neuroimaging

Brain imaging reveals that young women who self-harm possess a distinct neurological vulnerability online. Unlike healthy peers, their brain's reward centers become highly engaged by negative comments, a trait that correlates with problematic social media use.

Nature Neuroscience, Published online: 25 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41593-026-02285-1 By combining magnetoencephalography and eye tracking, this study sheds light on why people fixate on some parts of natural scenes longer than others. Rather than visual complexity, fixation durations are affected by memory encoding.

Nature Neuroscience, Published online: 25 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41593-026-02314-z Lozano et al. show that REM sleep is gated by low-dimensional brainstem network dynamics, in which opposing neuron populations across the midbrain and pons determine when transitions into REM sleep can occur.

BackgroundMost studies on social exclusion adopt virtual paradigms focusing on unilateral responses, while neglecting real-world face-to-face interaction and its neural basis. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) hyperscanning allows recording of interpersonal neural synchronization (INS) during dyadic interaction, providing a novel approach for investigating interpersonal cooperation.Me…

ObjectiveTo compare left vs. right steep turns in terms of workload-related neurophysiological signatures using electroencephalogram (EEG) and machine learning.MethodsThirty-seven flight cadets performed one left and one right steep turn in an SR20 desktop flight simulator while a 32-channel EEG (Emotiv EPOC Flex 32) was recorded. From 2-s sliding windows (50% overlap), 800 features per window we…

Scientific Reports, Published online: 25 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-54785-6 Lightweight deep learning model for nonconvulsive status epilepticus diagnosis using EEG time–frequency analysis

IntroductionFibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain disorder with unclear neuroanatomical basis, as previous studies largely relied on volumetric measures insensitive to cortical surface morphology. This multi-parametric surface-based morphometry study examined cortical thickness (CT), fractal dimension (FD), gyrification index (GI), and sulcal depth (SD) in FM.MethodsThirty-three female FM patients …

The female brain undergoes profound changes to prepare for parenthood. Yet even though the male...

Scientific Reports, Published online: 24 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-54619-5 Photothrombotic and middle cerebral artery occlusion models produce distinct neurovascular injury and sex-dependent outcomes

Nature Human Behaviour, Published online: 19 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41562-026-02468-7 Ageing impairs strategic re-aiming but enhances implicit recalibration during sensorimotor learning. The strategic deficit probably reflects reduced memory caching, whereas the implicit enhancement is linked to altered multisensory integration.

This paper traces an argument across four levels of analysis: theoretical foundation (Hopfield, 1982), developmental evidence (Vargas-Barroso et al., 2026), formal specification (Geometric Inquiry Theory), and empirical test (MARL Protocols 2-6). Hopfield established that computation can emerge from network organization without component-level understanding. Vargas-Barroso et al. demonstrated tha…

The emergence of large language models (LLMs) has prompted integration of AI into educational settings at every level, including primary schools, without adequate longitudinal research, a regulatory framework, or professional preparation. This paper argues that the primary classroom represents a developmental environment of such sensitivity and irreversibility that the introduction of AI tools co…

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Nature Communications, Published online: 23 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-73208-8 The study shows that a subpopulation of brainstem astrocytes actively regulates breathing and brain states. Activating these cells alters respiratory patterns and increases sighing, revealing a key role in linking neural activity, arousal, and respiratory control.

Children and teenagers with a higher body mass index exhibit unique brain wave patterns that point to a reduction in neural inhibition. These neurological differences might make it harder for affected youths to alter ingrained dietary habits.

Abstract Rationale Vornorexant is a novel dual orexin receptor antagonist for insomnia treatment with the shortest half-life in its class. Objective This study aimed to compare the next-morning residual effects of vornorexant and zopiclone following bedtime administration in healthy older adults. Methods In this randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled, four-way crossover study, 1…