When we get hit with an infection, the reaction of a brain structure called the hypothalamus makes us feel sick – but its unpleasant responses are also important steps on the way to healing.
Healing from the hypothalamus
Mighty microbes: The gut-brain axis and the motivation to exercise
The bacteria in your gut may be helping move more than your bowels– they can actually improve your overall health! Read about how a healthy balance of microbes in the gut can improve motivation to exercise
Can fungus turn ants into zombies?
A parasitic fungus infects ants and manipulates their behavior. What’s happening behind the scenes?
Monoclonal Antibodies: From COVID-19 to Alzheimer’s
Unpacking the two newest FDA-approved drugs for Alzheimer’s disease
Can a racing heart lead to a racing mind?
In a recent study, neuroscientists found that the physical sensation of a rapidly beating heart is enough to cause anxiety.
Shopping the brain: How to find regions to test drive
With a complex organ like the brain, how do neuroscientists decide where to focus their attention? Two newer technologies are paving the way for a fast process that helps researchers make this important decision.
Growing evidence for a link between viral infections and brain diseases
A new study finds links between several viruses and brain diseases. We’ll break down what this study does and doesn’t tell you about what to think next time you get the flu.
2022 Neuroscience Year in Review
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
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