The Mind

Elon Musk Says Neuralink Patient Controlling Computer Mouse Using Thoughts (February 20, 2024): Elon Musk says the first Neuralink patient is capable of a controlling a computer mouse using their thoughts.

African Grey Parrot Named Griffin Battles Humans in Shell Game Memory Game (July 10, 2020): Harvard researchers put an African grey parrot named Griffin up against children and adults in a version of the classic shell game.


Around the Web


Google's DeepMind AI Learns How to Walk (July 14, 2017): Google's DeepMind AI has been learning how to walk. It guides figures - including a human-like figure - through simulated plains and obstacle courses.

Study Finds Bird Brains are More Neuron Dense Than Mammal Brains (June 20, 2016): A new study has found that bird brains are more neuron dense than mammal brains.

Scientists Used Sound to Control Worm's Brain Cells (September 16, 2015): Scientists have used sound waves to control groups of neurons in a worm's brain to control its movement.

Man Left With 90 Minute Memory Following Dental Procedure (July 26, 2015): A man was left with a 90 minute memory following a trip to the dentist for a root canal. Doctors do not know what caused the man's unusual condition.

Sleep Deprived People Have Trouble Accurately Reading Facial Expressions (July 19, 2015): Researchers have found that people who are sleep deprived have more trouble reading facial expressions.

Scan of 15 Million Year Old Monkey Skull Reveals Ancient Monkey Had Smaller Brain (July 7, 2015): A scan of a 15 million year old monkey skull had a smaller and more complex brain. The skull was discovered in 1997.

Brain Cell Density Remains Constant Even as Brain Shrinks With Age (June 15, 2015): Study using MRI brain images finds cell density remains constant in brains even as they shrink with age.

Scientists Find Brain is Directly Connected to the Immune System Through Vessels (June 6, 2015): Scientists find the brain is directly connected to the immune system through vessels that were previously thought not to exist.

MIT Researchers Develop Technique to Enlarge Brain Tissue Samples (January 19, 2015): MIT researchers have developed a new technique called expanion microscopy to enlarge brain tissue samples.

Yawning Helps Cool the Brain Say Scientists (May 11, 2014): Scientists say yawning helps cool the brain. They say the common belief that yawning helsp increase oxygen supply is wrong.

Walking Doesn't Impair Thinking Ability Say University of Michigan Researchers (May 11, 2014): University of Michigan researchers find that walking doesn't impair thinking in a study using treadmills and the Brooks spatial working memory task.

Young Blood Recharges Old Mice Brains Say Stanford Researchers (May 5, 2014): Stanford researchers have found that young blood can restore mental capabilities in old mice. The circulatory systems of mice were connected in the study.

Scientists Create Wiring Diagram of a Mouse Brain (April 2, 2014): Scientists from the Allen Institute for Brain Science have created a wiring diagram - or connectome - of a mouse brain. It Atlas contains more than 1.8 petabytes of data.

Study Finds Rat Brains Remember Odors While Under General Anesthesia (March 18, 2014): A new study has found that rat brains remember odors experienced while under general anesthesia.

Study Finds Humans Have a Poor Memory For Sounds (February 28, 2014): Researchers at the University of Iowa have found that people are not very good at remember sounds. The researchers say humans are better at remembering things they touch or see.

Study Finds Online Trolls Are Sadists and Psychopaths (February 15, 2014): A new study has found that online trolls are sadists and psychopaths who enjoy their trolling behavior.

Brains of Male Fruit Flies Contain Special Cells That Make Them Want to Fight (February 8, 2014): Male fruit flies have special cells in their brains that make them want to fight. These cells are basent in the brains of female fruit flies.

Scientists Build Carbon Nanotube Harpoon to Catch Individual Brain Cell Signals (January 25, 2014): Scientists have built a carbon naotube harpoon to catch individual brain cell signals. The brain spear is small enough to penetrate individual neurons.

Researchers Argue Older Brains May Slow From Processing Increasing Amounts of Knowledge (January 21, 2014): Researchers say older brains may slow from processing increasing amounts of knowledge and not from cognitive decline.

MIT Study Finds Brain Can Identify Images Seen for Just 13 Milliseconds (January 20, 2014): Study by MIT neuroscientists finds brain can identify images seen for just 13 milliseconds.

Monkeys Learn to Control Avatar Arms With Their Minds (November 8, 2013): Monkeys have learned how to control avatar arms with their minds thanks to the help of Duke researchers.

Study Finds Brain May Use Sleep to Flush Out Toxins (October 17, 2013): A new study has found that sleep may help flush toxins out of the brain. Researchers found the space between brain cells in mice brains increased when they were sleeping.

Scientists Grow Mini Human Brains in the Lab (August 28, 2013): Scientists have grown hundreds of mini human brains, dubbed cerabral organoids, in the lab.