FeaturedNeuroscience·February 21, 2013·2 min readWhere Does Our Head Come From?New research has shed light on the evolutionary origin of the head.Researchers showed that in a simple, brainless sea anemone, the same genes that control head development in higher animals regulate the development of the front end of the swimming larvae.Read More
Featured·January 30, 2013·2 min readEngineers Solve a Biological Mystery and Boost Artificial IntelligenceSimulating 25,000 generations of evolution within computers, researchers discover why biological networks tend to be organized as modules, a finding that will lead to a deeper understanding of the evolution of complexity.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·September 19, 2012·4 min readHuman Brains Share a Consistent Genetic Blueprint and Possess Enormous Biochemical ComplexityScientists at the Allen Institute for Brain Science reported that human brains share a consistent genetic blueprint and possess enormous biochemical complexity. The findings stem from the first deep and large-scale analysis of the vast data set publicly available in the Allen Human Brain Atlas.Read More
ElectrophysiologyFeaturedNeuroscience·July 26, 2012·2 min readIon Selectivity in Neuronal Signaling Channels Evolved Twice in AnimalsScientists have now revealed that voltage-gated sodium channels, which are responsible for neuronal signaling in the nerves of animals, evolved twice in higher and lower animals.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·June 18, 2012·3 min readClues to Nervous System Evolution Found in Nerve-less SpongeUC Santa Barbara scientists turned to the simple sponge to find clues about the evolution of the complex nervous system...Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·June 13, 2012·4 min readInner Ear May Hold Key to Ancient Primate BehaviorCT scans of fossilized primate skulls or skull fragments from both the Old and New Worlds may shed light on...Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·May 30, 2012·2 min readTiny Genetic Variations Led to Big Changes in the Evolving BrainChanges to just three genetic letters among billions contributed to the evolution and development of the mammalian motor sensory circuits...Read More
AutismFeaturedGenetics·May 10, 2012·2 min readEvolution’s Gift May Also Be at the Root of a Form of AutismA recently evolved pattern of gene activity in the language and decision-making centers of the human brain is missing in...Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·May 3, 2012·6 min readScientists Show How a Gene Duplication Helped Our Brains Become ‘Human’Extra copy of brain-development gene allowed neurons to migrate farther and develop more connections; findings may offer clue to autism...Read More
Psychology·April 12, 2012·2 min readExcessive Worrying May Have Co-evolved with IntelligenceWhat is usually seen as pathology may aid survival of the species. Worrying may have evolved along with intelligence as...Read More
Neurology·April 12, 2012·3 min readFine-scale Analysis of Human Brain Yields Insight into its Distinctive CompositionStudy published in Cell by Allen Institute for Brain Science examines cellular and molecular organization of human and mouse brain....Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·January 30, 2012·3 min readResearchers Rewrite Textbook on Location of Brain’s Speech Processing CenterNew location of critical area provides hints on origin of language. Scientists have long believed that human speech is processed...Read More
