Welcome to the September 2025 Learning Brain News.

As always, this month's installment is packed with links that you may find interesting. Here are some that especially caught our attention:

• Biofeedback speeds up speech therapy
• A new book - Good Inside - for parents to help manage kids sibling rivalry, separation anxiety and tantrums
• AI positives and negatives for teachers

What You Expect Shapes How Much Pain You Feel

A new brain imaging study reveals that suffers’ expectations of pain relief, through visual cues or treatment explanations, can influence how much pain is felt.

Biofeedback Speeds Up Speech Therapy for Struggling Kids

Biofeedback-based therapy for children with persistent pronunciation errors past age eight, can more than double the improvement rate compared to traditional approaches. Researchers say this could reduce therapy time, ease student frustration, and help clinicians manage growing caseloads more effectively.

Empathy Can Be Emotionally Conditioned

Empathy isn’t just innate. It can be trained by associating another person’s happiness with personal rewards. In this study, participants observed a character experiencing good and bad moments, which were paired with gains or losses in their own rewards.

Over time, those whose rewards coincided with the character’s positive experiences began to feel more empathy and act more compassionately. 

AI Could Make Grading Faster for Teachers

A new study suggests that AI could speed up the grading process for teachers, but it may sacrifice some accuracy in the process.

Stanford Scientists Reverse Autism Symptoms in Mice

Stanford Medicine researchers have discovered that hyperactivity in a specific brain region may underlie behaviours associated with autism spectrum disorder. They were able to reverse autism-like symptoms in mice, from seizures to social deficits, by using experimental drugs and neuromodulation techniques. 

How Students with Disability are Bullied and Excluded

Two reports recently released for the advocacy group, Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA), reveal alarming rates of bullying and exclusion in Australian schools.

How to Improve your Child’s Social Skills

Are you concerned your child's social skills may not be up to scratch?

This Blog will show you strategies, tips and activities to help your children improve their social skills. You will also learn where to look for online programs and professional help. And if you want to dive deeper into the topic, there are some links to resources from around the world.