Neuroscience
A New Study Helps Untangle the Role of Tau in Dementia
Understanding the protein’s role in the cell shows what's happening in neurodegenerative diseases before symptoms emerge.
Why Some Animals Can Tell More From Less
Researchers find that densely packed neurons play an outsize role in quantitative skill—calling into question old assumptions about evolution.
When Mind Melds With Machine, Who’s in Control?
Brain-computer interfaces are getting better all the time—and they’re about to land us in a philosophical quagmire.
These Lemurs Have Got Rhythm. Scientists Have Got Questions
Studying how and why rhythm evolved in these primates could help unravel the mysteries of human musicality.
Can Brain Organoids Be ‘Conscious’? Scientists May Soon Find Out
These bundles of neurons, often used for research, will likely display complex activity patterns akin to humans—raising wider ethical questions.
A Gene-Tweaked Jellyfish Offers a Glimpse of Other Minds
Researchers have created jellyfish whose nerve cells light up when they fire, offering a tantalizing view of neurology before the rise of the brain.
Your Brain Is an Energy-Efficient 'Prediction Machine'
Results from neural networks support the idea that brains use predictions to create perceptions—and that they work that way to conserve power.
Can a Digital Reality Be Jacked Directly Into Your Brain?
The idea of a synthetic experience uploaded to the mind has been a sci-fi fantasy forever. New brain-computer interfaces are making it nonfiction—very slowly.
Researchers Want to Restore ‘Good Noise’ in Older Brains
Aging people lose variation in brain oxygen levels—a sign of declining cognitive flexibility. A new drug study probes whether that loss can be reversed.
Sponge Genes Hint at the Origins of Neurons and Other Cells
A new gene expression study reveals broad cellular diversity as well as possibly ancient connections between the nervous, immune, and digestive systems.
The Long Search for a Computer That Speaks Your Mind
The trick is to use data from the brain to synthesize speech in real time so users can practice and the machine can learn. New brain computer interface systems are getting there.
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A New Dementia Test Raises More Questions Than Answers
A 5-minute assessment on an iPad could transform how we screen for dementia—or overwhelm the health care system with worried test-takers.
Neuron Bursts Can Mimic a Famous AI Learning Strategy
A new model of learning centers on blasts of neural activity that act as teaching signals—approximating an algorithm called backpropagation.
This Protein Predicts a Brain’s Future After Traumatic Injury
A blood test of “NfL” proteins answers questions about damage severity that doctors—and families—desperately need.
Psychologists Are Learning What Religion Has Known for Years
Social scientists are researching what humans can do to improve their quality of life. Their findings echo what religious practices perfected centuries ago.
‘Neurograins’ Could be the Next Brain-Computer Interfaces
Dozens of microchips scattered over the cortical surface might allow researchers to listen in on thousands of neurons at the same time.
A Stroke Study Reveals the Future of Human Augmentation
A successful clinical trial on stimulating the vagus nerve shows that it could change everything from medical treatment to Olympic training. Are we ready?
How Computationally Complex Is a Single Neuron?
Scientists taught an artificial neural network to imitate a biological neuron. The result offers a new way to think about the complexity of brain cells.
To Learn More Quickly, Brain Cells Break Their DNA
DNA double-strand breaks are associated with cancer and aging. A new study shows neurons can use them to quickly express genes related to learning and memory.
They Watched a YouTuber With Tourette’s—Then Adopted His Tics
Hundreds of people are displaying similar behaviors to that of YouTube star Jan Zimmermann. Do they have a disorder or something more mysterious?
You’re Not Alone: Monkeys Choke Under Pressure Too
Now you can blame the primate brain. And neuroscientists are eager for a deeper look.
A Graphene ‘Camera’ Images the Activity of Living Heart Cells
Using a novel device made from carbon atoms and a laser, researchers captured real-time electrical signals from muscle tissue.
The Pandemic Changed Sleep Habits. Maybe That’s a Good Thing
A growing body of research shows that to optimize health and productivity, workers should adjust their workdays to their sleep schedules.
The Secret Workings of Smell Receptors, Revealed At Last
Researchers have finally seen how some of them bind to odor molecules—yielding new insights into one of the most mysterious and versatile senses.