Breaking down the brain for everyone to understand
What if the voice in our heads had the potential to revolutionize communication for people with paralysis or progressive disease that affected their ability to speak? Recent research shows that inner speech can be decoded from brain activity, opening doors for more accessible communication technology, while also surfacing important concerns about protecting our private thoughts.
To function properly, neurons need supplies- but how do all these supplies make it from one end of a neuron to another? This article explores the incredible protein that gets the job done, aptly nicknamed your neuron’s marathon runner, and what happens when it malfunctions.
You might think mind control is the stuff of science fiction, but for many fungi it’s just what they do. Explore how parasitic fungi control the insects they infect.
We’ve all heard stories detailing the Salem Witch Trials, but nobody can really explain where the symptoms shown by “victims of witchcraft” came from. Here, we unpack how popular medical explanations for this behavior affect the brain.
Our writers share what got them excited about neuroscience in 2025.
The idea that women are naturally predisposed to mental and emotional disturbances during “that time of month” dates back centuries. Is it biology or baloney? PMS or BS?
T cells are a type of immune cell that defend your body against disease. While these mighty cells normally serve to protect you from foreign invaders, what happens if they turn on you?
Ever wonder what delivering drugs to the brain and Greek mythology have in common? If so, come check out this article on Trojan Horses in science!
The conversation around autism and vaccines has become an increasingly hot topic of late (to put it mildly), but did you know that this debate began over 25 years ago? Here is a brief overview of the history and the science around whether vaccines increase the risk of autism.
Neurons require a lot of energy to keep your brain functioning, and this energy is overwhelmingly generated by certain cellular components: the mitochondria. Here, we discuss how mitochondria actually perform their most famous job of producing your cells’ energy, as well as the other roles they play in neuronal health.
Did you know that our eyes spontaneously move about 3 – 5 times per second? These eye movements, while seemingly simple and mostly unconscious, can tell us a lot about how our brains work. In this PNK post, we’ll dig into the fascinating world of eye movements!
Electrical stimulation is proving to be a powerful treatment for neurological diseases – especially when it comes to the vagus nerve
From doing the dishes to playing an instrument, a special connection between your brain and the muscles is key to keep us moving the way we want.
Basic research, intended to better our understanding of the world rather than directly investigate diseases, has laid the groundwork for some of the most important developments in modern medicine. Here, we dive into two examples of how basic research findings have revolutionized our treatment approaches for genetic diseases and neurological diagnoses.
Hangovers have been around as long as alcohol. But how much do we really know about them?
Why is it so dangerous to drink while pregnant?
How does the brain generate the phantom ringing sound of tinnitus?
The transport and delivery of goods is essential for ourselves and our community. Did you know that neurons have a delivery system too? Dive into axonal transport, your neurons’ method of transporting cargo.
Glioblastoma, an aggressive and highly lethal cancer, produces cells that rapidly invade brain tissue, making it particularly difficult to treat. A new system for testing this cancerous cell invasion is an exciting breakthrough that may help discover new treatment options.
Does the brain, like the gut, have a microbiome?
Our writers share what got them excited about neuroscience in 2024.
About 1 in 5 adults in the United States are coping with the symptoms of a mental health disorder. Here, we discuss a clinical technique called TMS that uses magnets to directly alter brain activity and discuss how it’s helping us learn more about some mental illnesses.
Whether you’re a snowbird or a beachcomber, your mood might change with the weather.
Food-borne parasites can invade the body and even the brain. Once they’re in, they can even lead to neurological disorders like epilepsy. Come read about the neuroscience of a condition known as neurocysticercosis.
Your brain fires billions of electrical signals every second, but when they get out of hand, it can lead to devastating seizures. Learn how the creation and use of treatments for epilepsy have unlocked some of the brain’s secrets.
Many people with severe menstrual symptoms may not realize they have a condition called endometriosis. Learn how this disease develops and what causes its pain.
Explore how the barricade between your bloodstream and your brain supports brain health, malfunctions during disease, and might be an avenue for drug delivery.
Some of the most important things we’ve learned about the brain have started with case studies of single patients. Read about the case studies that have defined our understanding of the neural basis of language, personality, and fear.
Not quite. But new research is highlighting how poor mental health often goes hand-in-hand with poor physical health, and how the two relate.
He was neither a researcher nor a doctor, but Henry Molaison – better known as Patient H.M. – is one of the most famous people in the history of neuroscience.
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