Dott.ssa Caterina Nicolosi Ganßmann

08/03/2026

Why do we feel compelled to help a stranger in distress? According to a new study, the answer lies in our ancient “parenting machinery.” Researchers discovered that the same brain circuits used to care for vulnerable offspring are hijacked by the brain to drive comforting behavior toward peers.

By monitoring mice, scientists found that the medial preoptic area (MPOA)—long considered the brain’s “parenting hub”—is also activated when animals encounter stressed adults. This suggests that prosocial behavior and empathy didn’t evolve from scratch; they are built on the biological scaffold of parental care.

Tthe brain's parenting circuitry (MPOA) drives helping and comforting behaviors toward peers through the dopamine reward system.

08/03/2026

There must be some common sense to understand that a professional therapist can't be replaced with AI.

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As traditional healthcare systems struggle with long waiting lists and rising costs, a massive global survey reveals a seismic shift in public trust toward Artificial Intelligence. The study, involving 31,000 adults across 35 countries, found that 41% of UK adults (and 61% globally) are now comfortable using ChatGPT as a mental health counselor.

While AI’s non-judgmental tone and 24/7 availability offer a sense of security and companionship for many, experts warn that these tools are “no substitute” for professional care and raise concerns about the long-term impact on cognitive functions like memory and learning.

41% of UK adults would use ChatGPT for mental health support, despite expert warnings on cognitive risks.

08/03/2026

For decades, neuroscientists believed that the brain became more efficient during learning by making neurons act more independently—reducing “redundancy” to clear up the signal. However, a new study has flipped this theory on its head.

Researchers found that as we master a skill, our sensory neurons actually become more coordinated, sharing more information rather than acting in isolation. This “teamwork” allows the brain to blend incoming sensory data with internal expectations, making our perception more robust and flexible.

Researchers challenge the long-standing "neural independence" theory, showing that learning actually makes neurons more coordinated.

07/03/2026

Why do we feel compelled to help a stranger in distress? According to a new study, the answer lies in our ancient “parenting machinery.” Researchers discovered that the same brain circuits used to care for vulnerable offspring are hijacked by the brain to drive comforting behavior toward peers.

By monitoring mice, scientists found that the medial preoptic area (MPOA)—long considered the brain’s “parenting hub”—is also activated when animals encounter stressed adults. This suggests that prosocial behavior and empathy didn’t evolve from scratch; they are built on the biological scaffold of parental care.

Tthe brain's parenting circuitry (MPOA) drives helping and comforting behaviors toward peers through the dopamine reward system.

07/03/2026

A Berlino, l’8 marzo, si terrà un brunch femminista organizzato dall'associazione Artemisia: tutte le informazioni sull'incontro.

01/03/2026

After many years of using Imagery Rescripting with my patients, I fully agree with the results of this research. In reality, after a few months, symptoms alleviate or disappear, and patients feel much better. We take care of the younger self who stuck. We care for the younger parts of the self that remain tied to a painful experience, transforming the memory. We also transform the defenses that have developed in the past and adapt them to the functioning adult self.

I recommend reading this article.

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Childhood memories of harsh criticism or neglect often manifest in adulthood as a paralyzing fear of failure. However, a new clinical trial reveals that we can “rewrite” these internal narratives.

Using a technique called Imagery Rescripting (ImRs), participants revisited painful memories and imagined a “defender”—such as a therapist—intervening to support their younger selves. The study found that this mental intervention significantly and sustainably reduced negative emotions, lowered physiological stress levels, and weakened the fear of failure for at least six months.

Imagery Rescripting can effectively and permanently reduce the fear of failure by "rewriting" critical childhood memories.

28/02/2026

Unlearning a fear response—a process known as fear extinction—is essential for moving past a traumatic or threatening experience. A groundbreaking study reveals a specific “on/off switch” in the brain that can accelerate this process.

Researchers discovered that activating a specific set of nerve cells that produce corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in a brain region called the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) allows fear to be unlearned significantly faster. This mechanism provides a clear biological explanation for how the brain manages emotional flexibility and could lead to more effective treatments for anxiety disorders and PTSD.

Neuroscientists identify a CRF-neuron "switch" in the brain's BNST region that, when activated, allows for significantly faster unlearning of fear responses.

28/02/2026

Do you find yourself constantly sidetracked by notifications or fleeting thoughts? It might be a fundamental feature of your biology. A new study reveals that human attention isn’t a steady beam, but a flickering rhythm that shifts seven to ten times per second.

This rhythmic pulsing was likely an evolutionary survival mechanism, allowing our ancestors to scan for predators while foraging. However, in our modern world of smartphones and constant digital alerts, these innate “windows of distraction” make us highly vulnerable to losing focus on complex tasks.

Researchers find that human attention shifts 7–10 times per second due to innate brain rhythms, making us naturally susceptible to distractions.

28/02/2026

Spending time in nature isn’t just a pleasant pastime; it triggers a measurable physiological and neurological “reset” in the brain. A comprehensive review of over 100 brain-imaging studies demonstrates that connecting with the natural world shifts brain activity toward restoration and relaxation.

By synthesizing decades of research, scientists identified a cascading pattern—from eased sensory processing to quieted mental rumination—that explains why even brief encounters with nature are so effective at combating stress and restoring attention.

A massive review of 100+ brain-imaging studies confirms that nature exposure settles the stress system, restores attention, and quiets mental rumination.

24/02/2026

The brain may inadvertently treat seizures as important memories to be saved. A landmark study suggests that after a seizure, the brain enters a state of deep sleep that mimics memory consolidation. This “seizure-related consolidation” strengthens the neural pathways that generate seizures, essentially training the brain to have them more frequently.

This discovery identifies a critical post-seizure window—the hours and nights following an event—where targeted medical intervention could potentially disrupt this harmful “learning” process and stop the progression of epilepsy.

The brain reinforces seizure networks during post-seizure sleep by hijacking the same mechanisms used for memory consolidation.

30/10/2025

A global study reveals that our most emotionally resonant music tends to come from our teenage years—typically peaking around age 17. This “reminiscence bump” marks the period when our developing brains most strongly imprint musical memories that help form identity.

The research also found gender differences: men’s music memories peaked earlier, while women’s formed later and evolved more flexibly over time. Surprisingly, younger generations are now forming deep emotional ties to songs from decades before they were born, creating a cross-generational “cascading reminiscence bump.”

A global study reveals that our most emotionally resonant music tends to come from our teenage years—typically peaking around age 17.