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#brain

Blog / When Practice Makes Perfect: The Neurons Behind Skilled Movement

March 6, 2025 / Rachel Sharp /

Meet the UNC graduate student uncovering the mysteries behind how our brains control movement. Her work studying a rare type of neuron reveals surprising evidence that stimulating these cells not only improves precise movements, but could potentially help restore motor skills after injury.

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brain Neuroscience Scientists UNC-CH Research

Blog / Astrocytes: the unsung heroes of the brain

October 31, 2024January 27, 2025 / Maya Bluitt /

Throughout much of neuroscience’s history, neurons have been the star of the show. These are the cells which send electrical signals to communicate with one another, giving rise to the…

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astrocytes Biology brain Neurons Neuroscience Unsung Heroes

Blog / Could Ozempic get an upgrade?

August 29, 2024September 3, 2024 / Maya Bluitt /

Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound – these drugs have recently risen to stardom given their miraculous ability to cause weight loss.  This class of drugs relies on a system revolving around…

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brain glp-1 Neurons Neuroscience ozempic weight loss

Blog / Navigating Cognitive Flexibility: How to Adapt and Thrive in Changing Environments

April 11, 2024August 19, 2024 / Sy'keria Garrison /

It starts as a typical Tuesday evening. It’s 5:30 pm, and you’re driving your car, commuting home from work. It’s a route you’ve taken for at least a year now;…

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#adapt #behavior #cognitive flexibility #executive function #neuroscience #psychology #task switching brain

Blog / Synesthesia: The Extraordinary World of Blended Senses

November 7, 2023November 10, 2023 / Sy'keria Garrison /

Synesthesia is a fascinating sensory condition where one sensory pathway is activated, triggering the activation of one or more unrelated pathways. Those who exprience synesthesia experience the world differently as they have an enhanced sense of perception.

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#perception #sensory #synesthesia brain

Blog / Oh Snap, Football’s Back and so are Traumatic Brain Injuries and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy

October 20, 2023October 23, 2023 / Shea Ricketts /

Football season is back and so are traumatic brain injuries and the risk for CTE.

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brain concussion CTE Football Neuroscience TBI

Blog / Learning to Love Lithium

March 14, 2023March 15, 2023 / Brandon Le /

Whether you’re prescribed lithium or not, it’s entering your body through environmental exposure, mostly through your drinking water. What is lithium and what can it do to us?

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brain Environmental Science Mental Health Neuroscience pharmacology

Blog / Initial Attraction and the Ignited Love

October 26, 2022 / Runfan Yang /

During the hard part of the night, listening to the hooting owl outside the window, have you ever wondered: What is love?       

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attraction Biology brain Chemistry cognition Everyday Questions love

Blog / Nature or nurture? Weather can (literally) shape your brain

March 15, 2022 / Jillian Battista /

Maybe we’re born with it, or maybe it’s the weather! Did you know your brain actually changes size throughout the year? Surprisingly, it may be due to the seasons. 

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brain Human behavior Neuroscience Seasons Weather

Blog / Music to my Ears: A look at why we enjoy music

February 25, 2022 / Sean Gay /

Many of us constantly listen to music, and as several of us know music can have a profound effect on your mood, wellbeing, among many other things. But the question is why? Does it have some unique effect on the brain? Why are songs enjoyable?

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brain music neurobiology neurotransmitter patterns song

Blog / What octopuses on ecstasy tell us about brain evolution

April 7, 2021 / Kate Giffin / 1

Of all the creatures on earth, octopuses might be the most alien. They could not be more different from us, with powerful tentacles, three hearts, blue blood, and neurons spread…

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Biology brain Evolutionary Biology Neuroscience Not so Frivolous octopus Weird Science

Blog / Meditation: Tending the Garden of the Mind

July 16, 2020July 16, 2020 / Jamshaid Shahir /

Meditation has enjoyed a rise in popularity over the years, but how much of its benefits are grounded in scientific fact? In this post, I explore the science behind meditation, its implications for depression, and potential for even combating racism.

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bias brain Meditation Mindfulness Neurogenesis Neuroscience Racism stem cells

Blog / Music Mainlined

June 18, 2020June 18, 2020 / Brandon Le /

Music is a drug. How does it work?

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auditory brain cognition Drugs emotion music Neurophysiology Neuroscience pharmacology physiology

Blog / The Science of Age Limits for Drug Use

March 2, 2020February 29, 2020 / Abigail Agoglia /

Age restrictions on the purchase of recreational drugs are continuing to strengthen. What’s the science behind this age limits, and are these measures really necessary?

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adolescence Alcohol brain Neuroscience nicotine vaping

Blog / Science Fail Monday: How a dead salmon taught us about statistics

December 9, 2018March 17, 2019 / Kasey Skinner /

Any scientist knows the importance of a good negative control. A negative control in an experiment is a group of samples or subjects in which no response is expected to…

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brain fmri Ig Nobel Prize Neuroscience Science Fail Scientific Imaging Statistics

Blog / How Reliable Is Our Memory?

July 24, 2018July 25, 2018 / Yitong Li /

How memories are formed, stored, and modified has been one of the key topics in neuroscience studies. It’s fascinating to realize that not only can we enhance our memory through…

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brain Memory Neurons Neuroscience Optogenetics Synapses

Blog / A Stimulating Treatment for Drug Addiction

November 16, 2017 / Deirdre Sackett / 1

Drug addiction is notoriously difficult to treat. Limited treatment options are available for those suffering from addiction, including behavioral therapy, rehabilitation programs, and medication. However, current drug addiction medications are…

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Addiction brain Neuroscience Science News Technology Treatment

Blog / A Call to Guts

March 28, 2017 / Lindsay Walton /

I’ve found that it is rather difficult to write an article when you are lying in the fetal position and afraid to move. No, I wasn’t trying to hide from…

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brain gut Microbiology microbiome Neuroscience science communication stomach

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