Scientists unexpectedly witness wolf puppies play fetch
Wolf pups can interpret human social communicative cues, enabling them to play fetch. The findings shed light on the evolutionary behavior of domestic dogs.... Read More...
Cell Press
T. gondii cat parasite reduces general anxiety in infected mice, not just fear of feline predators
Mice infected with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite showed no selective reduction in fear of feline predators. Findings reveal chronic T. gondii infection reduces anxiety and risk-aversion while increasing curiosity and exploratory behaviors.... Read More...
Simulations suggest embryo selection based on traits like height or IQ is still far off
The ability to select specific traits, such as height or IQ, brought about by multiple genes is more complicated than most people realize.... Read More...
Brain scans reveal how the human brain compensates when one hemisphere is removed
The brains of adults who received hemispherectomies as children had unusually strong connections between functional brain networks in the remaining hemisphere, which help the body to function as if the brain were intact.... Read More...
Enjoyment of pop music classics linked to combination of uncertainty and surprise
Combining neuroimaging data with machine learning, researchers report musical pleasure depends on a dynamic interplay between prospective and retrospective states of expectation.... Read More...
After release into wild, vampire bats keep ‘friends’ made in captivity
Vampire bats form social bonds similar to friendships seen in primates.... Read More...
The toes of artists who paint with their feet can be mapped in their brains
Artists who paint with their feet have finely tuned toe maps in their brains. The study opens up questions about organizational principles of the whole body system.... Read More...
Human perception of colors does not rely entirely on language
Based on the study of a stroke patient with damage to the occipito-temporal brain region, researchers made a big discovery about color categorization. They reveal color categorization and naming can be independent in the human brain. The finding challenges long-standing theories of the mandatory involvement of language in adult human cognition and color discrimination.... Read More...
Plants don’t think, they grow: The case against plant consciousness
Despite much debate that plants may have the same 'mental features' as animals, such as consciousness, cognition, and emotions, a new study reveals this is unlikely to be the case. Researchers report plants, which lack any anatomical structures remotely comparable to the complex brain, are highly unlikely to possess consciousness.... Read More...
Researchers grow active mini-brain-networks
A cerebral organoid allows researchers to detect dynamic changes in calcium ion activity and visualize comprehensive cell activities.... Read More...
Genetics influence how protective childhood vaccines are for individual infants
A large, genome-wide study in children reveals genetic variants associated with differing levels of antibodies produced as a result of three common childhood vaccinations. Researchers identified two genetic loci associated with the persistence of vaccine-induced immunity following early life vaccinations. The results may help clinicians tailor personalized vaccine schedules to maximize the effectiveness of immunizations.... Read More...
Intranasal stem cell therapy restores smell in mice
The sense of smell has been restored to mice suffering olfactory problems with the aid of stem cell therapies. The findings provide the basis for transitional research to see whether intranasal stem cell treatments can be beneficial for those who have lost their sense of smell.... Read More...