Salk scientists discovered the protein CCN1—secreted by non-neuronal brain cells called astrocytes—stabilizes brain circuits in adulthood. The CCN1 pathway may be a powerful target for therapeutics that regulate neuroplasticity in Alzheimer’s, depression, or PTSD, or promote repair after injury or stroke.

In many everyday and professional situations, laughing at the wrong moment can be inappropriate or disruptive, making the ability to hold back amusement an important skill. Yet resisting laughter is often difficult – especially when someone else laughs. A research team at the University of Göttingen investigated how laughter can be regulated and found that social cues can strongly interfere with these efforts. The results were published in the journal Communications Psychology.