This Is What Your Brain Does When You’re Not Doing Anything
When your mind is wandering, your brain’s “default mode” network is active. Its discovery 20 years ago inspired a raft of research into networks of brain regions and how they interact with each other......»»
Enhanced brain delivery of antibodies heightens the potential to treat brain diseases
The blood-brain barrier blocks the entry of antibodies into the brain. This limits the potential use of antibody therapeutics to treat brain diseases, such as brain tumors......»»
In quest to prevent debilitating traumatic brain injuries, new foam material rises to the top
From falls to football tackles, most blows to the head occur at odd angles. And those impacts trigger simultaneous linear and rotational head motions. The rotating movement in particular causes shear strain, which is especially damaging to the brain......»»
A whiff of tears reduces male aggression, says study
Watching someone cry often evokes an emotional response—but according to a new study published Thursday, human tears themselves contain a chemical signal that reduces brain activity linked to aggression......»»
Researchers identify key mechanisms, novel materials for biologically inspired information processing
Every search engine query, every AI-generated text and developments such as autonomous driving: In the age of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data, computers and data centers consume a lot of energy. By contrast, the human brain is far more ener.....»»
Human brain cells put much more energy into signaling
Signaling molecules help modulate the brain's overall activity. Enlarge (credit: Westend61) Indian elephants have larger brains than we do (obviously). Mice have a higher brain-to-body mass ratio, and long-finned pilot w.....»»
Can we decode the language of our primate cousins?
A UNIGE team shows that the human brain is capable of identifying the vocalizations of certain primate species, if they are close to us and if the frequencies used are also close to our own......»»
Master & Dynamic’s luxury headphones get cyber upgrade with brain-sensing tech
Boutique personal audio company Master & Dynamic has partnered with brain-computer interface company Neurable to create brain-sensing headphones......»»
What happens in a crow’s brain when it uses tools?
Researchers trace the areas of the brain that are active when birds are using tools. Enlarge / Sure, they can use tools, but do they know where the nearest subway stop is? (credit: Jonas Adner) "A thirsty crow wanted wat.....»»
New method tags cells with location coordinates for single-cell studies
When a scientist wants to study individual cells at the molecular level within an organ like the heart or brain, they usually break the tissue up to analyze the cells. This provides rich detail about gene activity, but doesn't retain information abou.....»»
Worm’s rear end develops its own head, wanders off to mate
The butt even grows its own eyes, antennae, and brain. Enlarge / From left to right, the head of an actual worm, and the stolon of a male and female. (credit: Nakamura et. al.) Some do it horizontally, some do it vertica.....»»
Parrots and songbirds have evolved distinct brain mechanisms, study shows
When humans learn to speak a language, we learn to produce new vocalizations and use them flexibly for communication, but how the brain is able to achieve this is an important but largely unanswered question, according to Zhilei Zhao, Klarman Fellow.....»»
A mathematical model connects the evolution of chickens, fish and frogs
One of the most enduring, basic questions of life is: How does it happen? For instance, in human development, how do cells self-organize into skin, muscles or bones? How do they form a brain, a finger, a spine?.....»»
New math approach provides insight into memory formation
The simple activity of walking through a room jumpstarts the neurons in the human brain. An explosion of electrochemical events or "neuronal spikes" appears at various times during the action. These spikes in activity, otherwise known as action poten.....»»
Brains of newborns aren"t underdeveloped compared to other primates, finds new study
Contrary to current understanding, the brains of human newborns aren't significantly less developed compared to other primate species, but appear so because so much brain development happens after birth, finds a new study led by University College Lo.....»»
Researchers suggest use of natural fermentation may have led to early human brain size increase
A trio of researchers with varied backgrounds is suggesting in an article published in the journal Communications Biology that eating naturally fermented foods may have led to an increase in brain size for early humans. In their paper, Katherine Brya.....»»
Can artificial intelligence improve life science? As much as life science can improve AI, researchers say
Artificial intelligence (AI) may attempt to mimic the human brain, but it has yet to fully grasp the complexity of what it means to be human. While it may not truly understand feelings or original creativity, it can help us better understand ourselve.....»»
Pickier dogs found to have pickier brains
Dogs' food preferences are mirrored in their brain activity, particularly within their caudate nuclei -a brain region associated with reward processing, a new study combining behavioral and neuroimaging data by researchers from the Department of Etho.....»»
Brittle stars can learn just fine, even without a brain
We humans are fixated on big brains as a proxy for smarts. But headless animals called brittle stars have no brains at all and still manage to learn through experience, new research reveals......»»
New fluorescence-based methods for fast and accessible light intensity measurements
Accurate measurements of light intensity provide vital data for scientists and everyday applications. For example, precise values help optimize microscopy signals, trigger physiological processes in the brain, and drive light-absorbing reactions whil.....»»
The bilingual brain may be better at ignoring irrelevant information
People who speak two languages may be better at shifting their attention from one thing to another compared to those who speak one, according to a study published this month in the journal Bilingualism: Language and Cognition......»»