Brain/Neuroscience
Rat study sheds light on question of human ‘free will’
New research on the neural basis of ‘spontaneous’ actions in rats could shed light on the philosophical mystery that is ...
Gene variant may be linked to better memory, protection against Alzheimer’s
People with a newly identified genetic variant perform better on certain types of memory tests, a discovery that may point ...
Creativity more imitation than innovation
In today’s world, inventors are our heroes and our saviours – the geniuses who keep the world economy surging forward, ...
What brain science has and has not revealed, so far
Research on the brain is surging. The United States and the European Union have launched new programs to better understand ...
For brain damaged man, smartphone is prosthetic memory device
You wouldn't guess from having a face-to-face conversation with Dixon that his brain is damaged. That's because nothing about his ...
How much does the public actually care about brain science?
It feels to me like interest in the brain has exploded. I’ve seen huge investments in brain science by the ...
Stem cell therapy may be effective treatment for Parkinson’s disease
Stem cells can be used to heal the damage in the brain caused by Parkinson's disease, according to scientists in ...
Rationalizing health risks difficult, especially when emotions in play
From Ebola to breast cancer screenings, people have a difficult time understanding where their health risks truly lie. Our emotional ...
Getting older isn’t always bad for brains
For years, conventional wisdom held that growing older tends to be bad news for brains. Past behavioral data largely pointed ...
Stem cells in breast milk might persist throughout life
Breast milk may provide longer-term benefits than previously thought, extending even into adulthood. A study at the University of Western Australia found ...
Is increase in ADHD an artifact of our modern educational system?
One in ten American children will be treated for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD at some point in their ...
Which tastes better: Conventional or organic foods? A tale of two apples
Many studies (e.g., here) have broached the topic of the taste and ‘quality’ of organic food versus conventional. Robustly, The ...
Moving forward in the search for ‘autism genes’
Autism researchers have recently made important strides in figuring out the genetic underpinnings of the disorder. Some results are somewhat discouraging, ...
Should have asked Hamlet: Study finding Danish genes foster happiness needs some work
Why a study alleging Danes are happiest and French most grumpy because of their respective gene pool is not worth ...
Biology of politics: Brain scans can identify your political beliefs?
A new study has entered the debate on whether our political beliefs are acquired through logic and reasoning, or if they ...
Spontaneous mutations and the genetic mysteries of autism
At least 30% of all autism cases is caused by spontaneous, or de novo, mutations. Lends new weight to hypothesis ...
Computing with DNA
DNA is exceptionally information dense. In nature it is used to encode the instructions for making living organisms, but people ...
When you take your drugs might matter as much as what you’re taking
Circadian clock genes help align our bodies with our planet's 24 hour light-dark cycle. Misalignment of circadian rhythms has been ...
Mars bars for brain health? Not so fast
A widely publicized study showed that a component in chocolate may have protective anti-aging effects for the brain. But based ...
College student alert: Beer improves cognitive function
Flavonoids are versatile plant metabolites found in many plants - including hops, and therefore beer. A new study in Behavioral Brain Research found ...
‘Hobbit species’ continues to provoke questions about course of human evolution
In 2003, researchers excavating a limestone cave on the remote Indonesian island of Flores made an extraordinary discovery: the 18,000-year-old ...
How scientists investigate the brain’s internal navigation system
“Can you point to Center City?” neuroscientist Russell Epstein likes to ask visitors to his office at the University of ...
Do ‘brain games’ live up to their hype?
Some neuroscientists are speaking out against "brain games," computer-based games that purportedly improve memory and cognitive functioning, and even claim to ...
Should UK government allow IVF mitochondrial replacement to prevent disabilities?
The living room of Vicky Holliday and her partner Keith Newell’s home, in a quiet cul-de-sac in High Wycombe, has ...
Addiction can be measured by epigenetics
Both alcohol and cocaine dependence are regulated by epigenetic changes in the brain that begin with abuse. Matched with the ...
Can people really inherit memories?
In December last year, researchers Brian Dias and Kerry Ressler made a splash with a paper seeming to show that ...
National Wildlife Refuge System bans on GMOs and neonics lack transparency, scientific rationale
While not identifying any specific evidence that pesticides or genetically modified crops might cause environmental or human damage, the NWRS ...
