Psychology and Neuroscience

A group of neuroscientists has developed a technique of making living cells and tissues bigger, which could enable biologists to image an entire brain in molecular detail using an ordinary microscope, and to resolve features that would normally be beyond the limits of optics. Read on to find out more about the technique.

The blood-barrier consists of a layer of cells that line the inner surface of the capillaries that regulate the passage of nutrients and waste in and out of the central nervous system. A team of researchers has developed a way of delivering medicines to the brain by bypassing the blood-brain barrier. Read on to find out more.

Social psychologist Timothy Wilson at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville and his team found that most people have a “disengaged mind.” Wilson’s team conducted a study in which participants were asked to spend 15 minutes alone without any means of entertainment. Read on to find out the results of this study. 

In a large-scale collaborative effort, scientists used two problem-solving tasks to investigate the evolution of self-control among animals. The study involved 36 species of mammals and birds. The scientists found that the species with the largest absolute brain volume showed superior cognitive powers. Read on to know more. 

Exposure to blue light during the day directly and immediately improves alertness and performance, says a new study. Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) compared the effects of exposure to blue light with exposure to an equal amount of green light on alertness and performance in 16 study participants. Read on to find out more. 

It has long been held that there are six universally recognized basic emotions that can be easily interpreted through facial expressions: happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise, and disgust. However, new research suggests that there are actually only four. Read on for more details. 

The lateral habenula, considered to be one of the oldest regions of the brain, evolution-wise, has always been linked to depression and avoidance behavior. But a new study has found that this region of the brain plays a crucial role in decision making. Read on to know more.