By Keionna Newton
The brain is an endlessly fascinating organ, but let’s face it – it is also a complete enigma. One quick look into any introductory neuroscience textbook and…
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by Rebeka Popovic
To operate properly, each cell relies on thousands of proteins performing their function at the right time and place within the boundaries of its membrane. The function…
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Did you know you have a special cell type in your retina whose density can give us an approximate sense of how good your vision is? Check out this…
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How does information about what we see around us reach the brain? Check out this infographic from Gil Torten to learn about each step in the intricate visual pathway,…
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How might people with cataracts see the world differently? What about someone with a refractive error like astigmatism? In this infographic, KN Illustrator Gil Torten explores how different eye conditions…
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How do optical illusions work? Check out this infographic to learn about how the features of our visual system lead to some of these odd and intriguing optical experiences.…
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Did you know that neural networks and some parts of the visual system work in a very similar way? Learn about the similarities between the two systems in Gil Torten’s…
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How do our eyes focus on moving objects and chameleon eyes zoom into their environment? Learn about the differences between the human eye and chameleon eyes in our latest infographic.…
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How does the octopus see the world? Learn about the differences between the human retina and the octopus retina in our latest infographic.
An insightful infographic written and illustrated by…
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From Nov 30th until Dec 11th, academics, investors, and entrepreneurs from across the globe will meet virtually at NeuroTech 2020: The Digital Congress for NeuroTech Innovation & Growth.
Knowing Neurons…
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Over 50 years ago, large masses of movie enthusiasts flocked to the premiere of a much awaited sci-fi masterpiece called ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’. The plot was rather simple. A…
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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-…
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This past November the mug shot of Charles McDowell went viral after viewers noticed that the man in the photo had an unusual phenotype- specifically a larger than average neck.…
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What happens to the brain in aging?
Normal aging comes with many changes in brain structure and function. As individuals approach the age of 65 years and above, they experience…
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Anyone who has spent time around teenagers knows they don’t always consider the full consequences of their actions. Just consider the dozens of YouTube videos involving falling dressers or fireworks…
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Consciousness is an ambiguous concept. It can mean a lot of different things, depending on the context. For example, I can say that I am conscious of something, as in, “I am…
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[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n a brand new episode of the Knowing Neurons podcast, we explore the concept of “mind uploading”. How would something like a mind upload really work?…
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Spanish Translation also available here: Neuro Cartilla: Neurodesarrollo
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How does your brain become a brain?
Neurodevelopment is the crucial process through which every brain is formed.…
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[dropcap]A[/dropcap]lthough radically different in terms of their content and feel, the range of dream states are just as complex as waking states. If we look across an individual’s lifetime, we…
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[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t may sound like something Dr. Frankenstein himself would be envious of, but scientists can now create miniature “brain” organoids in a dish.…
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[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.…
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[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…
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How much of your brain are you using right now?
The science fiction answer would be “10%.” And, if you’ve watched enough bad sci-fi, using 100% of your brain would…
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This post was updated on April 24, 2019 to incorporate feedback from parents. Names have been changed to protect anonymity.
What is health? What is happiness? We generally imagine the…
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[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he term “hive mind” refers to the apparent intelligence that emerges at the group level in some social species, particularly insects like honeybees and ants. An individual honeybee might not…
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[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he brain is perhaps the most complex machine in the Universe. It consists of two cerebral hemispheres, each with many different modules. Fortunately, all these separate parts are not autonomous…
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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…
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[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he number of U.S. judicial opinions citing neuroscience more than doubled in the seven years from 2005 to 2012, according to an analysis in the Journal of Law and the Biosciences.…
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A family curse
During the early 1980’s, an Italian physician was investigating a mysterious and dreadful disease that had long plagued his family. In earlier generations, this disease had killed…
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[dropcap]O[/dropcap]n a recent family trip, I persuaded my dad to continue on from Grand Teton to Yellowstone National Park. Time was short before driving back to our lodging in Idaho.…
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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…
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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!…
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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…
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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…
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[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…
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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…
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Magritte’s comments on our fascination with the unknown rings true not just in artistic surrealism, but also in many of our scientific research endeavors. The human mind is continually fascinated…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Sometimes it’s hard to understand why scientists do what they do. Why spend a career studying cells, fungus, or flies? Other than being nerdy and wanting to learn about our…
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The octopus almost reaches alien status when it comes to its brain and nervous system. And yet, the differences can help us understand more about the human brain as well…
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Knowing Neurons had an amazing year, and we are so thankful for all your support throughout our journey! Here are some highlights from 2016!…
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