Picture the last conversation you had with a friend. Maybe it was over Sunday brunch, drinks after work, or just a quick phone call. The conversation flowed — comments, quips, and questions came one right after another. To us, this type of back-and-forth feels effortless, but to neuroscientists, it has been puzzling for decades. Everyday conversation consists of two main processes working in rapid alternation: speech comprehension (listening) and production (speaking). Focusing on how the...

“Is it that time of the month yet?” How many times have we heard that one? Emotional symptoms tied to menstruation are often dismissed as “just hormones”, minimizing their credibility and impact on women. However, researchers may have just found one of the key molecular mechanisms driving these behavior patterns in the brain. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe mood disorder estimated to affect 115 million women worldwide. This chronic condition is characterized by depressed...