The complete set of nucleic acid sequences composing chromosomes in humans, encoded as DNA, is known as the "human genome sequence." Neuroscientists predict that approximately 25% of this sequence has a regulatory function, while only 1.5% encodes protein.
Psychology & Psychiatry
Effects of methyl donors on hippocampal oxidative stress, depression and anxiety
Oxidative stress is a condition resulting from an imbalance between the generation of reactive oxygen species (i.e., molecules containing oxygen with an uneven number of electrons) and the ability of antioxidants (i.e., molecules that can donate one electron to other...
Could mindfulness training be more effective in nature?
Mindfulness meditation is a mental training practice that teaches people to pay attention to the breath and body, while simultaneously becoming more aware of thoughts, sensations and feelings manifesting in the present moment. While they draw inspiration from Eastern...
Identifying a neural circuit involved in how pain modulates dopamine neurons
The neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) has several important functions. For instance, it known to play a role in how we feel pleasure, as well as in our ability to concentrate on everyday task, maintain focus, and learn specific behaviors.
A fascination with violence: appetitive aggression in males and females
Exposure to violence during childhood or at later stages of life can result in severe trauma, mental health issues, and in some instances, appetitive aggression, an acquired fascination by or pleasure in violence. Under the leadership of Prof Dr Thomas Elbert, Dr...
Exploring the impact of trust and world view on Indigenous patients’ engagement in shared decision making
Research studies have reported significant differences in cancer diagnoses and survival rates between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada. The factors and perceptions underpinning these disparities, however, are still poorly understood. Dr Gary Groot and...
Improving children’s attention with focus training and meditation
The widespread use of increasingly sophisticated electronic devices and the vast amount of information accessible through these devices has been linked to a decline in people’s ability to pay attention to a single task or stimulus for prolonged periods of time. This...
Study explores how the perception of internal bodily signals influences the concept of self
In contrast with other animal species on Earth, over the course of their life, humans can develop a fairly clear idea of who they are as individuals and what sets them apart from others. This abstract concept of self is known to be fragmented and fuzzy in individuals...
Study finds that mPOA neurons mediate stress-induced anxiety and parental behavior in mice
Anxiety is a common emotional state that can be particularly pronounced or difficult to process for individuals diagnosed with anxiety disorders and depression. While neuroscientists have carried out numerous studies aimed at better understanding the neural processes...
Children prioritize what they hear over what they see when gauging emotional aspects of their experience
The Colavita visual dominance effect is a psychological observation named after Francis B. Colavita, the psychologist who first gathered evidence of its existence in 1974. Colavita observed that when human adults are presented with visual stimuli and other sensory...