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March 24, 2025

March research at MSU

At Michigan State University, each college conducts research every day. In March, that research spanned a wide range of topics and discoveries — from mental health to plant sciences.

MSU study pinpoints the impact of prenatal stress across 27 weeks of pregnancy

A team of researchers from MSU and the University of Michigan found new insights into the timing of prenatal stress and its effect on infant stress reactivity and temperament — including gender differences.

MSU study reveals dopamine’s unexpected role in memory devaluation

New research from MSU expands the current understanding of the brain chemical dopamine, finding that it plays a role in reducing the value of memories associated with rewards. The study, published in the open-access journal Communications Biology, opens new avenues for understanding dopamine’s role in the brain..

MSU researcher finds in-person mental health treatment to be more successful for young patients

Anxiety is a common issue affecting young people. With more than 40% of children living with chronic medical conditions and the resulting psychological effects, many families struggle to find effective treatment to manage their child’s mental health concerns.

Using unique approaches to study plants in future conditions

As major changes continue to affect the planet’s climate, scientists are increasingly concerned about how plants will grow and adapt. Researchers in the MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, or PRL, Sharkey Lab are studying changes in plant metabolism that occur when plants are grown in high light and high carbon dioxide conditions.

MSU researchers make progress toward non-hormonal treatment for endometriosis

An estimated 200 million women worldwide suffer from endometriosis, a condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. The condition can cause severe pain and is a contributing factor to infertility.

By: Maggie Carstensen