Tag

Causal Relationship

All articles tagged with #causal relationship

neuroscience2 years ago

The Link Between Rats, Perception of Time, and Heartbeats Revealed

Scientists have artificially manipulated patterns of neural activity in rats to understand how the brain perceives and measures time. By slowing down or speeding up the activity in the striatum, a deep brain region, researchers were able to alter the rats' judgment of time duration. This study provides compelling evidence for the causal relationship between neural activity and timing behavior. The findings could have implications for the development of therapeutic targets for diseases like Parkinson's and Huntington's, as well as influence algorithmic frameworks used in robotics and learning.

health2 years ago

Sexual Activity in Early Life Linked to Major Depressive Disorder, Study Finds

A new study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders suggests a causal link between early sexual intercourse and major depressive disorder (MDD). Researchers utilized large-scale genetic data and Mendelian randomization analysis to investigate the relationship between sexual behaviors and MDD. The findings indicate that early sexual intercourse increases the risk of MDD, and delaying the age at first sexual intercourse may have a protective effect against the development of depression. However, the study has limitations, including its focus on the European population and reliance on self-reported data. Nonetheless, the study highlights the importance of addressing depression among sexually active adolescents and the potential benefits of interventions aimed at delaying early sexual activity in preventing or reducing the risk of MDD.