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evolutionary neuroscience

·May 7, 2024·4 min read

Chimps’ Lifelong Learning Sheds Light on Tool Use Evolution

Chimpanzees continue to refine their tool-use skills well into adulthood, much like humans. By observing 70 wild chimpanzees at Taï National Park, researchers found that while basic motor skills for using sticks as tools are acquired by age six, more complex techniques develop continuously over time, fully maturing around age 15.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·March 27, 2024·6 min read

Unlocking Human Brain Evolution

Researchers made a significant discovery in the study of human brain evolution, identifying epiregulin as a key factor in the expansion of the human neocortex. By comparing brain development between mice and humans and utilizing 3D brain organoids, the team found that epiregulin promotes the division and expansion of stem cells, crucial for neocortex development.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·March 14, 2024·6 min read

Mating Study Unlocks the Genetic Code of Attraction

Researchers uncover the nuanced mating behaviors of nematodes, revealing a complex interplay between hermaphroditic and female roundworms in their quest for reproduction. While females actively seek out males, tracking them by smell for mating, hermaphrodites exhibit a starkly different approach, avoiding mating until they deplete their sperm supply. This research not only enhances our understanding of nematode reproductive strategies but also offers insights into the genetic mechanisms of attraction and behavioral evolution. semination.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·February 15, 2024·5 min read

Ancient Viruses Shaped Our Brains

Ancient viruses played a pivotal role in the development of myelin, crucial for complex vertebrate brains. The discovery of "RetroMyelin," a retrovirus-derived element essential for myelin production across mammals, amphibians, and fish, underscores the impact of viral genes on vertebrate evolution.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·February 5, 2024·4 min read

Fruit Flies’ Sensory Evolution: A Whiff of Genetic Secrets

Researchers mapped the sensory evolution of fruit flies, revealing how genetic variations enable them to adapt their sense of smell and taste to diverse environments. The team discovered that while most genes remain stable across generations, a significant number have evolved, leading to unique olfactory experiences among different fly species.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 29, 2024·4 min read

Ancient Skulls Unveil Secrets of Human Bipedalism

A recent study using three-dimensional CT scans of the 6-million-year-old ape, Lufengpithecus, offers new insights into the evolution of human bipedalism. By analyzing the ape's bony inner ear region, researchers discovered a connection between its semicircular canals and locomotor behavior, suggesting a three-step evolution of human bipedalism from ancestral arboreal and terrestrial movements.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·January 22, 2024·8 min read

Ancient DNA Reveals Secrets of High Modern Alzheimer’s and MS Rates

Researchers have created a vast gene bank from nearly 5,000 ancient humans, offering unprecedented insights into the historical spread of genes and diseases. This groundbreaking study linked the spread of multiple sclerosis (MS) genes to ancient migrations and discovered that genes increasing the risk of diseases like Alzheimer's originated from hunter-gatherers.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 18, 2024·3 min read

Shrinking Evolution: Ecology Influences Animal Size

A new study challenges traditional views on animal size evolution. The study, utilizes computer models to demonstrate how ecological factors, like competition for resources and extinction risk, influence animal size changes over time.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 9, 2024·6 min read

Why Do Most People Cradle Babies in Their Left Arm?

A novel study explores the curious phenomenon of why the majority of people prefer cradling a baby in the crook of their left arm. Research suggests that around 75% of individuals, regardless of their handedness, instinctively use their non-dominant arm to cradle a baby.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·January 8, 2024·5 min read

Evolution May Be Predictable

A groundbreaking study challenges the belief that evolution is entirely unpredictable. Researchers found that the evolutionary trajectory of a genome may be influenced by its history, shedding light on gene interactions.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 18, 2023·5 min read

Human Brain’s Unique Parallel Pathways

Researchers discovered a unique feature of the human brain's communication networks: the transmission of information via multiple parallel pathways, a trait not observed in macaques or mice. This finding emerged from a study using diffusion and functional MRI data, combined with information and graph theory.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 18, 2023·5 min read

Apes’ Long-Term Social Memory Mirrors Human Ability

A new study reveals that apes possess a remarkably long-lasting social memory, comparable to humans. Researchers found that chimpanzees and bonobos can recognize former groupmates they haven't seen for over 25 years, showing more attention to those they had positive relationships with.