Natural Images and White Noise Changed What People Saw in Pareidolia

Natural Images and White Noise Changed What People Saw in Pareidolia

TL;DR: A 2026 Scientific Reports study found that natural images and white noise images produced similar amounts of pareidolia, but they shifted what people thought they saw. Key Findings Healthy adult sample: The study included 81 participants who viewed ambiguous images and drew every illusory object, face, figure, or pattern they perceived. Equal quantity: The …

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MK-8189 PDE10A Inhibitor Failed Schizophrenia Phase 2b PANSS Endpoint

MK-8189 PDE10A Inhibitor Failed Schizophrenia Phase 2b PANSS Endpoint

TL;DR: A 2026 randomized phase 2b trial in Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology found that the PDE10A inhibitor MK-8189 did not improve Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) schizophrenia symptom scores more than placebo after 6 weeks, while risperidone separated from placebo in the same trial. Key Findings 458 treated participants: The acute phase included 132 …

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Microglia CRISPR Screen Linked Schizophrenia Genes to Phagocytosis

Microglia CRISPR Screen Linked Schizophrenia Genes to Phagocytosis

TL;DR: A 2026 study in Neuropsychopharmacology used CRISPR gene editing in human microglia-like cells and found that several schizophrenia-linked genes changed phagocytosis, cell shape, and immune-transcription programs. Key Findings Schizophrenia-linked microglia genes were testable: The screen focused on 30 genes predicted from postmortem transcriptomic data and microglial biology to affect phagocytosis pathways. CYFIP1, MSR1, TREM2, …

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ME/CFS Memorial Entries Mapped Clinical Neglect and Social Isolation

ME/CFS Memorial Entries Mapped Clinical Neglect and Social Isolation

TL;DR: A 2026 qualitative analysis in PLOS One used 505 ME/CFS memorial entries to map how systemic neglect, clinical dismissal, social isolation, and personal burden appeared in accounts of illness and death. Key Findings 505 memorial entries: The analysis used the National CFIDS Foundation memorial list, downloaded in October 2024. 4 theme layers: Themes were …

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Autonomic Burden Tracked Cognitive Fluctuations in Lewy Body Dementia

Autonomic Burden Tracked Cognitive Fluctuations in Lewy Body Dementia

TL;DR: A 2026 study in Neurology found that higher autonomic symptom burden in moderate-advanced dementia with Lewy bodies was linked to worse cognitive fluctuations, higher neuropsychiatric burden, and lower caregiver quality of life over time. Key Findings Autonomic burden was measured longitudinally across 189 people with moderate-advanced dementia with Lewy bodies. Higher Autonomic Symptom Checklist …

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PIK3CG PRKCD and TRIM22 Linked to Poorer Glioblastoma Survival

PIK3CG PRKCD and TRIM22 Linked to Poorer Glioblastoma Survival

TL;DR: A 2026 analysis in Journal of Korean Medical Science identified PIK3CG, PRKCD, and TRIM22 as glioblastoma gene markers linked to worse survival and stronger immune-activity signals in IDH-wildtype tumors. Key Findings 12,041-gene screen: Researchers screened tumor expression data to find genes tied to both poor prognosis and immune activation in grade IV glioma. 775 …

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Online Emotional Training Improved Facial Palsy Recovery After Surgery

Online Emotional Training Improved Facial Palsy Recovery After Surgery

TL;DR: A pilot cohort study in JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies found that online emotional training after facial palsy surgery improved facial movement, social well-being, and anxiety about as much as in-person therapy in 16 adults. Key Findings Population: The study followed 16 adults after triple innervation surgery for unilateral peripheral facial nerve palsy. Delivery: …

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Subcortical Connectivity Differed Across Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and Depression

Subcortical Connectivity Differed Across Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and Depression

TL;DR: A 2026 functional MRI (fMRI) study in Psychological Medicine found that schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder shared some thalamus connectivity disruption, but each diagnosis showed a different subcortical network pattern across the thalamus, striatum, hippocampus, and amygdala. Key Findings 800-person MRI cohort: Researchers analyzed resting-state fMRI from 200 people with schizophrenia, 200 …

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Extended Caffeine Reduced Intermittent Hypoxia in Preterm Infants

Extended Caffeine Reduced Intermittent Hypoxia in Preterm Infants

TL;DR: A 2026 randomized trial in Archives of Disease in Childhood: Fetal and Neonatal Edition found that extended caffeine therapy reduced intermittent hypoxia, brief repeated oxygen-desaturation episodes, in very preterm infants through 41 weeks postmenstrual age. Key Findings 160 infants randomized: The ICAF trial assigned 78 infants to placebo and 82 infants to extended caffeine …

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Ebselen Did Not Reduce Impulsivity in Healthy Adults

Ebselen Did Not Reduce Impulsivity in Healthy Adults

TL;DR: A 2026 placebo-controlled study in Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental found that ebselen did not meaningfully reduce motor impulsivity, reflection impulsivity, delay discounting, or emotion-recognition outcomes in 130 healthy adults. Key Findings 130 adults analyzed: The double-blind study compared 66 adults assigned to ebselen with 64 assigned to placebo. 1800 mg over 2 days: …

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