Perception Archives - Knowing Neurons

Innate Interpretations: Poetry and the Brain

June 21, 2022June 21, 2022 James Cole aesthetic, audience, Awareness, Emotion, literary, neuroaesthetics, Perception, poetry, Sound

Written by James Cole “It is a test [that] genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood.” T.S. Eliot A couple years ago I found myself in perhaps one of… Read more

Sensation and Perception

Have you ever touched a flavor?

April 20, 2022April 20, 2022 Carolyn Amir flavor, gustatory, Olfaction, Perception, Sensation, taste, Touch

The multisensory perception of taste Starting when we are little children, the role of food in our lives is crucial. The act of sharing a meal is something so universally… Read more

Multilingual Spanish

Neuro Cartilla: La Atención

August 6, 2021October 23, 2021 Sean Noah Attention, Brain, Brain Basics, Consciousness, Focus, Perception, Vision

Artículo original: Neuro Primer: Attention, Sean Noah Traducido por Sebastián Martínez ~~~ Imaginémonos soportar una clase a las 2 de la tarde en un día sofocante a principios de junio.… Read more

Big Ideas Language Philosophy Sensation and Perception

50 Shades of Green – How Language Shapes our Color Perception

August 2, 2021October 18, 2021 Zoe Dobler Color, Color Vision, language, native language, Perception, Vision

While writing this article, I am lying in the grass, which is as green as the caipirinha I am drinking under the blue sky. This sounds great, doesn’t it? I’m… Read more

Neuroscience Technologies

Shining Light on An Innovative Brain Stimulation Technique

September 12, 2020September 14, 2020 Ana Sousa Motor cortex, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Perception, Schizophrenia, tES, transcranial electrical stimulation, transcranial random noise stimulation, tRNS

How cool would it be to have the ability to move someone else’s hand? Perhaps we could make our friends do some tasks for us or we could make kids… Read more

Feature image depicting a brain in the center of a circle with a visual illusion background. On the left is a hand, palm up, holding a heart. On the right, another hand is tentatively reaching out to grab it. Designed by Alexa Erdogan.

Big Ideas Culture Philosophy Sensation and Perception

Understanding Visual Illusions Can Make Us More Empathetic

April 8, 2020April 8, 2020 McKenna Becker Bias, Blind spot, Cognition, Empathy, Illusion, Neuroplasticity, Optic nerve, Perception, philosophy, Photoreceptor, Politics, R.L. Gregory, Reality, Retina, Stroop Test, Top-Down Processing, V.S. Ramachandran, Visual Illusions

Philosophers and neuroscientists agree that if there is an objective reality, human beings can’t perceive it: philosophers refer to objective reality as a perception independent of any conscious awareness. Neuroscientists… Read more

Brain Books by Knowing Neurons. The Case Against Reality by Donald Hoffman. Illustrated by McCall Sarrett & Jooyeun Lee.

Big Ideas Brain Books Consciousness Evolution of Cognition Sensation and Perception

Book Review and Author Interview: The Case Against Reality by Donald Hoffman

December 6, 2019December 7, 2019 Joel Frohlich Brain Books, Cognition, Color, Consciousness, Evolution, Evolutionary Game Theory, Hallucination, hard problem of consciousness, Illusion, Interface Theory of Perception, mathematics, Motion, Necker Cube, Occam's Razor, Orientation, Perception, Physicalism, Psychology, Quantum mechanics

A full interview with Donald Hoffman follows this book review Does the moon still exist when you’re not looking at it? In a provocative new book titled The Case Against… Read more

Illustration of deep neural networks by Michal Roessler.

Artificial Intelligence Learning and Memory Sensation and Perception

How our Visual Neurons relate to Deep Neural Networks

November 7, 2018November 7, 2018 Ioannis Kalfas AI, convolutional neural network, deep learning, Deep neural network, Electrophysiology, inferotemporal cortex, Learning, Machine Learning, neural network, Perception, regression, visual system

Our brain has been evolving for millions of years, ever-changing and adjusting to handle novel stimuli and conditions, looking like a bag of slimy, gooey matter folded in various ways… Read more

Did You Know? Sensation and Perception Weird Animal Brain

Weird Animal Brain: Dung Beetle

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

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

Brain Basics Consciousness Neuro Primer

Neuro Primer: Attention

May 31, 2018March 3, 2019 Sean Noah Attention, Brain, Brain Basics, Consciousness, Focus, Perception, Vision

magine suffering through a 2pm class on a sweltering day in early June. Summer’s almost arrived, and it’s hard not to let your mind wander away from the dull information… Read more

Brain Basics Sensation and Perception

Tick, Tock: Your Brain’s Inner Clock

April 25, 2018April 25, 2018 Jenn Tribble circadian rhythm, David Eagleman, Dopamine, Einstein, emotional state, five senses, Perception, Sensation, stress, temporal pattern, Time

ime: one syllable, four letters, but one of the nebulous constructs of our world. Many bright scholars and philosophers have attempted to understand time as a primary sense, including Albert… Read more

Brain Basics Did You Know? Sensation and Perception

Neuronal Communication: Electricity and Neurotransmitters

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

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

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 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

Learning and Memory Neuroscience Technologies Sensation and Perception Sleep

How Binaural Beats Affect Your Brain – and How They Don’t

December 21, 2017December 21, 2017 Sophie Fessl Alpha waves, bayer, Binaural beats, brain waves, digital drugs, EEG rhythms, entrainment, Gamma waves, monaural beat, Perception, phase synchronization

he beat is low and steady – but it’s all just in my head… While I’m sitting on my couch, listening to some smooth jazz, there is a faint beat… Read more

Did You Know? Sensation and Perception Weird Animal Brain

Weird Animal Brain: Leaf Sheep Sea Slug

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

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

Big Ideas Consciousness Philosophy

Our Illusory Sense of Agency Has a Deeply Important Social Purpose

September 29, 2017October 6, 2017 Chris Frith agency, choice, Consciousness, Epicurus, Free Will, Illusion, Mopan Maya, morality, Perception, philosophy, stoic

’m trying to concentrate on writing this piece, but my two grandchildren in the room next door have stopped making paper aeroplanes and started arguing. ‘You kicked me,’ yells Freya.… Read more

Brain Basics Brain Development Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders Sensation and Perception

Schizophrenia in a Vial? The Story of Ketamine

September 20, 2017March 21, 2022 Joel Frohlich 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

Did You Know? Sensation and Perception Weird Animal Brain

Weird Animal Brain: Tuatara Lizard

September 18, 2017September 17, 2017 Kayleen Schreiber 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 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? Sensation and Perception Weird Animal Brain

Weird Animal Brain: Fly

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

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

Big Ideas Neuroscience Art Neuroscience Technologies Sensation and Perception

How Neuroimaging Changes Our View of Science & Humanity

August 2, 2017August 2, 2017 Alexa Erdogan Brain, CLARITY, Cortex, EEG, Fact, fMRI, Greg Dunn, Interview, Knowing Neurons, MRI, Neuroimaging, Neuron, Neurons, Neuroscience, Perception, Prefrontal Cortex, Research, Science

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… Read more

Did You Know? Sensation and Perception Weird Animal Brain

Weird Animal Brain: Brittle Star

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

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

Did You Know? Interviews Neuroscience Art Sensation and Perception

Self Reflected: The Best of Neuroscience and Art

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

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? Uncategorized Weird Animal Brain

Weird Animal Brain: Moth

July 10, 2017July 9, 2017 Kayleen Schreiber Antenna, Brain, Fact, Infographic, Knowing Neurons, Nature, Neuron, Neurons, Perception, Science, Smell

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

Big Ideas Consciousness Philosophy Sensation and Perception

We Are All Brains in Vats

June 28, 2017September 24, 2017 DanielToker Brain in a Vat, Consciousness, Gilbert Harmanm, Hallucination, Illusion, Perception, Rene Descartes, The Matrix

The Matrix made all of us ask the same disturbing questions: How do I know that the world I see, hear, and touch is real? Can I prove that I’m… Read more

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

Weird Animal Brain: Platypus

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

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

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

Weird Animal Brain: Sea Squirt

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

Big Ideas Did You Know? Interviews

Spinning Logic

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

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

Brain Basics Brain Development Did You Know? Learning and Memory Neuro News Neuroscience Technologies Sensation and Perception

How does fundamental research help you?

March 15, 2017June 30, 2017 Kayleen Schreiber 2017, Alzheimer’s disease, Brain, Conference, Development, Fact, Florida, Infographic, Institute, Knowing Neurons, Learning, Max Planck, Memory, Neuron, Neuroscience, Perception, Receptor, Research, Science, Sunposium, Synapse

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… Read more

Did You Know? Sensation and Perception

Why Mosquitoes Love Us

February 8, 2017June 30, 2017 Megumi Sano Antenna, Chemosensation, Drosophila, Flies, Fruit fly, GFP, Glomerulus, Green fluorescent protein, gustatory, Labial Palp, Leslie Vosshall, Maxillary Palp, microbiome, Mosquito, Mosquitoes, Multimodal Sensory Integration, Odor, Odorant, Olfaction, olfactory, Perception, Proboscis, Sense, Sensilla, Sensory, SEZ, Smell, subesophageal zone, taste

From that evil itch on your arm to torturous diseases such as malaria, Zika, dengue, and yellow fever, mosquito bites can have unpleasant consequences. But have you ever wondered why… Read more

Did You Know? Movement Sensation and Perception Weird Animal Brain

Weird Animal Brain: Octopus

January 9, 2017June 5, 2019 Kayleen Schreiber Brain, Fact, Infographic, Knowing Neurons, Neuron, Neurons, Neuroscience, Octopus, Perception, Weird Animal Brain

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… Read more

Interviews Sensation and Perception

Is Seeing Believing? A Conversation with Tom Albright

November 9, 2016June 30, 2017 Kate Fehlhaber Brain, Forensic, Interview, Memory, Neuroscience 2016, Neuroscientist, Next Generation Award, Perception, Salk, San Diego, Science, SfN, SfN16, Society for Neuroscience, Tom Albright, Vision

What does eye-witness identification have to do with neuroscience? A lot, actually.… Read more

Did You Know? Sensation and Perception Weird Animal Brain

Weird animal brain: Sharks

October 31, 2016June 30, 2017 Kayleen Schreiber Brain, Electricity, Fact, Head, Infographic, Knowing Neurons, Lorenzini, Neuroscience, Organ, Perception, Receptor, Research, Science, Sense, Shark

Everyone knows sharks are fierce predators. How exactly they hunt so well is in part due to their extra sixth sense: electroreception!… Read more

Did You Know? Sensation and Perception

When the blind can see again: A critical question of perception

September 28, 2016June 30, 2017 Kate Fehlhaber Acuity, Blind, Cat, Cataracts, Color, Critical Period, Deprivation, Development, Hubel, Illusion, Kitten, Light, Monocular, Oversegementation, Perception, Perceptual, Project Prakash, See, Sight, synaptic plasticity, Touch, Vision, Visual, Visual cortex, Wiesel

Our sense of sight is arguably our most important sense. Imagine how different your life would be if soon after birth, you lost the ability to see. For over 1.4… Read more

Feature image of a brain with a circle pulsating from the center, to symbolically describe synesthesia.

Did You Know? Sensation and Perception

What is Synesthesia?

September 13, 2016June 5, 2019 Kayleen Schreiber Audition, auditory, Brain, Color, Colors, Dendrite, Hear, Hearing, Mix, Mixed, Music, Perception, See, Sense, Senses, Sight, Synesthesia, Vision

Have you ever wondered if you experience the world like everyone else? We assume that our senses tell us what’s going on in the world, but they’re far from perfect.… Read more

52 Brain Facts Popular Articles

Myth or Fact? Many psychopaths have a poor sense of smell.

March 7, 2016March 23, 2016 knowingneurons 52 Brain Facts, Frontal lobe, Olfaction, olfactory, Olfactory Bulb, Perception, Psychopath, Smell

Artificial Intelligence Did You Know? Learning and Memory

The Doors of Perception

December 9, 2015July 10, 2017 Joel Frohlich Associative memory, Fusiform face area, Hebb, Hebbian learning, Hopfield network, Inkblot, Magnetoencephalogram, MEG, MRI, pareidolia, Perception, Positive feedback, Rorschach

“If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, Infinite.” – William Blake The friendly headlamps and grill of a car. A sly… Read more

52 Brain Facts

Myth or Fact? Axonal conduction delays and processing time prevent us from experiencing the world in "real time."

November 30, 2015 knowingneurons 52 Brain Facts, Past, Perception, Time, Vision

Brain Basics Sensation and Perception

Seeing Invisible Colors: Part II

September 30, 2015June 29, 2022 Joel Frohlich Color, Color Vision, Cone, Cones, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Green, Mars, NASA, Opponent Process Theory, Perception, Pluto, Tetrachromat, Trichromatic, Vision

In a recent Knowing Neurons piece, we explored the exotic visual abilities of other animals, while lamenting the limitations of human color vision. In this article, we stretch those limits… Read more

Brain Basics Sensation and Perception

Seeing Invisible Colors

July 1, 2015March 5, 2017 Joel Frohlich Blue, Cataract, Color, Cone, Eye, Frank Jackson, Gene therapy, Green, Lens, Light, Mantis Shrimp, Perception, Photoreceptor, Red, Retina, Ultraviolet, UV, Vision

What would the world be like without color? Imagine you are a neurophysiologist, who studies color perception. You know that light is a wave and that humans perceive color according… Read more

Brain Basics Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders Sensation and Perception

The Split Brain: Making Two Hemispheres Whole

July 23, 2014March 5, 2017 Kate Fehlhaber Brain, Corpus callosum, Fibers, Hemisphere, Key, Key-Ring, language, Left, Nerves, Optic Chiasm, Perception, Right, Ring, Roger Sperry, See, Split brain, Vision

Admit it! You’ve taken one of those online quizzes to see if you’re more “right-brained” or “left-brained.” Too bad it’s all bunk! Popular culture would have you believe that creative… Read more