#Brainscience

Groundbreaking neuroscience research has ignited international debates about democratic participation by demonstrating that 16-year-olds possess the cognitive sophistication necessary for responsible electoral decision-making, challenging traditional assumptions about adolescent political competence that could transform Thailand’s approach to youth civic engagement. Leading brain scientists present compelling evidence that teenagers develop crucial “cold cognition” abilities—logical reasoning under calm conditions—that enable thoughtful ballot choices, while Thailand’s recent surge in youth political activism provides real-world validation of adolescent civic sophistication that demands serious reconsideration of voting age restrictions.

A wave of neuroscience findings is reigniting the debate over voting age in Thailand. Researchers indicate that 16-year-olds can exhibit the cognitive maturity required for responsible electoral decision-making, challenging long-held assumptions about adolescent political competence. The evidence points to strong “cold cognition”—the ability to reason calmly and carefully—which aligns with the quiet, private act of voting. In parallel, Thailand has seen a surge in youth political activism, adding real-world relevance to the science and underscoring the need to reconsider youth civic engagement and electoral participation.

A new study reveals notable brain differences in individuals with psychopathic traits, providing fresh neurological insights into behavior. The findings point to structural gaps in regions linked to empathy and moral reasoning, potentially guiding Thailand’s approach to mental health care, rehabilitation, and crime prevention.

Psychopathy is a complex personality pattern marked by shallow emotion, detachment, and reduced remorse. For years, experts have debated biology versus environment in shaping these traits. The latest findings, based on advanced brain imaging, suggest that certain neural connections in emotional networks may be less developed in some individuals with psychopathic tendencies. Independent reviews in respected journals have supported the idea that the brain’s emotional systems can differ from typical patterns, though interpretations vary.

In a revelation that has ignited international discussion, new research highlights alarming gaps in the brains of individuals displaying psychopathic traits, offering fresh neurological explanations for their chilling behaviors. The findings, which delve deep into the neurological underpinnings of psychopathy, provide unprecedented evidence of structural “voids” in regions key to emotion and empathy. For Thailand, a society balancing traditional values with modern criminal justice challenges, these insights shed crucial light on contentious debates about mental health, crime prevention, and rehabilitation.

A groundbreaking new study has captured international attention, suggesting that what humans perceive in the present moment is actually a snapshot from up to 15 seconds in the past. This fascinating finding challenges longstanding assumptions about how the brain processes visual information and could have far-reaching implications for cognitive science, education, and even the design of safety protocols in everyday life (Times of India).

The research, conducted by a team of neuroscientists and recently highlighted in the international press, explores the mechanics of the brain’s ‘visual buffer’—a mental process where the brain accumulates and merges visual stimuli over a period of time. According to the study, rather than updating our internal picture of the world from instant to instant, our brains synthesize the last several seconds of visual inputs to create a stable, coherent scene. As a result, our conscious perception lags behind real-time events by approximately 15 seconds.

A new study reveals that what we perceive as the present may lag real-time events by up to 15 seconds. This challenges traditional views of vision and has implications for education, safety, and cognitive science. Neuroscience researchers describe the brain’s visual buffer as merging recent stimuli into a stable image, creating a natural lag between events and conscious experience. The mind effectively uses a rolling average of input to maintain continuity, but this comes at the cost of precise timing.

A new study published in Nature shows that the brain remains active and preparing for future challenges even during daydreaming or aimless exploration. Researchers at Janelia Research Campus, part of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, tracked tens of thousands of neurons in mice. They found that unstructured exploration helps the visual cortex build an internal map of surroundings, setting the stage for faster, more effective learning later on. These insights come from work with mice navigating virtual reality corridors that varied in texture and reward, revealing unsupervised learning at work in the brain.

A new study published in Nature reveals that even when you’re zoning out or aimlessly exploring, your brain may be hard at work preparing itself for future challenges. Researchers at the prestigious Janelia Research Campus, part of HHMI, recorded the neural activity of tens of thousands of neurons in mice. Their findings suggest that unstructured, goal-free exploration triggers the brain’s visual cortex to build an internal model of the environment—one that primes the mind for faster, more effective learning later on (Neuroscience News).

A new study advances our understanding of how the brain tells apart what we imagine from what we actually see. The research, conducted by a team at University College London and published in Neuron, identifies the fusiform gyrus as a key player in this reality-imagination divide. The findings carry relevance for mental health, technologies, and our broader grasp of perception.

Thai readers have long grappled with distinguishing fact from fiction, from traditional notions of illusion to modern concerns about digital misrepresentation. This study translates those ancient questions into measurable biology, showing how certain brain processes can blur the line between real experiences and vivid internal imagery. For Thailand’s growing population affected by conditions such as schizophrenia, the work offers new avenues for diagnosis, understanding, and potential intervention.

In a pioneering new study, neuroscientists have traced the precise brain mechanisms that empower us to tell the difference between what we imagine and what we actually see—an ability fundamental to understanding our own experience and, when disrupted, central to psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia. The research, published this month in Neuron by a team at University College London (UCL), pinpoints the fusiform gyrus—a visual processing region of the brain—as a critical player in this reality-imagination divide, offering profound implications for mental health, technology, and our understanding of human perception (Neuroscience News).

A recent breakthrough study has revealed that a small population of brain cells could be the decisive factor in reversing type 2 diabetes, challenging decades-old beliefs that link the condition solely to obesity and insulin resistance. Conducted by researchers at the University of Washington and published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the study found that silencing certain hyperactive neurons in diabetic mice led to a dramatic and sustained normalization of blood sugar levels—regardless of any changes in body weight or eating habits. This pioneering research could stand to transform diabetes management not only for patients internationally but also for millions of Thais living with this chronic disease (Neuroscience News).

A new study suggests that hyperactive brain cells could be a key driver of type 2 diabetes, challenging the long-held view that obesity and insulin resistance alone determine the disease. Researchers from a leading university conducted experiments in diabetic mice, showing that silencing a small group of neurons in the hypothalamus markedly normalized blood sugar for months—without changes to weight or eating habits. The findings offer a potential shift in how diabetes is treated worldwide, including for millions of Thais living with the condition.

New meta-analyses suggest social conformity has remained steady for nearly two decades, even as digital networks explode. Combined with modern brain-imaging studies, these findings deepen our understanding of why people align with or resist their peers. The implications are meaningful for Thai society as it navigates rapid social and technological changes.

Social conformity is our tendency to adjust attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors to fit a group. In Thailand, where collectivism and hierarchical respect influence education, workplaces, and family life, understanding conformity helps shape health campaigns, classroom practices, and civic participation. The latest meta-analysis, which covers studies from 2004 to 2022, shows that social influence exists but has not grown dramatically due to the internet era. Researchers note the need for more work to identify factors such as culture, media, and peer pressure that shape conformity in different settings.

In the digital age, where social media’s influence is ever-expanding, many assume that people have become more susceptible to groupthink. However, a recent meta-analysis suggests otherwise, finding that social conformity has remained surprisingly consistent over nearly two decades, despite the explosion of digital networking. These findings, alongside cutting-edge brain imaging studies, are helping scientists unravel how and why individuals choose to align with—or deviate from—their peers, with major implications for Thai society navigating rapid social and technological change (Counterpunch, 2025).

A new study from the University of Michigan indicates that a single dose of a novel psychedelic compound can produce weeks-long improvements in brain flexibility. The finding could open doors to innovative treatments for depression, PTSD, and neurodegenerative conditions. In experiments with laboratory mice, researchers observed not only short-term behavioral changes but also sustained cognitive enhancements, suggesting a potential shift in how these substances might support long-term brain health. Research by a leading U.S. university is now informing global discussions on neuroplasticity and mental wellbeing.

A groundbreaking new study from the University of Michigan has found that a single dose of a novel psychedelic compound can produce weeks-long improvements in brain flexibility—a finding that could pave the way for innovative therapies targeting depression, PTSD, and neurodegenerative diseases. Using advanced research techniques on laboratory mice, scientists observed that the psychedelic 25CN-NBOH not only changed behavior in the short term but led to sustained cognitive enhancements, suggesting a fundamental shift in our understanding of how these substances might promote long-term brain health (Neuroscience News).

A growing body of evidence has prompted leading child development and neuroscience experts to urgently warn lawmakers that parental shouting and verbal abuse can alter a child’s developing brain, with potentially lifelong mental health consequences. Experts delivered this message in a briefing to UK MPs, sparking renewed calls for policy action and broader public awareness of verbal maltreatment, which is now being recognized as a significant—and prevalent—form of child abuse.

A growing body of neuroscience and child-development research warns that verbal abuse from parents can alter a child’s developing brain and affect mental health for years. Leading experts shared these findings with policymakers in the UK, prompting renewed calls for action and broader public awareness about verbal maltreatment as a serious form of child abuse.

For Thai families, educators, and society, the message is clear: emotional safety is as crucial as physical safety for a child’s growth. In Thailand, where respect for elders and hierarchical family dynamics are deeply rooted, language used at home, in temples, and in classrooms can profoundly influence a child’s self-worth, relationships, and resilience.

A recent wave of research and firsthand testimonies is shining a light on pornography addiction as an escalating public health challenge, with mental and social repercussions that mirror those of more widely recognized behavioral addictions. The ongoing debate among scientists and clinicians intensifies as group counseling therapists, addiction specialists, and affected individuals reveal a chilling picture: the digital age has shifted pornography from taboo to omnipresent, with significant risks for mental health, relationships, and social well-being across America—and raising serious questions for Thai society as well.

A growing body of research and personal accounts is reframing pornography use as a serious public health issue. Mental and social consequences echo those seen in other behavioral addictions, prompting urgent discussions among clinicians, counselors, and affected individuals. In a digital era where porn is ubiquitous, concerns span mental health, relationships, and social well-being in the United States and raise questions for Thai society as well.

Counselors and recovering users describe the real-life effects of problematic viewing, including mood changes, irritability, and social withdrawal. Thailand’s high internet penetration and rapid social change mean many Thai youth are exposed early to online content, underscoring the need for prevention and education to prevent a parallel crisis.

A wave of neuroscience research is shedding fresh light on why people follow orders, even when those directions clash with personal morals. The impulse to comply is rooted in brain function and cultural norms, researchers say, with implications for classrooms, workplaces, and public health in Thailand.

The core question connects authority, social pressure, and individual conscience. The topic is familiar to many Thais, where respect for elders, teachers, and hierarchical structures influence daily decisions. Modern neuroscience is starting to identify brain mechanisms behind obedience. When people receive commands from those in power, activity in brain regions tied to moral judgment and self-agency often decreases. Neuroscientist Dr. Micah Edelson notes that individuals may “offload” responsibility when obeying orders, which dampens personal accountability. The area most affected is the anterior cingulate cortex, linked to empathy and self-control.

A recent wave of research in neuroscience is shedding fresh light on a question as old as society itself: Why do people obey authority, even when it conflicts with their own morals? The drive to follow orders is deeply rooted in both our brains and cultures, according to leading scientists exploring the intersection of compliance and control. These findings, highlighted in a discussion hosted by Dr. Michael Shermer on Skeptic.com, carry profound implications for Thai society—spanning education, workplace hierarchies, and even public health.

In a milestone that challenges decades-old scientific assumptions, an international team of researchers has created the world’s most detailed three-dimensional map of a mammalian brain—from a mere speck of mouse tissue. This stunning achievement not only redefines what’s possible in neuroscience but holds the potential to transform how we study and tackle complex neurological diseases, offering new hope for brain health advances both globally and in Thailand (CNN, 2025).

For Thai readers, this breakthrough matters because the brain disorders examined—such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s—are increasingly prevalent in our rapidly aging society. A deeper understanding of the brain’s “wiring” can ultimately shape better treatments, inspire new research collaborations, and improve quality of life for millions of Thais facing brain-related illnesses. With Thailand’s medical research sector aspiring to world-class status, the implications of this advancement could influence both policy and local innovation.

A global team of researchers has produced the world’s most detailed three-dimensional map of a mammalian brain, starting from a tiny mouse tissue sample. This milestone could reshape how we study neurological diseases and accelerate brain-health advances worldwide, including in Thailand. The development underscores how international collaboration and advanced imaging are transforming science in ways that may benefit Thai researchers, clinicians, and patients.

For Thai readers, the significance is clear. Brain disorders like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease are rising with an aging population. A richer understanding of the brain’s wiring can guide better treatments, spark local collaborations, and improve quality of life for millions of Thais facing neurodegenerative conditions. As Thailand aims for a stronger role in biomedical research, this breakthrough could influence policy, funding decisions, and the growth of domestic innovation.