Popular coverage of chronotype neuroimaging usually claims that late chronotypes (evening types, often called “night owls”) show smaller cortical regions and faster brain aging than early chronotypes (morning types). A 2026 multimodal structural MRI analysis from Beheshti and Elkana ran the comparison in 136 healthy young adults using strict whole-brain correction, and the group differences …
A 2026 multi-ancestry genome-wide association study of urinary aMT6s, a melatonin metabolite used as a proxy for overnight melatonin secretion, found 0 genome-wide significant loci in 11,744 people, even though 23 variants reached suggestive significance and 8 were supported by 2 analytic methods. Research Highlights No common variant dominated: the 2026 GWAS meta-analysis involving 11,744 …
A 2026 male-mouse study found that 30 mg/kg dexamethasone for 5 days increased light-phase wakefulness (t13 = 4.122, p = 0.0012), decreased NREM sleep (t13 = 4.412, p = 0.0007), and amplified orexin-neuron activity during NREM-to-wake transitions (F1,9 = 6.941, p = 0.0272). The result points to orexin-linked hyperarousal as a testable explanation for steroid-induced …
Circadian rhythms, the natural cycles of physiological and behavioral processes occurring within a 24-hour period, play a crucial role in our overall well-being. Recent research highlights the significant impact of these rhythms on the severity of major depressive disorder (MDD) and, crucially, on the intensity of suicidal ideation among those affected. A new study analyzed …
The extreme environment of spaceflight induces a myriad of stresses on astronauts – and these stresses may negatively impact mental health, neuroplasticity, and cognitive abilities. New research offers insight into the neurological mechanisms underlying these effects. Key Facts: Prolonged spaceflight can lead to depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline in astronauts. The composite stresses of the …
Insomnia is considered a sleep disorder characterized by an inability to fall asleep or stay asleep throughout the night. There are many different types of insomnia, some of which are short-term days or weeks), and others which are long-term (e.g. months or years). If you suffer from insomnia, it is important to realize that it …