In a world dominated by instant updates, the way we engage with digital content is disrupting our focus and may be influencing how we think, behave, and process the world around us.
A river of screens: How our digital habits are reshaping our mind
Overconsumption core: how our brains drive us to consume
Influencer hauls and advertising on social media are pushing us to consume more than ever before. Breaking down the science behind overconsumption can help us be more aware of these habits and slow down our spending.
The neuroscience of habits
What are they, where do they come from, and how can we change them?
Fighting brain cancer, one cell at a time
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.
What motivates you? The two types of motivation
We all have different sources of motivation for doing what we do. But did you know that the concept of motivation itself isn’t just one thing? Some motivation comes from within, and some from without.
Bacteria in the brain: Friend, foe or figment?
Does the brain, like the gut, have a microbiome?
2024 Neuroscience Year in Review
Our writers share what got them excited about neuroscience in 2024.
Under the influence: The mechanics of brainwashing
How can the brain be manipulated into adopting new beliefs?
Queen of the hill
Exploring recent advances in neuroscience that have taught us how ants brains help build their societies
From the brain’s view: Surviving a multitasking world
Sometimes it feels like a hundred different things require our attention at a given moment. Why is it hard to focus on many things at once and how much multitasking can our brains really manage?
Magnetic manipulation of brain activity to treat mental illness
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.
Under the weather
Whether you’re a snowbird or a beachcomber, your mood might change with the weather.
Psychological Biases in Voting
Last week, Americans had many issues to consider when casting their vote. Recent research suggests a variety of psychological factors may have influenced those decisions beyond the candidates’ policy stances.
When worms invade: Exploring a common parasite and its role in epilepsy
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.
Patient S.M.: Neuroscience’s most fearless participant
From creepy-crawlies to horror films, S.M. takes them all in stride. For almost 35 years, she has been helping neuroscientists understand why.
Wildfire in the brain: What has neuroscience learned from studying epilepsy?
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.
What does “brain activity” actually mean?
“Brain activity” is thought to underlie everything we do – from walking to thinking to eating. But what actually is brain activity and where does it come from?
When sparks fly!
The skinny on three current controversies in neuroscience and why researchers sometimes disagree
Beyond the uterus: Uncovering endometriosis pain
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.
The brain’s gatekeeper: A closer look at the blood-brain barrier
Explore how the barricade between your bloodstream and your brain supports brain health, malfunctions during disease, and might be an avenue for drug delivery.
Making a case for case studies in neuroscience
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.
Reaching the boiling point
How do groups of neurons in your brain determine the intensity of your emotions?
If you want to diagnose mental illness, study… the body?
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.
Moving and grooving with birds-of-paradise
Male birds-of-paradise perform dazzling displays to attract mates. How do their brains and bodies do this?
Caught up in your thoughts
An exploration into the ‘nets’ that surround your brain cells, and how they influence your thoughts and behavior
Bee-lieving in the brain
Bees have brains just the size of poppy seeds, yet they can do so much! These black and yellow critters are famous for being nature’s hardest workers, but they are also expert navigators, communicators, and decision-makers. So, maybe something far smaller can help us think bigger about what the brain is capable of.
Out-of-this-world impacts of spaceflight on the brain and body
If you’ve ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what it would be like to spend some time up there, you’re not alone. Here, we talk about the less-discussed aspects of space travel: the impact it can have on your brain and body.
Patient H.M.: Neuroscience’s favorite subject
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.
When nature helps neuroscience
Scientists often look to nature for experiment inspiration. But how has nature helped build the neuroscientist’s toolbox?
Sniffing us out: How mosquitos seek their hosts
Why do mosquitoes have such a knack for finding you? These tiny bloodhounds use complex senses to zero in on their next snack. Unraveling the brainy secrets behind their host-hunting skills might just be the key to keeping them away and stopping the spread of mosquito-borne diseases!
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