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
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.
videoBrain connectivity influences optimal sleep duration
New neuroscience research reveals that individual variations in brain connectivity impact the amount of sleep needed for optimal functioning. People…
Cannabis use linked to epigenetic changes that may affect gene expression
Epigenetic study reveals DNA methylation changes linked to marijuana use A genome-wide study in middle-aged adults found significant DNA methylation…
Enlarged brain network linked to depression risk, study finds
A new study has identified that the frontostriatal salience network, a brain region tied to reward processing and external stimuli…
Scientists find brain network twice as large in depressed people
Scientists have discovered that the salience network, a set of brain regions that decides what you focus on and how…