Auditory NeuroscienceAutismFeaturedGeneticsNeuroscienceVisual Neuroscience·March 2, 2020·5 min readWhy those on the autism spectrum are often hypersensitive to light and noiseMice lacking the autism-associated SHANK3 gene were more sensitive to sensation, including touch. The mice also had overactive excitatory neurons in the somatosensory cortex, which may account for sensory hypersensitivity.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceNeuroscience VideosOpen Neuroscience Articles·September 4, 2019·3 min readElectronic glove offers ‘humanlike’ features for prosthetic hand usersResearchers have developed a sensor-instrumented glove for prosthetic hand controls which can sense pressure, temperature, and hydration using electronic chips sending sensory data via a wristwatch.Read More
AutismFeaturedNeuroscience·June 28, 2019·3 min readExploring perceptions of touch in people with autismResearchers explore how touch perception differs in those on the autism spectrum.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·April 18, 2019·3 min readThe brain’s imperfect execution of mathematically optimal perceptionPerception is founded on Bayesian principles, even though the brain's execution of strategies appears to be imperfect. Researchers say the view perception is an imperfect Bayesian inference can provide a middle ground between traditional and anti-Bayesian models.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·April 16, 2019·2 min readScientists Create a Model for the Neural Basis of ExpectationA new theoretical model helps explain how the gustatory cortex mediates the expectation of receiving a taste. The model sheds light on the neural basis of expectation.Read More
Auditory NeuroscienceFeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychologyVisual Neuroscience·April 4, 2019·5 min readAssociating colors with vowels? Almost all of us do!While only 1 in 25 people has synesthesia, a new study reports intuitions about 'sound colors' are shared by a greater percentage of people. Sound color perception is mainly driven by the vowels in language.Read More
Auditory NeuroscienceFeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·March 27, 2019·5 min readPeople ‘hear’ flashes due to disinhibited flow of signals around the brainThe synesthesia effect of being able to 'hear' silent movements may depend upon disinhibition of signaling between the visual and auditory brain regions. The study found musicians are more likely to experience the 'visual ear' phenomena than those with no musical training.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·February 21, 2019·4 min readNew Prosthetic Restores the Sense of Where Your Hand IsA new prosthetic hand enables amputees to regain a subtle, close to natural, sense of touch.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceNeuroscience VideosOpen Neuroscience Articles·February 8, 2019·5 min readHow the Brain Responds to TextureA new study reports neurons in the somatosensory cortex respond differently to various features of a surface, creating a high dimensional representation of texture in the brain. The findings could help develop neuroprosthetics capable of identifying textures in greater detail.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·January 21, 2019·3 min readHow Our Brains Distinguish Between Self Touch and the Touch of OthersA new neuroimaging study reveals brain activity is reduced when we experience self touch, as opposed to the touch of another person. The findings shed light on how the brain is able to distinguish between tactile sensations generated by the touch of another and personal touch.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·December 28, 2018·4 min readHow the Brain Enables Us to Rapidly Focus AttentionResearchers have identified a mechanism within the cholinergic system that underlies our ability to rapidly focus attention.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·November 27, 2018·4 min readTouch Can Produce Detailed, Lasting MemoriesAccording to a new study, exploring objects through touch can generate detailed, lasting memories of the object, even when people don't intend to memorize the details of the object.Read More
