Our body’s built-in brakes keep us safely still even while our brains remain active during REM sleep.
Don’t move a muscle
How did the chicken cross the road?
There’s a reason chickens have their unique strut. The “bob” of a chicken’s head as it walks allows it to see, and is enabled by some amazing neural systems.
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.
Sex differences in pain
Do males and females experience physical pain differently?
We have the technology!
Neuroscientists often develop entirely new tools to better understand the brain. Neuropixels is one such technology that is helping neuroscientists answer major questions.
2022 Neuroscience Year in Review
Read about what excited our writers about neuroscience this year.
What is a headache?
Migraines impart an incredible amount of pain, but where is the pain coming from and how can it be controlled?
Cutting through the “noise”
Learn about 1/f, the static that’s anything but random
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 placebo effect and pain relief
For a patient experiencing pain, the belief that a pain treatment will work can be enough to reduce their pain.
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!
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.
A bug’s life: 3D vision in humans and praying mantids
Just like humans, praying mantids can see in 3D. Studying how their brains accomplish this might help us build machines that can do the same.
The sweet taste of lemon
A slice of lemon can taste like perfect lemonade. Just add miracle berry!
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
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.
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.
Your body, your brain, and a continuum of arousal states
How the environment shapes our physical and cognitive experience
Clownfish brains change during sex transition
Current research is trying to understand how the brain changes when male clownfish transition into females.
Keeping a cool head
Hypothermia is an effective treatment to protect the brain after a lack of oxygen.
Sensing Our Organs
Why can we tell when our stomach hurts but not know which organ is affected?
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!
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?
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 do you see in your mind?
Some people lack the ability to visualize in their minds. What makes their brain different?
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