Everything your corny sex-ed class didn’t tell you about puberty’s effects on brain development.
10 Big Unanswered Questions in Neuroscience (Part One)
Now that we’ve peered into distant galaxies and put a man on the moon, the true final frontier may be our very own brains!
First steps toward a new approach to overcoming memory loss
Losing your memory can be devastating, but a promising new study is paving the way toward a new approach to treating memory loss.
The lonely brain: The neuroscience of social isolation
The COVID-19 lockdown resulted in an abrupt, unprecedented social isolation. How do our brains react to social isolation? What do we know about the neuroscience behind social isolation and loneliness?
Video Supplement: “Learning to Read the Mind”
Can neuroscientists read your mind?
A window of opportunity for learning
How our early life experiences during “critical periods” permanently shape our brain
The case for turning up the bass
Music is more than just hearing sound; it’s also feeling it. Scientists have shown that feeling the bass makes music more enjoyable and causes people to dance more.
2022 Neuroscience Year in Review
Read about what excited our writers about neuroscience this year.
Video Supplement to Electroconvulsive Therapy: The Mystery of Mechanism
Do doctors still use electroconvulsive therapy?
When you add two halves, do you get a whole?
Who are you when you're split in two? When it comes to your brain, two halves do not make a whole. Learn about how the two halves of your brain communicate and what happens when they stop.
The lies our eyes tell us
What we think we see isn’t always what’s really in front of us. Scientists use optical illusions to demonstrate how our brains use quick tricks to shape how we see the world.
The curious thing about a tickle
Have you ever tried and failed to tickle yourself? Learn about how your brain stops you from tickling yourself by expecting what it will feel like.
Use it or lose it: A look at cortical mapping, remapping, and implications for brain function
How our brains take into account our recent experience
Pain relief can be zen
How can mindfulness meditation help relieve physical pain?
Go with the flow
What is your brain doing when you’re ‘in the zone’?
Your little brain loves to socialize
The cerebellum (Latin for “little brain”) plays a bigger role in our ability to socialize than you might think!
Are people who stutter really tongue-tied?
The exact cause of stuttering remains unknown, but it is probably the result of changes in certain brain structures.
Dopamine: More than just reward
How our brain signals when rewards differ from what we expect
Life from the machine
Researchers are taking what we know about how neurons communicate and digitizing it.
Can Dietary Fat Boost Your Mood?
Despite what you may have heard, dietary fat isn’t all bad. On the contrary, some types of dietary fats, such as omega 3 fatty acids, can positively impact mood and have a protective effect against symptoms of mood disorders like depression.
What’s in a framework?
Does the way we define and categorize psychological concepts match the organization of our brains, and why does it matter when studying mental illness?
The problem of brain size
Why the relationship between brain size and intelligence is so complicated
Owls, dolphins, squids, and … worms? Oh my!
Ever wonder why so much of neuroscience is done in animal models? What can animal brains tell us about human brains?
Do melatonin supplements help with sleep?
Melatonin is a commonly-used sleep aid, but does it really work?
Memories of mealtime: how our memory influences how much we eat
Feeling hungry all the time? Your memory may be to blame!
Electroconvulsive Therapy: The Mystery of Mechanism
Electroconvulsive therapy is an effective treatment for some people with mental illness, but how does this so-called “shock therapy” affect the brain?
A new type of rhythm: eta
Scientists discovered a new type of rhythmicity in brain activity when rats are in a virtual reality. What does it mean to be in the matrix?
What’s a neural circuit?
How does the human brain work better than the best supercomputer?
What do you see in your mind?
Some people lack the ability to visualize in their minds. What makes their brain different?
Ataxia and Autoimmune Encephalitis
Anyone can develop ataxia, but why are people with autoimmune disorders more susceptible?