The Greatest Unknown Intellectual of the 19th Century
Emil du Bois-Reymond proclaimed the mystery of consciousness, championed the theory of natural selection and revolutionized the study of the nervous system. Today he is all but forgotten
Familiar Tunes Rapidly Jog the Brain
Within just a third of a second of hearing a snippet of a familiar refrain, our pupils dilate, and the brain shows signs of recognition. Christopher Intagliata reports.
How Research on Working Memory Can Improve Your Romantic Relationship
A cognitive factor helps explain how well we understand each other
Deep Sleep Gives Your Brain a Deep Clean
Slow-wave activity during dreamless slumber helps wash out neural detritus
Scientists Demonstrate Direct Brain-to-Brain Communication in Humans
Work on an “Internet of brains” takes another step
Society for Neuroscience at 50 Delves into Mini Brains, Gene Therapy, Prosthetics and All Else Related to Our Three-Pound Wonder
The organization’s anniversary comes at a time when some scientists have been barred from attending its annual meeting because of the U.S. travel ban
True Colors Shining Through
This illusion turns gray shades into rainbows
Your Skull Shapes Your Hearing
The resonant properties of your skull can amplify some frequencies and dampen others—and, in some cases, affect your hearing. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Why Do Some People Need Less Sleep? It’s in Their DNA
U.C.S.F. researchers find a gene for flourishing with less shut-eye
Sleep Deprivation Shuts Down Production of Essential Brain Proteins
A deficit arises in molecules needed for neurons to communicate efficiently
I Heard It Before, So It Must Be True
Repeated exposure to implausible statements makes them feel less so
Your Brain on Google Maps
For better or for worse, navigation apps change our sense of direction