For people with insomnia, sleep does not reduce the shame of an embarrassing experience. For them, the distress does not fade; in fact, it can get worse with recall. This was one of the findings of a new study from the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience …
A survey of thousands of people suggests that mystical experiences positively affect a person’s mental health, regardless of whether they are naturally occurring or a result of psychedelic drugs. Religion may have a wide range of health benefits, research su…
A couple of months ago, while I was getting ready for work one morning, I experienced a sudden, sharp pain in my lower back. It was excruciating, and I could barely move. In the days to follow, I discovered that I was experiencing sciatica, likely caused by …
A new approach to cancer therapy suggests that doctors may be able to keep cancer in check by placing metastatic cells in a state of dormancy, thus blocking them from giving rise to new tumors. A recent study in mice has found that an existing drug could effe…
Using a mouse model, researchers discovered that insulin controls a molecular pathway in the brain that activates during stress and leads to more weight gain. Researchers have long been aware that stress can lead to addiction and increase the risk of disease…
Two teams of researchers analyzing different aspects of exercise in mice found that the time of day might affect the productivity of physical activity. Scientists already know that the circadian rhythm interacts with our metabolism. A person’s circadian rhyt…
Could hypnosis relieve pain? The largest meta-analysis to date concludes that it could be a viable, safe, cost-effective option. Researchers estimate that chronic pain affects more than 1.5 billion individuals globally. Doctors often prescribe opioid medica…
If you have ever eaten ripe elderberries or made elderberry jam, syrup, or wine, then you will be familiar with their sharp, tart, yet refreshing taste. According to tradition, these dark, purple berries can fortify a person’s immune system. New evidence sugg…
At a small animal hospital in the United Kingdom, researchers have found a gene that enables bacteria to be highly resistant to linezolid an antibiotic that doctors use to treat serious infections in humans. Healthcare professionals give linezolid when bacte…
The link between obesity and the brain is a fascinating topic that scientists have only recently begun to explore. New research adds important pieces to the puzzle. From the size and functionality of the brain to specific neuronal circuits, recent studies ha…
