Brain Research

How the Cocoanut Grove Fire Survivors Gave a Mass General Psychiatrist Insights into Acute Grief

By Brian Burns | January 24, 2019

A recent article in the Harvard Crimson took an in-depth look at how treating the victims of the Cocoanut Grove Fire in Boston contributed to a Massachusetts General Hospital psychiatrist’s research and clinical work into how people experience and process losses due to death or injury.

Research Finds a Little Bit of Empathy Makes a Big Difference

By Gloria Rosado | January 15, 2019

Helen Riess, MD, Mass General researcher and practicing psychiatrist, conducted research and developed a training to teach clinicians empathy skills to use in their practice.

New Research Finds ADHD Diagnoses are More Common Among Younger Children in the Classroom

By Gloria Rosado | December 18, 2018

A recent study by investigators from Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital found that children with August birthdays in school systems that have a September 1st grade cutoff are up to 30% more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD.

Mass General Researchers Identify Pattern of Brain Inflammation in Fibromyalgia Patients

By MGH Research Institute | December 4, 2018

A team of researchers at Mass General, in collaboration with a team form the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, recently identified a pattern of brain inflammation in the brains of fibromyalgia patients that could be the key to diagnosing this elusive disorder.

Regulating Microglia’s Three Roles May Be the Key to Managing Inflammation in the Brain

By Gloria Rosado | November 20, 2018

To help describe their various functions in the brain, scientists have classified microglia into three different roles: sentinels, warriors and nurturers.

Research Shows that Memory Function in Adolescents Improves After 30 Days of Cannabis Abstinence

By Gloria Rosado | November 8, 2018

Teens and young adults who abstained from cannabis use for a month improved performance on memory and cognitive function tests.

5 Health Benefits of Meditation Backed by Scientists at Mass General

By MGH Research Institute | November 1, 2018

Meditation is an ancient practice that has been used for centuries to achieve a state of calmness and clarity. While it was commonly associated with certain religious practices, it has made its way into everyday Western culture, with increasing amounts of research showing it has several positive health benefits. Herbert Benson, MD, is an internationally
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Research Shows Ketamine Could Be an Answer for Treatment-Resistant Depression

By MGH Research Institute | October 25, 2018

A Mass General research team is working to identify the ideal dosages for treating depression with ketamine.

Could a Light-Based Treatment be the Key to Treating Alzheimer’s Disease and other Brain Disorders?

By Brian Burns | October 9, 2018

Can a light-based treatment called photobiomodulation help to treat degenerative brain diseases?

Could Folic Acid Help Reduce the Rates of Autism and Schizophrenia?

By Gloria Rosado | October 2, 2018

Folate levels have, once again, become an area of interest for a Massachusetts General Hospital -based research team after finding that increased in utero folic acid exposure is associated with changes in brain development later in life that could reduce the risk of psychosis and schizophrenia.

Research at Mass General Brigham