Why is meningitis so dangerous?
In 1987, thousands of people gathered in Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. But what started out as a celebration led to a worldwide health crisis: more than 2,000 cases of meningitis broke...
Tagged: brain
How to do a craniotomy
Have you ever wanted to know how neurosurgeons actually access the brain? Learn about some of the tools that they use and how they actually perform a craniotomy. In this video, Alex is using a...
Your gut is directly connected to your brain, by a newly discovered neuron circuit
The human gut is lined with more than 100 million nerve cells—it’s practically a brain unto itself. And indeed, the gut actually talks to the brain, releasing hormones into the bloodstream that, over the...
What really causes Alzheimer’s?
Edward Blonz, PhD, has served on the editorial board of the University of California, Berkeley, Wellness Letter since 2009 and is an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy at the University of...
Dolphin self masturbates with beheaded fish
The intelligence of dolphins is one of their most outstanding features. Among the thousands of members that the animal kingdom has, dolphins take one of the top places regarding intelligence. The brain is the...
Foods combining fats and carbohydrates more rewarding than foods with just fats or carbs
Researchers show that the reward center of the brain values foods high in both fat and carbohydrates — i.e., many processed foods — more than foods containing only fat or only carbs. A study...
Gut bacteria play key role in anti-seizure effects of ketogenic diet
UCLA scientists have identified specific gut bacteria that play an essential role in the anti-seizure effects of the high-fat, low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet. The study, published on May 24 in the journal Cell, is the...
How do drugs affect the brain?
Most people will take a pill, receive an injection, or otherwise take some kind of medicine during their lives. But most of us don’t know anything about how these substances actually work. How can...
New findings explain how melatonin promotes sleep
An estimated 50 to 70 million Americans have some type of sleep disorder, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Some turn to melatonin supplements to help them fall asleep. Melatonin is a hormone known...
The neuroscience of addiction
Neuroscientist and former addict Marc Lewis makes the case that addiction isn’t a disease at all, although it has been recently branded as such. [Via:The Royal Institution]