Latest

Duke University

·November 21, 2024·4 min read

Stimulating the Vagus Nerve to Tackle Gut Inflammation in IBD

Researchers have discovered that vagus nerve stimulation may reduce gut inflammation and improve outcomes for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The study reveals how electrical stimulation of this brain-gut nerve impacts SUMOylation, a cellular process driving immune responses, to alleviate symptoms and promote healing.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 23, 2024·5 min read

Robots Gain Ability to “Hear” Objects Through Vibration

New research introduces SonicSense, a system that gives robots the ability to interpret objects through vibrations. Equipped with microphones in their fingertips, robots can tap, grasp, or shake objects to detect sound and determine material type, shape, and contents.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 23, 2024·6 min read

“Sleeping on It” Helps With Rational Decision Making

A new study reveals that while snap judgments heavily influence decisions made immediately, "sleeping on it" helps people make more rational choices. Researchers found that participants who made instant decisions about valuable items overestimated their worth based on first impressions.

Featured Genetics Neurology

·July 30, 2024·5 min read

Genetic Factors Linked to Rare ALS Recovery

A new study reveals that certain genetic factors may protect against ALS, enabling partial or full recovery. Researchers found that a specific genetic variation reduces a protein blocking the IGF-1 pathway, which is crucial for motor neuron protection. This discovery provides a potential new approach for ALS treatment. The findings highlight the importance of further studying the IGF-1 pathway in ALS therapy.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 10, 2024·5 min read

Link Between Smaller Cerebellum and PTSD

New research uncovered a significant association between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a reduction in cerebellar volume. This study, one of the largest of its kind, demonstrates that individuals with PTSD have cerebellums that are approximately 2% smaller than those without the disorder.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 30, 2023·6 min read

Brainless Brittle Stars Learn by Association

Researchers discovered that brittle stars, brainless marine creatures, can learn through experience, a finding that challenges our understanding of learning and intelligence. The study revealed that brittle stars, relatives of starfish, could learn to associate darkness with feeding times through classical conditioning, similar to Pavlov's dogs.

Auditory Neuroscience Featured Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·November 22, 2023·5 min read

Ear Sounds Reveal Eye Movements

Researchers discovered that the ear emits subtle sounds in response to eye movements, allowing them to pinpoint where someone is looking. The study demonstrates that these ear sounds, potentially caused by muscle contractions or hair cell activations, can reveal eye positions.

Auditory Neuroscience Featured Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·November 22, 2023·5 min read

How Blind People Recognize Faces via Sound

A new study reveals that people who are blind can recognize faces using auditory patterns processed by the fusiform face area, a brain region crucial for face processing in sighted individuals. The study employed a sensory substitution device to translate images into sound, demonstrating that face recognition in the brain isn't solely dependent on visual experience.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 6, 2023·6 min read

Neural Implant Translates Brainwaves Into Words

A new speech prosthetic offers hope for those with speech-impairing neurological disorders. By converting brain signals into speech using high-density sensors and machine learning, the technology represents a significant advancement over current slower communication aids.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 24, 2023·5 min read

Unraveling Curiosity: Why We Savor the Suspense and Shun Spoilers

A new study reveals a counterintuitive aspect of curiosity: it heightens our patience to learn an answer, yet intensifies our eagerness for it. Researchers utilized short line-drawing videos, akin to popular cooking clips on social media, to explore how curiosity influenced the urge to spoil the end.

This shows a man in a corridor of books.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 26, 2023·6 min read

Stealing a Brain Hack: Exploration vs Urgency Shapes Memory and Learning

Researchers showed that when participants imagined themselves as art thieves scouting a virtual museum for a future heist, they had a better memory of the paintings they observed than those imagining executing an immediate heist. This difference between exploratory and urgent mindsets could have implications for framing challenges such as vaccine promotion or climate action.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 10, 2023·4 min read

Eye to the Mind: AI Pinpoints Cognitive Impairment via Retinal Images

Researchers have devised an innovative machine learning model that uses retinal images to distinguish normal cognitive function from mild cognitive impairment. This model represents a new, non-invasive, and cost-effective method to detect early signs of cognitive decline, which could lead to Alzheimer's disease.

1 2 3 … 9

Duke University

Stimulating the Vagus Nerve to Tackle Gut Inflammation in IBD

Robots Gain Ability to “Hear” Objects Through Vibration

“Sleeping on It” Helps With Rational Decision Making

Genetic Factors Linked to Rare ALS Recovery

Link Between Smaller Cerebellum and PTSD

Brainless Brittle Stars Learn by Association

Ear Sounds Reveal Eye Movements

How Blind People Recognize Faces via Sound

Neural Implant Translates Brainwaves Into Words

Unraveling Curiosity: Why We Savor the Suspense and Shun Spoilers

Stealing a Brain Hack: Exploration vs Urgency Shapes Memory and Learning

Eye to the Mind: AI Pinpoints Cognitive Impairment via Retinal Images

Athletes Show Working Memory Edge Over Sedentary People

Stimulating the Vagus Nerve to Tackle Gut Inflammation in IBD

Females Sleep Less and Wake More: A New Study Reveals Why

Cannabis Worsens Brain Connectivity Deficits in Psychosis Risk

Subscribe