neurogenetics

Are human brain cells the computer chips of the future? Three companies are competing to make biocomputers out of human neurons, and using them to play Doom, detect explosive molecules, and more. This is a conversation with Dr. Fred Jordan and Dr. Ewelina Kurtys of FinalSpark. We talk about the differences between AI’s \.

Fathers show changes in some of the same brain areas as mothers, but the effect of parenthood on dads isn’t nearly as well studied

Nature Communications, Published online: 21 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-74702-9 A genome wide screen reveals down-regulating the Wnt, Hippo, Tpr53, PIDDosome, ciliary biogenesis, or autophagy pathways overcomes inhibitory effects of PLK4-mediated centrosome amplification on cell proliferation. Depletion of tumor suppressor, ARHGAP15, activates autophagy to reduce centrosomes. ARHGAP15 is op…

Adolescence is a vulnerable neurodevelopmental period between childhood and adulthood. Binge drinking is common during this period of development. New research using rodents has found that adolescent binge drinking can repress neurons in the brain so they operate less normally because the genes required for their neurotransmitter function have been turned off. These results and others will be sha…

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic, relapsing disorder involving compulsive alcohol consumption despite negative consequences. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental-health condition developed due to trauma. A new study has used rats genetically selected to prefer alcohol and possess elevated anxiety to demonstrate that the molecular basis of AUD/PTSD lies in a specific region of …

Nature Communications, Published online: 20 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-73714-9 Brain networks are heritable, but their genetics remain incompletely understood. Here, authors show that the genetics of cortical similarity networks relate to cortical evolution, causally predict functional connectivity, and link to psychiatric risk.

Using single-nucleus multi-omic sequencing, diverse autism spectrum disorder-linked gene mutations converge on transient, stage-specific disruptions in early brain development, and highlight sex-specific gene expression alterations.

Scientists have discovered two biologically distinct subtypes of autism using brain imaging. By studying both mice and humans, researchers linked reduced brain connectivity to synaptic function and increased connectivity to immune system activity.

The altered presence of tiny fragments of neuronal genes, called microexons, causes hyperarousal in zebrafish. This is the main conclusion of an international study led by Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) and the Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG). An abnormal pattern of neural microexon presence leads to a hyperarousal state characterized by heightened neural activity and […]

The altered presence of tiny fragments of neuronal genes, called microexons, causes hyperarousal in zebrafish. This is the main conclusion of an international study led by the Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) and the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG).

Researchers in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo have discovered a connection between a specific gene and healthy brain function. “The hope is that this discovery could eventually lead to expanded treatment for psychiatric and neurological disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and autism,” explains Mikhail V. Pletnikov, […]

Traumatic experiences can cause memory problems, and estrogen may be a key factor that shapes the brain's resilience against such stressors, a mouse study finds.

A globally unparalleled data base aims to advance research into brain disorders.

IntroductionChronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complex disorder of unknown etiology, characterized by persistent fatigue unrelieved by rest and accompanied by cognitive dysfunction. While dysregulated cytokines are implicated in CFS pathogenesis, the role of anti-inflammatory transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) remains poorly defined.MethodsThis study investigated central and peripheral TGF-β…

BackgroundChromatin-modifying systems regulate transcriptional programs essential for human neurodevelopment through dynamic modification of histones, DNA, and higher-order chromatin architecture. Pathogenic variants affecting these systems give rise to chromatinopathies, a heterogeneous group of disorders characterised by consistent neurological features, including intellectual disability, devel…

Scientists have successfully replicated the restorative power of sleep in awake mice. By using targeted light stimulation to mimic deep-sleep brain rhythms, researchers relieved sleep pressure and rescued memory performance, offering new insights into how our brains reset.

Scientists have discovered that astrocytes use stress hormones to lock in neural connections during early brain development. This breakthrough helps explain how critical periods of learning close and how early life stress might alter brain maturation.

The mother–fetus/infant dyad constitutes a uniquely asymmetric biological and psychological system whose co-evolutionary dynamics we propose are most coherently understood within the Active Inference Framework (AIF). We hypothesize that the development of attachment styles emerges from the progressive construction of a generative model in the fetus and infant, shaped by the precision and content …