Did You Know? Archives - Knowing Neurons

Lupita Valencia November 7, 2023November 6, 2023 Face-recognition, FFA, Fusiform face area, Occipital face area, OFA, pareidolia, Prosopagnosia, Uncanny valley

Facing the Uncanny Valley: Pareidolia and Face Recognition

By Lupita Valencia Evolution has made us experts at recognizing faces. We are innately social creatures and are hard-wired to detect faces in the environment. From the moment we are… Read More

a woman in a lab coat looking at an image of the brain on a computer

Did You Know?

Caitlin Goodpaster October 30, 2023November 11, 2023 Halloween, Zombie

The Neuroscience of Zombies: Unmasking the Zombie Mind

By Caitlin Goodpaster As spooky season descends upon us, it’s intriguing to explore the connections between neuroscience and a Halloween classic: the zombie. While the introduction of zombism to fiction… Read More

modern nurse taking a medical tool from someone in 2000 BC

Neuroscience Techniques Did You Know?

Julia LaValley August 18, 2023August 17, 2023 craniotomy, Neuroscience history, trepanation, trephination

Need it like I need a Hole in the Head: A History of the World’s Earliest Neurosurgery

By J. LaValley Often, when we discuss medical practices of the past, we do so with a certain level of scorn, horror, and disgust. These aren’t unreasonable reactions when thinking… Read More

knowing myalgic encephalomyelitis infographic

Infographics Did You Know?Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders Sleep

Kayla Lim May 15, 2023May 14, 2023 CFS, chronic fatigue syndrome, covid, covid-19, fatigue, Infographic, long COVID, ME, myalgic encephalomyelitis, neurological disease

Knowing Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

In this infographic, Kayla Lim discusses the basics of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and intricacies related to long COVID! Edited by Zoe Dobler, Vidya Saravanapandian, and Julia LaValley… Read More

Brain Development Cognition Did You Know?Psychedelics

knowingneurons May 11, 2023May 11, 2023 Cigarettes, Drugs, Nicotine, Nicotine Replacement Therapy, NRT, Smoking, Tobacco

What Nicotine Does to the Brain, and the Science of Smoking Cessation

By William Pollard According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, success rates for cessation remain low, with only 7.5% of smokers managing to quit smoking entirely. The need… Read More

Psychedelics Did You Know?Neuro News

Andrew Bontemps April 25, 2023May 11, 2023 Antidepressant, Drugs, Plasticity, Psychedelics, Research

Taking a “trip” inside the cell: New research shows how psychedelics promote neuroplasticity

By Andrew Bontemps Original article: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adf0435 “Perspectives” article: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adg2989 Maxemiliano Vargas and colleagues from UC Davis and Medical College of Wisconsin recently released a paper describing some of the interesting… Read More

Brain Development Did You Know?

Mary Cooper January 6, 2023January 5, 2023 Adult neurogenesis, cell division, Hippocampus, Neural Stem Cells, Neurogenesis, Stem Cells

New Year, New Neurons: The History of Neurogenesis

By Mary Cooper “New year, new me,” is a thought we may have had around the start of a new year. Maybe we want to be stronger, healthier, or smarter… Read More

Big Ideas Did You Know?

DanielToker December 24, 2022December 19, 2022 Amígdala, elección presidencial, Elecciones presidenciales de 2004, filosofía política, George W. Bush, Insula, Irracionalidad, John Kerry, Neurociencias, Neuroimagen, Platón, política, razón, reyes filósofos

No somos tan racionales como creemos: la filosofía política y la ciencia de la irracionalidad

Artículo original: No Somos Tan Racionales Como Creemos: La Filosofía Política y La Ciencia de la Irracionalidad, Daniel Toker Los científicos cognitivos han sabido por décadas que los humanos son… Read More

Big Ideas Consciousness Did You Know?Evolution of Cognition Joel's Pick Neuro News Philosophy

Joel Frohlich June 8, 2021June 8, 2021 Anxiety, Awareness, Brain Awareness, brain imaging, Cognition, Consciousness, Default mode network, fMRI, Psychology

How Floating in Darkness Takes the Body off the Mind

What happens when your mind disconnects from all outside sensations? First, you undress, put in earplugs, and step into a floatation tank, the water warmed to the temperature of your… Read More

Big Ideas Brain Basics Did You Know?

Himani Arora May 31, 2021November 1, 2022 enteric nervous system (ENS), Gut, gut microbiome, gut-brain axis, microbiome, microbiota, stress

Gut Feelings: The Connection With The Brain

Picture this: You are encountering some dilemma. You call your friend, and they advise you to go with your “gut feelings”. These are perceived to be some sort of miraculous… Read More

Big Ideas Brain Development Did You Know?Evolution of Cognition Language

Aurore Bargat April 27, 2021December 10, 2021 language, language acquisition, Learning, Learning and Memory, native language, vocal behaviors

Vocabulary Retention In Adult Language Learners

What can we learn and implement from neuroscience to support long-term vocabulary retention in adult language learners? Brain and Language Neuroscience focuses on how different regions of the brain work… Read More

Collaborations Did You Know?Interviews Podcast

Elizabeth Burnette April 22, 2021

Songbirds and Vocal Learning: Interview with Dr Stephanie White

Knowing Neurons interviews Dr. Stephanie White, Professor of Integrative Biology and Physiology at UCLA, about her work studying vocal learning in songbirds as well as her role as the Assistant… Read More

Did You Know?Mental Health Neuro Primer Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Elizabeth Burnette March 22, 2021May 31, 2021 Addiction, Alcohol, Behavioral Neuroscience, Hippocampus, Nucleus accumbens, Tolerance, Withdrawal

Neuro Primer: Addiction Basics

Spanish Translation also available here: Neuro Cartilla: Los principios básicos de la adicción ~~~ From alcohol to opioids to cocaine, most of us are familiar with addictive substances. But how does… Read More

The Blood Brain Barrier – Is it Really All it’s Described to Be?

Big Ideas Brain Basics Did You Know?

Abdullah Iqbal March 15, 2021May 31, 2021 Blood, Blood-brain barrier, Cell communication, Pathogens, The blood-brain barrier in health and chronic neurodegenerative disorders.

The Blood Brain Barrier – Is it Really All it’s Described to Be?

Spanish Translation also available here: La Barrera Hematoencefálica – ¿Realmente funciona como su nombre indica? ~~~ One of the mantras in neuroscience is that the blood brain barrier (BBB) protects… Read More

Big Ideas Brain Basics Did You Know?Sensation and Perception

Mariella Careaga February 21, 2021June 3, 2021 Fear, Fear conditioning, Fear Extinction, gut microbiome, Medial Prefrontal Cortex, Metabolism, microbiome

Invisible Modulators of Fear: How the Gut Microbiome Alters Fear Extinction

Learning to avoid a threat as well as knowing when something is no longer dangerous is crucial for an organism’s survival. Being able to shake off fearful memories after a… Read More

Brain Basics Collaborations Did You Know?Interviews Neuro News

Arielle Hogan February 15, 2021November 11, 2023 Estrogen, Hormone, Hypothalamus, Metabolism, Nature, Sex differences, Temperature

Sex Differences in the Neural Control of Thermogenesis: An Interview with Dr. Stephanie Correa

Understanding the complexity of the human mind and body is a feat that some would say is impossible. While the scientific community forges on despite the immense expanse of the… Read More

Big Ideas Brain Basics Did You Know?Mental Health Neuro News Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Elizabeth Burnette January 3, 2021November 11, 2023 Bias, Classical Conditioning, Drug, negative symptoms, Placebo effect, Treatment

The Nocebo Effect

Most of us have heard of the placebo effect – the phenomenon in which patients experience improvements in health simply due to their belief in the efficacy of a medical… Read More

Artificial Intelligence Big Ideas Did You Know?Evolution of Cognition Neuro SciFi Neuroscience Technologies

Arielle Hogan December 7, 2020February 18, 2021 Artificial Intelligence, Artificial Neural Networks, Brain-computer interface, Frontiers in Neural Circuits, Robot-human interaction, Sci-fi

The AMI Procedure- Gateway to a Cyborg Future

Advances in bioengineering and robotics have delivered incredible devices capable of partially restoring functionality to those who suffer from movement related disabilities. However, this technology is not perfect. Patients still… Read More

Big Ideas Did You Know?Science Policy

Zoe Guttman October 31, 2020February 18, 2021 Behavioral Neuroscience, Decision, Decision-making, Science Policy

Evidence-Based Solutions to the Mass Incarceration Crisis: Neuroscience and Cash Bail

Mass incarceration is a public health crisis with particular relevance to the neuroscience community. Much of our work as neuroscientists revolves around the criminal justice system, including mental illness, adolescent… Read More

Big Ideas Consciousness Did You Know?Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders Sensation and Perception

Joshua Cain October 27, 2020February 18, 2021 brain imaging, Consciousness, Deep Brain Stimulation, Thalamus, transcranial electrical stimulation

Focused Ultrasound: A Stimulating New Strategy To Treat Severe Brain Damage

A year into my doctoral training at UCLA, I escape the noisy hustle and bustle of Ronald Reagan Hospital at midday, into a clean and quiet room in the Intensive… Read More

Artificial Intelligence Big Ideas Collaborations Did You Know?Interviews Neuro News Neuroscience Technologies

Sean Noah October 13, 2020February 18, 2021 Computational, Computational Biology, Education, mathematics, Neuromatch Academy, Skill learning

Neuroscience Education in the Time of COVID-19: An Interview with Dr. Megan Peters about Neuromatch Academy

In March 2020, my research stopped. The cognitive neuroscience lab where I work was shuttered because our research involves collecting behavioral and neuroimaging data from human participants – something impermissible… Read More

Infographics Did You Know?Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Rajamani Selvam August 17, 2020August 17, 2020 ADHD, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, Infographic, neurodevelopmental disorer, Neurological Disorder, Neuroscience, psychological disorder, SciComm, Science

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)

~ Attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by abnormal levels of impulsive and hyperactive behaviors which occurs in both children and adults. Symptoms appear around 3-… Read More

Weird Animal Brain Did You Know?Sensation and Perception

Kayleen Schreiber June 18, 2018June 14, 2018 Fact, Neuron, Neuroscience, Perception, Science, Vision

Weird Animal Brain: Dung Beetle

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he dung beetle has more interesting characteristics than you might think! If you’d like to learn about more animals with amazing vision, check out this article.… Read More

Language Did You Know?Sensation and Perception

Kayleen Schreiber March 28, 2018March 28, 2018 Brain, Broca's area, Cortex, ECoG, electrocorticography, Fact, Hebbian learning, Karl Wernicke, language, Neuroscience, Pāṇini, Paul Broca, Speech, Wernicke's area

Language: Your Connection to Others

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]magine what it would be like if you couldn’t communicate with others. Language is a critical aspect of our lives, and it may be one of the oldest academic pursuits… Read More

Did You Know?Big Ideas Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Caitlin Aamodt March 1, 2018April 18, 2019 Addiction, Alzheimer's, Alzheimer’s disease, Autism, depression, Drugs, Immune System, Law of Attraction, Parkinson's, Parkinson's Disease, placebo, Placebo effect, Social experiment, Surgery, Synapses, Treatment

The Law of Attraction, the Placebo Effect, and the Immune-Brain Connection

[dropcap]B[/dropcap]iomedical researchers call it “the most replicated experiment in the history of science.” Simply put, the placebo effect is a phenomenon where people who believe they are being treated for… Read More

Brain Basics Did You Know?

Joel Frohlich February 15, 2018February 15, 2018 Cerebral, Cerebral hemispheres, Expierments, Fibers, fMRI, Functional MRI, Harry Potter, Hemisphere, Hogwarts, Lateralization, Left, Left brain, Nerve, Nerve fibers, Neuroanatomy, Neuroimaging, Right, Right brain, Split brain, Visuospatial abilities, VS Ramachandran

No, You’re Not Left-Brained or Right-Brained

At the fictional Hogwarts school for witchcraft and wizardry in the Harry Potter series, students are sorted into different school houses by a magic hat based on their personalities. Similarly,… Read More

Brain Basics Did You Know?Sensation and Perception

Jenn Tribble January 24, 2018January 23, 2018 Brain, Dopamine, GABA, glutamate, Network, Neuron, Neurons, neurotransmitter, Perception, Receptor, serotonin, Synapse

Neuronal Communication: Electricity and Neurotransmitters

[dropcap]W[/dropcap]ith approximately 86 billion neurons in the human brain, it is a complex piece of machinery in charge of movement, sensation, decision-making, and more. Behaviors cannot arise from the work… Read More

Weird Animal Brain Did You Know?Sensation and Perception

Kayleen Schreiber December 18, 2017December 18, 2017 Brain, Narwhal, Neuron, Neuroscience, Ocean, Sense, Weird Animal Brain

Weird Animal Brain: Narwhal

Narwhal tusks used to be sold as unicorn horns and were believed to contain magical powers. Now we know a little bit more about these unique tusks, and the truth… Read More

Weird Animal Brain Did You Know?Sensation and Perception

Kayleen Schreiber November 27, 2017December 18, 2017 Infographic, Knowing Neurons, Nature, Perception, Weird Animal Brain

Weird Animal Brain: Leaf Sheep Sea Slug

Remember photosynthesis: How plants capture energy from the sun. Chloroplasts (the green parts of leaves) are where the sun’s energy is captured.… Read More

Neuro News Did You Know?

Amin Kamaleddin November 8, 2017June 19, 2022 cancer, chemo, chemotherpy, Goldszmid, gut bacteria, Mao, Nervous System, Oxaliplatin, Peripheral nerves, peripheral neuropathy

No Pain, No Gain: Commensal Bacteria Help Chemotherapy Through Painful Side Effects

[dropcap]C[/dropcap]ancer is still an unmet clinical challenge. Tens of thousands of people are diagnosed with cancer every day. In the US alone, more than half a million people died from… Read More

Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders Did You Know?Movement

Kayleen Schreiber October 30, 2017October 29, 2017 Brain, Cortex, Dopamine, Infographic, Knowing Neurons, Motor, Movement, Parkinson's Disease, Research, Science

Bite-size science: Cell replacement therapy for Parkinson’s Disease

In Parkinson’s Disease, specific cells in the brain die. Over time, this makes basic movements like walking and reaching for a cup impossible. Researchers are racing to find effective treatments.… Read More

Brain Basics Did You Know?Movement Sensation and Perception

Cari Ritzenthaler October 23, 2017October 22, 2017 balance, Brain, Cerebellum, Coordination, granule cell, Infographic, Knowing Neurons, Movement, Neuroscience, Proprioception, Purkinje cell, Vestibular system

What is the cerebellum?

Learn about the mini brain you have at the base of your skull!… Read More

Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders Did You Know?

Amin Kamaleddin October 4, 2017October 3, 2017 Autoimmune disease, Bacteria, Cell communication, gut microbiome, Immune cells, Learning, Memory, MS, multiple sclerosis, myelin, Pathogens, pathology

Your gut is closer to your brain than it appears!

[dropcap]Y[/dropcap]ou are more than who you think you are! Yes, that is correct. If you are still thinking of yourself as a single intelligent organism, then think again! I am… Read More

Weird Animal Brain Did You Know?Movement

Kayleen Schreiber October 2, 2017September 29, 2017 Brain, Brain Injury, Infographic, Knowing Neurons, Nature, Neuroscience, Prefrontal Cortex, Research, Science, TBI, Traumatic brain injury

Weird Animal Brain: Woodpecker

Brain damage is a major concern for us humans – car accidents, football, falling backwards. It’s pretty easy to cause a concussion. Woodpeckers, however, pound away daily using much more… Read More

Weird Animal Brain Did You Know?Sensation and Perception

Kayleen Schreiber September 18, 2017September 17, 2017 Fact, Infographic, Knowing Neurons, Lizard, Nature Neuroscience, Neuron, Neurons, Neuroscience, Perception, Science, Vision

Weird Animal Brain: Tuatara Lizard

The tuatara lizard is called a “living fossil” because it is the last surviving member of the Rhynchocephalia order. Learn more about the tuatara in the infographic below!… Read More

Weird Animal Brain Did You Know?Sensation and Perception

Kayleen Schreiber August 28, 2017August 30, 2017 Brain, Color, Fact, Infographic, Knowing Neurons, Neuroscience, Perception, Squid, Vision

Weird Animal Brain: Strawberry Squid

Also known as the cock-eyed squid, this beautiful and weird creature is unique not only because of its similarities to a strawberry, but also because of its two very special… Read More

Learning and Memory Did You Know?Neuro News

Kayleen Schreiber August 21, 2017August 21, 2017 Brain, Fact, Infographic, Knowing Neurons, Learning, Memory, Neuron, Neurons, Neuroscience, Research, Science

Bite-size science: The brain remembers without staying the same

A new paper published this month in the journal Cell describes an unexpected finding about memory. Researchers used to think that memory required specific activity from the same brain cells… Read More

Big Ideas Did You Know?

DanielToker August 17, 2017August 17, 2017 2004 Presidential Election, Amygdala, George W. Bush, Insula, irrationality, John Kerry, Neuroimaging, Neuroscience, philosopher-kings, Plato, political philosophy, Politics, presidential election, reason

You’re Not as Rational as You Think: Political Philosophy and the Science of Irrationality

[dropcap]C[/dropcap]ognitive scientists have known for decades that humans are inherently irrational when it comes to making economic decisions. This may seem obvious to a good poker player, who will likely… Read More

Weird Animal Brain Did You Know?Sensation and Perception

Kayleen Schreiber August 7, 2017August 7, 2017 Brain, Drosophila, Fact, Infographic, Knowing Neurons, Nature, Neuron, Neurons, Neuroscience, Perception, Receptor, Science, Smell, Synapse, taste

Weird Animal Brain: Fly

Fly lips are called labellum and fly feet are called tarsi. Both the labellum and tarsi contain taste receptors which help the fly find food. Think about that the next… Read More

Brain Development Brain Basics Did You Know?Learning and Memory Sensation and Perception

Gabrielle Torre July 26, 2017June 23, 2022 Brain, Cortex, Development, EEG, Fact, fMRI, Knowing Neurons, Learning, Neuron, Neurons, Neuroscience, Prefrontal Cortex, Reading, Research

Reading: The Brain’s Best Hijacker

What are you doing right now? I’m no psychic, but I can say for certain one thing that you’re doing: reading. You’re reading this sentence, word by word, and extracting… Read More

Weird Animal Brain Did You Know?Sensation and Perception

Kayleen Schreiber July 24, 2017July 23, 2017 Brain, Color, Fact, Infographic, Knowing Neurons, Learning, Nature, Neuron, Neurons, Neuroscience, Perception, Research, Science, Vision

Weird Animal Brain: Brittle Star

Brittle stars are covered in protective outer plates, but they also have another structure of internal plates. A particular species of brittle star seems to be able to use these… Read More

Neuroscience Art Did You Know?Interviews Sensation and Perception

Kayleen Schreiber July 19, 2017July 16, 2017 Art, Brain, Color, Consciousness, Cortex, Genetics, Interview, Knowing Neurons, Learning, Neuron, Neurons, Neuroscience, Perception, Prefrontal Cortex, Science

Self Reflected: The Best of Neuroscience and Art

The phrase, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” seems especially true for scientists. What we study becomes not only intellectually beautiful, but also literally beautiful: the form is… Read More

Did You Know?Sensation and Perception

Kayleen Schreiber July 17, 2017July 16, 2017 Brain, Immune System, Neuron, Neurons, Neuroscience, Receptor, Synapse

Bite-size Science: Immune Cells use Neurotransmitter to Communicate

Researchers have suspected for a few years that neurotransmitters like dopamine play a role in how the immune system functions. But they didn’t know how cells in the immune system… Read More

Brain Basics Big Ideas Did You Know?

Amy Thomas July 12, 2017July 13, 2017 Adiel Mallik, anhedonia, Daniel J. Levitin, Dopamine, Emotion, feeling, McGill University, Mona Lisa Chanda, Music, Naltrexone, NTX, Nucleus accumbens, opioids, reward circuit, serotonin

Why Does Music Make Us Feel So Much?

Whether you’re listening through tinny iPhone headphones on your morning commute or crying at a John Mayer concert, there is a special place in our hearts for music. But what… Read More

Did You Know?Weird Animal Brain

Kayleen Schreiber July 10, 2017April 17, 2023 Antenna, Brain, Fact, Infographic, Knowing Neurons, Nature, Neuron, Neurons, Perception, Science, Smell

Weird Animal Brain: Moth

These beautiful little creatures are incredibly skilled at sniffing out mates. The pheromone the females release is called bombykol. Scientists are on the hunt for exactly how this pheromone activates… Read More

Weird Animal Brain Did You Know?Movement Neuroscience Art Sensation and Perception

Kayleen Schreiber June 26, 2017June 30, 2017 Brain, Neuron, Neurons, Neuroscience, Perception, Platypus, Receptor

Weird Animal Brain: Platypus

The platypus and the echidna are the only mammals that have the power of electroreception, which means they can sense electrical changes. Check out this new Weird Animal Brain to… Read More

Aging Did You Know?Learning and Memory Movement Neuro News

Kayleen Schreiber June 19, 2017June 30, 2017 Alzheimer’s disease, Brain, Cortex, DNA, Epigenetics, gene, Genetics, Infographic, Knowing Neurons, Learning, Memory, Nature, Nature Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Neuron, Neurons, Neuroscience, Prefrontal Cortex, Receptor, Research, Science

Bite-size Science: Epigenetics help protect the aging brain

Epigenetics change which genes are active and which are inactive. Research over the past few years has shown that these changes are important for protecting the brain from neurodegeneration and… Read More

Weird Animal Brain Did You Know?Movement Neuroscience Art Sensation and Perception

Kayleen Schreiber June 12, 2017June 30, 2017 Brain, Development, Infographic, Neuron, Neurons, Neuroscience, Ocean, Perception, Receptor, Sea Squirt

Weird Animal Brain: Sea Squirt

The brain is one of the most complex and amazing structures in the universe. It allows us to experience the world, feel, remember, and plan for the future. But for… Read More

Interviews Big Ideas Did You Know?

Kate Fehlhaber May 24, 2017June 30, 2017 Brain, Conversation, Future, Interview, Kate Fehlhaber, Neuroscience, Perception, Podcast, SciComm, Spinning Logic, STEM, Vision, Women

Spinning Logic

I had the opportunity to speak with Jason Havey, host of the Spinning Logic podcast! And it was a blast!!… Read More

Did You Know?Science Policy

Kayleen Schreiber May 10, 2017June 30, 2017 Bias, Fact, fake news, Infographic, Internet, Neuroscience, News, Reference, Research, SciComm, Science, Search, Source

Should you trust that article you’re reading?

It’s easy to find information on the internet — especially information that confirms what you already believe to be true. Through search engine bias, your Facebook newsfeed bubble, and confirmation… Read More