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evolution

This shows raised hands behind barbed wire

·July 27, 2019·5 min read

The politics of fear: How it manipulates us to tribalism

Using fear as a political platform has created a resurgence in feelings of tribalism. The utilization of fear as a political tool is uninformed, illogical and can result in increased social violence. A new study looks at the impact of the politics of fear on tribalism.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology Visual Neuroscience

·July 27, 2019·3 min read

The case against reality

A new theory argues consciousness creates neural activity, and humans have evolved to see what is needed for survival. Perception, it is argued, is a user interface which may not necessarily be real.

This shows DNA, brains and a computerized human

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·July 22, 2019·3 min read

Study finds Nunavik Inuit are genetically unique

Canada's Nunavik Inuit population are genetically distinct from any other known population. Certain genetic variants identified in this population are associated with a higher risk of brain aneurysms. Nunavik Inuit have distinct genetic signatures in pathways linked to lipid metabolism, allowing them to adjust to higher-fat diets and the extreme temperature of the Canadian Arctic.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·July 21, 2019·5 min read

How mammals’ brains evolved to distinguish odors is nothing to sniff at

Study reveals at least six types of mammals distinguish odors in similar ways, using neural networks that are evolutionarily preserved across species.

This shows a happy face painted on a ball surrounded by unhappy faced balls

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 19, 2019·4 min read

Humans aren’t designed to be happy

Researchers argue humans did not evolve to be consistently happy but primarily survive and reproduce. Evolution, they say, placed an advantage on depression, preventing humans from engaging in risky or hopeless situations.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·July 15, 2019·5 min read

Environment, not evolution, might underlie some human-ape differences

A new study sheds doubt on existing theories of ape social cognition. Researchers argue it is possible apes and humans are equally capable in some aspects of social cognition, such as social signaling. The study concludes it is essential to not just consider evolution, but also environmental factors when researching ape-human differences.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·July 3, 2019·3 min read

Infants 10 to 16 months old prefer those who yield in conflicts

In staged confrontations between two puppets, infants under 18 months preferred the one who deferred. However, older children preferred the victors.

This shows a young boy screaming into a microphone

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·June 30, 2019·4 min read

Screams contain a ‘calling card’ for the vocalizer’s identity

Listeners can correctly identify whether pairs of screams originate from the same person or two different people. Findings suggest human screams convey a level of individual identity and shed new light on their evolutionary origin.

This shows a person at different levels of obesity

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·June 28, 2019·4 min read

What made humans ‘the fat primate’?

Early humans underwent critical shifts in how DNA was packaged inside fat cells. As a result, the human body's ability to turn "bad" fat into "good", calorie burning fat was reduced.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·June 18, 2019·4 min read

Puppy love: Why puppy dog eyes evolved to benefit communication with humans

Domestication transformed the facial muscle anatomy of dogs specifically for facial communication with humans. The muscular movement around the eyebrows resembles expressions humans produce when upset, triggering a nurturing response from the dog's owners.

The auditory cortex is highlighted in this brain scan

Featured Neuroscience Neuroscience Videos

·June 10, 2019·4 min read

Our brains appear uniquely tuned for musical pitch

Study of macaque monkeys reveals speech and music may have shaped the human brain's auditory networks. Researchers found specific areas of the human brain have a stronger preference for pitch than that of primates, raising the possibility certain sounds, which are embedded in music and speech, may have shaped the organization of our brains.