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Hebrew University of Jerusalem

This shows a person holding another upset person, comforting them.

·June 29, 2026·10 min read

Comforting Others Is a Cultural Trait, Not a Universal Instinct

Comforting others is a culturally bounded motive rather than a universal human instinct. While individualistic societies actively try to eliminate a peer's distress to foster intimacy, collectivistic cultures accommodate negative emotions, viewing them as vital instruments for self-reflection and relationship cohesion.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 1, 2026·9 min read

Whole-Brain Dynamics Predict Social Approach

Can an invisible, brain-wide electrical shift accurately predict our social choices several seconds before we even make them? A neuro-behavioral study unmasks a distinct neural "pre-decision state" that dictates social approach behaviors.

This shows an ancient anthropoid with a brain.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·May 9, 2026·7 min read

Brain-First Hypothesis: Rethinking the Cambrian Explosion

The evolution of the brain may have been the primary engine behind the Cambrian Explosion. The "Brain-First Hypothesis" suggests that increasing ecological pressure for sensory processing led to neural regionalization. This neural complexity provided the genetic blueprints that were eventually co-opted to build the diverse and complex body plans seen in arthropods and chordates today.

This shows a digital "ghost" coming out of a dark path.

Featured Neuroethics Neuroscience

·February 20, 2026·9 min read

AI Rebirth: Turning Digital Footprints Into Living Legacies

A new study explores the rise of "AI resurrections," where generative AI reanimates the dead for entertainment, politics, and grieving.

This shows a brain with computer components on it.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 8, 2025·5 min read

Brain Uses AI-Like Computations for Language

The human brain processes spoken language in a step-by-step sequence that closely matches how large language models transform text. Using electrocorticography recordings from people listening to a podcast, researchers found that early brain responses aligned with early AI layers, while deeper layers corresponded to later neural activity in regions such as Broca’s area.

Featured Neuroscience

·August 23, 2025·4 min read

Human Speech Follows a Universal Rhythm Every 1.6 Seconds

A large cross-linguistic study has revealed that human speech worldwide follows a universal rhythm, with intonation units appearing roughly every 1.6 seconds. These rhythmic chunks structure conversation, helping listeners track meaning, take turns, and absorb information.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 30, 2025·4 min read

People Prefer Human Empathy, Even When AI Says the Same Thing

A new study shows that people rate empathic responses as more supportive and emotionally satisfying when they believe they come from a human—even if the same response is AI-generated. Across nine experiments with over 6,000 participants, responses labeled as human were consistently seen as more genuine, especially when they involved emotional sharing and care.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·June 20, 2025·4 min read

Chronic Pain Linked to Neuron Overactivity in the Brainstem

A new study reveals that neurons in the brainstem respond very differently to acute versus chronic pain, potentially explaining why some pain persists long after injury. In acute pain, neurons in the medullary dorsal horn reduce their activity through a natural “braking” system involving A-type potassium currents, helping limit pain signals.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 12, 2025·4 min read

Negative Surroundings Skew Emotions in People with Depression

People with depressive symptoms are more likely to interpret neutral images as negative when those images are surrounded by unrelated negative visuals. This emotional “spillover” effect shows how peripheral cues—like background imagery or context—can shape our emotional responses more than we realize.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·June 10, 2025·3 min read

How Acetaminophen Silences Pain Before It Reaches the Brain

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) doesn’t just work in the brain—it also shuts off pain at its source in the peripheral nerves. The study found that after taking paracetamol, the body produces a compound called AM404 directly in pain-sensing nerve endings.

$This shows a woman and math symbols.$

Featured Neuroscience

·May 20, 2025·4 min read

Modeling Human Behavior with Math

A new study shows that mathematical models can shape human decisions more effectively than traditional psychological strategies. Researchers introduced “choice engineering,” a data-driven alternative to “choice architecture,” which relies on heuristics and intuition. In a global academic challenge, models like CATIE—designed to reflect real behavioral trends—outperformed both intuitive strategies and standard machine learning tools.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 27, 2025·4 min read

Why Music Offers an Emotional Lifeline During Crises

A new study reveals that people worldwide turn to song lyrics as emotional anchors during crises, such as the COVID-19 lockdowns. Researchers found that lyrical themes—like loss, belonging, and reflection—played a far greater role in emotional coping than the music’s tempo or harmony.