Chronic Pain Imaging
Researchers are imaging the brain’s microglial cells to get a better handle on the causes of chronic pain.
False Memories
The brain creates – and then reinforces – memories of events that never really happened.
Internal Brain Maps
To find their way around, animals have specialized neurons that fire in response to specific locations in the environment.
Science or Nonsense?
ENCORE PRESENTATION - From the Science Update archives: Science confronts alternative medicine and vaccine myths. Also: Can we learn anything from violent video games?
Scorpion Medicine
Toxins from scorpions could lead to new drugs for neuromuscular disorders and cardiovascular disease.
The Thirsty Brain
Neuroscientists have identified key brain circuits responsible for thirst.
Science News Roundup
A roundup of some of this week’s most interesting science news, including key genetics variants related to brain size and psychiatric disorders, leaky methane in Boston pipelines, and the genetics of longevity.
Flexible Neural Implants
A flexible neural implant could restore function to damaged spinal cords.
Science Breakthroughs of 2014: Neuromorphic Chips
2014 Science Breakthroughs of the Year: Can computers think more like people do?
Virtual Bodyswapping & Racial Bias
Virtual “bodyswapping” helps people set aside unconscious biases towards others.
Birdsong & Language Genes
Birds and humans share remarkable similarities in the expression of genes involved in vocal communication in the brain.
Smoker’s Brain Scans
Brain scans can predict a quitter’s likelihood of smoking again.
Senescent Cells
Researchers make new inroads into preventing age-related diseases.
Fructose and Hunger
Does the sugar fructose fool us into eating more calories than we need?
Learning with Age
Both younger and older people can readily learn new information, but older people have a harder time filtering out irrelevant and distracting information.
Neurosexism
Our ideas about how the anatomical differences in male and female brains explain the behaviors of men and women may be based on bias rather than science.
Scraching that Itch
Scientists have identified the cruel trick the brain plays that may explain why scratching an itch often makes it itch even more.
Elderly Sleep
Insomnia in older adults is due to a failure in brain circuitry.
Brain & Behavior Roundup
Marijuana may adversely affect brain development in young users.
Feeding Neurons
Scientists have accidentally stumbled upon specific brain cells that turn feeding behavior on and off in mice.
Domestication Syndrome
A new hypothesis ties domestication in mammals to “cute” physical features.
Bubble Brains
In stock trading simulations, people's brains indicate whether or not they'll get out before the bubble bursts.