Step inside the wonderful world of the visual system! We keep things “light,” following the topsy-turvy path of light from your forward-facing eyes to the ones in the back of your head.
Continue ReadingWhat happens when disease damages a part of the brain responsible for interpreting sensory information? The brain doesn’t just give up – thanks to neuroplasticity, it looks for new ways to understand the world around it.
This article is part of our WinSPIRE Science in the News series. Authors: Destiny Blanton and Agasya Mukkapati
Continue ReadingMeet 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.
Continue ReadingThroughout 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…
Continue ReadingOzempic, 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…
Continue ReadingIt 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;…
Continue ReadingSynesthesia 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.
Continue ReadingFootball season is back and so are traumatic brain injuries and the risk for CTE.
Continue ReadingWhether 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?
Continue ReadingDuring the hard part of the night, listening to the hooting owl outside the window, have you ever wondered: What is love?
Continue ReadingMaybe 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.
Continue ReadingMany 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?
Continue ReadingOf 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…
Continue ReadingMeditation 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.
Continue ReadingMusic is a drug. How does it work?
Continue ReadingAge 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?
Continue ReadingAny 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…
Continue ReadingHow 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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