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Brain cell types identified that may push males to fight and have sex

Two groups of nerve cells may serve as ”on-off switches” for male mating and aggression, suggests a new study in rodents. These neurons appear to send signals between two parts of the brain – the back tip, or posterior, of the amygdala and the hypoth…

Big brains and dexterous hands

Primates with large brains can master more complex hand movements than those with smaller brains. However, fine motor skills such as using tools can take time to learn, and humans take the longest of all. Large-brained species such as humans and great …

How COVID-19 causes smell loss

Loss of smell, or anosmia, is one of the earliest and most commonly reported symptoms of COVID-19. A new study identifies the olfactory cell types most vulnerable to infection by the novel coronavirus. Surprisingly, sensory neurons involved in smell ar…

Different from a computer: Why the brain never processes the same input in the same way

The brain never processes the same information in the same way. Scientists have found out why this is the case and how it works. A decisive role plays a critical state of the neuronal networks.

Two distinct circuits drive inhibition in the sensory thalamus of the brain

The thalamus is a ‘Grand Central Station’ for sensory information coming to our brains. Almost every sight, sound, taste and touch travels to our brain’s cortex via the thalamus. Researchers now report that the somatosensory part of the thalamic reticu…

Cells react differently to genomic imprinting

We inherit half of our genes from each parent. For their function of most genes, it doesn’t matter which parent a gene comes from. But this is not true for all genes: about 150 genes are subject to ”genomic imprinting”. They are active either only if…

Developing neural circuits linked to hunting behavior

Researchers demonstrated the relationship between improvements in zebrafish’s hunting skills and the development of sensory coding in a part of the brain which responds to visual stimuli.

When it comes to happiness, what’s love got to do with it?

Researchers have conducted one of the first studies of its kind to quantify the happiness of married, formerly married and single people at the end of their lives to find out just how much love and marriage played into overall well-being.

Researchers simulate, assess damage to brain cells caused by bubbles during head trauma

Researchers are using their expertise with the manufacture of microstructures to study how the collapse of microbubbles within the skull can damage brain cells.

Food supplements may improve brain health among young children in low income countries

Giving nutritional supplements to young children in low income countries for around 6 months could improve their brain (cognitive) health, finds a new trial.