Psychology & Psychiatry

Social media on your mind: The neuroscience behind the hype

A lot is being written about the effects of social media on the brain, how it may be changing the neural circuitry, shortening attention spans and reducing deep thinking and creativity. A group of researchers at Rutgers University ...

Neuroscience

Scientists key in on brain's mechanism for singing, learning

New research reveals that specialized cells within neural circuitry that triggers complex learning in songbirds bears a striking resemblance to a type of neural cell associated with the development of fine motor skills in ...

Neuroscience

Scientists shed light on how brains turn pain up or down

Pain perception is essential for survival, but how much something hurts can sometimes be amplified or suppressed: for example, soldiers who sustain an injury in battle often recall not feeling anything at the time.

Neuroscience

Scientists pinpoint brain's area for numeral recognition

Scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine have determined the precise anatomical coordinates of a brain "hot spot," measuring only about one-fifth of an inch across, that is preferentially activated when people ...

Neuroscience

Binge eating linked to habit circuitry in the brain

Habits are like shortcuts for our brains. Once we form a habit—say, putting on a seat belt whenever we get into a car—the behavior becomes almost automatic in the right context. But habit formation isn't always a boon. ...

Medical research

Rapid eye movement sleep helps protect against predator attack

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep brings about brief but periodic awakenings. In 1966, Dr. Frederick Snyder reported the "sentinel" function of REM could help animals prepare a fight or flight response against potential predator ...

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