Brain
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BrainBrain cells that make you feel full also make you crave dessert
If you want a sweet treat when you feel full after a big meal, blame your brain. Tests in mice and people suggest that the same cells signal satiety and a hunger for sugar.
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AnimalsSheep, llamas and goats fall for optical illusions too
These findings could help reveal when and why falling for optical illusions evolved in animals.
By Maria Temming and JoAnna Wendel -
BrainParakeets talk using brain areas similar to ours
Brain activity during vocalizing in small parrots — called budgerigars or parakeets — shows a similar pattern to what’s seen in people.
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PhysicsMuch of the sun’s light is green. Why does it look yellow?
Sunlight's peak intensity is at a green wavelength. Here’s why it doesn’t appear that way to us.
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BrainLet’s learn about memory
Brain injuries, drug use and other factors can impair our memory. But targeted practice and healthy habits can boost our ability to remember.
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EnvironmentMore and more, microplastics are collecting in our brains
Over eight years, the mass of microplastics in human brains increased by some 50 percent. There are growing hints that internal microplastics may harm us.
By Laura Sanders and Janet Raloff -
BrainBrain scans may offer clues to the mental health of trans youth
A teen researcher identified a possible link between brain development and mental health in young trans people.
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BrainScientists Say: Neuroplasticity
Neurons in the brain forge new connections and sometimes trim back old ones. This capacity for change allows us to learn new skills and recover from injury.
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BrainExplainer: How our body deals with stress
Our autonomic nervous system balances two natural responses. If stressed or overwhelmed, simple techniques can help to restore that balance.
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TechA robotic hand helps piano players’ fingers move faster
Robotic devices like this might someday help musicians, gamers, athletes or even surgeons improve their dexterity.
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BrainHaving sparse links in the hippocampus may maximize memory storage
Tissue from the memory centers of people’s brains reveal relatively few links among nerve cells in the hippocampus. But they carried strong, reliable signals.
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BrainCould the magic of memory manipulation ever become real?
Someday, technology might be able to help people better hold onto memories or forget bad ones.