In partnership with

‘Fear-learning’ could help mental health disorders 😱

Scientists at UCL’s Sainsbury Wellcome Centre have discovered how the brain overcomes instinctive fears, offering potential insights for treating PTSD, phobias, and anxiety disorders.

Researchers studied mice exposed to a harmless but initially frightening overhead shadow. Over time, the mice learned to stay calm, revealing two key findings:

• The visual cortex helps process fear-learning but isn’t needed once fear is unlearned.

• The ventrolateral geniculate nucleus (vLGN) stores these learning-induced memories.

The process is driven by endocannabinoids, brain molecules linked to mood and memory.

This discovery could lead to new therapies targeting fear-related disorders in humans.

Read the full article here 👈

A very quick word from today’s sponsor

Fast-Acting Relief for Day and Night

• The world’s first fast-acting, targeted pain relief edible

• AM formula for active days without drowsiness

• PM formula for restorative nights and better rest

Transform Your Daily Relief

There are more emotions to a break-up than you think 💔

Put down the tub of ice cream and turn off break-up songs, there’s a new emotional gang in town.

A new study in Evolutionary Psychology identified 13 (?!) common reactions. Let’s check out some of them:

• Trying to change their partner’s mind (e.g., asking for another chance)

• Accepting the breakup (e.g., moving on with dignity)

• Seeking revenge sex (e.g., dating someone their ex knows)

• Seeking therapy (e.g., counseling for coping)

• Threatening self-harm (e.g., extreme distress)

• Spying on their ex (e.g., checking social media)

The most common responses were feeling sad, asking why, and finding distractions.

No surprises there.

Men were more likely to seek revenge sex, but overall, reactions were similar across genders.

Breakups can be overwhelming, but understanding how we react may help us process emotions and regain stability over time. 

Read the full study here 👈

How age gaps in relationships shift over time 📉 

A new study in Personal Relationships examined how age gaps between partners change as people form relationships at different life stages. Analyzing data from 29 countries, researchers found:

• Men increasingly prefer younger partners as they age, starting with a three-year gap in youth, which widens to nearly a decade in later life.

• Women initially prefer older partners, but by age 60, they seek same-aged partners, likely due to shifting priorities and fewer available older men.

These patterns reflect both evolutionary factors (men valuing youth, women prioritizing stability) and sociocultural influences (companionship, caregiving concerns).

Gender imbalances in the dating pool also play a role, shaping who people actually couple with over time.

Leonardo Dicaprio. We see you 👀

Read the full article here 👈

Quick feedback!

See you in the next one,

Dan from Cognitive Crumbs