MEDICINE & HEALTHScientists have found that neurological evidence in the form of brain scans that show birds of a feather do flock together. The team says that neural and social signals in the mind align in terms of how we perceive both safety and risk. This means that trends happen for a reason, and now scientists have a better understanding of why-no matter how awful, embarrassing, or just plain weird the trend is.
In our quest to understand the complex inner workings of the human brain, researchers at New York University have brought us one step closer. They have pinpointed a region of the brain exclusively devoted to processing speech, which not only provides a better understanding of the cerebral landscape, but settles a long-standing dispute concerning the brain's perception of sound.
A new study has found that the healthier we eat over the years, the better shape our brains will be in as we age. Researchers from McMaster University found that people from all over the world who kept a Mediterranean style diet in middle age had a reduced risk of cognitive decline as they got older.
We understand the drive and the passion to explore the new and unknown frontiers of space, but when it comes to the loss of cognitive function or serious IQ points, we know where to draw the line. While humans as a species, and space agencies now, have been speaking about traveling to other planets for as long as anyone can remembers, now knowing what awaits us in space may change a few of your minds—literally.
When it comes to life on Earth, we’re one of the most fragile species there is. But thanks to the rather perfect confluence of circumstances and cosmic events, we’re mostly shielded from the dangers of space. Strong ultraviolet rays are kept out, our vital oxygen and water are kept in, and life continues blissfully. But what happens when we leave our own little planet in search of others? What protection do we have then?
Have you ever dealt with that constant ringing in your ears that just won’t seem to go away? You are not alone, according to researchers one in every five people is affected with the problem. The medical condition, known as Tinnitus, causes patients to hear a constant ringing in their ears. However, researchers have now discovered that tinnitus varies greatly from person to person and in some cases the ringing may not actually be there at all.
According to a new study published this week in the journal Stroke, researchers found the first link directly correlating changes in brain volume to exposure to air pollution, and during the 10-year monitoring period found that brains exposed to areas of dense air pollution were smaller leading to poorer cognitive function—poorer thinking and memory problems just being the start.
Generally speaking, most animal species show some form of sexual dimorphism. Generally speaking, most animal species show some form of sexual dimorphism.
Creating 3D Neural Circuits for Research, Implantation Any damage to the nervous system can be permanent and devastating. One of the issues is that neurons aren't really that great at regenerating.
Children with richer parents have larger brains compared to children with poorer parents, according to a new study. The differences in the brain were most marked in the areas that control language, reading, decision making and memory, the study found.
Shared Control for Better Prosthetics, Brain-Computer Interfaces Many technologies that seemed like science fiction only a few years ago, are now becoming realities.
New Study Links Poverty with Brain Development The age-old debate of nature versus nurture isn't really a debate. We've all pretty much agreed that when it comes to the complexity of raising a child, there are a large variety of factors that go into it.
Neurobiology can be quite a difficult to subject to wrap our minds around, especially considering that every individual’s neurochemistry is unique unto itself. But with a bit of persistance, four years to be exact, and a bit of innovative technology in the field of biophotonics researchers with NYU’s Langone Medical Center have finally revealed just how brains sort, store and process information in the process of learning new tasks.
Focus of Alzheimer's Research Should Be Shifted, Study Says Alzheimer's is a devastating neurological condition that affects many people, usually in their old age.
Using Carbon Nanotubes in Brain Implants Carbon materials are an extremely hot topic in science right now. Just today we previously covered a story involving a carbon nano-material.
It’s a common belief that when you think of neurobiology you often imagine the brain and the central nervous system one neuron at a time. And for many years, that’s exactly how researchers had to approach the larger questions. By tagging in particular neurotransmitters, that would convey the passing of one signal from neuron to neuron, researchers were able to follow the path of a signal back and forth along an axon. But now, with new imaging technology and a new model organism in mind, researchers in neurobiology are seeking new ways in which we study the brain—mapping neural circuits and their functions in great detail, on the large scale.
Scientists can now scan your brain and tell whether you're in love or not. According to the recent study published in the Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, after scanning the brains of 100 students, scientists are now able to relate some of the changes in brain activity to love.
According to a 2010 study from the University of Oxford, big butts result in healthy children because of the high amount of Omega 3 fatty acids (the good fatty acids) stored. These are the same fatty acids that are responsible for the normal development of the baby's brain.n.
While many are familiar with the not-so-sweet implications of diabetes, a new study reveals that children suffering with Type-1 diabetes may in fact have slower brain growth and development than children without the glucose-to-insulin imbalance.
A new study has shown the link between the body and brain is stronger than initially thought. In the study, people who imagined themselves exercising not only strengthened their brain but also strengthen their muscles and slowed down muscle atrophy.