers’ boredom proneness and children’s ADHD tendencies,” Uehara told PsyPost.</p>
<p>The researchers also examined how parenting behaviors interacted with these biological traits. They utilized statistical regression models to determine which factors remained significant when all variables were considered. For the majority of children, parental traits were the primary predictors. However, a different pattern emerged for a subgroup of children who exhibited the highest levels of ADHD tendencies.</p>
<p>For this specific subgroup of high-scoring children, maternal responsiveness was identified as a strong explanatory factor. High levels of maternal responsiveness were associated with higher ADHD tendencies in these children. </p>
<p>“Higher levels of ADHD-related behaviors and boredom susceptibility in children with greater genetic risk for ADHD were associated with parental overreactivity,” Uehara explained. “Taken together with the finding that maternal control was linked to reduced child boredom proneness, these results highlight the importance of balanced parental engagement.”</p>
<p>But this does not necessarily mean that maternal warmth causes ADHD. It is possible that mothers become more responsive and attentive in an effort to support a child who is already exhibiting challenging behaviors. “Child-driven effects cannot be ruled out,” Uehara said.</p>
<p>Regarding childhood boredom, the researchers found that a child’s own ADHD tendencies were the strongest predictor. Children with higher attention deficits were more likely to be bored. Maternal boredom proneness was also a direct predictor of the child’s boredom.</p>
<p>The study highlighted a potential protective role for maternal control. Children whose mothers exercised more structural control and discipline tended to exhibit lower levels of boredom. This implies that parental guidance and the setting of boundaries may help children regulate their need for stimulation.</p>
<p>A different interaction was observed regarding fathers. When fathers exhibited high levels of responsiveness, children with high ADHD tendencies showed increased levels of boredom. This suggests that while warmth is generally positive, excessive responsiveness from fathers might not effectively help these specific children manage their boredom.</p>
<p>The study also looked at the long-term implications of these traits by examining the parents’ socioeconomic status. Adults with lower boredom proneness reported significantly higher levels of education and income. </p>
<p>This association with socioeconomic status was found for boredom proneness but not for ADHD tendencies. This finding suggests that the ability to manage boredom may be a distinct factor in achieving long-term educational and financial success.</p>
<p>“Our findings suggest that maternal and paternal characteristics may influence children’s boredom and ADHD tendencies in different ways,” Uehara said. “Notably, the link between maternal control and lower levels of children’s boredom suggests that boredom is not fixed and can be modifiable through everyday parenting. Because boredom has been linked to problematic internet use, these results highlight how parents’ own habits and involvement may help reduce children’s risk of internet addiction.”</p>
<p>As with all research, there are limitations to consider. The study relied entirely on parent reports for both their own traits and their children’s behavior. This reliance could introduce bias, as parents might perceive their children through the lens of their own tendencies. Additionally, the study was cross-sectional, meaning it captured data at a single point in time.</p>
<p>Because of this design, the research cannot prove causality. It is unclear whether parenting styles shape children’s traits or if children’s traits elicit specific parenting responses. For example, the link between maternal responsiveness and child ADHD could represent a mother reacting to her child’s needs rather than causing the symptoms.</p>
<p>“These effects should be interpreted as modest and indicative rather than definitive. However, given evidence among parents that lower boredom proneness is associated with higher educational attainment and income, the present findings suggest meaningful practical implications. They point to the potential for children to develop strategies to regulate boredom, which may help reduce the risk of maladaptive behaviors, including problematic internet use.”</p>
<p>Future studies should aim to include a more diverse range of participants and employ longitudinal designs. Following families over time would help clarify the direction of the relationships between parenting styles and child outcomes. The researchers also suggest that future work should focus on identifying how to help children regulate boredom.</p>
<p>“Our next steps focus on identifying concrete strategies that help children regulate boredom and examining how these early regulation processes relate to boredom management across the lifespan,” Uehara told PsyPost. “Specifically, we aim to investigate contexts in which children are most prone to boredom, typical behavioral responses, and activities that effectively alleviate boredom in both childhood and adulthood. Ultimately, this line of work may offer insights into lifelong mental health and adaptive self-regulation.</p>
<p>“While high levels of boredom proneness are associated with maladaptive behaviors across societies, it is important to recognize cultural differences in how boredom is perceived and experienced.”</p>
<p>“In Western intellectual traditions, boredom has often been discussed in relation to existential emptiness or loss of meaning, whereas in Japan, feelings of emptiness or impermanence have historically been more readily accepted and not necessarily experienced as aversive,” Uehara explained. “Although coping skills for extreme boredom are likely important across cultures, examining how people manage the mild, everyday boredom common in daily life—within different cultural frameworks—may represent a promising direction for future research.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-30163-6" target="_blank">Differential associations of parents’ ADHD tendencies, boredom proneness, and parenting styles with children’s ADHD tendencies and boredom proneness</a>,” was authored by Tianyi Zhang, Yuji Ikegaya, and Izumi Uehara.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/cannabis-beverages-may-help-people-drink-less-alcohol/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Cannabis beverages may help people drink less alcohol</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 29th 2026, 18:00</div>
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<p><p>Recent survey data suggests that cannabis-infused beverages may serve as an effective tool for individuals looking to curb their alcohol consumption. People who incorporated these drinks into their routines reported reducing their weekly alcohol intake and engaging in fewer episodes of binge drinking. The findings were published in the <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2026.2614506" target="_blank">Journal of Psychoactive Drugs</a></em>.</p>
<p>Alcohol consumption is a well-documented public health concern. It is linked to nearly 200 different health conditions. These include liver disease, cardiovascular issues, and various forms of cancer. </p>
<p>While total abstinence is the most effective way to eliminate these risks, many adults choose not to stop drinking entirely. This reality has led public health experts to explore harm reduction strategies. The goal of harm reduction is to minimize the negative consequences of substance use without necessarily demanding complete sobriety.</p>
<p>Cannabis is increasingly viewed through this harm reduction lens. It generally presents fewer physiological risks to the user compared to alcohol. The legalization of cannabis in many U.S. states has diversified the market beyond traditional smokable products. Consumers can now purchase cannabis-infused seltzers, sodas, and tonics. These products are often packaged in cans that resemble beer or hard seltzer containers.</p>
<p>This similarity in packaging and consumption method is notable. It allows users to participate in the social ritual of holding and sipping a drink without consuming ethanol. Jessica S. Kruger, a clinical associate professor of community health and health behavior at the University at Buffalo, led an investigation into this phenomenon. She collaborated with researchers Nicholas Felicione and Daniel J. Kruger. The team sought to understand if these new products are merely a novelty or if they serve a functional role in alcohol substitution.</p>
<p>The researchers designed a study to capture the behaviors of current cannabis users. They distributed an anonymous survey between August and December of 2022. Recruitment took place through various channels to reach a broad audience. </p>
<p>The team placed recruitment cards with QR codes in licensed dispensaries. They also utilized email lists from these businesses. Additionally, they posted links to the survey on nearly 40 cannabis-related communities on the social media platform Reddit.</p>
<p>The final analytic sample consisted of 438 adults. All participants had used cannabis within the past year. The survey incorporated questions from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. This is a standard tool used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to track health-related behaviors. The researchers used these questions to assess alcohol consumption frequency and intensity.</p>
<p>The study aimed to compare the behaviors of those who drank cannabis beverages against those who used other forms of cannabis. It also sought to compare alcohol habits before and after individuals began consuming cannabis drinks. Roughly one-third of the respondents reported using cannabis beverages. These users typically consumed one infused drink per session.</p>
<p>The researchers found differences in substitution behaviors between groups. Participants who consumed cannabis beverages were more likely to report substituting cannabis for alcohol than those who did not drink them. The data showed that 58.6 percent of beverage users reported this substitution. In contrast, 47.2 percent of non-beverage users reported doing so.</p>
<p>The study provided specific data regarding changes in alcohol intake levels. The researchers asked beverage users to recall their alcohol consumption habits prior to adopting cannabis drinks. Before trying these products, the group reported consuming an average of roughly seven alcoholic drinks per week. After they started using cannabis beverages, that average dropped to approximately 3.35 drinks per week.</p>
<p>Binge drinking rates also saw a decline. The researchers defined a binge drinking episode based on standard gender-specific thresholds. Before initiating cannabis beverage use, about 47 percent of the group reported binge drinking less than once a month or never. After incorporating cannabis drinks, the proportion of people reporting this low frequency of binge drinking rose to nearly 81 percent.</p>
<p>Most participants did not replace alcohol entirely. The survey results indicated that 61.5 percent of beverage users reduced their alcohol intake. Only about 1 percent reported stopping alcohol consumption completely. </p>
<p>A small minority, roughly 3 percent, reported increasing their alcohol use. This suggests that for most users, cannabis beverages act as a moderator for alcohol rather than a complete replacement.</p>
<p>The study also examined the potency of the beverages being consumed. Most respondents chose products with lower doses of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Two-thirds of the users drank beverages containing 10 milligrams of THC or less. This dosage allows for a milder experience compared to high-potency edibles. It may facilitate a more controlled social experience similar to drinking a glass of wine or a beer.</p>
<p>Daniel J. Kruger, a co-author of the study, noted the potential reasons for these findings. He suggests that the similarity in the method of administration plays a role. People at parties or bars are accustomed to having a drink in their hand. A cannabis beverage allows them to maintain that behavior. It fits into the social context more seamlessly than smoking a joint or taking a gummy.</p>
<p>There are limitations to this research that require consideration. The study relied on retrospective self-reports. Participants had to recall their past alcohol consumption. This relies on memory and can be subject to bias. The sample was also a convenience sample rather than a nationally representative one. Many respondents were recruited from New York State dispensaries or specific online communities.</p>
<p>The researchers also point out potential risks associated with these products. Cannabis beverages and edibles have a slower onset of effects compared to inhalation. It takes time for the digestive system to process the cannabinoids. This delay can lead inexperienced users to consume more than intended. Accidental overconsumption can result in negative physical and mental health outcomes.</p>
<p>Furthermore, there is the issue of dual use. Most participants continued to drink alcohol, albeit in smaller quantities. Combining alcohol and cannabis can intensify impairment. The authors note that this interaction needs further study to ensure public safety.</p>
<p>Future research is necessary to validate these preliminary findings. The authors suggest that longitudinal studies would be beneficial. Such studies would track individuals over time rather than relying on past recall. This would provide a clearer picture of whether the reduction in alcohol use is sustained in the long term.</p>
<p>Public education will be key as this market expands. Consumers need to understand the differences between alcohol and cannabis impairment. They also need accurate information regarding dosing and onset times. Policies that ensure clear labeling and child-proof packaging remain essential for harm reduction.</p>
<p>Despite the caveats, the study offers a new perspective on alcohol harm reduction. It highlights a potential avenue for individuals seeking to lower their alcohol intake. As the market for these beverages grows, understanding their role in consumer behavior becomes increasingly important for public health officials.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2026.2614506" target="_blank">The Exploration of Cannabis Beverage Substitution for Alcohol: A Novel Harm Reduction Strategy</a>,” was authored by Jessica S. Kruger, Nicholas Felicione, and Daniel J. Kruger.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/new-maps-of-brain-activity-challenge-century-old-anatomical-boundaries/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">New maps of brain activity challenge century-old anatomical boundaries</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 29th 2026, 16:00</div>
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<p><p>New research challenges the century-old practice of mapping the brain based on how tissue looks under a microscope. By analyzing electrical signals from thousands of neurons in mice, scientists discovered that the brain’s command center organizes itself by information flow rather than physical structure. These findings appear in the journal <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-025-02190-z" target="_blank">Nature Neuroscience</a></em>.</p>
<p>The prefrontal cortex acts as the brain’s executive hub. It manages complex processes such as planning, decision-making, and reasoning. Historically, neuroscientists defined the boundaries of this region by studying cytoarchitecture. This method involves staining brain tissue and observing the arrangement of cells. The assumption has been that physical differences in cell layout correspond to distinct functional jobs.</p>
<p>However, the connection between these static maps and the dynamic electrical firing of neurons remains unproven. A research team led by Marie Carlén at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden sought to test this long-standing assumption. Pierre Le Merre and Katharina Heining served as the lead authors on the paper. They aimed to create a functional map based on what neurons actually do rather than just where they sit.</p>
<p>To achieve this, the team performed an extensive analysis of single-neuron activity. They focused on the mouse brain, which serves as a model for mammalian neural structure. The researchers implanted high-density probes known as Neuropixels into the brains of awake mice. These advanced sensors allowed them to record the electrical output of more than 24,000 individual neurons.</p>
<p>The study included recordings from the prefrontal cortex as well as sensory and motor areas. The investigators first analyzed spontaneous activity. This refers to the electrical firing that occurs when the animal is resting and not performing a specific task. Spontaneous activity offers a window into the intrinsic properties of a neuron and its local network.</p>
<p>The team needed precise ways to describe this activity. Simply counting the number of electrical spikes per second was insufficient. They introduced three specific mathematical metrics to characterize the firing patterns. The first metric was the firing rate, or how often a neuron sends a signal.</p>
<p>The second metric was “burstiness.” This describes the irregularity of the intervals between spikes. A neuron with high burstiness fires in rapid clusters followed by silence. A neuron with low burstiness fires with a steady, metronomic rhythm.</p>
<p>The third metric was “memory.” This measures the sequential structure of the firing. It asks whether the length of one interval between spikes predicts the length of the next one. Taken together, these three variables provided a unique “fingerprint” for every recorded neuron.</p>
<p>The researchers used a machine learning technique called a Self-Organizing Map to sort these fingerprints. This algorithm grouped neurons with similar firing properties together. It allowed the scientists to visualize the landscape of neuronal activity without imposing human biases.</p>
<p>The analysis revealed a distinct signature for the prefrontal cortex. Neurons in this area predominantly displayed low firing rates and highly regular rhythms. They did not fire in erratic bursts. This created a “low-rate, regular-firing” profile that distinguished the prefrontal cortex from other brain regions.</p>
<p>The team then projected these activity profiles back onto the physical map of the brain. They compared the boundaries of their activity-based clusters with the traditional cytoarchitectural borders. The two maps did not align.</p>
<p>Regions that looked different under a microscope often contained neurons with identical firing patterns. Conversely, regions that looked the same structurally often hosted different types of activity. The distinct functional modules of the prefrontal cortex ignored the classical boundaries drawn by anatomists.</p>
<p>Instead of anatomy, the activity patterns aligned with hierarchy. In neuroscience, hierarchy refers to the order of information processing. Sensory areas that receive raw data from the eyes or ears are at the bottom of the hierarchy. The prefrontal cortex, which integrates this data to make decisions, sits at the top.</p>
<p>The researchers correlated their activity maps with existing maps of brain connectivity. They found that regions higher up in the hierarchy consistently displayed the low-rate, regular-firing signature. This suggests that the way neurons fire is determined by their place in the network, not by the local architecture of the cells.</p>
<p>This finding aligns with theories about how the brain processes information. Sensory areas need to respond quickly to changing environments, requiring fast or bursty firing. High-level areas need to integrate information over time to maintain stable plans. A slow, regular rhythm is ideal for holding information in working memory without being easily distracted by noise.</p>
<p>The study then moved beyond resting activity to examine goal-directed behavior. The mice performed a task where they heard a tone or saw a visual stimulus. They had to turn a wheel to receive a water reward. This allowed the researchers to see how the functional map changed during active decision-making.</p>
<p>The team identified neurons that were “tuned” to specific aspects of the task. Some neurons responded only to the sound. Others fired specifically when the mouse made a choice to turn the wheel.</p>
<p>When they mapped these task-related neurons, they again found no relation to the traditional anatomical borders. The functional activity formed its own unique territories. One specific finding presented a paradox.</p>
<p>The researchers had established that the hallmark of the prefrontal cortex was slow, regular firing. However, the specific neurons that coded for “choice”—the act of making a decision—tended to have high firing rates. These “decider” neurons were chemically and spatially mixed in with the “integrator” neurons but behaved differently.</p>
<p>This implies a separation of duties within the same brain space. The general population of neurons maintains a slow, steady rhythm to provide a stable platform for cognition. Embedded within this stable network are specific, highly excitable neurons that trigger actions.</p>
<p>The overlap of these two populations suggests that connectivity shapes the landscape. The high-hierarchy network supports the regular firing. Within that network, specific inputs drive the high-rate choice neurons.</p>
<p>These results suggest that intrinsic connectivity is the primary organizing principle of the prefrontal cortex. The physical appearance of the tissue is a poor predictor of function. “Our findings challenge the traditional way of defining brain regions and have major implications for understanding brain organisation overall,” says Marie Carlén.</p>
<p>The study does have limitations. It relied on data from mice. While mouse and human brains share many features, the human prefrontal cortex is far more complex. Additionally, the recordings focused primarily on the deep layers of the cortex. These layers are responsible for sending output signals to other parts of the brain.</p>
<p>The activity in the surface layers, which receive input, might show different patterns. The study also looked at a limited set of behaviors. Future research will need to explore whether these maps hold true across different types of cognitive tasks.</p>
<p>Scientists must also validate these metrics in other species. If the pattern holds, it could provide a new roadmap for understanding brain disorders. Many psychiatric conditions involve dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex. Understanding the “normal” activity signature—slow and regular—could help identify what goes wrong in disease.</p>
<p>This data-driven approach offers a scalable framework. It moves neuroscience away from subjective visual descriptions toward objective mathematical categorization. It suggests that to understand the brain, we must look at the invisible traffic of electricity rather than just the visible roads of tissue.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-025-02190-z" target="_blank">A prefrontal cortex map based on single-neuron activity</a>,” was authored by Pierre Le Merre, Katharina Heining, Marina Slashcheva, Felix Jung, Eleni Moysiadou, Nicolas Guyon, Ram Yahya, Hyunsoo Park, Fredrik Wernstal & Marie Carlén.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/diet-quality-of-children-improved-after-five-months-of-gardening-and-nutrition-sessions/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Diet quality of children improved after five months of gardening and nutrition sessions</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 29th 2026, 14:00</div>
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<p><p>A study conducted in Jordan found that primary school children’s dietary quality improved after 5 months of weekly gardening sessions and nutrition education. Their fiber intake increased, saturated fat intake decreased, and their overall knowledge of nutrition improved. The paper was published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17193133"><em>Nutrients</em></a>.</p>
<p>Childhood obesity has increased markedly over the past few decades, becoming a major public health concern worldwide. Rates have risen in both high-income and low- and middle-income countries, indicating that the trend is global rather than region-specific.</p>
<p>One of the strongest contributors to this increase is a shift in children’s diets toward energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods. Diets high in ultra-processed foods, added sugars, and saturated fats are associated with excess calorie intake and weight gain. Sugary drinks play a particularly important role, as they add substantial calories without promoting satiety. At the same time, consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fiber-rich foods has declined in many populations. Larger portion sizes and more frequent snacking have also normalized higher energy intake among children.</p>
<p>Study author Nour Amin Elsahoryi and her colleagues wanted to explore the effects of a five-month school-based vegetable gardening and education intervention on the body composition, dietary intake, and knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding vegetable consumption of primary school students (4<sup>th</sup> – 6<sup>th</sup> grade). They hypothesized that the gardening intervention would improve children’s dietary intake, body composition, and knowledge and attitudes about vegetable consumption.</p>
<p>Study participants were 216 4<sup>th</sup> – 6<sup>th</sup> grade students from two primary schools in Amman, Jordan. Their average age was 10 years. 88 of them were boys. 121 participants were from one school, and 95 were from the other school.</p>
<p>Students from one school were assigned to the intervention group, while those from the other participating school served as the control group. The intervention group participated in weekly 1-hour gardening exercises in a 1,000-square-meter garden built on land owned by the school where the intervention was taking place.</p>
<p>The garden contained self-irrigating raised beds with indigenous herbs and vegetables, and a separate storage shed to store tools and teaching materials. To facilitate the work, the school received the necessary gardening equipment, such as rakes, watering hoses, benches, gardening gloves, and composting bins, as well as educational material, tables, whiteboards, portable handwashing stations, and basic cooking instruments. Immediately after each gardening session, students participated in one-hour culturally adapted nutrition education sessions. These sessions were conducted by professionals trained in child-oriented nutrition education and behavioral modification.</p>
<p>Before and after the intervention, study authors measured participating students’ height and weight, asked them to report their dietary intake from the previous 24 hours, and assessed their knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to vegetable intake.</p>
<p>Results showed that the intervention group lost 1.88 kg of weight, on average, while the control group showed minimal weight increases. The dietary quality of the intervention group improved. More specifically, the intervention group increased fiber intake (by 2.36 grams per day) and reduced saturated fat consumption (by 9.24 grams per day). The intervention group also showed better nutrition knowledge compared to the control group.</p>
<p>“This intervention effectively improved body composition, dietary quality, and nutrition knowledge among Jordanian primary school children. These findings provide evidence for implementing culturally adapted school gardening programs as childhood obesity prevention interventions in Middle Eastern settings, though future programs should incorporate family engagement strategies to enhance behavioral sustainability,” study authors concluded.</p>
<p>The study contributes to the scientific understanding of the potential effects of gardening interventions. However, it should be noted that dietary changes were self-reported, which left room for recall bias to have affected the results.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17193133">A School-Based Five-Month Gardening Intervention Improves Vegetable Intake, BMI, and Nutrition Knowledge in Primary School Children: A Controlled Quasi-Experimental Trial,</a>” was authored by Nour Amin Elsahoryi, Omar A. Alhaj, Ruba Musharbash, Fadia Milhem, Tareq Al-Farah, and Ayoub Al Jawaldeh.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/researchers-identify-the-psychological-mechanisms-behind-the-therapeutic-effects-of-exercise/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Researchers identify the psychological mechanisms behind the therapeutic effects of exercise</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 29th 2026, 12:00</div>
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<p><p>New research suggests that a structured exercise program improves mental health by altering how individuals process stress and intrusive thoughts. Published in <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291725103085" target="_blank">Psychological Medicine</a></em>, the study indicates that physical activity reduces overall psychiatric symptoms by lowering perceived stress and interrupting repetitive negative thinking patterns. These findings provide evidence that the psychological benefits of exercise are driven by specific changes in cognitive and emotional processing.</p>
<p>Scientific literature has established that physical activity can help manage symptoms of specific mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety. But the specific psychological pathways that lead to symptom improvement remain unclear.</p>
<p>The authors of the new study aimed to identify the mechanisms that explain why exercise is effective by conducting a secondary analysis of the data collected during <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(24)00069-5/fulltext" target="_blank">the ImPuls trial</a>, a randomized controlled trial involving 399 adults. </p>
<p>“The idea for the primary study emerged from a growing body of research, including numerous empirical studies and review articles, demonstrating that exercise is an effective therapeutic approach for a range of mental disorders,” said study author Anna Katharina Frei, a PhD candidate at the University of Tübingen.</p>
<p>“However, at least within outpatient care in Germany, this potential has not yet been sufficiently utilized — despite, for example, long waiting times for psychotherapy and/or the side effects associated with psychopharmacological treatments.”</p>
<p>“With the ImPuls study, our aim was therefore not only to demonstrate that a transdiagnostic exercise intervention is effective in reducing overall symptom burden, but also to show that its implementation in an outpatient setting is feasible. This formed the basis of the primary study.”</p>
<p>“Although the beneficial effects of exercise on mental health have been demonstrated repeatedly, the underlying mechanisms are often not well understood,” Frei said. “The aim of the secondary analysis was to contribute to the existing literature by examining three processes that are common to various mental disorders and may mediate treatment effects: perceived stress, repetitive negative thinking, and sleep quality.”</p>
<p>Participants were originally recruited from ten different outpatient treatment centers across Germany. To be eligible for the study, individuals had to be physically inactive and diagnosed with at least one of several conditions. These conditions included depressive disorders, agoraphobia, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or nonorganic primary insomnia.</p>
<p>In the original trial, participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The first group served as the control and received “treatment as usual,” which included standard outpatient therapies such as medication or psychotherapy. </p>
<p>The second group received treatment as usual combined with a specialized exercise intervention called ImPuls. The ImPuls program was a six-month intervention designed to foster a long-term physical activity habit.</p>
<p>The exercise intervention began with a four-week supervised phase. During this time, participants attended group sessions two to three times per week, engaging in moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise, specifically outdoor running. These sessions also included behavioral coaching strategies, such as goal setting and barrier management, to help participants stay motivated. </p>
<p>Following this initial phase, participants continued to exercise independently for five months. They received support through regular telephone calls to monitor their activity levels and address any challenges.</p>
<p>The researchers collected data at three specific time points: at the beginning of the study, after six months, and after twelve months. They used validated questionnaires to measure several psychological factors. </p>
<p>The primary outcome was global symptom severity, assessed using the Global Severity Index. This measure evaluates overall psychological distress across dimensions of somatization, depression, and anxiety.</p>
<p>In this secondary analysis, the team specifically examined data regarding the three proposed mechanisms of change. Perceived stress was assessed using a scale that asks individuals how unpredictable or overwhelming they find their lives. </p>
<p>Repetitive negative thinking was measured by asking participants about their tendency to have intrusive, unproductive thoughts that are difficult to stop. Finally, sleep quality was evaluated using a comprehensive index that accounts for sleep duration, disturbances, and daytime dysfunction.</p>
<p>The results confirmed that the exercise intervention was effective in reducing global symptom severity, replicating the primary trial’s conclusion. Participants in the ImPuls group experienced greater improvements in their mental health compared to those who received only standard treatment. This positive effect was observed at the six-month mark and persisted at the twelve-month follow-up. </p>
<p>The researchers then used statistical modeling to determine which factors were responsible for this improvement. Their analysis revealed that the reduction in global symptoms was fully mediated by changes in perceived stress and repetitive negative thinking. </p>
<p>This means that the beneficial effect of the exercise program on mental health was entirely explained by the fact that it lowered participants’ stress levels and reduced their engagement in negative thought loops. </p>
<p>Contrary to some expectations, changes in sleep quality did not mediate the treatment effects. Although sleep is often a target in mental health treatment, the statistical models indicated that improved sleep was not the driver of the symptom reduction in this specific study context. The benefits were driven by cognitive and emotional changes rather than changes in sleep patterns.</p>
<p>The findings align with the “cross-stressor adaptation hypothesis.” This theory suggests that because exercise places a physiological load on the body, regular physical activity helps the biological stress response system adapt. </p>
<p>Over time, this adaptation may make individuals less reactive to other forms of emotional or psychological stress. By regularly engaging in the physical stress of running, participants may have built a resilience that translated into a lower perception of life stress.</p>
<p>The results also support the “distraction hypothesis” regarding repetitive negative thinking. Individuals with mental health disorders often suffer from rumination, where they dwell on negative emotions and problems. </p>
<p>Exercise requires focus and energy, which may force a break in this cycle of negative thoughts. This temporary distraction can provide relief and allow individuals to regain a more balanced perspective.</p>
<p>“Exercise can be an effective way to reduce overall psychological symptom severity by decreasing repetitive negative thinking and perceived stress,” Frei told PsyPost. “In other words, engaging in regular physical activity may help people cope better with everyday stressors and interrupt repetitive negative thinking patterns, which are common across many mental health conditions. These findings highlight exercise as a valuable and accessible complement to existing mental health treatments.”</p>
<p>As with all research, there are some limitations. Because the control group in the original trial received treatment as usual rather than an active control intervention, it is difficult to rule out the possibility that the benefits were due to nonspecific factors. </p>
<p>These factors could include the social support from the group or the attention received from study staff. It is possible that simply meeting with a group and having a shared goal contributed to the improvements.</p>
<p>The study sample was comprised largely of individuals with depressive disorders, who made up about 72% of the participants. While the study was transdiagnostic, the dominance of depression diagnoses means the findings may be most applicable to that condition. </p>
<p>The mechanisms might differ for a population primarily composed of individuals with anxiety disorders or PTSD. Future research should investigate whether these findings hold true in samples with different diagnostic compositions.</p>
<p>Another limitation involves the measurement of the data. The mediators and the outcomes were assessed at the same time points. This simultaneous measurement restricts the ability to make definitive claims about causality. While the statistical models support the idea that reduced stress caused the symptom improvement, it is theoretically possible that feeling better led to reduced stress.</p>
<p>Future research should explore the day-to-day dynamics of these effects. Using methods that track participants in real-time could reveal how a specific session of exercise impacts mood and thinking patterns in the hours that follow. Understanding the immediate temporal relationship between physical activity and thought processes would provide stronger evidence for the causal mechanisms.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291725103085" target="_blank">Changes in repetitive negative thinking and stress perception mediate treatment effects of a transdiagnostic exercise intervention</a>,” was authored by Anna Katharina Frei, Thomas Studnitz, Britta Seiffer, Jana Welkerling, Johanna-Marie Zeibig, Eva Herzog, Mia Maria Günak, Thomas Ehring, Keisuke Takano, Tristan Nakagawa, Leonie Sundmacher, Sebastian Himmler, Stefan Peters, Anna Lena Flagmeier, Lena Zwanzleitner, Ander Ramos-Murguialday, Gorden Sudeck, and Sebastian Wolf.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/alzheimers-patients-show-reduced-neural-integration-during-brain-stimulation/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Alzheimer’s patients show reduced neural integration during brain stimulation</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 29th 2026, 10:00</div>
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<p><p>New research suggests that the electrical complexity of the brain diminishes in early Alzheimer’s disease, potentially signaling a breakdown in the neural networks that support conscious awareness. By stimulating the brain with magnetic pulses and recording the response, scientists found distinct differences between healthy aging adults and those with mild dementia. These findings appear online in the journal <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/nc/niaf062" target="_blank">Neuroscience of Consciousness</a></em>.</p>
<p>The human brain operates on multiple levels of awareness. Alzheimer’s disease is widely recognized for eroding memory, but the specific type of memory loss offers clues about the nature of the condition. Patients typically lose the ability to consciously recall events, facts, and conversations. This is known as explicit memory. </p>
<p>Yet, these same individuals often retain unconscious capabilities, such as the ability to walk, eat, or play a musical instrument. This preservation of procedural or implicit memory suggests that the disease targets the specific neural architecture required for conscious processing while leaving other automatic systems relatively intact.</p>
<p>Andrew E. Budson, a professor of neurology at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, has proposed that these “cortical dementias” should be viewed as disorders of consciousness. According to this theory, consciousness developed as part of the explicit memory system. As the disease damages the cerebral cortex, the physical machinery capable of sustaining complex conscious thought deteriorates. This deterioration eventually leads to a state where the individual is awake but possesses a diminishing capacity for complex awareness.</p>
<p>To investigate this theory, a research team led by Brenna Hagan, a doctoral candidate in behavioral neuroscience at the same institution, sought a biological marker that could quantify this decline. They turned to a metric originally developed to assess patients with severe brain injuries, such as those in comas or vegetative states. This metric is called the perturbation complexity index, specifically an analysis of state transitions.</p>
<p>The measurement acts somewhat like a sonar system for the brain. In a healthy, conscious brain, a stimulus should trigger a complex, long-lasting chain reaction of electrical activity that ripples across various neural networks. In a brain where consciousness is compromised, the response is expected to be simpler, local, and short-lived. The researchers hypothesized that even in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, this capacity for complex electrical integration would be reduced compared to healthy aging.</p>
<p>The study included 55 participants in total. The breakdown consisted of 28 individuals diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment and 27 healthy older adults who served as controls. The research team employed a technique known as transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, paired with electroencephalography, or EEG.</p>
<p>During the experiment, participants sat comfortably while wearing a cap fitted with 64 electrodes designed to detect electrical signals on the scalp. The researchers placed a magnetic coil against the participant’s head. This coil delivered a brief, focused pulse of magnetic energy through the skull and into the brain tissue. This pulse is the “perturbation” in the index’s name. It effectively rings the brain like a bell.</p>
<p>The researchers targeted two specific areas of the brain. The first was the left motor cortex, which controls voluntary movement on the right side of the body. The second was the left inferior parietal lobule, a region involved in integrating sensory information and language. By stimulating these distinct sites, the team hoped to determine if the loss of complexity was specific to certain areas or if it represented a global failure of the brain’s networks.</p>
<p>As the magnetic pulse struck the cortex, the EEG electrodes recorded the brain’s immediate reaction. This recording captured the “echo” of the stimulation as it propagated through the neural circuits. The researchers then used a complex mathematical algorithm to analyze these echoes. They looked for the number of “state transitions,” which are shifts in the spatial pattern of the electrical activity. A higher number of state transitions indicates a more complex, integrated response, implying a healthier and more connected brain.</p>
<p>The analysis revealed a clear distinction between the two groups. The participants with Alzheimer’s disease displayed a reduced level of brain complexity compared to the healthy controls. The average complexity score for the Alzheimer’s group was 20.1. In contrast, the healthy group averaged 28.2. This downward shift suggests that the neural infrastructure required for high-level conscious thought is compromised in the disease.</p>
<p>The reduction in complexity was consistent regardless of which brain area was stimulated. The scores obtained from the motor cortex were nearly identical to those from the parietal lobe. This suggests that the loss of neural complexity in Alzheimer’s is a widespread, global phenomenon rather than a problem isolated to specific regions. The disease appears to affect the brain’s overall ability to sustain complex patterns of communication.</p>
<p>The researchers also examined whether these complexity scores correlated with standard clinical measures. They compared the EEG data to scores from the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, a paper-and-pencil test commonly used to screen for dementia. </p>
<p>Within the groups, there was no strong statistical relationship between a person’s cognitive test score and their brain complexity score. This lack of correlation implies that the magnetic stimulation technique measures a fundamental physiological state of the brain that is distinct from behavioral performance on a test.</p>
<p>“Despite their impaired conscious memory, individuals with Alzheimer’s disease may be able to use intact implicit, unconscious forms of memory, such as procedural memory (often termed ‘muscle memory’) to continue their daily routines at home,” Budson explains. He adds that when patients leave familiar settings, “their home routines are not helpful and their dysfunctional conscious memory can lead to disorientation and distress.”</p>
<p>There are caveats to these findings that warrant attention. While the difference between the groups was clear, the absolute scores raised questions. A surprising number of participants in both groups scored below the threshold typically used to define consciousness in coma studies. Specifically, 70 percent of the Alzheimer’s patients and 29 percent of the healthy volunteers fell into a range usually associated with unconsciousness or minimally conscious states.</p>
<p>This does not mean these individuals are unconscious. Instead, it indicates that the mathematical cutoffs established for traumatic brain injury may not directly apply to neurodegenerative diseases or aging populations. The metric likely exists on a spectrum. The physiological changes in an aging brain might lower the baseline for complexity without extinguishing consciousness entirely.</p>
<p>The study opens new paths for future research. Scientists can now explore how this loss of complexity relates to the progression of the disease. It may be possible to use this metric to track the transition from mild impairment to severe dementia. The lack of correlation with behavioral tests suggests that this method could provide an objective, biological way to assess brain function that does not rely on a patient’s ability to speak or follow instructions.</p>
<p>This perspective also informs potential therapeutic strategies. If the disease is viewed as a progressive loss of conscious processing, treatments could focus on maximizing the use of preserved unconscious systems. Therapies might emphasize habit formation and procedural learning to help patients maintain independence.</p>
<p>“This research opens the avenue for future studies in individuals with cortical dementia to examine the relationship between conscious processes, global measures of consciousness, and their underlying neuroanatomical correlates,” Budson says. The team hopes that future work will clarify the biological mechanisms driving this loss of complexity and lead to better diagnostic tools.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/nc/niaf062" target="_blank">Evaluating Alzheimer’s disease with the TMS-EEG perturbation complexity index</a>,” was authored by Brenna Hagan, Stephanie S. Buss, Peter J. Fried, Mouhsin M. Shafi, Katherine W. Turk, Kathy Y. Xie, Brandon Frank, Brice Passera, Recep Ali Ozdemir, and Andrew E. Budson.</p></p>
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<p><strong>Forwarded by:<br />
Michael Reeder LCPC<br />
Baltimore, MD</strong></p>
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