Neuroscience2880 articles archived since 1845

Best Male Nightingale Vocalists Make Best Fathers

Male nightingales use singing virtuosity to signal prospective mates that they will be the most doting dads. Sabrina Imbler reports  

Memory System May Overcome Diverse Disorders

Declarative memory, rooted in the hippocampus, could help the brain pick up the slack for diverse impairments across many developmental disorders such as autism and obsessive-compulsive disorder...

Exercise Gets the Brain in Shape

Keeping fit is just as important for your mind as your body

Expanding Illusory Perception to Microbes in the Gut

Can the output of the critters in your gut make your world illusory? Yes. And gassy, too.

Why Do Cops Kill?

Exoskeleton Technology Could Redefine Disability

One woman’s story illustrates how hope, perseverance and innovative engineering can help people with limited mobility get back on their feet

Sex Divide Seen in Mechanism That Produces Persistent Pain

Male and female mice are found to regulate pain sensitivity differently, a result which could explain why some drug experiments have failed

Marijuana Muddies Memory and Mixes with Alcohol to Make Trouble

People who smoke pot and drink are twice as likely to do both at the same time than to do just one, with the combo associated with bad decision-making; and chronic pot smokers who had not indulged in a month were still more likely to have faulty memories than were nonsmokers...

Noses Agree When Genes See Eye to Eye

We all perceive smells differently—and two people’s preferences may give clues to their degree of genetic similarity. Christopher Intagliata reports

Everyday Routines Make Life Feel More Meaningful

Regularity helps life make sense, a crucial component in finding meaning

Stress Makes Your Brain Stronger: Try Fasting

A scientist who studies aging describes how going without food for a time can make your brain cells healthier

New Oxytocin Neuroscience Counters "Cuddle Hormone" Claims

Researchers are still working out the nuances of how oxytocin affects the brain, with few studies definitively linking autism to problems in oxytocin signaling

Infants Focus on the Familiar and the Phenomenal

Examining the factors that capture a baby’s attention yields insights into cognitive development

Ramón y Cajal and the Case for Drawing in Science

As someone who works at the intersection of art and science, I have always found it easy to make the case that all artists are scientists. From the moment we pick up a crayon and make our first mark, we are experimenting...

Toxic Chemicals in Fruits and Vegetables Are What Give Them Their Health Benefits

Chemicals that plants make to ward off pests stimulate nerve cells in ways that may protect the brain against diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's

What Makes Magic Funny?

Many magicians use humor in their shows, both for the entertaining value and as a misdirection tool. But magic audiences not only laugh at the magician’s jokes, but also at the magical effects themselves...

Do Video Games Inspire Violent Behavior?

Conventional wisdom suggests violent media is harming kids. But sometimes a game is just a game

Why Do Graveyard Shifts Wreak Havoc on Human Metabolism?

By getting volunteers to live in a sleep lab for more than a month, researchers hope to unravel the effects of chronic sleep debt and circadian rhythm gone awry

Discover How Nerves Translate Different Types of Touch Sensations [Slide Show]

The nerves in our body specialize in sensing particular touches but work together to create our rich tactile experiences

People Who Are Double-Jointed Are More Likely to Be Anxious

An underlying collagen abnormality may heighten both flexibility and fight-or-flight response