TL;DR: A 2026 medRxiv preprint found that pupil dilation measured inside a virtual reality (VR) headset increased as working-memory load rose in healthy adults, was reproducible 60–90 days later in 33 returnees, and was smaller under the highest load in cognitively impaired patient cohorts than in 81 healthy controls. Key Findings Forty-three healthy adults completed …
TL;DR: A 2026 randomized training study in Nature Communications found that sensory-guided joint learning—a combination of performance-triggered wrist vibration, Copy/New strategy cues, and an adaptive electroencephalography (EEG) decoder—produced a 19.0-percentage-point improvement in motor-imagery brain-computer interface (BCI) accuracy in healthy BCI-naïve adults, versus 6.3 and 3.0 points in two control groups. Key Findings Thirty-one healthy adults …
TL;DR: A 2026 mouse study in Nature Communications reported that 10 daily bouts of optogenetic dentate-gyrus stimulation produced weeks-long changes in chromatin, nuclear structure, behavior, and spatial coding, while Cyclin B deletion weakened several effects; this ECT-inspired model does not establish how electroconvulsive therapy works in people. Key Findings Ten stimulation sessions produced the durable …
TL;DR: A 2026 study in Journal of Neural Engineering reported that adding passive recordings from bidirectional deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrodes to scalp electroencephalography (EEG) improved simulated deep-brain source localization, especially near the implanted lead. Key Findings 72-channel scalp EEG: The simulations combined scalp EEG with 4-contact, 8-contact, or 40-contact DBS electrode configurations. Three noise …
TL;DR: A 2026 laboratory study in ACS Omega reported that a laser-induced graphene sensor detected dopamine across a controlled range in artificial human tears, supporting a possible noninvasive biomarker-monitoring route that still needs real human tear testing. Key Findings Laser-induced graphene sensor: Researchers built a small electrochemical device on a plastic film converted into conductive …
TL;DR: A 2026 study in eNeuro used intracranial electroencephalography (EEG), a recording method for brain electrical activity, during deep brain stimulation surgery and found that Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor patients with elevated depression symptoms had weaker corticostriatal alpha-beta reward signaling. Key Findings 30 DBS patients participated: The sample included 14 Parkinson’s disease patients and …
TL;DR: A 2026 randomized trial in Physiotherapy Research International found that adding active 5 Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex to dual-task stroke rehabilitation produced larger gains in Timed Up-and-Go performance, balance confidence, and cognitive screening than sham stimulation plus the same training. Key Findings Small randomized trial: The study …
TL;DR: A 2026 medRxiv preprint found that one session of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) reduced cigarette craving in adults with tobacco use disorder, and the people who responded had heavier baseline smoking, craving, and withdrawal. Key Findings DLPFC craving test: The randomized crossover study included 60 adults …
TL;DR: A 2026 randomized feasibility trial in Nature Medicine found that gait-synchronized adaptive deep brain stimulation was feasible and safe in 5 people with Parkinson’s disease, with early findings of improved gait symmetry, lower variability, and fewer reported falls than continuous stimulation. Key Findings 5 Parkinson’s patients: The 1-center feasibility trial enrolled people with Parkinson’s …
TL;DR: A 2026 preprint in medRxiv reported that one session of left central thalamus focused ultrasound increased behavioral responsiveness scores in 16 adults with chronic disorders of consciousness, with no severe adverse events reported. Key Findings 16 chronic DOC patients: Adults had chronic disorders of consciousness after severe brain injury, with an average time since …
