Ever wonder why so much of neuroscience is done in animal models? What can animal brains tell us about human brains?
Owls, dolphins, squids, and … worms? Oh my!
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 is a seizure?
What is happening in the brain when somebody is having a seizure?
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.
What’s a neural circuit?
How does the human brain work better than the best supercomputer?
See you in 2022!
PennNeuroKnow is taking a break for the holidays. We’ll be back in the new year to share more neuroscience with you.
Blood, sweat, and clusterin
New insights into the link between exercise and improved cognition
How natural disasters bring monkeys — and maybe humans— together
A study from Penn researchers found monkeys expanded their social networks after Hurricane Maria
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?
Restoring Sight to the Blind
Restoring sight to the blind sounds like science fiction, but a recent study puts us one step closer to making this fantasy a reality.
Studying Animal Behavior Through the Ages
How do scientists study animal behavior? Discover how our methods have developed through the ages, and what we can learn about ourselves from studying other animals.
Familiar Faces
How does the brain determine if someone is a friend or a stranger?
Why getting better at baseball might require just a little sleep
A new study found that activating memories through learning-associated sound cues during sleep improved the performance of a motor task
The Neuroscience of Acupuncture
New research uncovers the biology behind acupuncture’s anti-inflammatory effects
What are our brains doing when we see something scary?
Recent research found brain regions that may recognize a fearful place and lead to defensive behaviors.
Is your brain full of plastics?
Humans consume a shocking amount of plastic particles; what effects do they have on the brain?
Seeing the light again
How a protein from algae might help blind patients see
Image memorability: A shared tendency to remember certain things we see
What makes some images easier to remember than others?
Dissociative Identity Disorder
How early childhood trauma can lead to the development of multiple personalities.
Memory Suppression Genes – Team Forgetful
Part of the answer to “why can’t I remember where I put it ?!?!”
Your brain on a bender
Oxytocin, the “love hormone”, may help to reduce excessive drinking
The Neuroscience of Skill
The delicate dance of building and breaking down that goes into learning a new skill
Octopi feel pain like you and I
New research shows that octopuses can have the negative emotional experience of pain
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