Frontier mental health research: psychedelics & drug studies

Each month our editorial team sifts through hundreds of papers and curates notable findings—for practitioners and informed readers who want to stay current with the evidence. Subscribe to the monthly Research Digest for expert analysis and concise summaries of key papers.

5 papers

Sensory Processing in Autism: A Review of Neurophysiologic Findings

Elysa J. Marco, Leighton B. Hinkley, Susanna S. Hill, Srikantan S. Nagarajan
Pediatric Research Summary & key facts 2011 1,032 citations

This review looked at brain studies of how people with autism sense sounds, touch, and sights. It notes that unusual sensory reactions are very common in autism (reported in over 96% of children) and that brain measures (like ABR, EEG, MEG, and fMRI) often show differences in early auditory pathways…

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Autism Spectrum Disorder Research EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces

Creatures of Habit: The Neuroscience of Habit and Purposeful Behavior

Alana I. Mendelsohn
Biological Psychiatry Summary & key facts 2019 16 citations

This article explains that much of everyday behavior comes from habits, which are triggered by cues and run automatically, while goal-directed actions are based on expected outcomes and are more flexible. Brain studies show these two strategies use different but connected circuits: a prefrontal–dorsomedial striatum loop for goal-directed control and…

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies Neuroscience, Education and Cognitive Function

The Neurodiversity Framework in Medicine: On the Spectrum

Raúl Alejandro Miranda Ojeda, Anuksha Wickramasinghe, Georgios Ntolkeras, Isabel Castanho, Walid Yassin
Developmental Neurobiology Summary & key facts 2025 15 citations

This article explains the neurodiversity view, which sees differences in brain functioning as natural variations rather than just illnesses to be fixed. It argues for a medical approach that focuses on people's strengths, gives tailored support, and includes neurodivergent people in research, clinical work, and policy. The authors propose a…

Adolescent and Pediatric Healthcare Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Autism Spectrum Disorder Research

Inattention and task switching performance: the role of predictability, working memory load and goal neglect

Gizem Arabacı, Benjamin A. Parris
Psychological Research Summary & key facts 2019 12 citations

Two studies tested how self-rated inattention relates to switching between tasks. Study 1 found that higher inattention (but not hyperactivity/impulsivity) was linked with larger switch costs when the next task could be predicted and working memory load was high. Study 2 found this link was not explained by predictability or…

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Cognitive Functions and Memory Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

Neurodivergence and mental health—Recognising what needs championing and challenging

Karli Montague-Cardoso, Luke Beardon, Amanda Kirby
PLOS mental health. Summary & key facts 2025 0 citations

This PLOS Mental Health editorial explains that neurodiversity means people have many different ways of thinking, moving, and communicating. It says neurodivergence and mental health are different but often linked. The authors call for more inclusive research and care that listens to lived experience, pays attention to overlapping identities (like…

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Autism Spectrum Disorder Research Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
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