Medicine
Genetic Therapies for Brain Diseases
Hopes are high for a class of drug that could treat neurodegenerative conditions—but a recent clinical trial has brought the field up short
Stories by Diana Kwon
Medicine
Failure of Genetic Therapies for Huntington’s Devastates Community
Hopes were high for drugs designed to lower levels of a mutant protein, but development has stalled
Behavior & Society
Our Brain Typically Overlooks This Brilliant Problem-Solving Strategy
People often limit their creativity by continually adding new features to a design rather than removing existing ones
Behavior & Society
Home Advantage Doesn’t Require Crowds, COVID Pro Soccer Matches Show
An assessment of games before and during the pandemic suggests that teams play better on their own turf even without crowd support
Neuroscience
People Answer Scientists’ Queries in Real Time while Dreaming
Researchers demonstrate that during REM sleep, people can hear—and respond to—simple questions such as “What is eight minus six?”
Public Health
The Pandemic Has Caused a Steep Decline in Living Standards
A survey of more than 30,000 households in developing countries shows increased food insecurity
Neuroscience
Electrical Brain Stimulation May Alleviate Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviors
Noninvasive electrical zaps, tuned specifically to individual brain-activity patterns, appear to reduce checking, hoarding and other compulsions for up to three months
Neuroscience
Forecasts of Epilepsy Seizures Could Become a Reality
Making predictions up to several days in advance may help with care
Neuroscience
Decoding a Disorder at the Interface of Mind and Brain
A mysterious condition once dismissed as hysteria is challenging the divide between neurology and psychiatry
Mental Health
Governments Worldwide Consider Ditching Daylight Saving Time
A pushback has arisen to seasonal clock changes that affect mood, sleep and general well-being
Medical & Biotech
New Tinnitus Treatment Alleviates Annoying Ringing in the Ears
A noninvasive device designed to rewire brain circuits reduced symptoms of tinnitus in a large, exploratory clinical trial
Public Health
From Headaches to ‘COVID Toes,’ Coronavirus Symptoms Are a Bizarre Mix
Blood clots and inflammation may underlie many of these complications
Behavior & Society
Near Real-Time Studies Look for Behavioral Measures Vital to Stopping Coronavirus
The goal is to identify the best means of encouraging individuals to change the way they live. Young people may need more convincing
Cognition
How Does a Mammalian Brain Forget?
A mouse study shows immune cells gobbling up the connections between memory-associated neurons
Neuroscience
Largest Brain Wiring Diagram to Date Is Published
The partial fruit fly “connectome” contains approximately 25,000 neurons and 20 million synapses
Behavior & Society
Emotional Words Such as “Love” Mean Different Things in Different Languages
An analysis of more than 2,000 languages reveals differences in the way feelings are conceptualized among cultures
Mental Health
MDMA Could Be Tailored to Make It More Suitable for Treating Mental Illness
A mouse study demonstrates it is possible to separate the substance’s ability to enhance sociability from its addictive potential
The Body
Targeting Gut Microbes May Help Stroke Recovery
Growing evidence from mouse studies suggests that a healthy microbiome might improve poststroke outcomes
Cognition
“Cognitive Prosthesis” Enhances Productivity
A tool that helps to match immediate reward with long-term value motivated people to make better decisions and overcome procrastination
The Body
Fight or Flight May Be in Our Bones
A protein released from bone is involved in triggering the body’s reaction to stress
