Esports have taken the world by storm, becoming a major form of entertainment and a hot topic in scientific research. But there's a lot of talk about how these games might be affecting the minds of players. Some people worry that esports could be harming players' brains, making it harder for them to focus, make decisions, and handle stress. But is this really the cas...
The brain is a powerful tool that can create a detailed map of the world around us. This map helps us predict what will happen next, based on what we've experienced before. When we're not focusing on anything in particular, our brain goes into autopilot. It starts replaying these experiences, just like a movie on repeat. This isn't random, though. It replays them in ...
Meditation has become a popular way to handle both mental and physical issues. It's not just one thing, but a bunch of different practices with some shared basics. People have always talked about how good meditation is for you. Now, scientists are using fancy brain scans to see exactly what happens when you meditate, especially when it comes to dealing with pain. Fi...
The brain's activity can change based on the type of sport a person engages in. This is a fact. However, it is not clear if these changes are the same across different sports. Also, it is not known how the length of time someone trains affects these changes. A recent study used a special type of brain scan called resting-state functional magnetic resonanc...
The brain is a mystery. It is amazing how much babies learn in their first years. They pick up language, understand routines, and even form expectations about their world. Yet, as adults, we struggle to recall any of these early experiences. Why is that? Recent findings shed some light on this puzzle. The hippocampus, a part of the brain crucial for memory, sho...
Sleep is a time when the brain is active and busy. Scientists have been studying how brains work during sleep. They have found that brains of boys and girls might work differently. But, there are many questions left unanswered. Researchers have been looking at brain activity during sleep. They are trying to figure out if there are differences between boys and girls. ...
Dementia is a big deal. It's when your brain starts to slow down, and it's not just one thing. Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are two big types, and they act differently over time. The challenge is, they start off looking the same. So, spotting them early is super important for getting the right treatment. One cool tool that's getting som...
Imagine this: you're on the road, and suddenly, everything comes to a halt. Traffic jams are everywhere, and they're not just annoying—they can make drivers act in ways that put everyone at risk. When drivers are stuck in traffic, they often feel frustrated and angry. This frustration can lead to aggressive driving, especially when they're trying to get out of or bac...
The brain's decision-making process is a complex dance involving many different areas. It's like a big, fancy party where everyone's invited. The guests include both the cortex, which is the outer layer of the brain, and the subcortical regions, which are deeper inside. These areas work together, but we don't fully understand how they do it. It's like trying to figur...
Did you know that the smell of oregano can change how much salt mice eat? Scientists wanted to see if the scent of oregano and a special part of it called carvacrol could affect how much salt mice prefer. They did this by giving mice a choice between plain water and salty water. When oregano or carvacrol was around, female mice drank less salty water. Male mice also ...