#Brainresearch

A new theory is reshaping how we understand psychedelics and the brain. It proposes that substances like psilocybin and LSD may temporarily empower the right hemisphere. The model, called HEALS (Hemispheric Annealing and Lateralization Under Psychedelics), suggests this shift could heighten empathy, creativity, and emotional intelligence. This could advance therapeutic use of psychedelics, according to researchers and clinical observers.

For Thailand and much of Asia, where mental health stigma and treatment gaps persist, these findings carry meaningful implications. Thai authorities are already exploring innovative approaches to mental wellness, including careful consideration of traditional therapies. Global advances on neuroplasticity and mindful healing are increasingly relevant to Thai care providers and patients.

A groundbreaking new theory is reshaping scientific understanding of how psychedelics affect the human brain, proposing that substances like psilocybin, LSD, and others may temporarily grant dominance to the right hemisphere. According to a recently published model—known as HEALS (Hemispheric Annealing and Lateralization Under Psychedelics)—this shift could fuel increases in empathy, creativity, and emotional intelligence, marking a significant step forward in the quest to harness psychedelics for therapeutic purposes (Neuroscience News).

A groundbreaking study from the University of Washington suggests that hyperactivity in a specific brain cell group may drive type 2 diabetes, independent of weight or obesity. By silencing AgRP neurons in diabetic mice, researchers observed blood sugar normalization for months, while weight and appetite remained unchanged. The findings challenge long-held beliefs about diabetes origins and point to new avenues for treatment, with implications for Thai healthcare audiences.

According to Thai public health data, diabetes remains a growing concern, with millions affected and traditional campaigns emphasizing diet and exercise. The new research indicates that neural mechanisms in the brain could be as important as lifestyle factors in prevention and treatment, offering a potential shift in how Thai clinicians and policymakers approach the epidemic. Data from public health authorities in Thailand shows the ongoing need for comprehensive strategies that address both metabolic and neurological contributors.

A groundbreaking brain-imaging study reveals that sudden moments of insight—often called “aha!” moments—not only feel exhilarating but also reshape the brain to strengthen memory. Led by researchers from Duke University in the United States and Humboldt and Hamburg universities in Germany, the work shows that these flashes of creativity can improve learning and have practical implications for education, including in Thailand.

The findings are timely in a world where learners must adapt quickly and think creatively. For Thai students and lifelong learners, understanding how insight accelerates and anchors knowledge offers actionable ideas to improve study habits and foster innovative thinking.

A new international brain imaging study has shed light on how sudden moments of insight—often called “aha! moments”—not only feel exhilarating, but also play a profound role in reshaping the brain and boosting memory. This research, led by neuroscientists from Duke University in the US and Humboldt and Hamburg Universities in Germany, provides compelling evidence that these flashes of creative discovery strengthen learning and may have important implications for educational practices, including those in Thailand (medicalxpress.com).

A new study reveals that the psychedelic compound DMT changes brain activity by requiring less energy to move between mental states. Published findings in Communications Biology offer fresh insight into how altered consciousness emerges, with potential implications for mental health research in Thailand and beyond. Research coverage from reputable outlets notes this work helps explain how rapid, transient experiences under DMT unfold.

Researchers, largely from the Penn Lifespan Informatics & Neuroimaging Center at the University of Pennsylvania, studied 20 healthy adults. Each person completed two sessions, two weeks apart: one with intravenous DMT and one with a placebo. During 28-minute sessions, researchers used functional MRI and EEG to monitor brain activity while participants described the intensity of their experiences in real time.

A groundbreaking neuroscience study has revealed that the human brain uses two distinct dopamine-based learning systems to form and automate habits—a discovery that could transform approaches to addiction and neurological disorders both globally and here in Thailand. The research, published in Nature and led by neuroscientists at the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre at University College London, identified a “second learning system” in the brain, which helps explain why habits become deeply ingrained, and sheds new light on possible therapeutic strategies for conditions such as addiction and Parkinson’s disease (Neuroscience News).

A groundbreaking new study reveals that the psychedelic compound N,N-dimethyltryptamine—better known as DMT—profoundly changes the brain’s activity by reducing the “control energy” needed to shift between mental states, opening a fresh window into the biological mechanisms of altered consciousness. The findings, recently published in Communications Biology, not only enhance scientific understanding of psychedelics but could hold long-term implications for mental health research in Thailand and around the world (psypost.org).

As interest in psychedelic-assisted therapies grows globally and regionally, including in Thailand’s academic and healthcare circles, this innovative research stands out for mapping the moment-to-moment changes in brain network flexibility experienced under DMT—a compound central to indigenous Amazonian practices and increasingly, to scientific study. In contrast to many other psychedelics, DMT’s extremely short duration—inducing intense hallucinations and altered states for roughly 20 minutes—provides researchers the unique opportunity to capture the entire experience in real time using advanced brain imaging tools.

A major neuroscience study reveals the brain uses two dopamine-driven learning systems to form habits. This discovery explains why repetitive actions become automatic and points to new ways to tackle addiction and neurological disorders. The research, conducted by the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre at University College London and published in Nature, identifies a second learning system that strengthens actions through repetition, not just rewards. In Thailand, this insight resonates with daily routines, education methods, and clinical practices, offering fresh pathways for habit change and therapy.

A recent Nature Communications study uncovers what happens in the brain in the split second of insight. Using advanced brain imaging, researchers traced how sudden flashes of understanding not only bring satisfaction but also physically alter how memories are formed. The findings could reshape learning and creativity strategies in Thailand and beyond.

For many Thai readers, solving a stubborn crossword or a tricky ลายแทงปริศนา (cryptic clue) is a common delight. While such “eureka” moments have long enlivened culture and education, their biological basis was unclear—until now. A team combining Duke University and German institutions used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to observe brain activity before, during, and after these flashes of clarity.

A new study published in Nature Communications has revealed what happens inside the human brain in the split second when a solution dawns like a burst of light—commonly called an “aha!” moment. Using advanced brain imaging, international researchers have traced how sudden flashes of insight not only spark satisfaction but physically change how the brain stores memories, potentially revolutionizing how we approach learning and creativity both in Thailand and abroad (MedicalXpress).

New neuroscience suggests music can actively reshape memory by coloring recollections with the emotions of the surrounding soundtrack. In a study published in Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience, researchers found that listening to music during memory recall can add new emotional details to neutral memories, rather than simply reviving them.

For Thai readers, where music anchors national ceremonies, religious rituals, education, and daily life, these findings have wide-reaching significance. The results offer scientific support for the long-observed emotional effects of Thai classical, pop, and religious music, while hinting at practical use for therapy, classrooms, and everyday listening.

Neuroscience is uncovering surprising powers of music, with new research showing that music can actively reshape memory and infuse it with new emotions—potentially opening novel doors in therapeutic, educational, and cultural settings. A recent neuroimaging study published in the journal Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience reveals that listening to music while recalling memories does more than simply bring back old feelings—it can actually rewrite neutral memories with the emotional color of the background music.

A wave of new neuroscience is reshaping how we think about sex differences in the brain. Leading researchers say while tiny biological differences exist, male and female brains are far more alike than once believed. This has important implications for education, health, and gender equality in Thailand and around the world.

For many years, stereotypes have linked logic and spatial ability to men, and empathy or nurturing to women. In Thai classrooms and workplaces, these ideas have influenced career choices and mental-health perceptions. Modern neuroscience suggests these labels oversimplify a complex picture. As a senior researcher from a national institute explains, there is no brain measure that cleanly separates male from female brains; distributions overlap across the board. If shown two brains—one from a man and one from a woman—it would be nearly impossible to distinguish them by structure alone.

A wave of groundbreaking research is transforming our understanding of sex differences in the human brain, shaking loose centuries-old stereotypes about male and female cognition. According to leading neuroscientists, while certain biological differences exist, the reality is that male and female brains are far more alike than once believed—a message with deep significance for education, health, and gender equality in Thailand and beyond (VICE).

For generations, popular culture and even some scientific claims have painted male brains as inherently more logical or spatially gifted, while female brains are seen as more emotional or nurturing. These ideas continue to echo through Thai classrooms, workplaces, and family discussions, influencing everything from career choices to mental health stigma. But modern neuroscience is dismantling such binary thinking. As Dr. Armin Raznahan of the US National Institute of Mental Health explains, “I’m not aware of any measure you can make of the human brain where the male and female distributions don’t overlap.” In fact, according to Raznahan, if you were shown two brains—one from a male, one from a female—it would be nearly impossible to tell them apart based solely on structure.

A growing consensus among computational neuroscientists and AI researchers is that artificial intelligence is not a direct replica of the human brain. That distinction isn’t a flaw; it’s an invitation to new frontiers in technology and science. The latest reflections come from a broader conversation sparked by research and journalism across leading institutions, underscoring how AI can be optimized while deepening our understanding of human cognition.

Thai readers have watched AI tools become integral to healthcare, education, and everyday life. Yet new insights remind us that AI’s powers rest on models that simplify how the brain works, even as they enable remarkable capabilities. The results invite a practical view: AI can boost efficiency and problem-solving without claiming to replicate human thinking, emotion, or memory.

Recent research published in Quanta Magazine reveals a growing consensus among computational neuroscientists and artificial intelligence (AI) researchers: AI, despite its name and inspiration, is fundamentally unlike the human brain—but that’s not a flaw, it’s an opportunity for new frontiers in both technology and neuroscience. This divergence, explored in the article “AI Is Nothing Like a Brain, and That’s OK” (Quanta Magazine, 2025), is now informing efforts to both make AI more efficient and gain deeper understanding of our own minds.

A major meta-analysis from researchers at the Max Planck Institute has produced the most detailed map yet of how the brain engages with reading. By synthesizing findings from 163 prior studies, the review clarifies that reading recruits a broad neural network—primarily in the left hemisphere—rather than a single “reading center.” The study, published in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, offers insights that can influence classroom practices and interventions for reading difficulties in Thailand and beyond. Data from leading research institutes shows that reading involves complex coordination from letters to full texts.

A wave of new neuroscience research is reshaping long-standing beliefs about differences between male and female brains. Advances in high-resolution brain imaging and AI analysis reveal a more nuanced picture with substantial overlap across sexes. For Thailand, these findings carry important implications for education, health, and social policy.

For decades, stereotypes—such as men being naturally more logical and women more emotional or less spatial—have influenced classrooms and workplaces. Leading neuroscientists say these binaries are increasingly unsupported by evidence. As one senior expert from the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health explains, brain measurements typically show overlapping distributions between genders. In practical terms, a brain from a male and a brain from a female would be very hard to distinguish based on structure alone. This perspective appears in recent research discussions and reflects a broader shift in how scientists view gender and cognition.

A wave of new neuroscience research is challenging centuries-old stereotypes about the fundamental differences between male and female brains, revealing a far more nuanced and overlapping landscape than previously assumed. This comes as modern brain imaging and artificial intelligence (AI) analyses provide the most detailed look yet at the structure and function of human brains—questioning deeply rooted ideas about gender and intellect. The findings carry real implications for how Thai society understands intelligence, gender, and health, as well as for the treatment of neurological and psychiatric conditions.

A sweeping new meta-analysis conducted by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences has produced the most detailed map yet of the brain activity involved in reading, revealing distinct patterns of neural engagement for everything from individual letters to full texts. Summarizing findings from 163 previous studies, the review—recently published in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews—offers a nuanced framework that could influence education strategies and interventions for reading difficulties worldwide, including in Thailand (medicalxpress.com).

A groundbreaking study by researchers at Japan’s Fujita Health University has uncovered an unexpected role for brain-derived estrogen in directly regulating appetite and body weight, upending traditional beliefs about how hormones shape our eating habits. Their findings, recently published in The FEBS Journal, not only broaden our scientific understanding but could also open new avenues for treating obesity and overeating—issues of increasing significance in Thailand and around the world (PsyPost).

A new study from researchers at Fujita Health University in Japan reveals that estrogen produced in the brain may directly regulate appetite and body weight, challenging long-held beliefs about hormonal control of eating. Published in The FEBS Journal, the findings offer fresh directions for obesity research and potential future therapies relevant to Thai health priorities.

Traditionally, estrogen has been associated with reproductive health. Yet recent work shows the brain itself can synthesize estrogen, especially in the hypothalamus, via the enzyme aromatase. This neuroestrogen may influence behavior and physiological processes beyond reproduction. Until now, its direct impact on appetite remained uncertain, prompting interest from endocrinologists and neuroscientists worldwide.

A recent study reveals how brain networks and social bonds shape why some people are more inclined to help others. While the research used rats, its insights illuminate human prosocial behavior and how generosity strengthens communities, families, and friendships. For Thai readers, the findings echo everyday kindness—from small hospitality gestures to widespread aid after disasters.

Thai culture places a high value on social harmony, kindness, and generosity. Yet not everyone acts with the same frequency or intensity. The study, published in a leading neuroscience journal by researchers at Tel Aviv University, suggests that helping may be partly hardwired in the brain and influenced by social bonding and the hormone oxytocin, often called the “social bonding” chemical. In the experiments, rats faced a choice to free a trapped peer. Most helped, but roughly one in three did not, reflecting dynamics familiar in human groups.