SONG: Listening
SONG: “Listening”.
ARTIST: grant.
SOURCE: Scientific American, 13 July 21, “The Neuroscience of Taking Turns in a Conversation,” as used in the post “… Read the rest “SONG: Listening”
neurology
The neurology of conversations, or how our brains know when it’s our turn to speak.
Scientific American turns to chatty songbirds to figure out how it is that our brains process cues telling us when to talk and when to listen to the person we’re talking to:
… Read the rest “The neurology of conversations, or how our brains know when it’s our turn to speak.”We have all
Magic mushrooms make lasting changes to the brain (and that’s a good thing).
Technology Networks reports on new Yale University research that apparently explains why psilocybin, the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms, has a long-lasting antidepressant… Read the rest “Magic mushrooms make lasting changes to the brain (and that’s a good thing).”
Picture your hand writing a message, and this brain-implant computer will type it.
I’ll just copy the Science News headline here and say “Brain implants turn imagined handwriting into text on a screen“:
… Read the rest “Picture your hand writing a message, and this brain-implant computer will type it.”A 65-year-old man had two grids of tiny electrodes
Sugar – as in sweet sodas – disrupts kids’ brain development.
Translational Psychiatry has some research that should be making a bigger splash. It indicates that feeding kids more sugar affects the development of their brains and their ability to… Read the rest “Sugar – as in sweet sodas – disrupts kids’ brain development.”
Brain-cell clusters can mimic a newborn’s brain.
Science magazine looks at a mini-brain in a mini-jar – a cluster of stem cells coaxed into forming an “organoid,” a clump of cells that start taking on the functions of… Read the rest “Brain-cell clusters can mimic a newborn’s brain.”
A pacemaker for your brain.
Discover surveys the state of the research into deep-brain stimulation (DBS), using electrical implants to treat conditions from Parkinson’s to chronic pain, OCD, depression… Read the rest “A pacemaker for your brain.”
Shrews can shrink and regrow their brains.
The Scientist magazine investigates what’s going on inside the skulls of the tiniest terrestrial mammals. Etruscan shrews, it turns out, cope with winter’s demands by getting… Read the rest “Shrews can shrink and regrow their brains.”
Tiny robots stitch nerves together
Science News has a report on nanoneurosurgery, using super-small, magnetically controlled machines to encourage separated neuron fibers to make new connections:
… Read the rest “Tiny robots stitch nerves together”Engineers Eunhee
They’ve mapped the part of a bird’s brain that gives them consciousness like ours.
Science magazine shares an anatomical survey of birds’ brains that reveals details of the brain section that appears to function like our cerebral cortex – giving birds a … Read the rest “They’ve mapped the part of a bird’s brain that gives them consciousness like ours.”
The rhythm of an out-of-body experience.
Nature looks at dissociative states, and the specific rhythm in a single layer of neurons that can make everything around you seem unreal:
… Read the rest “The rhythm of an out-of-body experience.”The neurological basis of dissociation has been
Puberty can erase childhood trauma’s brain effects
Science News has some optimistic news about the long-term neurological effects of childhood trauma. We know that they can create lasting physical changes inside the brain – but,… Read the rest “Puberty can erase childhood trauma’s brain effects”
Social isolation damages this brain circuit in kids. And we can fix it with light.
Science Daily has a Mt. Sinai School of Medicine study that isolates a specific cluster of brain cells that regulate social behavior – and that get damaged when young children are … Read the rest “Social isolation damages this brain circuit in kids. And we can fix it with light.”
Dancing is better than repetitive exercise for keeping elderly brains fit.
PLOS ONE has an interesting look at brain plasticity – that is, your ability to learn new things, change the way you do things, and remember where the heck you left your keys – … Read the rest “Dancing is better than repetitive exercise for keeping elderly brains fit.”
Smell makes music inside our brains. Each aroma, a different melody.
Scientific American organizes some notes on the neurology of scent, with experiments that show the brain distinguishes between similar scents in the same way we hear notes of a song –… Read the rest “Smell makes music inside our brains. Each aroma, a different melody.”