Read about what excited our writers about neuroscience this year.
Brush it real good!
Scientists find a link between oral bacteria and the brain
Video Supplement to Electroconvulsive Therapy: The Mystery of Mechanism
Do doctors still use electroconvulsive therapy?
You are what you eat: Exploring fecal microbiota transplant
Microbes in our gut (and our poop) can impact our brain and our behavior. Could we treat brain diseases and disorders by swapping “unhealthy” microbes for “healthy” ones?
Much ado about microglia
Microglia are the brain’s immune cells, but what do they do when they’re not hunting down foreign bacteria or munching on debris in the brain? Can they even influence how you sleep?
How are neurons categorized?
There are 100 billion neurons in the human brain. How can we possibly categorize all of them, and why is it important?
What we can learn from the fly on the wall
They might be small, but fruit fly research has led to wide-reaching discoveries in science and six Nobel Prizes!
What’s going on in an axolotl brain?
A recent study genetically sequenced the axolotl brain to understand how they can regenerate parts of their brain!
Glutamate: Hungry for more
A second helping of knowledge about this key ingredient in our bodies and brains.
Seeing the forest for the trees
Neurons come in all shapes and sizes, forming a diverse ecosystem in the brain.
The sweet taste of lemon
A slice of lemon can taste like perfect lemonade. Just add miracle berry!
Go with your gut: how your gut knows the difference between sugar and artificial sweetener
Think you have a sweet tooth just because you like the taste? A new study reveals a different reason for why you prefer sweet foods.
Trash in the brain leads to Alzheimer’s disease
A recent study found that plaques in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients are formed when cells’ cleanup machinery becomes defective.
Meet Glutamate
The neurotransmitter and its receptors are even more exciting than you think!
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!
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.
Bacteria tell you when you’re full
Bacteria are more powerful than you think - scientists uncovered that they can turn off neurons.
From gut to brain: do your neurons know the gut is inflamed?
A recent study found that a specific region in your brain recognizes inflammation in your gut.
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?
What COVID-19 has to tell us about Alzheimer’s Disease
Recent developments in our understanding of how COVID-19 affects the brain have led scientists to revisit an old idea that Alzheimer’s could be virally induced.
The neuroprotective double-life of estrogen
How hormones may ease patients’ stroke recoveries
3 Notable Neuroscience Discoveries in 2021
Neuroscience wrapped: as we move into a new year, let’s reflect on some notable discoveries in the field of neuroscience from 2021.
Blood, sweat, and clusterin
New insights into the link between exercise and improved cognition
Seeing the light again
How a protein from algae might help blind patients see
Memory Suppression Genes – Team Forgetful
Part of the answer to “why can’t I remember where I put it ?!?!”
The Neuroscience of Skill
The delicate dance of building and breaking down that goes into learning a new skill
Alzheimer’s disease: What’s causing some of our neurons to die?
A recent study suggests that an Alzheimer’s disease-related protein could explain why specific neurons die first.
Can we prevent memory loss?
Scientists may have found a way to prevent age-related memory loss.
A Calming Presence
How do social interactions help us through stress?
It’s all about balance: How the brain eliminates unwanted connections
Researchers identified a protein that eliminates synapses