Neuroscience
Insights into the biological foundations of consciousness and the human experience.
Level 1
Virtual avatars rewire body perception and ease trauma through brain plasticity
When people use virtual reality (VR) to embody avatars, such as taller, younger, or more muscular versions of themselves, their…
We create a false self in early life to meet external expectations and cope with childhood experiences – James Hollis
James Hollis explores the psychological and spiritual upheaval of midlife as a necessary and meaningful rite of passage. Drawing from…
Learning a second language early strengthens brain connections and efficiency
Learning a second language is linked to a more efficient brain network. A research team reports that people who speak…
Learning multiple new skills can produce test scores comparable to adults 30 years younger
Older adults who learn multiple new skills simultaneously can achieve cognitive performance similar to adults 30 years younger. A UC Riverside study found that 3 months of intensive learning improved memory, attention, and cognitive control, with gains maintained up to one year later.
Level 2
Oxytocin social bonding: vole study shows how love and loss change the brain
A review of oxytocin social bonding in prairie voles shows the hormone helps form pair bonds and that social loss disrupts oxytocin, causing depression.
Building muscle strength to boost brain health
Building muscle strength enhances cognitive function in older adults A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society…
Heart rate dynamics reveal strong interaction between sleep stages and autonomic nervous system in sleep apnea patients
A study published in Neuropsychopharmacology reveals how heart rate variability changes across sleep stages and how sleep apnea disrupts this balance. Evidence suggests distinct brain systems control sleep and wakefulness.
Level 3
Childhood trauma linked to smaller hippocampus after romantic breakups
A new study links romantic breakups to smaller hippocampal brain volume in adults with childhood trauma, showing how early adversity heightens stress sensitivity.
Gamified app helps reduce depression by breaking ruminative thought loops
A new gamified app reduces depression by speeding up thought progression and breaking ruminative loops, a clinical trial finds.
The self might be an illusion or a quantum process, say experts
Sam Harris and Roger Penrose debate if the self is real. Harris calls it an illusion, while Penrose looks to quantum physics and split brains.
Scientists reprogram astroglia into neurons to potentially treat epilepsy and repair brain circuits
Scientists successfully reprogrammed astroglia into fast-spiking neurons using a modified protein. This could help treat epilepsy by repairing brain circuits. Suggested slug: reprogramming-astroglia-into-neurons-epilepsy
Astrocytes act as essential partners to neurons for storing and recalling memories
Astrocytes, star-shaped brain cells, work with neurons to store and recall memories via the NFIA gene, a study finds, changing how we view memory loss.
Researcher maps the full spectrum of consciousness theories
Neurophysiologist Robert Lawrence Kuhn, best known as the creator of the PBS series Closer to Truth, has published a book-length…