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Brain

Researchers found an association between moderate step counts and slower cognitive decline among people at risk of developing Alzheimer's. 

A Short Walk in the Park Might Slow Cognitive Decline in People at Risk of Developing Alzheimer’s

New research indicates that even moderate step counts, as low as 3,000 steps daily, were linked with delayed symptom onset

The researchers found that tango is especially good at slowing brain aging. 

Creative Hobbies Like Tango Dancing or Playing Musical Instruments May Help Keep Your Brain Young, Study Finds

Scientists discovered that talented experts had “younger” brains than those of their less experienced counterparts, and even those who only dabbled in creativity reaped benefits

People with a rare form of epilepsy have reported feelings of bliss just before having a seizure. A French Swiss neurologist has pinned down where this “aura” originates in the brain in hopes that one day, that feeling might be reproduced non-invasively in others.

Some People Experience Blissful Ecstasy Right Before a Seizure. Could Understanding This Feeling Help Treat Depression?

A neurologist shares her thoughts and research about “ecstatic epilepsy” in a wide-ranging conversation on how we perceive the world—and create the world we perceive

A sea lamprey shows off its nightmarish mouth.

This Invasive Vampire Fish Is Helping Researchers Understand the Human Nervous System in Jaw-Dropping Ways

The sea lamprey looks like it’s from another planet, but this ancient creature has a surprising amount in common with humans

A healthy volunteer takes the Fastball test in his home alongside lead researcher George Stothart.

Three-Minute Take-Home Test May Identify Symptoms Linked to Alzheimer’s Disease Years Before a Traditional Diagnosis

Researchers say the experimental tool has huge implications for public health, especially in conjunction with Alzheimer’s drugs that are most effective in the disease’s early stages

Subtly different brain areas light up in response to viewing certain colors, a new study suggests.

Do We See the Same Colors as Others? Study Suggests Brains Respond to the Same Hues in Similar Ways

Using MRI scans, researchers found that participants’ patterns of brain activity were alike when looking at certain colors. But people can still experience those colors differently

An illustration of the ultrasound helmet

New Helmet-Shaped Device Could One Day Treat Conditions Such as Parkinson’s Without Invasive Surgery, Scientists Suggest

In a first-of-its-kind achievement, researchers non-invasively and precisely directed ultrasound beams to target a location deep within the brain

“Brain rot” was the Oxford Word of the Year 2024.

Can You Really ‘Rot’ Your Brain by Scrolling Too Much on Your Smartphone?

While that message has been spread on social media, researchers are just beginning to understand how the devices affect the mind

Researchers find that long thumbs in primates are consistently associated with big brains.

This Is What Our Thumbs Say About Our Brains, in a Pattern That Holds True for Other Primates

Researchers have found a link between long thumbs and big brains, suggesting the two features evolved together

A new study tested a device trained to translate four participants' inner thoughts.

Science Fiction? Think Again. Scientists Are Learning How to Decode Inner Thoughts

A brain-computer interface has gotten better than ever before at translating thoughts from people with speech difficulties. Researchers are also thinking through how to protect users’ privacy

Scientists are currently studying whether cannabis use may cause schizophrenia.

Inside the Quest to Understand the Link Between Cannabis and Schizophrenia

Recent studies have examined the relationship between the drug and psychoses and looked at how the brain responds to the substance

The study found that regular exercise, along with other lifestyle changes, can slow cognitive decline in older adults.

Cognitive Decline Can Be Slowed Down With Lifestyle Changes, From Diet to Exercise and Social Time, New Study Suggests

A 2,100-participant clinical trial found that structured and self-guided lifestyle changes can improve cognitive capabilities in older, at-risk adults

A patient with the new prosthesis walks over an obstacle. 

This New Bionic Knee Is Changing the Game for Lower Leg Amputees

Scientists have developed a prosthesis that is directly integrated with muscle and bone in order to improve movement

Seeing a potentially infectious person might kickstart the body's immune system, according to a new study.

The Mere Sight of Someone Sick Triggers an Immune Response, Study Suggests

Researchers equipped study participants with virtual reality headsets and observed how their brains and immune systems reacted to avatars with signs of illness

A new study reveals that optimists show similar brain activity when they think about the future, while pessimists' neural patterns are more individual.

Optimists Really Are on the ‘Same Wavelength’ When They Think About the Future, New Study of Brain Activity Suggests

As the research participants thought about future scenarios, optimists displayed similar neural patterns, but pessimists showed more individualized brain activity

Girls' ADHD symptoms are often mistakenly attributed to other issues, like anxiety or depression, and it may take until adulthood for women to be accurately diagnosed.

The Future of Mental Health

Why Are So Many More Women Being Diagnosed With ADHD?

Experts once thought ADHD was something only boys experienced. The research is finally starting to catch up with reality

The patient looks through measuring goggles at a series of markers on a grid. 

Can a Medical Device Restore Your Balance?

Nearly two million people worldwide have lost the simple ability to feel steady. Now researchers have developed an experimental medical implant that promises to restore the sensory machinery responsible for balance

Taking a short, deep nap may help you have an "a-ha" moment after you wake up.

Need to Solve a Problem? Try Taking a Deep Power Nap for an ‘Aha’ Moment, Research Suggests

A new study finds that entering N2 sleep—a deep phase of non-rapid eye movement sleep—may help lead to more “eureka” breakthroughs

Researchers developed a wearable device to monitor participants' breathing.

The Way You Breathe Is Unique to You, Like a Fingerprint, New Study Suggests

Researchers could identify people with almost 97 percent accuracy based on 24 hours of their recorded breathing patterns, and they also found links to a person’s mental and physical condition

Psychiatric neurosurgery, originally known as psychosurgery, involves operating on the brain to alter its function.

What Does the Future Hold for Psychiatric Brain Surgery?

For some patients, removing brain tissue can help treat OCD and other disorders. But ethical concerns remain

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