Brain Research Bulletin
August 1, 2026
Barkha J. Yadav-Samudrala, Laith E. Sawaqed, Caitlin J. Huguely Wilkinson et al.
While combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) has transitioned HIV-1 into a manageable chronic condition, it fails to eradicate latent viral reservoirs in the central nervous system (CNS) that drive persistent neuroinflammation and synaptodendritic injury. Consequently, people living with human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) often utilize cannabis to manage neurological symptoms, yet the...
Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education
August 1, 2026
Sarina Molina
This reflective essay explores the intersection of science and spirituality in nurturing teachers’ inner lives as a foundation for supporting student well-being. Against the backdrop of a global mental health crisis, it integrates insights from neuroscience, Indigenous wisdom traditions, and values-based education to advocate for a holistic mind–body–nature connection. Emerging research on...
Neuropharmacology
August 1, 2026
G. S. Marcotto, M. Borghetti, J. Bitraj et al.
Electrical stimulation (ES) is emerging as a non-pharmacological neuromodulation strategy, but its direct impact on human dopaminergic neurons and its relationship to rapid-acting antidepressant mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether brief biphasic low-frequency low-intensity (LF-LI) ES can induce structural and molecular plasticity in human induced pluripotent stem...
Bristol Research
August 1, 2026
Lucy Haun Eade
Focused attention (FA) meditation involves sustaining attention on a specific object while disengaging from distractions when they arise. Long-term practice has been linked to improved attentional regulation and structural brain changes, reflecting neuroplasticity. This study investigated whether a brief FA meditation could induce measurable functional changes in neural activity related to...
TIPS - Trends in Pharmacological Sciences
August 1, 2026
Sofia Nasini, Benedetta Barzon, A. Casile et al.
Classic serotonergic psychedelics act primarily via 5-HT2A receptor agonism, yet their therapeutic effects and biological responses are heterogeneous. Biological sex remains an underexamined source of this variability because many clinical and preclinical studies have not been designed to test sex-by-treatment effects. Recent preclinical findings, together with more limited human evidence,...
Translational Psychiatry
August 1, 2026
Patrick A. McConnell, Jackson Raffety, Andrew Li et al.
Abstract Psychedelic drugs exert rapid and profound effects on human consciousness [1–7] and are increasingly being investigated for their therapeutic potential [8–14]. Yet the transcriptional programs through which they may reshape brain function and structure remain incompletely understood, in part because the available evidence is heterogeneous and largely preclinical [15, 16]. In a...
Hearing research
August 1, 2026
Shuhan Lu, Zhixin Zhang, Xinmiao Xue et al.
Subjective tinnitus is a common auditory disorder characterised by the subjective perception of noise in the absence of external sound sources. Its prevalence has been rising annually due to noise exposure, medication misuse, and population ageing. Current tinnitus treatments employ antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and vasodilators, yet most demonstrate limited efficacy with significant side...
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
July 31, 2026
B Vignesh Varun
preprint
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, significantly impacting the working population by reducing productivity, increasing absenteeism, and impairing overall quality of life. Conventional treatments such as pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, though effective, often face challenges including high dropout rates, limited remission, and adverse side...
Current Pharmaceutical Design
July 31, 2026
Prachi Tayal, Rina Das, M.U. Khan et al.
BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the leading causes of disability globally, and conventional monoaminergic antidepressants often have a slow onset and limited efficacy. About onethird of patients suffer from treatment-resistant depression (TRD), which emphasizes the urgent need for alternative therapies. This review aims to systematically evaluate the available data about...
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets
July 31, 2026
Sampriti Paul, Sonal Dubey, Mayur Yergeri Chandrasekharappa et al.
Recent advances in neuropsychopharmacology have renewed interest in psychedelics and entactogens as potential treatments for brain disorders, owing to their rapid effects on neural plasticity, cognition, and affect. Classical serotonergic psychedelics primarily act as 5-HT2A receptor agonists with additional activity at 5-HT1A and other serotonin receptors, whereas entactogens such as MDMA...