Neuroscience
212 articles-
Big Brother of the Brain Is Here
A behavioral neurologist spells out the danger. -
A Closer Look at the Science of Mirror Neurons
The brain cells once alleged to explain empathy, autism, and theory of mind are being refined and redefined. -
What Your Brain Is Doing When You’re Not Doing Anything
On autopilot, the mind reveals new connections. -
People Who Can’t Picture Sound in Their Minds
For some, the brain is a quiet place. -
Why We Sense Somebody Who Isn’t There
When expectations aren’t met, our brains spook us. -
These Cells Spark Electricity in the Brain. They’re Not Neurons
For decades, researchers have debated whether brain cells called astrocytes can signal like neurons. -
Yes, We Have Free Will. No, We Absolutely Do Not
A volley of new insights reignites the debate over whether our choices are ever truly our own. -
The Usefulness of a Memory Guides Where the Brain Saves It
New research finds that the memories useful for future generalizations are held in the brain separately from those recording unusual events. -
The Worth of Wild Ideas
Even if a leading theory of consciousness is wrong, it can still be useful to science. -
Our Minds Remain Open When the LSD Wears Off
In a post-trip state, psychedelic researchers are finding, real healing begins.
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Loss of Smell May Be an Early Sign of Brain Diseases
Scientists have learned smell loss can be a diagnostic tool for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
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How to Drive a Car Through a Wall
The winner of 2023’s Best Illusion of the Year contest on the nature of science and magic.
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Finding the Neural Correlates of Consciousness Is Still a Good Bet
How the wager between a neuroscientist and a philosopher will keep paying off.
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Forget What You Think You Know About Emotions
Emotions don’t happen to you; your brain creates them. -
Is Consciousness More Like Chess or the Weather?
Our minds seem both physical and intangible. That paradox has gripped this neuroscientist since childhood. -
Faulty Memory Is a Feature, Not a Bug
Forgetting and misremembering are the building blocks of creativity and imagination. -
Your Brain Is Shaped Like Nobody Else’s
Every brain’s white matter is different—and that might hold the key to better treatments. -
What Happens to My Brain on the Psychedelic DMT?
One question for Christopher Timmermann, a cognitive neuroscientist at Imperial College London.