#Neuroscience

Revolutionary psychological research from UNSW Sydney challenges fundamental assumptions about personal responsibility and decision-making competence, revealing that some individuals may be biologically predisposed to repeat harmful choices despite understanding their negative consequences. The groundbreaking study demonstrates that chronic poor decision-making represents a stable personality trait rather than random errors or temporary lapses in judgment, fundamentally altering how Thai society might approach education, workplace management, addiction treatment, and social intervention strategies. These findings carry profound implications for Thailand’s cultural emphasis on learning from experience, personal accountability, and the concept of “kreng jai” that influences social dynamics throughout the kingdom.

Groundbreaking international research unveils the strongest scientific evidence yet that human genes and biological sex fundamentally determine how individuals experience and interpret smells, opening revolutionary possibilities for personalized medicine and deeper understanding of neurological health. The landmark study, conducted by University of Leipzig researchers and published in Nature Communications, identified ten distinct genomic regions directly connected to specific odor detection abilities, with seven representing entirely new scientific discoveries. Most remarkably, three of these genetic regions demonstrate sex-specific activation patterns influenced by hormone fluctuations, explaining why scent perception can shift dramatically during menstruation, pregnancy, and other life transitions.

A landmark study in Trends in Cognitive Sciences reframes the common experience of brief mental “blank moments” as a distinct brain state. Researchers describe mind blanking as a temporary disconnection from deliberate thought while consciousness remains awake. For Thailand’s workforce, students, and professionals juggling tight schedules and digital demands, these findings offer new perspectives on mental wellness, focus, and the importance of respecting natural cognitive rhythms.

The study aimed to answer whether the mind maintains continuous thought during waking hours. The evidence shows it does not. Mind blanking represents a genuine, brief suspension of conscious thought, different from daydreaming, distraction, or memory lapses. Investigations by leading European and international teams describe this state as a sudden cognitive disconnection, with arousal and awareness preserved.

Groundbreaking neuroscience research published in Trends in Cognitive Sciences reveals that the common experience of mental “blank moments”—when consciousness seemingly disappears despite being fully awake—represents a distinct neurological state resembling deep sleep brain activity. Scientists have identified this phenomenon, termed “mind blanking,” as affecting up to 20% of waking hours, fundamentally challenging traditional assumptions about continuous consciousness while providing crucial insights into brain maintenance and cognitive health. For Thailand’s millions of workers, students, and professionals navigating demanding schedules, chronic connectivity pressures, and intensive learning environments, understanding mind blanking offers valuable perspectives on mental wellness, attention management, and the critical importance of allowing natural cognitive rhythms to function optimally.

A landmark international study provides the strongest evidence to date that human genetics and biological sex influence how people perceive and interpret smells. Conducted by researchers at the University of Leipzig and published in Nature Communications, the work maps ten genomic regions linked to specific odor detection, with seven representing newly identified genetic factors. Notably, three regions show sex-specific activation tied to hormone changes, helping explain scent perception shifts during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and other life stages.

A landmark international study has uncovered the strongest evidence yet that our genes—along with biological sex—shape how we experience smells, opening new possibilities for understanding brain health and personalized medicine. The research, conducted by the University of Leipzig and published on July 30, 2025, in Nature Communications, identified ten distinct regions of the human genome connected to the ability to detect specific odors. Remarkably, seven of these genetic links had never before been documented, while three regions proved sensitive to sex-specific factors such as hormones, helping explain why smell perception can shift during life events like menstruation or pregnancy.

A groundbreaking study from UNSW Sydney reframes how Thai readers understand repeated harmful choices. The research shows that chronic poor decision-making can be a stable personality trait tied to neurological patterns, not merely personal failure. This insight has wide implications for education, workplaces, healthcare, and social programs in Thailand, inviting a shift from blame to targeted support.

In Thai culture, where learning from experience and maintaining social harmony are highly valued, these findings offer a timely perspective. They encourage educators, employers, and families to address decision-making patterns with empathy and structured interventions rather than punishment. By acknowledging cognitive differences, Thailand can better support individuals at risk of persistent risky behaviors.

Ever found yourself staring blankly at your phone, only to realize you weren’t thinking about anything at all? It’s not forgetfulness or daydreaming—it’s a phenomenon neuroscientists now call “mind blanking.” A new wave of brain scan research, published in July in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences, uncovers what truly happens when our minds seemingly hit pause, revealing an unexpected similarity to the state of deep sleep, even while we are wide awake (Live Science).

A significant new study has found that nearly one in three people experiences intense negative emotions simply from watching others fidget—an under-recognized social phenomenon known as misokinesia. This surprising discovery, published in the journal Scientific Reports, shines a spotlight on a little-discussed irritation that could reshape our understanding of social interaction, mental wellbeing, and even workplace dynamics (ScienceAlert; MSN).

For many Thais, enduring others’ repetitious movements—from bouncing knees on the BTS to pen-clicking in classrooms—is a daily challenge. However, this latest research marks the first comprehensive scientific attempt to map the prevalence and impact of such visual triggers, highlighting that far more of us are affected than previously thought. As the Thai workforce becomes increasingly urban and social environments grow denser, the findings have particular resonance for local readers facing crowded spaces and fast-changing societal norms.

A July 2025 study has redefined how exercise can heal damaged brain circuits in Parkinson’s disease. Researchers found that thoughtfully designed physical activity can rebuild neural pathways, offering new hope for Thailand’s 150,000 people living with Parkinson’s and their families.

Parkinson’s often steals independence, burdening patients and caregivers alike. Thai families have long watched loved ones struggle with tremors and rigidity, making daily tasks a challenge. This new research provides a scientific foundation for movement-based therapies that Thai communities have long valued.

A groundbreaking international study finds that roughly one in three people experience misokinesia — intense distress triggered by watching others’ repetitive movements such as foot-tapping, pen-clicking, or fidgeting. For Thailand’s crowded cities and collectivist culture, these findings have wide implications for workers, students, and families navigating bustling spaces from Bangkok’s transit hubs to tight office environments.

The research marks the first large-scale effort to map how visual movement triggers affect daily life. In Thailand, where enduring others’ small movements in crowded spaces is part of daily reality, these results illuminate a psychological challenge that has often gone unrecognized by schools and workplaces.

Revolutionary psychological research reveals that nearly one in three people worldwide suffer from an unrecognized condition called misokinesia—intense emotional distress triggered by witnessing repetitive movements like foot-tapping, pen-clicking, or nervous fidgeting—findings with profound implications for Thailand’s increasingly dense urban environments and collectivist social culture. This groundbreaking study published in Scientific Reports illuminates a widespread phenomenon that affects millions of Thai workers, students, and families navigating crowded spaces from Bangkok’s packed BTS trains to cramped office environments throughout the kingdom.

A wave of international neuroscience research suggests oxytocin, often called the love hormone, may offer new ways to address empathy gaps and social difficulties in psychopathy. This broad review stitches together decades of findings, offering fresh insights for Thai mental health professionals working with complex behavioral disorders.

Psychopathy is a nuanced neurological condition. It involves emotional detachment, reduced empathy, impulsive decisions, and antisocial behaviors. In clinical terms, traits exist on a spectrum, creating varied challenges for individuals, families, and communities in Thailand striving for safer, more harmonious environments.

A new scientific review is shining light on an unexpected candidate for improving the emotional and social lives of individuals with psychopathic traits: oxytocin, popularly dubbed the “love hormone.” The review, recently published and highlighted by Neuroscience News, analyzes dozens of studies and concludes that oxytocin may hold significant potential to address empathy deficits and social dysfunction in psychopathy—a personality disorder historically regarded as extremely difficult to treat (Neuroscience News).

Revolutionary research emerging from international neuroscience laboratories suggests that oxytocin—commonly known as the “love hormone”—could represent a groundbreaking therapeutic breakthrough for addressing the profound empathy deficits and social dysfunction characterizing psychopathic personality disorders. This comprehensive scientific review, analyzing decades of research across multiple disciplines, offers unprecedented hope for treating one of psychology’s most challenging conditions while providing crucial insights for Thai mental health professionals working with complex behavioral disorders.

Psychopathy represents far more than popular media portrayals suggest; it constitutes a sophisticated neurological condition characterized by emotional detachment, severely diminished empathy capacity, impulsive decision-making patterns, and pronounced tendencies toward antisocial behavior. While often confused with sociopathy or simplified in entertainment media, clinical experts understand psychopathy as existing along dimensional spectrums where individual traits manifest with varying intensities and combinations, creating unique challenges for affected individuals, their families, and broader Thai communities confronting the social consequences of these complex neurological differences.

A wave of new research is reshaping debates about what students should learn and when they should learn it. In Thailand and across Asia, experts urge policymakers to let brain development science guide curriculum design. The takeaway is clear: one-size-fits-all benchmarks can overlook how children’s minds grow naturally.

Critics have scrutinized the Common Core standards introduced in the United States in 2013 and adopted by many states. Some studies suggest the reform did not close gaps and may have widened them for certain groups. Large-scale evaluations point to declines in reading for younger students and mathematics for older students after its adoption, with the most vulnerable learners bearing the heaviest impact. This serves as a warning for any system aiming to boost equity.

A significant new wave of research and analysis is reshaping the debate over educational standards, following mounting evidence that the Common Core—a sweeping U.S. reform once heralded as a solution to persistent achievement gaps—has fundamentally failed to deliver on its promises. Recent studies urge policymakers in Thailand and across Asia to look closely at how brain development science should inform what, when, and how students are taught, warning of the dangers of imposing one-size-fits-all benchmarks that ignore children’s natural cognitive growth.

A groundbreaking review in neuroscience is challenging commonly held beliefs about how reading and listening shape what we learn, revealing that each medium activates the brain in unique ways and is not simply interchangeable. While today’s digital landscape overflows with audiobooks, podcasts, and voice-driven AI, new research highlights that reading in print or on screens still plays an irreplaceable role in effective learning—especially when grappling with complex material (The Conversation, 2025).

A new neuroscience review shows that reading and listening engage the brain in distinct ways. The message is clear: you cannot simply substitute one for the other. In Thailand, where audiobooks, podcasts, and voice AI are increasingly common, reading still plays a crucial role in mastering complex material. This matters for Thai students and lifelong learners navigating exams, language development, and career growth.

As more people in Thailand use podcasts during commutes and English lessons on the go, the findings offer practical guidance for study habits and education policy. Understanding how the brain processes reading versus listening can shape classroom design, teacher training, and everyday learning strategies across the country.

Music shapes life in Thailand, from temple fairs to graduations and moments of heartbreak. When a beloved song becomes a painful trigger, it can still become a source of relief through deliberate, positive experiences. Research summarized by The Guardian points to a hopeful approach: reframe painful musical associations by pairing them with joyful moments, a strategy with meaningful implications for mental health in Thailand and beyond.

Songs tied to difficult memories can evoke sorrow as easily as nostalgia. Neuroscientists and psychologists explain that music and memory are deeply linked, especially when the music echoes emotionally charged moments. In Thai life, luk thung and songs for life often offer solace while recalling past struggles, underscoring the local relevance of these findings.

For many Thais, music is intertwined with life’s milestones—from temple fairs to school graduations, from heartbreak to celebration. But what happens when a cherished tune becomes a trigger for emotional pain? Recent research highlighted in The Guardian reveals that, while certain songs can evoke distressing memories, it may be possible to “rehabilitate” these painful musical associations through deliberate, positive experiences—a finding with significant implications for mental health and well-being in Thailand and beyond (The Guardian).

Recent scientific research has illuminated a profound truth about how stress influences human social behavior: While stress may foster unity and generosity among members of the same group, it simultaneously stirs up aggression and suspicion toward those outside the group. These insights, highlighted in a July 2025 report by Psychology Today, draw from a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) and have far-reaching implications for societal cohesion, especially in rapidly changing societies like Thailand.

Thai readers concerned about memory lapses or the prospect of cognitive decline have good news: maintaining a healthy brain may be simpler — and more accessible — than ever. New research confirms that staying physically active, nurturing social relationships, and deeply pursuing personal interests can significantly boost brain health at any age, making these strategies both practical and effective for people across the Kingdom.

As Thailand’s population grays and concerns about dementia and cognitive impairment rise, the findings, published in the reputable journal Brain Sciences and recently highlighted by major international media (Times of India), provide hope — and specific guidelines — for safeguarding the mind. The research, conducted at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, focuses on how everyday habits can nurture the precious “grey and white matter” of the brain, and offers Thai citizens actionable tips backed by robust scientific evidence.

New research underscores three practical habits that support brain health at any age: staying physically active, strengthening social connections, and pursuing personal interests. These habits protect both grey matter, which processes information, and white matter, which transmits signals, offering a clear path for readers nationwide.

The study, published in Brain Sciences, was conducted by researchers at a leading Norwegian university. It shows that regular movement, social engagement, and curiosity uplift neural health. Thai experts say the findings resonate with local values around community, activity, and lifelong learning.