In the realm of molecular psychiatry, few figures have shaped the landscape as profoundly as Professor Barbara Franke. Her journey from a curious child enthralled by the wonders of nature to a pioneering researcher unraveling the molecular underpinnings of neurodevelopmental disorders exemplifies the transformative power of interdisciplinary science. Based at Radboud University Medical Center and the Donders Institute in the Netherlands, Franke’s work has been instrumental in deciphering how genetic variations translate into altered behaviors, particularly in conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

The autonomic nervous system plays a vital role in self-regulation and responding to environmental demands. Autonomic dynamics have been hypothesized to be involved in perceptual awareness and establi...

The brain–heart axis comprises the anatomical and functional interaction between the neural and cardiovascular systems that regulate physiological, cognitive and emotional states in both health and di...

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Lyu et al. studied the human posteromedial cortex using a combination of fMRI, intracranial EEG, and direct cortical stimulations. They argue that the anterior PMC is important for the sense of physic...

Researchers are uncovering how interoception, the body’s unconscious perception of internal states, can impact both brain and body.

The anterior insular cortex is activated by a wide range of conditions and behaviours that go beyond interoception. In a provocative Perspective, Bud Craig proposes that the anterior insula has a fund...

In accordance with Bud (A.D.) Craig’s theories, we maintain that ascending physiological signals in their temporal dynamics are a necessary prerequisite for human time judgments. Functional neur...

Cardiac activity responds dynamically to metabolic demands and neural regulation. However, little is known about this process during pregnancy. Reports show occasional fetal–maternal heart rate coupl...

The healing potential of the brain’s most interconnected nerve intrigues researchers

How we perceive what’s happening inside our bodies and what that means for our health

The brain processes information from the external environment alongside signals generated by the body. Among bodily rhythms, respiration emerges as a key modulator of sensory processing. Multisensory ...

Sometimes our bodies react to the world around us before we realise, shaping our emotions.