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Digital generated image of low poly net structured transparent data brain made out of golden wires with glowing blue edges against purple background.

Why the mind-body connection is vital to understanding consciousness

10 May 2023

The key to solving the hard problem of consciousness could lie in the body not the brain, with our gut and heart being key players in building our conscious experience

England's football captain Harry Kane after his team was knocked out of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter final in December 2022

We now know why we mess up when the stakes are high

27 April 2023

A brain mechanism that enables us to carry out tasks to achieve a certain reward may get disrupted when a jackpot prize is in sight

Two brain pathways identified that govern the urge to itch

14 April 2023

Two distinct groups of neurons underlie different types of itching sensations in mice, and both work together to fuel chronic itchiness

Physicist David Wolpert on how to study concepts beyond imagination

11 April 2023

There is probably a plane of knowledge beyond the grasp of human minds. But mathematician and physicist David Wolpert says it is still possible to explore this unimaginable realm

A scanning electron micrograph of neurons in the corpus striatum part of a foetal brain

Roots of five medical conditions shown in map of the developing brain

8 April 2023

Studying donated embryonic and fetal brains has shown some of the genetic pathways involved in certain conditions, such as schizophrenia

Cell types in a mouse's brain, coloured according to their subclass

Most detailed map of mouse brain includes 5200 different types of cell

25 March 2023

Researchers have mapped cell types in a mouse's brain, which could help us pinpoint the cells to target when treating various medical conditions

Close up someone injecting Botox in a woman's forehead

Botox injections in forehead alter brain activity linked to emotions

23 March 2023

Brain scans show that people who have had Botox injections have altered brain activity when they look at happy and angry faces, possibly because the paralysis of muscles means they can’t mimic the expressions they see

Images and caption info from the book Your Brain on Art Universe of Water Particles on a Rock where People Gather ? teamLab The interdisciplinary arts collective teamLab created an audience-driven experience in Tokyo called teamLab Borderless that brings the natural world to life. See image E in the color insert. The collective incorporates light, sound, and visual effects that feel as though you are part of the art, and that seem to transcend our normal perceptions of time and place. As you meander through the space, you are able to manipulate the surroundings through touch, and to watch as digital flowers bloom, and die, and bloom again. We often think of ourselves as individuals separate from our surroundings, from nature, but this stunning interactive museum dissolves the boundary between art and the viewer, allowing you to feel your surroundings in a visceral way. Composed of artists, programmers, engineers, CG animators, mathematicians, and architects, teamLab represents the exciting, transdisciplinary collaborations of the future.

Your Brain on Art review: Fascinating guide needs a bit more science

22 March 2023

From a virtual-reality snowscape used for pain relief for burns to immersive art to boost your mood, we all gain from aesthetic engagement, argues a book from Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross that needed a little more science to make it a great read

alzheimer's disease with MRI; Shutterstock ID 1025800153; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

A new mitochondrial theory of Alzheimer's deserves serious attention

8 March 2023

A “grand unifying theory” of brain ageing suggests malfunctioning mitochondria might be to blame for Alzheimer’s and other brain conditions. And this new avenue of exploration already has some potential therapies at the ready

TXBTRF 3d rendered medically accurate illustration of amyloid plaques on a alzheimer nerve cell

Restoring the brain’s mitochondria could slow ageing and end dementia

8 March 2023

The discovery that faulty metabolism is at the root of many brain diseases suggests a surprising transplant could be the way to protect our brains from the ravages of ageing