Issue 4 Bacteria and the Brain Microbiome research is taking neurobiology to an unexpected place: the gut. Recent research has demonstrated a link between the microorganisms that live in the stomach and seemingly unrelated conditions like
Issue 4 The Placebo Effect: An Illusionary Treatment with Real Results Every year, over half a million Americans suffering from osteoarthritis undergo pain-reducing arthroscopic surgery of the knee [1]. Surgeons clean out loose fragments of cartilage surrounding the knee joint in
Issue 3 Building Palaces of Memories: A Glimpse at the Method of Loci In 6th century Thessaly, the poet Simonides of Ceos is leaving a nobleman’s banquet hall after a rather unfortunate lyrical poem performance. As he steps outside, a loud crash
Issue 3 White Matter and Early Childhood Neglect Just last month, a study was published in JAMA Pediatrics that took a new approach to studying the neurological effects of long-term early childhood neglect. Unlike previous studies conducted on
Issue 3 Mysterious Microglia In April 2013, President Barack Obama announced an initiative to fund approximately one hundred million dollars of neuroscience research, called the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies Initiative (BRAIN). By
Issue 3 Prosopagnosia The human face is the index of the mind. We differentiate between individuals and recognize familiar faces based on one’s distinctive facial structure. You identify your mother from your
Issue 3 Amusia In 1878, Professor Grant Allen reported a man who was unable to perceive differences in pitch. The subject described that attending concerts was similar to sitting in a room for
Issue 2 Fixed Neural Circuits Early work in developmental neuroscience led researchers to conclude that axonal growth in the developing and regenerating brain is a specific, targeted process, and not simply random or determined by
Issue 2 Desynchronizers and the Circadian Sleep Cycle From the blaring televisions to all-in-one smartphones, it is easy to focus attention towards screens at all moments of the day. Increasing technological advancement has brought mankind into an era
Issue 2 Processing Perception: Visual Fields and Nervous System Specificity The first step in any research endeavor is to start with the basics. David Hubel and Torsten Wiesel were some of the pioneers of sight research who focused on the
Issue 2 The Hypothalamus: A Sleep Regulation Structure Until the 1950s, common theories of sleep involved the brain shutting down, or powering off, similar to a car engine. Research since then, however, has shown high levels of activity
Issue 1 More Modularity Although it does not hold true for all circumstances, the theory of a brain that exhibits modular localization of functions has been demonstrated in many studies. MRI and PET imaging techniques have been used to identify patterns in how the brain responds to behavior,
Issue 1 On Hominid Intelligence The human brain is widely viewed as one of the most complex and remarkable known objects. Indeed, after considering its intricate structure and vast functionality, it is easy to admire
Issue 1 The Shape of an Idea Most of us are speaking metaphorically when we describe a color as “loud”, a sound as “sharp”, or the feeling of envy as “green”. But for some, these associations are
Issue 1 Mod: A History of Modular Theory of the Mind No one can say that the great scientists, anatomists, and philosophers of the past were dull in describing the brain. It can be said, however, that some were less accurate
