IQgenio Blog
Science-backed news on intelligence, neuroscience, and brain training
Vision isn't just spot-checking: neural dynamics carry key information
New research finds that the brain’s initial visual processing is not a simple feedforward sweep, but encodes information in temporal patterns.
Ancient Brainstem Neurons Act as a Focus Filter, Blocking Distractions
Scientists discovered a tiny group of neurons in the brainstem that acts like a focus filter, helping mice ignore distractions. When silenced, mice became hyper-distractible, similar to ADHD.
Daytime Light Exposure Linked to 16% Lower Dementia Risk
A study of 87,577 adults found that average daytime light above 1,000 lux reduces dementia risk by 16%, with less than 42 minutes of bright light being a stronger predictor than six clinical risk factors.
Personalized fMRI Scans Boost TMS Depression Treatment to 80% Response Rate
A new clinical trial shows that using personalized fMRI scans to guide accelerated TMS nearly doubles response rates in treatment-resistant depression, reaching 80%.
How Cavefish Rewired Their Brains to Invert Light Response
Blind Mexican cavefish evolved an inverted response to light by repurposing existing neurons and modifying conserved dopamine pathways, not by growing new brain structures.
Dogs May Help Unlock Better Autism Drug Testing
Genetically engineered Beagles with Shank3 mutations mirror human autism traits like gaze aversion and social withdrawal, offering a better model for drug development.
How Bodily Inflammation Changes Brain Function and Behavior
A new study reveals that inflammation from infections or chronic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis directly alters brain function, causing depression and social withdrawal.
Brain States Emerge from a Hidden Geometric Blueprint
New research identifies a universal geometric structure in brain networks that governs shifts between active and quiet states, orchestrated by excitation-inhibition balance.
Awake Brain Surgery Reveals Two Separate Networks for Genuine vs. Fake Laughter
Researchers map two distinct neural pathways for laughter: an ancient emotional circuit for genuine mirth and a motor-driven circuit for social laughter, using data from awake brain surgery.
Speech Learning Relies on Sensory Brain Areas, Not Just Motor Regions
New research shows that learning and remembering speech depends more on auditory and somatosensory processing than on motor control, potentially transforming speech therapy and brain-computer interfaces.
Local Short Cycles Make Neural Networks Smarter, New Study Finds
Researchers show that recurrent neural networks with local 2- and 3-cycles compute better, offering insights into brain-like design.
Lifetime Estrogen Exposure Linked to Larger Brain Volumes in Older Women
A new study of 459 women finds that higher lifetime estrogen exposure—from birth control, late menopause, or hormone therapy—is associated with larger brain volumes and thicker cortices in memory regions.