Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is the stage of the sleep cycle during which vivid dreaming typically takes place. This crucial sleep phase, characterized by relaxed muscles, rapid eye movements, an elevated heart rate and irregular breathing patterns, has been linked...
Cytokines are proteins that help the human body to control and support the work of the immune system. Over the past few decades, a growing number of studies have been exploring the role of specific cytokines, including IL-12, in inflammation and the development of...
Over the past few decades, engineers have introduced and perfected numerous technologies designed to produce highly immersive experiences, including virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and advanced surround sound systems. While these technologies are now...
Optogenetics are advanced research tools that allow scientists to precisely control the activity of brain cells using light. Over the past few years, optogenetic techniques have become increasingly advanced, leading to exciting new discoveries about the brain and its...
The brain is a sophisticated biological system known to produce different experiences and perceptions via complex dynamics. Different brain regions and neural populations commonly work in tandem, communicating with each other to ultimately produce specific behaviors...
During decision-making, the human brain essentially accumulates useful information and weighs options until it has enough evidence to choose. Past studies showed that choice-relevant evidence is accumulated in specific parts of the brain's outer layer, known as the...
Different people can have varying perceptions of the same scents and odors, for instance perceiving the same perfume as "fruity" or "musky." Studies have suggested that the ways in which the same odors are mapped in the brain of different individuals are highly...
The hippocampus is a crucial brain region known to support the processing and storage of higher-level information, in the form of memories. In addition to allowing humans and animals to recall events that happened in the past, it plays a part in learning and...
After a certain age, approximately 40% of people experience some degree of hearing loss. While age-related hearing loss is most prevalent in adults over the age of 65, it can start occurring far earlier than that, when people are in their 40s or 50s.
Sleep is known to support the proper functioning of body, including the brain, allowing it to rest, recover, and recharge. While countless neuroscientists and medical researchers have been trying to better understand this vital biological process, much of its neural...