Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Cerebral Organoids Reveal New Angles for Understanding the Human Brain

January 11, 2022 Claudia Nguyen 0 Comments Brain development, Development, Neurological Disorder, Neuropsychiatric diseases, Neuroscience Methods, Organoids, Techniques

When you think of researchers growing “mini-brains,” you might picture a mad scientist out of a sci-fi or horror movie. But the reality looks quite different. Cerebral organoids, often colloquially… Read more

Brain Development Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

The Why of the Cry

December 14, 2021 Lauren Granata 0 Comments Acoustics, cry, Development, Evolution, Genetics, infants, Postpartum, Psychiatric Disorders, Ultrasonic Vocalizations

When you hear a baby relentlessly crying on an airplane, even through your noise-cancelling headphones, you can do nothing but sigh in defeat. With all hope of an in-flight nap… Read more

Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Hydrocephalus Treatment Advances: time to shunt the outdated shunts

November 10, 2021December 13, 2021 Rebecca Munday 0 Comments CSF, Disease, hydrocephalus, medical devices, pediatrics, Technology, treatments

Imagine being in so much pain it is impossible for your brain to shut down and fall asleep. Worse yet, you cannot sit up, stand up, or walk around because… Read more

Brain Basics Brain Development Mental Health Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Depression: The Role of Chronic Inflammation

July 5, 2021November 8, 2021 Arielle Hogan 0 Comments depression, Inflammation, mental health, Neuroinflammation, Psychiatric Disorders

Depression is a common mental disorder affecting around 4% of the world’s population. Evidence suggests that chronic inflammation plays an important role in the development of depression. Indeed, around one… Read more

Big Ideas Brain Development Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders Sensation and Perception

The Promise of Service Dogs in Autism

June 14, 2021November 5, 2021 Caitlin Goodpaster 0 Comments

I was in my junior year of college at Ohio State University when my roommate roped me into joining an organization called 4 Paws for Ability, a group that trains… Read more

Big Ideas Brain Development Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Dialogues in Music Therapy and Social Neuroscience: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Clinical Progress

April 13, 2021November 8, 2021 Zoe Dobler 0 Comments Development, EEG, Emotion, fMRI, Music, Music Therapy, Psychiatric Disorders, Social Neuroscience, Therapy

In his book “Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain”, the neurologist Oliver Sacks stated that music can “calm us, animate us, comfort us, thrill us, or serve to organize… Read more

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

Neuro Primer: Addiction Basics

March 22, 2021May 31, 2021 Elizabeth Burnette 0 Comments Addiction, Alcohol, Behavioral Neuroscience, Hippocampus, Nucleus accumbens, Tolerance, Withdrawal

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… Read more

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

The Nocebo Effect

January 3, 2021June 3, 2021 Elizabeth Burnette 1 Comment Bias, Classical Conditioning, Drug, negative symptoms, Placebo effect, Treatment

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

Mental Health Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

The Default Mode Network and Depression

December 20, 2020February 18, 2021 Stacey Neglia 1 Comment Anxiety, Default mode network, depression, fMRI, Meditation, PET, Psychedelics

The inner landscape of the mind can be a dark and gloomy place for people with depression and anxiety. It is often filled with negative self-talk and repetitions of bad… Read more

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

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

October 27, 2020February 18, 2021 Joshua Cain 0 Comments brain imaging, Consciousness, Deep Brain Stimulation, Thalamus, transcranial electrical stimulation

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

Aging Big Ideas Learning and Memory Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Can Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Delay Cognitive Decline?

October 6, 2020October 7, 2021 Charmi Porwal 0 Comments Age, Age-related cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Metabolism, Oxygen

Mental abilities change throughout life, first as a result of brain maturation and later with the ageing of brain cells and their billions of complex interconnections. As we age, our… Read more

Big Ideas Mental Health Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Could a computer game help to tackle intrusive memories from traumatic events?

August 31, 2020August 31, 2020 Mariella Careaga 0 Comments Computer Games, Gaming, Intrusive Memories, Memory, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, Tetris

Nowadays, experiencing shocking and dangerous situations in which you think yours or someone else’s life is in danger is not rare. People who are exposed to, or have witnessed life-threatening… Read more

Did You Know? Infographics Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)

August 17, 2020August 17, 2020 Rajamani Selvam 0 Comments ADHD, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, Infographic, neurodevelopmental disorer, Neurological Disorder, Neuroscience, psychological disorder, SciComm, Science

~ 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

Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders Sensation and Perception

Cognition in Schizophrenia: The Missing Piece of the Therapeutic Puzzle

April 22, 2020April 17, 2020 Jessica Brown 0 Comments Antipsychotic drugs, Cognition, Cognitive Remediation Therapy, Hallucination, Memantine, Neurological Disorder, NMDA, NMDA receptor, Quality of life, Relapse, Schizophrenia, Therapeutic Approaches

What kind of mental image springs to mind upon reading the word ‘schizophrenia’? Many envisage individuals locked in dark institutions, plagued by non-existent voices and vivid hallucinations. Fortunately, modern antipsychotic… Read more

Brain Basics Consciousness Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders Sensation and Perception Sleep

Sleep Paralysis: What Is It and What Causes It?

December 30, 2019June 3, 2021 Mira Rakicevic 2 Comments Anxiety, Cataplexy, circadian rhythm, EEG, Electromyogram, Genetics, Hallucination, hypnagogic hallucination, Hypnopompic, Insomnia, Narcolepsy, NREM sleep, parasomnia, PER2, Polysomnography, REM sleep, Sleep, Sleep Apnea, Sleep Atonia, Sleep paralysis, stress, Vestibular-motor Hallucination

Sleep paralysis is a type of REM parasomnia or abnormal behavior that takes place during the REM sleep cycle. Also known as sleep atonia, this condition refers to the feeling… Read more

Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT) Feature Image

Infographics Movement Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders Sensation and Perception

Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease [Infographic]

November 13, 2019November 13, 2019 Rajamani Selvam 0 Comments Autosomal dominant, Autosomal Recessive, Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, Electromyogram, Genetic Mutation, Genetic Testing, Muscle Atrophy, mutation, myelin, Nerve Conduction Study, peripheral neuropathy, Sensory Loss, X-linked Dominant

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is a peripheral neuropathy disorder that affects various genders and ethnic groups worldwide. Nerve cell abnormalities are associated with this disorder and are linked to symptoms such as… Read more

Infographics Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Autism Spectrum Disorder [Infographic]

November 6, 2019September 1, 2020 Rajamani Selvam 0 Comments Asperger's Syndrome, Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Infographic, language, Neurodevelopmental Disorder, Social Communication, Vaccines

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in language acquisition and social communication. The disorder is referred to as a “spectrum,” as individuals can exhibit a… Read more

Brain Development Infographics Movement Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Alternating Hemiplegia [Infographic]

October 16, 2019October 16, 2019 Rajamani Selvam 0 Comments Alternating Hemiplegia, ATP, Autosomal dominant, de novo mutation, Genetic Counseling, Infographic, Movement, Neurodevelopment, Paralysis, Physical Therapy, Seizure

Alternating Hemiplegia is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects children. A characteristic symptom of the disorder is repetitive episodes of paralysis on one side or both sides of the body. The… Read more

Infographics Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Canavan Disease [Infographic]

July 3, 2019July 3, 2019 Rajamani Selvam 0 Comments Aspartoacylase, Autosomal Recessive, Brain Disorders, Canavan Disease, Development, genetic, Infographic, Leukodystrophies, myelin, White matter

Canavan Disease is a rare and fatal neurological disorder, in which the ability of neurons to transmit information is impaired due to damaged white matter in the brain. The disorder… Read more

Image of a brain with the words Kluver-Bucy Syndrome underneath it. Illustrated by Rajamani Selvam.

Infographics Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

What is Klüver-Bucy Syndrome? [Infographic]

May 8, 2019May 8, 2019 Rajamani Selvam 0 Comments Agnosia, Brain Tumor, Infographic, Kluver-Bucy Syndrome, Memory, Neurodegeneration, Neurological Disorder, Sexual Behavior, Temporal Lobe, Trauma, Viral Infection

Klüver-Bucy syndrome is a rare neurological disorder that causes damage to the brain’s temporal lobe. However, it is not life-threatening; medications and supportive therapy can help alleviate the symptoms. Learn… Read more

A cartoon image of a sun in the sky with golden rays extending outwards, with cannabis leaves on either side of the sun. Illustrated by McCall Sarrett.

Culture Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Does Cannabidiol (CBD) Actually Help Anxiety?

April 18, 2019April 18, 2019 Grace Browne 0 Comments Amygdala, Anxiety, Anxiolytic, Autism, Cannabidiol, Cannabis, CBD, Cingulate Cortex, DEA, dementia, Dextromethorphan, Drug, EFSA, Epilepsy, FDA, fMRI, Marijuana, Neurotransmitters, Paranoia, Phytocannabinoids, Psychology, serotonin, Society, THC

Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating compound of the Cannabis plant, has exploded in popularity in recent times, touted as a medical “cure-all”. Retailers promise their products will heal cancer, stop dementia… Read more

Image of synaptic cleft in the background with a large cupcake on the right, topped with sprinkles in the shape of pills. Illustrated by McCall Sarrett.

Big Ideas Culture Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders Sensation and Perception

Are Foods Addictive or Just Delicious?

April 4, 2019April 7, 2019 Shaun Khoo 0 Comments Addiction, Basolateral Amygdala, Classical Conditioning, Cocaine, Dopamine, glutamate, Neurotransmitters, Nucleus Accumbens Core, obesity, Operant Conditioning, Pavlov, Psychology, Relapse, Sugar, Tolerance, Withdrawal

We are surrounded by an abundance of delicious food. Throughout the developed world, cooking shows saturate our televisions and streaming video feeds advertise greasy burgers and decadent chocolates. Our addiction… Read more

Brain Basics Neuro Primer Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Neuro Primer: Sleep

March 20, 2019May 31, 2021 Joel Frohlich 0 Comments Adenosine, Alzheimer's, Alzheimer’s disease, ascending activating system, atonia, Brainstem, Caffeine, Coffee, Dreaming, dreams, general anesthesia, Hypnogram, Hypothalamus, locus coeruleus, NREM, Optic Chiasm, parasomnia, Raphe Nucleus, rapid eye movement sleep, REM, REM sleep behavior disorder, Sleep, Sleep paralysis, suprachiasmatic nucleus, synchronization, tuberomammillary nucleus

Spanish Translation also available here: Neuro Cartilla: El Sueño ~~~ It’s easy to ask: “Why sleep?” But we can also turn the question on its head: “Why wake?” We need… Read more

Infographics Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

What is Bell’s Palsy? [Infographic]

March 14, 2019March 14, 2019 Rajamani Selvam 0 Comments Acupuncture, Analgesics, Bell's Palsy, Corticosteroids, CT, Electromyography, Facial Droop, Facial Nerves, Infection, Infographic, MRI, Muscles, Neurological Disorder, Paralysis, Physical Therapy

Bell’s Palsy is a neurological disorder that causes temporary weakness in the facial muscles and nerves. The disorder can be cured with medications and therapy. In this infographic, neuroscientist Rajamani… Read more

Brain Development Infographics Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

What is Alexander Disease?

February 14, 2019February 15, 2019 Rajamani Selvam 0 Comments Alexander Disease, Development, GFAP, glia, Infographic, intellectual disability, Leukodystrophy, myelin, Neurological Disorder, White matter

Alexander disease is an extremely rare neurological disorder that severely impairs the functions of nervous system leading to intellectual disability and developmental delay. In this infographic, neuroscientist Rajamani Selvam explains… Read more

Infographics Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

What is Rett Syndrome?

January 9, 2019January 9, 2019 Rajamani Selvam 0 Comments Autism, CpG, Development, MECP2, NDD, Neurodevelopment, neurodevelopmental disorer, Rett syndrome

Rett syndrome is a rare developmental disorder that affects girls primarily. In this infographic, neuroscientist Rajamani Selvam explains about the causes of Rett syndrome, clinical traits, and treatments available for… Read more

Learning and Memory Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders Popular Articles

Understanding Noonan Syndrome

December 12, 2018December 12, 2018 Caitlin Aamodt 1 Comment Brain, bullying, Cell signaling, Charles McDowell, G-protein signaling, Genetics, intellectual disability, kinase, Learning, Long-term potentiation, LTP, Meme, Memory, neurodevelopmental disorer, Neuroscience, noonan syndrome, Novartis, phosphatase, Prison, PTPN11, Ras, Rasopathy

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.… Read more

Aging Learning and Memory Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders Uncategorized

The Pathology of Alzheimer’s Disease

December 6, 2018December 5, 2018 Khayla Black 1 Comment Aging, Alzheimer's, Alzheimer’s disease, Amyloid beta, amyloid plaque, dementia, neurofibrillary tangles, Tau

Whether it be forgetting 20 years of your life or having the same conversation every five minutes only to forget it each time, memory impairment can take a large toll… Read more

Aging Culture Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Food for Your Brain: Mediterranean Diet May Help Your Neurons Live Longer

November 28, 2018November 27, 2018 Marco Travaglio 0 Comments Aging, Alzeihmer's disease, Brain, dementia, dietary fat, Fat, Food, income, Learning, MeDi, Mediterranean Diet, Memory, Oxidative stress, socioeconomic status

Historians consider it one of the ‘cradles of civilization,’ but for many scientists today the real value of the Mediterranean basin does not lie in its contribution to history. Home… Read more

Infographics Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

What is Angelman Syndrome?

November 5, 2018November 5, 2018 Rajamani Selvam 0 Comments Angelman syndrome, Brain development, Chromosome, cognitive development, genetic, Genetic Disorder, Infographic, Neurodevelopment

Earlier this year, in a philosophical post, we considered whether children with a genetic disorder called Angelman syndrome are happy. Angelman syndrome is a rare disorder that many of our… Read more

Movement Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

The Neuroscience of Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors

November 1, 2018November 2, 2018 Trudi G 0 Comments BFRB, body-focused repetitive behaviors, excoriation disorder, inferior frontal gyrus, nail-biting, obsessive compulsive disorder, OCD, Pain, trichotillomania

Neuroscience continues to investigate the difference between a bad habit and the spectrum of mental health disorders known as body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs). BFRBs afflict less than 3% of the… Read more

Knowing Neurons - Artistic illustration of three different types of glial cells (astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes)

Aging Brain Basics Brain Development Neuro Primer Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Neuro Primer: Glia

October 25, 2018October 25, 2018 Alexa Erdogan 0 Comments Alzheimer’s disease, Astrocyte, Ependymal cells, glia, homeostasis, Immune cells, Lou Gehrig's Disease, Microglia, Neuro Primer, Neurodegenerative disease, Neurodevelopment, Neuroglia, Neuroscience history, Neurotransmitters, Oligodendrocyte, Rene Dutrochet, Rudolf Virchow, Santiago Ramon y Cajal, Synapse, synaptic plasticity, Synaptogenesis

Every single day, a group of cells work tirelessly to monitor and protect the neural architecture of your brain. Some of them even move around, scanning neural networks like recon… Read more

Aging Brain Basics Neuro Primer Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Neuro Primer: Aging

October 10, 2018October 8, 2018 Gabrielle Torre 1 Comment AD, Age-related cognitive decline, Aging, ALS, Alzheimer's, Alzheimer’s disease, Amyloid, amyloid plaques, Baby Boomers, beta-amyloid, Brain activation, Brain cells, Cardiovascular health, Childhood, Cognition, Cognitive performance, Cortex, dementia, Disease, Executive function, Exercise, Genetics, glutamate, Hippocampus, Longevity, Memory, Memory decline, myelin, Nervous System, Neurogenesis, Neuroimaging, Neurons, Neuroplasticity, Neuroscience, Neurotransmitters, Normal aging, Parkinson's, Parkinson's Disease, Plasticity, Quality of life, Research, Science, Sleep, Sleep habits, Ventricles, Working memory

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… Read more

Neuro News Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Main Bout: New Hopes in the Fight Against Parkinson’s Disease

September 25, 2018December 14, 2018 Marco Travaglio 0 Comments cell replacement therapy, CiRA, Dopamine, induced pluripotent stem cells, iPS Cell Research and Application, iPSC, Muhammad Ali, Parkinson's Disease, Substantia Nigra, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Following his Olympic victory in 1960, Muhammad Ali earned the World-Heavyweight-Champion title in 1964 in one of the most celebrated upsets in boxing history. The much-anticipated fight opened with the… Read more

Brain Stimulation: Learning Method of the 21st Century

Learning and Memory Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders Sensation and Perception

Brain Stimulation: A Learning Method for the 21st Century

April 4, 2018April 2, 2018 Amin Kamaleddin 1 Comment Brain, brain stimulation, Consciousness, Decision-making, Free Will, Learning, neuroprosthetics, premotor cortex, stroke

hat is happening in the brain when you decide to reach your hand and grasp a cup of coffee early in the morning? First, the posterior parietal cortex of your… Read more

Big Ideas Did You Know? Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

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

March 1, 2018April 18, 2019 Caitlin Aamodt 1 Comment 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

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

Big Ideas Brain Development Learning and Memory Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Are children with Angelman syndrome really happy?

February 6, 2018April 24, 2019 Joel Frohlich 13 Comments Angelman syndrome, Brain Disorders, Cure, Disorders, Happiness, Health, Lobotomy, mood, Mood Disorders, Neurodevelopment, Neurology, Neuroscience, Parenting, Prefrontal Cortex, Psychiatry, Treament, Wellbeing

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… Read more

Brain Books Consciousness Learning and Memory Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Book Review: The Perpetual Now

January 17, 2018January 17, 2018 Gabrielle Torre 1 Comment Brain book, Consciousness, Henry Molaison, Hippocampus, Lonnie Sue Johnson, medial temporal lobes, Memory, Michael D. Lemonick, Patient H.M., Short-term Memory, The Perpetual Now, Viral encephalitis

en years ago, in December 2007, an artist named Lonnie Sue Johnson lost her short term memory. She was admitted to the emergency room in the midst of a blizzard… Read more

Consciousness Learning and Memory Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

When You Split the Brain, Do You Split the Person?

January 10, 2018January 10, 2018 Yaïr Pinto 3 Comments Consciousness, Gazzaniga, Learning, Memory, Neuroscience, Perception, Prefrontal Cortex, Research, Sperry, Split brain

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… Read more

Neurolaw feature image, depicting libra scales with a brain on the left scale and a book on the right scale.

Big Ideas Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders Science Policy

Neurolaw: Combining Neuroscience and Criminal Justice

November 22, 2017November 21, 2017 Brainfacts.org 3 Comments Addiction, Courtroom, Drug policy, Drugs, Eyewitness testimony, Jed Rakoff, Justice, Law, Memory, Memory consolidation, Neurolaw, Neuroscience, Prison, Rehabilitation

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… Read more

Brain Basics Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders Sleep

The inescapable nightmare of fatal familial insomnia

October 31, 2017October 31, 2017 Sean Noah 1 Comment Brain, Cortex, Disease, Disorders, Fatal Familial Insomnia, FFI, Genetics, Insomnia, Molecular neuroscience, Neuroscience, Prions, Psychiatry, Sleep, Sleep disorders

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… Read more

Did You Know? Movement Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

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

October 30, 2017October 29, 2017 Kayleen Schreiber 0 Comments Brain, Cortex, Dopamine, Infographic, Knowing Neurons, Motor, Movement, Parkinson's Disease, Research, Science

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

Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders Uncategorized

High Fat Diet May Prevent Sudden Death in Epilepsy

October 11, 2017October 10, 2017 Tamsin Irwin 0 Comments ALS, Alzheimer's, Brain health, Cell Metabolism, Diet, Epilepsy, genes, Health, high-fat diet, Hippocampus, Ketogenic, Ketogenic diet, mitochondria, Motor neuron disease, Parkinson's, Seizure drugs, Seizures, SUDEP

he human brain consists of highly complex circuitry which is wired to elicit a synchronous pattern of electrical signals. This allows for communication between differing regions of the brain. When… Read more

Did You Know? Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Your gut is closer to your brain than it appears!

October 4, 2017October 3, 2017 Amin Kamaleddin 0 Comments Autoimmune disease, Bacteria, Cell communication, gut microbiome, Immune cells, Learning, Memory, MS, multiple sclerosis, myelin, Pathogens, pathology

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

Brain Basics Neuro News Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders Neuroscience Technologies Videos

Lighting Up The Brain With Optogenetics

September 22, 2017September 22, 2017 Brainfacts.org 0 Comments Algae, Biomimicry, BrainFacts.org, Channelrhodopsin, Deep Brain Stimulation, Optogenetics, Parkinson's Disease, Retina, Video

Scientists studying pond scum discovered its peculiar ability to sense light, even without eyes. This discovery would eventually lead to a technique called optogenetics, one of the most powerful techniques… Read more

Brain Basics Brain Development Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders Sensation and Perception

Schizophrenia in a Vial? The Story of Ketamine

September 20, 2017September 24, 2017 Joel Frohlich 2 Comments Anesthesia, Antidepressant, Antipsychotic drugs, Brain, cognitie symptoms, depression, Dissociation, Dopamine, glutamate, Ketamine, negative symptoms, neurotransmitter, PCP, Perception, phencyclidine, positive symptoms, Schizophrenia, Sensation, Synaptic Connections

Note: Ketamine is a controlled substance in the US and many other countries. Do not use ketamine illicitly. magine an injection that briefly gives you schizophrenia. Now imagine that this… Read more

Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

The Quest for a Successful TBI Treatment

September 14, 2017September 14, 2017 Shuhan He 1 Comment Brain, citocoline, clinical trial, Concussion, dexanabinol, erythropoietin, Glasgow Coma Scale, hypothermia, Neuro-QOL, Neuro-Quality of Life assessment, NIH, Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System, Pharmacology, placebo, prelinical stage, progesterone, PROMIS, SmartHealth IT, TBI, TBI-QOL, Traumatic brain injury, Treatment

military veteran who survived a gunshot wound to the head suffers from frequent seizures and memory problems. A motorcycle crash survivor experiences chronic depression and is unable to hold a… Read more

Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders Neuroscience Technologies

The Past and Promise of Deep Brain Stimulation

September 8, 2017September 8, 2017 Brainfacts.org 1 Comment Alim-Louis Benabid, Basal ganglia, China White, DBS, Deep Brain Stimulation, dementia, depression, Dopamine, Joseph Fourier University, L-dopa, Mahlon DeLong, MPTP, Parkinson's Disease, Parkinsonian, Subthalamic nucleus, Tourette syndrome, Tremor

In the early 1980s, a few batches of contaminated synthetic heroin triggered severe Parkinson’s disease symptoms among the drug addicts who used it. The tragedy would lead to a new… Read more

Big Ideas Neuro SciFi Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders Neuroscience Technologies Philosophy

The Ultimate Thought Experiment Part III: Flowers for Algernon

May 31, 2017October 29, 2017 Joel Frohlich 0 Comments Camp Concentration, Charlie Gordon, CRISPR, Daniel Keyes, Experiment, Flowers for Algernon, Intelligence, IQ, Louis Sacchetti, Nootropics, phenylketonuria, Science Fiction, Thomas M. Disch, Thought

In Part II of this series, we considered artificial intelligent in the context of Arthur C. Clarke’s novel and Stanley Kubrik’s film 2001: A Space Odyssey. In Space Odyssey, intelligence… Read more

Artificial Intelligence Big Ideas Consciousness Neuro SciFi Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders Philosophy

The Ultimate Thought Experiment Part I: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

May 3, 2017October 29, 2017 Joel Frohlich 1 Comment AI, android, Artificial Intelligence, Blade Runner, China brain, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Gedankenexperiment, Graham Sleight, Hans Christian Oersted, mood organ, Ned Block, Philip K. Dick, pupillometry, Science Fiction, thought experiment

Let’s imagine something crazy. What if each person in China was ordered to simulate a neuron in a brain, making an enormous “China brain?” Every participant in this grand experiment… Read more

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