Neuroscience

Big Ideas Consciousness Philosophy 

The emergence of a hive mind: Should we worry?

January 31, 2018February 3, 2018 DanielToker 0 Comments Brain, brain-to-brain communication, Consciousness, Hive Mind, Integrated Information Theory, Memory, Neuroscience, Prefrontal Cortex, Tononi

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… 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

Did You Know? Sensation and Perception Weird Animal Brain 

Weird Animal Brain: Narwhal

December 18, 2017December 18, 2017 Kayleen Schreiber 0 Comments Brain, Narwhal, Neuron, Neuroscience, Ocean, Sense, Weird Animal Brain

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

Big Ideas Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders Science Policy 

Neurolaw: Combining Neuroscience and Criminal Justice

November 22, 2017November 21, 2017 Brainfacts.org 4 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

Brain Basics Did You Know? Movement Sensation and Perception 

What is the cerebellum?

October 23, 2017October 22, 2017 Cari Ritzenthaler 2 Comments balance, Brain, Cerebellum, Coordination, granule cell, Infographic, Knowing Neurons, Movement, Neuroscience, Proprioception, Purkinje cell, Vestibular system

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

Brain Books Sensation and Perception 

Book Review: Your Brain is a Time Machine: The Neuroscience and Physics of Time

October 19, 2017October 18, 2017 Joel Frohlich 3 Comments bipolar disorder, circadian rhythm, Clock, Einstein, eternalism, general relativity, metaillusion, metaphysics, Neuroscience, presentism, relativity, special relativity, time machine, time perception

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.… Read more

Did You Know? Movement Weird Animal Brain 

Weird Animal Brain: Woodpecker

October 2, 2017September 29, 2017 Kayleen Schreiber 0 Comments Brain, Brain Injury, Infographic, Knowing Neurons, Nature, Neuroscience, Prefrontal Cortex, Research, Science, TBI, Traumatic brain injury

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

Did You Know? Sensation and Perception Weird Animal Brain 

Weird Animal Brain: Tuatara Lizard

September 18, 2017September 17, 2017 Kayleen Schreiber 0 Comments Fact, Infographic, Knowing Neurons, Lizard, Nature Neuroscience, Neuron, Neurons, Neuroscience, Perception, Science, Vision

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

Did You Know? Sensation and Perception Weird Animal Brain 

Weird Animal Brain: Strawberry Squid

August 28, 2017August 30, 2017 Kayleen Schreiber 1 Comment Brain, Color, Fact, Infographic, Knowing Neurons, Neuroscience, Perception, Squid, Vision

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

Did You Know? Learning and Memory Neuro News 

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

August 21, 2017August 21, 2017 Kayleen Schreiber 0 Comments Brain, Fact, Infographic, Knowing Neurons, Learning, Memory, Neuron, Neurons, Neuroscience, Research, Science

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? 

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

August 17, 2017August 17, 2017 DanielToker 0 Comments 2004 Presidential Election, Amygdala, George W. Bush, Insula, irrationality, John Kerry, Neuroimaging, Neuroscience, philosopher-kings, Plato, political philosophy, Politics, presidential election, reason

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