A Matter of Taste: Can a Sweet Tooth Be Switched Off in the Brain?
A study describes the complex brain circuitry that lets us identify, savor (or recoil from) a taste
Cognition3055 articles archived since 1845
The Problem with "Learning Styles"
There is little scientific support for this fashionable idea—and stronger evidence for other learning strategies
Superslow Brain Waves May Play a Critical Role in Consciousness
Signals long thought to be “noise” appear to represent a distinct form of brain activity
What Is Consciousness?
Scientists are beginning to unravel a mystery that has long vexed philosophers
Memory Surprises
An Unforgettable Activity from Science Buddies
The Science of Altering Consciousness
In a new book, best-selling author Michael Pollan explores psychedelics and the mind
At What Age Does Our Ability to Learn a New Language Like a Native Speaker Disappear?
Despite the conventional wisdom, a new study shows picking up the subtleties of grammar in a second language does not fade until well into the teens
Humans Evolved but Are Still Special
Brown University biologist and author Ken Miller talks about his new book The Human Instinct: How We Evolved to Have Reason, Consciousness and Free Will.
Culture Shapes Kids' Views of Nature
In a study of children interacting with toy animals Native American kids and non-Native kids imagined the animals very differently.
Bad Audio Can Hurt a Scientist's Credibility
Listeners gave more credence to a scientist’s radio interview when the audio was good quality than they did to the same material when the audio was poor. Christopher Intagliata reports.
5 Simple Ways to Boost Our Intelligence
Can we really boost our intelligence?
If Singing's Tough, Try Whistling
A new study claims it's easier to accurately whistle a melody than to sing it. Christopher Intagliata reports.
A Command Center in the Mammalian Brain Orchestrates Parenting Behaviors
A mouse study deconstructs for the first time a neural circuit underlying a complex social behavior
Right Whales Seem to Think before They Speak
Rather than always making the same call in response to the same stimuli, North Atlantic right whales are capable of changing their vocalizations.
Brain Scan Might Reveal Appetite for Risk
Volunteers willing to place riskier bets tended to sport larger amygdalas—a region associated with processing fear. Christopher Intagliata reports.
It's Not My Fault, My Brain Implant Made Me Do It
Where does responsibility lie if a person acts under the influence of their brain implant?
A Brain Deprived of Memory
Michael Lemonick, opinion editor at Scientific American, talks about his most recent book, The Perpetual Now: A Story of Amnesia, Memory and Love, about Lonni Sue Johnson, who suffered a specific kind of brain damage that robbed her of much of her memory and her ability to form new memories, and what she has revealed to neuroscientists about memory and the brain.
Long-Term Gains: Pre-K Programs Lead to Furthered Education Later in Life
Largest study to date of publicly funded early education program shows a major, sustained educational boost
The Power of Flexible Thinking
The cognitive style you need in times of change, explained by best-selling author Leonard Mlodinow
