PennNeuroKnow – Breaking down the brain for everyone to understand

PENN neuroknow

Breaking down the brain for everyone to understand

The neuroscience of nostalgia

Have you ever caught yourself reminiscing over a fond memory and felt a sudden rush of emotions? Keep reading to learn more about what (and where) in your brain contributes to this experience and the unexpected benefits!

May 19, 2026
Lights-out in your brain: Sleeping one region at a time

Your brain does not fall asleep all at once, but rather different brain regions fall asleep at different times. That’s why you forget parts of that TV show you watched last night as you were falling asleep; your memory clocked out early.

May 12, 2026
Ahem, ahem… Let me tell you about coughing

Ever had a stubborn cough? Wonder why it won’t just go away? Cure your curiosity and learn about why we cough, how the brain is involved, and how cough remedies work.

May 5, 2026
Pins and needles

Why do your limbs go numb or “fall asleep” after sitting in the wrong position?

April 28, 2026
Clever creatures and the tools they use

Tool use is often seen as a defining human trait, but animals from chimpanzees to crows also use tools. Explore how diverse species use tools and what that may reveal about intelligence across the animal kingdom.

April 21, 2026
Play on the brain

What can rats playing hide-and-seek tell us about the brain?

April 14, 2026
“What was I doing again?” The neuroscience behind losing your train of thought

Have you ever walked into a room, been momentarily distracted, and then completely forgotten why you went into that room in the first place? You may be surprised that a seemingly small part of your brain is responsible for derailing your train of thought.

April 7, 2026
How our brains may influence our physical endurance

Life is a marathon, not a sprint. Find out how our brain may be operating in the background to mediate our physical endurance.

March 31, 2026
Tunnels between neurons: How dendritic nanotubes are reopening an age-old debate

Most neurons communicate by releasing chemicals across a small gap. But newly discovered tube-like structures are causing neuroscientists to reconsider whether direct connections between neurons may play a more important role than previously thought.

March 24, 2026