By: Zekiel Factor Humans, like all animals, instinctively rely on the assumption that the sensations we experience such as touch and sight reproduce reality. Touching a hot stove activates temperature sensors in the skin that convey pain and trigger reflexive hand withdrawal; an object moving quickly in our peripheral vision draws our gaze to enable … Continue reading In the brain of the beholder: the neurocognitive basis of hallucinations
neuroscience
Paralyzed by Genocide: The rise of Guillain-Barré in Gaza
By: Ikram Mezghani Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is not a condition most people expect to encounter outside the pages of a neurology textbook. Globally, it is considered rare, affecting only one to two people out of every 100,000 per year. However, in August of this year, news reports began emerging from Gaza where doctors described an … Continue reading Paralyzed by Genocide: The rise of Guillain-Barré in Gaza
How does music affect your brain? The neuroscience of your favorite tunes.
By Vanshika A. Patel Have you ever wondered how a favorite song can lift you up when you're down or transport you back in time? Music has a remarkable power to engage emotions, evoke memories, and even affect our well-being. Recent studies in neuroscience investigate the complex relationship between music and the brain, showing how … Continue reading How does music affect your brain? The neuroscience of your favorite tunes.
Heartbeat: One Researcher’s Advocacy Journey from the Lab to Human Impact
By Zari McCullers At a forum I attended in early October, I sat in a room filled with fellow researchers – primarily in the basic and biomedical sciences – ready to hear about the power of patient advocacy. This event was meant to remind us not just why we do our work, but for whom. … Continue reading Heartbeat: One Researcher’s Advocacy Journey from the Lab to Human Impact
Sense and Sensitivity: How the Nervous System Transforms the Environment into Experience
By Zekiel Factor Setting the agenda Sensation is the bridge between the internal and external world. Examining the elements of processing that our senses have in common allows us to understand how the nervous system gives rise to sensory perception, which is a fundamental component of conscious experience. But what does it mean to go … Continue reading Sense and Sensitivity: How the Nervous System Transforms the Environment into Experience
The Stars in Our Brains: The Role of Astrocytes in Alcohol Use
By Mariam Melkumyan What are those star-shaped cells doing in our brains? Astrocytes are rightly named for their stellate shape, and in my opinion, they are the star of the show when it comes to the functioning of the brain. Astrocytes are important for the blood-brain barrier, for giving support to neurons by supplying the … Continue reading The Stars in Our Brains: The Role of Astrocytes in Alcohol Use
Mind over mayhem: Meditate your way through stress and stay sane in grad school
By Savannah Moscon & Emily Tufano Meditation is an ancient technique that is gaining popularity due to its robust mental and physical health benefits. In fact, those in stressful situations or jobs (that’s us!) are encouraged to practice mindfulness through meditation to relieve chronic anxiety and stress. For many, the practice of mindfulness, defined as … Continue reading Mind over mayhem: Meditate your way through stress and stay sane in grad school
This is your brain on gluten
By Victoria Vernail Gluten is a class of proteins naturally found in wheat, barley, and rye. Gluten is present in many common foods, including beloved pastas and baked goods, because it helps ingredients stick together. Food that is gluten-free may have a dry and crumbly texture compared to gluten-containing foods because it is missing the … Continue reading This is your brain on gluten
Ironing Out the Details at the Blood-Brain Barrier: A Summary of My Dissertation
By Stephanie Baringer, Ph.D. The following is a synopsis of my Ph.D. thesis that I defended on July 17, 2023, titled Regulation of Brain Iron Acquisition and Misappropriation in Alzheimer's Disease. Thank you to LTS for the years of opportunity to write about my deep-dive interests and now for the chance to share this summary … Continue reading Ironing Out the Details at the Blood-Brain Barrier: A Summary of My Dissertation
Pain – an itch you just can’t scratch?
By Victoria Vernail I was sitting on the couch, watching Season 8, episode 14 of ABC’s ‘Bachelor in Paradise’, when an important scientific question was raised. Contestant Aaron commented to his girlfriend Genevieve that he thinks pain and itch are fundamentally the same – to which Genevieve disagreed – and a fight ensued (Figure 1). … Continue reading Pain – an itch you just can’t scratch?
Lions Talk Science 