functional-brain-connectivity-studies

Lapses in memory are a normal part of ageing but can also be signs of dementia. Here’s how to distinguish between typical brain ageing and cognitive decline

Nature, Published online: 08 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10735-w Distributed control circuits across a brain-and-cord connectome

Researchers found postoperative delirium was strongly associated with long-term cognitive decline and the effect was not explained by rehospitalizations, highlighting the long-term impact of delirium on brain health.

Women are twice as likely as men to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - and new research may offer a biological clue as to why.

Readers respond to an article on how early intensive rehabilitation after a stroke or head injury is crucial for recovery Rather like Ian Sample himself trying to read Orlando Swayne’s book, I was nervous reading his article, braced for half-digested truths or oversimplifications on neurotherapy ( The doctor who mends broken brains: why there is room for hope after a stroke or head injury, 3 June…

A new study has uncovered how antidepressants affect different groups of serotonin-producing brain cells in opposite ways, offering new insights into why selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can cause unpleasant side effects at the start of treatment but lead to symptom relief over time.

Women are twice as likely as men to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) -- and new research may offer a biological clue as to why. A Virginia Tech study found that the female brain forms fear memories using a molecular process not seen in the male brain. The findings suggest that treatments for PTSD may need to be tailored differently for men and women, said the study's lead researcher,…

Your nose has its own microbiome, and it has a major impact on your brain. Here are some tips for keeping it in good shape to improve your mood and cognition.

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One-third of people with anorexia nervosa don’t recover and treatment has remained stagnant for years. Now we’re beginning to understand how the condition takes over the mind

The mouse is wide awake. It is sniffing at a new object dropped into its cage, paws busy, whiskers going, doing all the things a curious and thoroughly sleep-deprived mouse does. And yet, o New! Sign up for our email newsletter on Substack. New! Sign up for our email newsletter on Substack. The mouse is wide awake. It is sniffing at a new object dropped into its cage, paws busy, whiskers going, d…

By inducing specific patterns of activity in small portions of the brain in awake mice, researchers supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have triggered a recalibration of neural connections that normally only occurs during sleep.

Brain activity relating to how young adults value reward appears to be linked to longer-term drinking patterns, according to a study of college students with family histories of alcohol use disorder (AUD). The findings raise the possibility of precision medicine--individualized interventions to modify risk--for young people vulnerable to addiction.

Scientists have uncovered a key brain signal that helps us break old habits and adapt when circumstances suddenly change. By watching mice navigate a virtual maze, researchers found that disappointment—when an expected reward failed to appear—triggered a surge of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, making the animals more likely to try a new strategy. When acetylcholine was blocked, the mice beca…

Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) is characterized by profound sleep-wake state instability, pointing to a fundamental dysregulation of large-scale brain network dynamics. To elucidate this, we assessed whole-brain dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) stability using resting-state fMRI in 27 patients with NT1 and 25 matched healthy controls. Our analysis revealed a pattern of opposing alterations: patient…

While many people with early signs of Alzheimer's disease remain mentally sharp for years, others experience rapid memory loss. Scientists have discovered distinct patterns of decline, which could change how future treatments are tested and developed.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, affecting millions of people around the world. It slowly destroys memory, thinking skills, and the ability to carry out everyday activities. Despite decades of research, scientists are still trying to understand exactly why the disease develops and how it progresses over time. One area receiving increasing […] The post A Hidden Brain Switc…

Brain stimulation techniques can correct abnormal activity in the neural circuits involved in conditions such as Parkinson's disease and depression. However, current transcranial stimulation methods delivered through the scalp reach only the brain's surface, limiting their effectiveness.

Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, Published online: 08 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41573-026-00095-5 ASO sustains microglial neural repair activity

Researchers from ETH Zurich have developed an active ingredient that slows down the progression of typical Alzheimer’s symptoms in mice. This new substance protects nerve cells and could in future alleviate the suffering of Alzheimer’s patients. The active ingredient also shows anti-aging effects.