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
Music preferences as reflections of moral values
A study links musical preferences to moral values using machine learning to analyze participants’ favorite songs. Acoustic elements like pitch…
The cognitive benefits of team sports and reading for children
An academic study identifies team sports and reading as activities that significantly enhance children’s intelligence. Team sports promote cognitive development…
Enhancing critical thinking through writing and mindful technology use
Writing helps develop critical thinking by requiring clarity, logical organization, and evaluation of information. Technology can either hinder or enhance…
Dreams as a key to brain function and health
The significance of dreams in brain activity and health Rahul Jandial’s insights reveal that dreams serve as a cognitive tool,…
Being open to new things helps creativity and learning, and may keep the brain healthier with age
Openness is a personality trait that means seeking and enjoying new and unfamiliar things. Research in psychology and neuroscience links…
Ultra-processed foods trigger addiction-like behavior in one in seven adults
A broad review of 281 studies from 36 countries concludes that some ultra-processed foods (UPFs), such as soft drinks, ice-cream…
Level 3
AI enables first recorded 20-minute interactive exchange between humans and a humpback whale
An AI-driven study enabled a 20-minute conversation with a humpback whale named Twain. Scientists used call playback to test interspecies communication.
Match your hardest work to your body clock to think better
Most people have a clear internal daily rhythm, called a circadian rhythm, that sets natural peaks and dips in alertness.…
Genes may explain why some people go vegetarian
A large genome-wide association study suggests that the choice to follow a strictly vegetarian diet is influenced not only by…
Japanese teams show MRI can decode simple dream content
For years, headlines said that Japanese scientists built an MRI dream machine. The research is real, but the claim is…
Your brain automatically sorts people into “us” and “them”, but deliberate contact can override it
Our brains come with an ancient, automatic setting that divides the world into insiders and outsiders. Within milliseconds of seeing…
Scientists slow aging in mice by restoring a brain protein called “menin” that declines with age
Scientists have pinpointed a single protein in the ventromedial hypothalamus, menin, that appears to act as a brake on the…