Cognitive decline due to ageing can be reversed in mice – here's what the new study means for humans

Anti-inflammatory drugs may be able to reverse cognitive decline in the future.

Richard Faragher, Professor of Biogerontology, University of Brighton • conversation
Jan. 21, 2021 • ~6 min

 brain  cognition  ageing  longevity  microglia  cognitive-decline  biogerontology

'Male' vs 'female' brains: having a mix of both is common and offers big advantages – new research

While there are small differences between male and female brains, most of us have a mix of both.

Yi Zhang, Visiting Phd Candidate, University of Cambridge • conversation
Jan. 20, 2021 • ~8 min
brain neuroscience gender sex stereotypes male female

Synced brains: how to bond with your kids – according to neuroscience

The brain activity of a parent and child can become synchronised during play and problem solving.

Pascal Vrticka, Lecturer in Psychology, University of Essex • conversation
Jan. 15, 2021 • ~7 min
brain neuroscience parenting child-development

Air pollution may contribute to Alzheimer’s and dementia risk – here's what we're learning from brain scans

The tiny air pollutants known as PM2.5, emitted by vehicles, factories and power plants, aren’t just a hazard for lungs. A study finds more brain shrinkage in older women exposed to pollution.

Jiu-Chiuan Chen, Associate Professor of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California • conversation
Jan. 5, 2021 • ~7 min
alzheimers-disease medicine brain pollution dementia science aging air-pollution womens-health pm-25 vehicles brain-health

Six ways to 'reboot your brain' after a hard year of COVID-19 – according to science

The brain is surprisingly changeable.

Jianfeng Feng, Professor of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence , Fudan University • conversation
Dec. 31, 2020 • ~8 min
brain neuroscience mental-health cognition wellbeing happiness

Laughing is good for your mind and your body – here's what the research shows

Whether in the form of a discreet titter or a full-on roar, laughter comes with many benefits for physical and mental health.

Janet M. Gibson, Professor of Cognitive Psychology, Grinnell College • conversation
Nov. 23, 2020 • ~8 min
brain emotion psychology wellbeing stress emotions positive-psychology laughter well-being humor mental-well-being human-brain emotional-well-being smiling social-bonds social-bonding

Why our obsession with happy endings can lead to bad decisions

Shakespeare was wrong when he wrote 'all's well that ends well'.

Martin D. Vestergaard, Computational Neuroscientist, University of Cambridge • conversation
Nov. 2, 2020 • ~7 min
brain neuroscience gambling psychology happiness cognitive-bias

Your dog's nose knows no bounds – and neither does its love for you

Dogs process the sensory world very differently than humans, but love in a way that is entirely familiar.

Ellen Furlong, Associate Professor of Psychology, Illinois Wesleyan University • conversation
Oct. 26, 2020 • ~6 min
brain dogs work-from-home melanoma remote-working covid-19-pandemic smell oxytocin sense-of-smell love workplace bond attachment

How does being bilingual affect your brain? It depends on how you use language

Why the benefits of bilingualism aren't consistent.

Vincent DeLuca, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham • conversation
Oct. 6, 2020 • ~6 min
brain neuroscience language bilingualism

The neural cruelty of captivity: Keeping large mammals in zoos and aquariums damages their brains

Life in captivity causes observable harm to the structure and function of large mammals' brains.

Bob Jacobs, Professor of Neuroscience, Colorado College • conversation
Sept. 24, 2020 • ~10 min

 brain  mammals  brain-cells  zoos  elephants  animal-care  captive-wildlife

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