Neuroscience

Why the Speech Center of Your Brain Shuts Down When You Talk

On the left side of your brain there’s a special region called Broca’s Area, also known as the speech center of the brain. Now a group of neuroscientists have discovered something strange about it. Even though this brain region supposedly controls speech, it shuts down when you are speaking. Image by marish, via Shutterstock A…

“Gourmand Syndrome” Is The Most Delicious Kind Of Brain Injury

A person you know has just had a stroke. This, naturally, is terrible news. Apart from the initial damage, the effects can linger for years. But sometimes, the effects that linger are weird but fantastic. Top image: Cheddar on Flickr. Gourmand syndrome is both a brain injury and an eating disorder, which sounds bad until…

Psychedelic Drug Could Have Promising Future In Treatment Of Asthma

A potent psychedelic drug, DOI, was recently shown to be effective in treating asthma in a mouse model. Photo Credit: Flickr user KristyFaith. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 The psychedelic drug DOI (2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine) was invented by chemist Alexander Shulgin in the 1980s. Shulgin’s story itself is worth looking into. Over the course of his lifetime, in addition…

What Caused These Men to Eat Cats and Candles?

Charles Domery was a Polish man whose eating habits astounded three armies. Tarrare was a Frenchman who went from carnival act to spy to suspected murderer. What made these men so desperately hungry? Top image via Fortean Times Charles Domery Charles Domery was born Charles Domerz, in Poland, in 1778. He was a voracious eater,…

Why The Human Brain Isn’t As Special As We Think It Is

The human brain is special. Just not that special. To understand animal minds, and our own place in the living world, we should remove ourselves from centre stage. Tommy the chimpanzee got his day in court on October 8th, 2014. He was unable to attend the hearing in ‘person’ – spending the day, like any…

Yes, There’s A Masculine Side To Estrogen

Male aggression is commonly pinned on testosterone, and estrogen is credited with imparting females with maternal instinct – but the true story of the sex hormones, and their roles in male and female behavior, is a lot more subtle. Here’s why estrogen is an important hormone for males and females alike. Photo Credit: Flickr user…

Can You Die From Sleep-Deprivation?

The short answer? Yes, total sleep deprivation can almost certainly kill you. What’s less clear is how it does it. Before we get to the experimental and hypothetical ramifications of total sleep deprivation, let’s pause briefly to address the much more pressing and pernicious issue of poor sleep hygiene, the long-term effects of which can…

This Model MRI Set Is The Lego Hack We’ve Been Waiting For

We’re big fans of LEGO’s Research Institute set, but there’s no doubt that it’s missing some major scientific disciplines. Which is why we’re so delighted with this LEGO MRI set custom-made for a neuroscientist— with her very own minifig included. Commenter bitemark01 shared this gift with us that he made for his wife, a neuroscientist.…

For Patients with Parkinson’s Disease, Expensive Placebo Works Better

In a recent study, an “expensive” salt solution was shown to to be significantly more effective at managing the symptoms of patients with Parkinson’s disease than an “inexpensive” one. The salt solutions were identical placebos. Scientific American’s Karen Hopkins summarizes the study’s design and findings: To examine whether the perceived cost could be a factor,…

Chicks Might Map Numbers From Left To Right – Just Like Us!

When you think of the numbers 1–10, you probably envision them running along a line, with 1 on the left and 10 on the right. Scientists have long debated whether this tendency is hardwired or culturally instilled. This week, the hardwired camp scored a major point. Young chickens, it seems, also map numbers from left…

Brain Stimulation Induces Feelings Of Extreme Thirst In Mice

By directing pulses of light onto specific regions of the brain, researchers from Columbia University Medical Center induced feelings of extreme thirst in perfectly well hydrated mice — causing them to drink the equivalent of seven pints of water for a human. Top image: A mouse brain showing the two neurons, CAMKII (red) that triggers…

A Cold Shock Can Protect Neurons In A Mouse Model Of Alzheimer’s Disease

The brain’s adaptation to hibernation has given scientists a promising lead on a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Photo Credit: Matthias Klaiber | CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 For humans, hypothermia can be fatal – but many animals endure extreme cold for months on end during the winter season. Now, scientists studying how the brain temporarily shuts…

Neuroscientists have captured the first-ever video of neural activity in the brains of freely moving nematode worms. Using an elaborate camera setup and software, researchers were able to observe 78 individual neurons—an advance that will help them better understand how the nervous system controls animal behavior.

Flexible Brain Implants Have Arrived

Stiff, steel microwires can damage tissue when implanted deep into patients’ brains. Engineers at MIT have found a way around this problem with a flexible brain-implant technology. Photo Credit: Bill Brooks | CC BY-SA 2.0 Brain implants have come a long way in the past few decades: surgeons routinely wire up the brains of patients…

Don’t Waste Your Money on “Brain Training” Schemes

There are all kinds of “brain-training” programs out there that promise to help you stay smart even as you age. The problem is that there’s little evidence that they work — but a lot of evidence that they are a waste of money. Top image: bestdesign/Pond5.com The Benefits of Brain-Training Neuroplasticity, or the ever-changing network…

The Human Brain Is Lopsided Compared To Other Primates

Researchers have identified a small groove that runs deeper along the right side of the human brain than the left. Because other primates lack this feature, it’s conceivable that its function is what sets us apart. The groove within the STS resides immediately below the red band seen in this digital image. (Turken et al.)…

A New, Cutting-Edge Microscope Technique That Uses Diaper Absorbent

Up until now, most microscopy has operated on a pretty simple principle: Use tricks of light to make small things appear big. A group of MIT scientists, however, are trying something radically different. They’ve developed a technique that physically makes tiny neurons bigger, and yes, it uses a chemical commonly found in diapers. Being able…

Incredible Spinal Cord Implant Helps Paralyzed Rats Walk Again

Researchers have developed a thin, electrode-embedded ribbon which, when implanted along the spinal cord, lets paralyzed rats move again. Researchers are hoping to advance to clinical trials in humans soon. [École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne]

You’re Immune to This Illusion for Only Two Months in Your Life

We’ve written about the Hollow Face Illusion before. It will get you every time. But in order to be fooled by something that shouldn’t be, you need to know how things should be. There is a class of people who don’t ever fall for the Hollow Face Illusion. Small babies don’t understand how the shapes…

How to Make Your Willpower Stronger — According to Science

The holiday season is over, so it’s time to get serious about your New Year’s resolutions. But those fine intentions are only as good as your self-control. Here’s what you need to know about the neuroscience of willpower — and what you can do to make your will even stronger. Illustration by Tara Jacoby Willpower,…