Enkephalins are like the brain's own painkillers. They help with pain relief, reward, and dealing with stress. But tracking them in real-time has been tough because they appear and disappear quickly and are present in tiny amounts. Scientists have come up with a clever way to study these enkephalins. They combined a few techniques: optogenetics, which uses light to ...
Epilepsy is a challenging condition, especially for those who don't respond to standard medications. This is known as drug-resistant epilepsy, and it's a significant issue that needs new solutions. Scientists have been investigating a protein called PHGDH. This protein is found in brain cells and plays a crucial role in producing essential compounds like serine and ...
Mental health issues are on the rise. More people are looking to spirituality for help. Prayer is one way people connect with their faith. It might also help with mental health. But how? And why? Scientists are still figuring that out. Prayer is common. Many people do it. It could be like forming a bond. Think of it as a relationship. But not with another person. In...
A researcher decided to scan her own brain 26 times to learn more about how pregnancy affects the brain. This is something that hasn't been studied much before. The researcher, who studies learning and memory, had her brain scanned before, during, and after her pregnancy. She wanted to see if there were any changes in her brain during this time. The researcher was i...
A big deal is happening in the world of brain science. The Uruguayan Society for Neuroscience is turning 30! This group has been working hard to understand how our brains work. They have made some cool discoveries that are important not just for South America, but for the whole world. Neuroscience is the study of the nervous system. It helps us understand how we thi...
A new technique has been developed to control brain activity without the need for invasive surgery or genetic changes. This method uses special nanoparticles to stimulate neurons deep within the brain using near-infrared light. This is a big deal because it allows scientists to study how the brain works in a more precise and less harmful way. The nanoparticles used ...
Brain research often depends on many labs working together to get the same results. But how often do these results match up? This question is especially important when it comes to measuring brain activity in mice during learning tasks. A group of 10 labs decided to find out. They used the same tools and methods to record brain signals in mice as they made decisions. ...
The world of education is buzzing with excitement. Scientists have been diving deep into the brain to understand how we think and feel. This has led to some amazing tools and methods to help students learn better. But here is the twist: even with all these cool advancements, we still don't have a clear picture of how neuroscience, education, and complex thinking all ...
The world of science has seen a significant shift in the way it studies behavior and brain function. One of the key players in this change has been the humble zebrafish. This small, striped fish has become a star in the world of biological research, particularly in the field of behavioral neuroscience. But why has the zebrafish risen to such prominence? And what can ...
The amygdala is a small part of the brain that plays a big role in how people interact with others. Specifically, the basolateral amygdala (BLA) is thought to help figure out how close or distant someone feels to another person. This is important for deciding how generous to be. But does the BLA actually control how kind people are to others? Researchers wanted to fi...