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
Your brain responds differently to love for a child, a partner, or a pet
A Finnish team used fMRI while 55 adults in relationships with children heard short stories about love toward a partner, a child, friends, strangers, pets, or nature, then held each feeling during a brief imagery period. Interpersonal love engaged social-cognition regions more than pet-only or nature love; during imagery, parental love showed striatum and thalamus activation not reported for the other love types; pet owners differed from non-owners on pet trials. Results reflect one cohort, culture, and task design.
Neuroplasticity and aging: your brain can still change
Neuroplasticity and aging show the brain can still change in adult life. Practice, challenge, and attention help, but plasticity is not magic.
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…
The best way to quiet your mind: reduce multitasking
Multitasking creates cognitive fatigue and reduces focus. Research shows task switching incurs measurable costs, and phone interruptions fragment attention. Reducing multitasking and creating distance from devices helps quiet the mind and improve concentration.
Exploring more new places is linked to higher happiness
Most people cycle through a small set of familiar places. Research in human mobility suggests that, at any given time,…
Level 3
Positive memory reactivation during sleep reduces negative memory recall
Reactivating positive memories during non-REM sleep can weaken the recall of associated negative memories. This sleep-based technique, known as targeted…
Scientists identify the “glue” protein KIBRA that keeps long-term memories from fading away
Scientists identify KIBRA, a protein acting as memory glue to stabilize synapses. This breakthrough explains how long-term memories survive for decades.
Hypnagogic imagery: flashing-light devices guide the brain into dream-like states without drugs
The idea is simple: when a rhythmic burst of white light reaches your closed eyes, the neurons in your visual…
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…