Does Parkinson's Begin in the Gut?
A growing body of evidence links the neurodegenerative disease to the gastrointestinal tract, opening new possibilities for treatment
Stories by Diana Kwon
Intelligent Machines That Learn Like Children
Machines that learn like children provide deep insights into how the mind and body act together to bootstrap knowledge and skills
Cetaceans' Big Brains Are Linked to Their Rich Social Life
Studying whale and dolphin anatomy and behavior could offer insights into human evolution
Concussion Recovery Is Slower in Girls, Mounting Evidence Suggests
A new study adds to findings that female children and adolescents are more susceptible to head injuries
Are Some Psychiatric Disorders a pH Problem?
Increased acidity found in the brains of patients and mouse models of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder raises treatment questions
New Books on Memes, Mental Time Travel, Manufactured Emotions and Tech Addiction
Scientific American Mind weighs in on recent titles from neuroscience and psychology
The Brain Can Distinguish between Real and Fake Laughter
Nongenuine chuckles cause a specific cortical region to “light up” more
Meditation's Calming Effects Pinpointed in the Brain
A new mouse study reveals a set of neurons that may point to physiological roots for the benefits of breathing control
New Books about Amnesia, Empathy, ADHD and the Placebo Effect
Scientific American Mind weighs in on recent titles from neuroscience and psychology
Can Facebook's Machine-Learning Algorithms Accurately Predict Suicide?
The social media giant aims to save lives by quickly flagging and responding to worrying posts
Brain's Support Cells Could Explain Mysterious "Spreading Pain"
Scientists uncover how non-neuronal cells induce synaptic plasticity in pain circuits, potentially across long distances
How Your Heartbeat May Trick Your Senses
The brain reacts oddly to stimuli in sync with the heart
New Books Explore Puzzles of Taste, Gender and Addiction
Scientific American Mind weighs in on recent titles from neuroscience and psychology
New Players in the Obesity Puzzle: The Brain's Glial Cells
Discoveries about the roles they play in appetite and metabolism could unlock new strategies against obesity
Financial Stress Hurts, Literally
A recent study links shaky economic outlook and feelings of physical pain
Half the World Could Be Nearsighted by 2050
Nearsightedness is on the rise
Put to Shame--and Better for It
Psychologists have long seen shaming as destructive, but new science suggests we can harness it to motivate transgressors to make amends
The Hidden Harms of Antidepressants
Data about the true risks of suicide and aggression for children and teens taking these drugs have been suppressed
Does City Life Pose a Risk to Mental Health?
Recent studies shed light on the link between urban living and psychosis
The Battle over Pain in the Brain
A new study adds to a heated debate about where pain signals are processed
