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…
Psychological abuse leaves real trauma effects
Psychological abuse and coercive control are linked to PTSD, depression, and measurable trauma-related brain changes. The evidence is strong, but it does not show identical or permanent damage in every survivor.
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
Introspection provides our most direct contact with physical reality
Some authors argue introspection is our least sensory-mediated access to experience. But introspective reports are not direct neural measurement, and they can be unreliable.
Musical training is linked to better body orientation without vision
In a small lab study, musicians showed less disorientation on a blindfolded stepping task compared to non-musicians.
Flow state explains how deep focus boosts happiness and performance
Flow state is a deep immersion that boosts performance and mood. Learn how to achieve flow state using psychology and neuroscience to get in the zone.
videoHigh brain activity and micro-awakenings explain why some people remember dreams better
High brain activity in the temporo-parietal junction causes micro-awakenings that let some people remember dreams, while deep sleepers forget them.
Artificial sweeteners may speed cognitive decline
A large observational study linked higher intake of several artificial sweeteners to faster cognitive decline over about eight years, but it did not prove causation.
videoListening to theta binaural beats may help calm and sleep
Binaural beats are a sound effect made by playing two slightly different tones, one in each ear. The brain perceives…
Level 3
videoOxyZen by BrainCo: an AI meditation headband for sleep
This new AI meditation headband from BrainCo, called OxyZen, uses EEG sensors and an AI sleep coach to help you relax and sleep better.
Suggested slug: ai-meditation-headband-sleep
Physicist says human consciousness may link to hidden dimensions, evidence is missing
A physics professor, Michael Pravica of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, has proposed that human consciousness could connect to…
Human dog brain synchronization may help explain the bond
Human dog brain synchronization happens during mutual gaze and petting, says a 2024 study, and may strengthen the bond while guiding autism research.
Daily blueberries may improve memory, but results are mixed
Several clinical studies suggest that eating blueberries can support brain function. One randomized trial in middle-aged adults at higher risk…
videoNew rat study suggests consciousness comes from quantum vibrations in microtubules
A Wellesley College study finds that stabilizing microtubules in rats delays anesthesia, supporting the theory that consciousness arises from quantum processes.
videoYour brain wiring may determine how much sleep you need
New neuroscience research reveals that individual variations in brain connectivity impact the amount of sleep needed for optimal functioning. People…