
Wonders of the Bat Brain
How echolocation really works
How echolocation really works
We all emit slightly different brain waves in response to stimuli, and researchers say that an individual’s specific "brainprints" could be used to validate our identities...
It might take practice to get to Carnegie Hall but scientists found that it takes a set of dozens of genes in the brain working together to make that practice pay off.
Neuroimaging aids investigation into what happens in the brain when we try to remember information that’s very similar to what we already know
Scientific American MIND’s online survey of pet owners uncovered some interesting results when people were asked about their interspecies relationships
—Sue Napier, via e-mail
Books and recommendations from Scientific American MIND
Is there a typical cat person or snake owner? The jury is still out
Deliciousness is the happy result of a surprising blend of factors, some of which have nothing to do with your taste buds
New research reveals unexpected brain regions contribute to creativity
Proper nouns are names for unique persons, places, and things. One of these “things” can be songs. Songs have specific names, such as “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” or “Jingle Bells.” When you hear a song, you often think of its name...
—Jim Lohr, Iowa
Are illusions the exception or the rule in everyday vision? Do they represent visual processing errors or provide us with an evolutionary advantage? New research in lifelong blind people recently cured, may provide the answers...
Magnetic stimulation may help stave off age-related cognitive decline
Fruit bats stand in for vocal-learning mammals in isolation tests to test language development
Our ability to provide rapid, accurate answers engages a small area in the brain’s basal ganglia, a hub for learning and automatic behaviors
The skin of a California octopus species has a molecular light-sensing mechanism that allows it to change color to match its surroundings with no input from the creature's eyes or brain...
The long-held belief that memories are stored at synapses—the junctions between cells—may not be the full story
Treating the anxiety inherent in a “watchful waiting” approach might help patients make better medical choices
A mismatch in the maturation of brain networks leaves adolescents open to risky behavior but also allows for leaps in cognition and adaptability
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