Brain
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BrainHow your brain is like a film editor
A brain structure called the hippocampus may slice our ongoing lives into distinct chunks so that they can then be stored as memories.
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BrainThe immune system has a say in how hard ‘teen’ rats play
“Teen” rats like to wrestle. A new study shows the brain’s immune system might trigger changes that morph this desire for rough-and-tumble play into the calm of adulthood.
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BrainLess screentime linked to better memory, learning in kids
Kids ages eight to 11 spend an average of 3.6 hours a day on screens, a new study shows. But the best thinking scores come from kids who average fewer than two hours a day of screen time.
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BrainTeens’ cell phone use linked to memory problems
A new study suggests teens who get more exposure to cell-phone radiation — and hold their phones up to their right ear — do worse on one type of memory test.
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BrainFootball and hockey don’t necessarily doom players’ brains to serious damage
A broad look at the brains and behavior of retired pro football players and hockey players finds no signs of early dementia.
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BrainBody heat due to exercise may reduce hunger
Why aren’t animals hungry after a workout? Brain cells that control appetite may sense the exercise heat — and keep you out of the kitchen, a new study finds.
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BrainSoccer headers may hurt women’s brains more than men’s
Women sustain more brain damage from heading soccer balls than men, a new imaging study indicates.
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BrainTaste good? Senses inform the brain — but don’t tell everyone the same thing
Whether something tastes appetizing depends on what a host of different sensory nerves collectively tell the brain. Warning: Sometimes they aren’t dependable — or even truthful.
By Lela Nargi -
Health & MedicineExplainer: Taste and flavor are not the same
What’s behind a food’s flavor? More than what we taste, it turns out.
By Lela Nargi -
BrainScientists Say: Ventral striatum
The ventral striatum is an area of the brain that plays an important role in mood, learning and addiction. It has a lot of dopamine, a chemical messenger.
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BrainBelly bacteria can shape mood and behavior
Our guts and our brains are in constant communication with the goal of managing a whole lot more than food digestion. Their conversations can affect stress, behaviors — even memory.
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BrainNot all social media sites are equally likely to provoke anxiety
Most teens are on social media. Could these sites cause anxiety? A teen checks it out — and finds big differences.