Two distinct parts of the human brain—the neocortex and the hippocampus (a part of the brain involved in higher-order brain functions) – have been shown to help protect our memories from interfering with one another. Researchers from the Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging at the University of Oxford have shed light on the exact neural […]

Known for its role in relieving depression, the neurochemical serotonin may also help the brain execute instantaneous, appropriate behaviors in emergency situations, according to a new Cornell study published Feb. 1 in Science. The researchers studied brain activity patterns in mice. If a mouse was experiencing a threat, dorsal raphe serotonin neurons would fire during […]

Our brains are not perfect, smooth-running machines. Our physical responses to the events of the day are not consistent at all times. Intuitively, you are probably aware that you have a dip in concentration after eating. But our neurological responses fluctuate much more than just in a post-lunch slump. (January 31, 2019) Read the full […]

Heart-pumping exercise benefits the brain, improving thinking skills even in younger adults, a small study suggests. For the study, scientists tracked more than 130 adults, aged 20 to 67. The investigators found that aerobic exercise increased participants’ overall fitness as well as their so-called executive function — thinking skills that are key to reasoning, planning […]

The world’s most common digital habit is not easy to break, even in a fit of moral outrage over the privacy risks and political divisions Facebook has created, or amid concerns about how the habit might affect emotional health. Although four in 10 Facebook users say they have taken long breaks from it, the digital […]

In a breakthrough straight out of the world of science fiction, a team of researchers has used artificial intelligence (AI) to turn brain signals into computer-generated speech. The feat was accomplished with the assistance of five epilepsy patients. All had been outfitted with various types of brain electrodes as part of their seizure treatment. (January […]

Pain and sleep are poor bedfellows. Among people with recurring pain from problems like back strain, arthritis, and diabetes, as many as two-thirds report having sleep problems, according to a National Sleep Foundation poll. Multiple studies have found associations between pain and poor sleep, including a study published in 2018 in the journal Frontiers in […]

The first and most distinct consequence of daily mild stress is an increase in rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep, a new study in the journal PNAS reports. The research also demonstrated that this increase is associated with genes involved in cell death and survival. REM sleep, also known as paradoxical sleep, is the sleep state during which […]

You can hack your brain to form good habits – like going to the gym and eating healthily – simply by repeating actions until they stick, according to new psychological research involving the University of Warwick. Dr. Elliot Ludvig from Warwick’s Department of Psychology, with colleagues at Princeton and Brown Universities, have created a model […]

A University of California, Irvine-led study reveals that connectivity within the brain appears to be largely dictated by spatial architecture rather than cell type-specific cues. The study was published this month in Cell Reports. To understand how the brain works, current neuroscience research has focused on mapping the connectome to determine how the brain is […]