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Columbia University

·March 3, 2025·6 min read

Sleep Brain Waves Linked to Consciousness in Coma

A new study finds that sleep spindles—bursts of brain activity during sleep—may predict recovery in unresponsive patients with recent brain injuries. Researchers analyzed EEG recordings of 226 comatose patients and found that those with sleep spindles were significantly more likely to regain consciousness and functional independence.

Featured Neuroscience

·February 10, 2025·5 min read

How the Brain Detects Novelty to Predict the Future

A new study shows that the cerebral cortex acts as a "memory machine," constantly detecting novel stimuli to refine its predictions of the future. By imaging the auditory cortex of mice, researchers found that neurons track sensory inputs over time, forming "echoes" that help distinguish new information.

This shows computer generated versions of human cells.

Brain Cancer Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·January 8, 2025·7 min read

AI Reveals Gene Activity in Human Cells

Researchers have developed an AI model that accurately predicts gene activity in any human cell, providing insights into cellular functions and disease mechanisms. Trained on data from over 1.3 million cells, the model can predict gene expression in unseen cell types with high accuracy. It has already uncovered mechanisms driving a pediatric leukemia and may help explore the genome's "dark matter," where most cancer mutations occur.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·January 4, 2025·6 min read

New Insight into Genetic Disease Variability

New research reveals that certain cells inactivate one parent’s copy of a gene, leading to a bias in gene activity that may explain why some individuals with disease-causing mutations remain symptom-free. This selective gene inactivation, known as monoallelic expression, affects about 1 in 20 genes and varies between cell types.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 20, 2024·5 min read

Structural Sexism Tied to Faster Memory Decline in Older Women

Women born in states with higher structural sexism experience faster memory decline later in life, with effects equivalent to nine years of cognitive aging. Structural sexism encompasses societal inequities like unequal labor force participation and underrepresentation in government, which create systemic barriers to health. The impact is particularly pronounced among Black women, highlighting the intersection of sexism and racism.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 19, 2024·5 min read

70 Is the New 60: Age Related Declines Slowing in Older People

study highlights significant improvements in the physical and mental functioning of older adults in England compared to previous generations. Using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging, researchers found that advancements in education, nutrition, sanitation, and medical care have likely contributed to better health outcomes. For instance, a 68-year-old born in 1950 exhibited similar capacities to a 62-year-old born a decade earlier.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 4, 2024·4 min read

AI Admissions Essays Align with Privileged Male Writing Patterns

Researchers analyzed AI-generated and human-written college admissions essays, finding that AI-generated essays resemble those written by male students from privileged backgrounds. AI essays tended to use longer words and exhibited less variety in writing style than human essays, particularly resembling essays from private school applicants. The study highlights concerns about the use of AI in crafting admissions essays, as AI may dilute a student’s authentic voice. Students are encouraged to use AI as a tool to enhance, not replace, their personal narrative in writing.

This is an illustration of a brain in a shopping mall.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 3, 2024·6 min read

Your Brain Divides the Day Into “Chapters” Based on Priorities

New research shows that the brain divides the day into "chapters" based on what a person focuses on. These mental boundaries aren't solely prompted by changes in surroundings but also by internal goals and priorities. In experiments using audio narratives, participants' brains organized events differently depending on whether they focused on specific details. This study suggests that how we experience and remember events is influenced by both context and what matters most to us at the time.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·September 23, 2024·5 min read

No Increased Autism Risk in Pandemic-Born Children

A new study found that children born during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, including those exposed to the virus in utero, were no more likely to screen positive for autism than pre-pandemic children. Researchers used a neurodevelopmental screening questionnaire for children aged 16-30 months and saw no differences in autism risk between these groups.

Featured Neuroscience

·August 14, 2024·7 min read

How the Brain Learns to Make Inferences

Researchers have uncovered how the brain processes inferential reasoning by recording neuron activity in individuals as they learned through trial and error. The study revealed that specific brain regions, particularly the hippocampus, create geometric neural representations when people successfully infer new rules from prior knowledge.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·July 29, 2024·4 min read

Grief Accelerates Biological Aging

Losing a close family member can accelerate biological aging, according to a new study. Researchers found that people who experienced the loss of a parent, partner, sibling, or child showed signs of older biological age. This effect was measured using DNA markers known as epigenetic clocks. The study underscores the long-term health impacts of grief and loss across the lifespan.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 10, 2024·7 min read

Brain Study Reveals How Curiosity Arises in Kids

A new study reveals how the brain triggers curiosity in response to visual ambiguity. Researchers identified brain areas that assess uncertainty, sparking curiosity. Using fMRI, they found that lower confidence in recognizing images leads to higher curiosity. This discovery highlights the deep biological roots of human curiosity and its role in creativity.