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Basic neuroscience

Booze and brain: Neurons in trouble

Booze and brain: Neurons in trouble

Our brain is not just brain cells, little grey units full of thoughts and electricity and intellect ... The brain is full of helper cells called astrocytes, two for every brain cell. Once thought to just fill space, these cells actually do a lot to support neurons and help the brain

Your brain keeps track of family, friends and foes

Your brain keeps track of family, friends and foes

You need food. You need sleep. And — you guessed it — you need people. Being social isn’t just nice, it’s necessary and much more than chatting or going to parties. From birth, we depend on others, not just for survival, but for emotional health and mental development. It’s

You started learning to speak before being born

You started learning to speak before being born

Why do we speak? Why don't we just communicate with gestures, since sign language is just as delicate and detailed a way to communicate as the spoken language? One major reason spoken language may have become dominant over gesture lies in how our senses develop before birth. Long

Ayurveda and brain health. Are herbs our natural allies against inflammation?

Ayurveda and brain health. Are herbs our natural allies against inflammation?

Chronic neuroinflammation is increasingly seen as a central player in many brain diseases, from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's to autoimmune and metabolic brain disorders. When the immune system in the brain goes into frenzy and fails to shut down properly, it sets off a chain reaction that

"Speak slower human, come on!"

"Speak slower human, come on!"

The evolution of human-dog communication Vocal communication between dogs and humans has evolved to be highly effective, shaped by the needs of both species. While humans adjust their speech to accommodate dogs’ capacities, dogs have developed a sensitivity to human speech cues, even without prior exposure. Dogs’ vocalizations (or speech,

What happens when your mind goes blank, when the mind truly goes silent?

What happens when your mind goes blank, when the mind truly goes silent?

Most of the time when we are awake, our thoughts seem to flow like an endless river. We experience inner speech, mental images, silent feelings, and sensory awareness. Traditionally, it was thought that our inner experience always has some content, such as remembering a past event or imagining a future

Fecal transplant as painkiller? Gut microbiota and fibromyalgia part II

Fecal transplant as painkiller? Gut microbiota and fibromyalgia part II

The bacteria living in our intestines, collectively known as the gut microbiota, may play a role in fibromyalgia, a chronic condition marked by widespread pain, fatigue, and often digestive or mood issues. Scientists have found that the gut microbiota in people with fibromyalgia differs from that of healthy individuals, and