Your brain isn't the only place memories are stored 😲

Turns out, your brain isn’t the only thing keeping track of life’s lessons. An incredible new study from Nature Communications suggests that non-brain cells can also learn and store information, raising some serious questions about what memory actually is.

Researchers found that these non-neural cells can recognize chemical patterns and adapt over time, using a method called “learning over intervals”, basically, the biological equivalent of spaced-out study sessions rather than cramming.

The discovery hints at a broader biological basis for memory, possibly through molecular or biochemical shifts.

What kind of information are these cells holding onto? And for how long? If even your body is keeping tabs, we all might have to rethink what “self” really means.

Read the full study here 👈

No sponsors today, so here’s an unrelated meme

Loneliness = villain arc 🦹

Every villain has an origin story, and according to new research, it might start in the high school cafeteria.

A study found that teens who experience social rejection are more likely to develop Dark Triad traits, like machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism. But it’s not the rejection alone that does it. The real culprit? Loneliness.

Researchers tracked nearly 300 adolescents and found that those who felt lonelier over time became more manipulative, impulsive, or self-obsessed. Machiavellianism thrived on rejection alone, psychopathy fed off loneliness, and narcissism made a brief but dramatic appearance.

Not every kid exiled from the cool crowd turns into a scheming mastermind, but for some, the isolation fuels a shift toward the dark side. Strong friendships or support systems might help break the cycle, but if comic books have taught us anything, ignoring someone today might just make them your nemesis tomorrow.

Read the full study here 👈

Relationship security is more beneficial than you think 🔐

Feeling secure in your relationships might actually make you a better person.

A new study found that subtle reminders of emotional security, like comforting images or warm memories, can lift your mood, make you more helpful, and even get you to take self-improvement advice without rolling your eyes.

Researchers slipped in these little security cues and found people were not only feeling better but also acting nicer. Even a self-help guide, something most would normally shove in a drawer, suddenly seemed like a good idea.

Moral of the story? Keep those reminders of love and support close. That old baby photo on your fridge? It might be doing more for you than just holding up takeout menus.

Read the full study here 👈

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Dan from Cognitive Crumbs