Usually when someone tells you that they are studying something, it’d be safe to assume that they interact with whatever it is that they study. So you might be surprised to hear that there are neuroscientists who don’t spend much time manipulating and observing the dynamics within the physical brain of an organism or collecting […]
Category Archives: Cognition
March
16
Mind the Gap: Spaced Learning and Dendritic Spines
posted by Xi Jiang
[En español] A lifetime ago, in another country, I had a middle school English teacher nicknamed “Mrs. Again”. She was plump and wrinkled, with the kind of wide-cheeked, broad-nosed face one could find on folksy condiment bottle labels, but nobody ever made fun of her. She was terror incarnate, being the only teacher who gave […]
December
29
The Language of Arrival
posted by Melissa Troyer
Lots of sci-fi movies might begin with funny-shaped vessels landing on earth, but very few of them end with a (female!) linguist helping to save humanity by learning to speak the language of their inhabitants. As an only occasional viewer of science fiction movies, I was pleasantly surprised by the limited number of explosions and […]
December
15
Get your brain fit
posted by elena vicario
You can’t seem to get yourself to the gym? You are always lazy to work out or go for a run? This infographic might just be the motivation you need! And if you want to know more check out our video Get your brain fit, People’s Choice Award Winner in the Brain Awareness Video Contest […]
September
22
Left Brain, Right Brain, Red Brain, Blue Brain
posted by Barbara Spencer
[En español] With the first presidential debate of 2016 quickly approaching, it’s a good time to consider whether your brain has already cast its vote. There is no shortage of articles that imply your political leanings are reflected in your brain’s structure and function (e.g. Is your brain liberal or conservative?—Fox News, Experts say liberal […]
September
08
Car Talk
posted by Melissa Troyer
For many Americans—and southern Californians in particular—a good chunk of our lives occurs in the confines of a car above a tangle of highways (or side streets). Time spent in traffic is the pits, so it’s no small wonder that drivers might dabble in multi-tasking. Driving itself involves a coordination of many tasks, both perceptual […]
April
21
Heavy on my Mind: Lead Poisoning (Part II)
posted by Caroline Sferrazza
When I first heard about the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, I didn’t have the slightest idea how serious the problem was. Sure, I’d heard that lead was no good for you. I thought back to the day I moved into my first apartment in New York City and the superintendent handed me a pamphlet […]
October
31
Interview with a Zombie: Dr. Bradley Voytek and the Neuroscience of Everyone’s Favorite Monster
posted by Alie Astrocyte
‘Tis the season to be spooky – here’s a bonus NeuWrite post in the spirit of the holiday! At last spring’s UCSD Neuroscience Program Retreat, we had the pleasure of hearing new faculty member, Dr. Bradley Voytek, give a talk about Consciousness Deficit Hypoactivity Disorder (CDHD). If the medical term sounds unfamiliar, maybe you know […]
August
06
The Appeal of a Limitless Mind
posted by Melissa Lau
Editor’s Note: With the much-anticipated debut of the Limitless TV show closing in, it’s clear that cameos of Bradley Cooper (and animated sequences of NEURONS FIRING!!!) will be spicing up the Fall TV lineup. From the trailer, it looks like the show will be just as exciting and scientifically questionable as the movie—giving NeuWrite the perfect opportunity to re-post our original musings on Limitless, […]
July
16
Truly Blissful Brains
posted by Ashley Juavinett
[En Español] It’s not uncommon for beverage advertisements to make far-fetched claims. Coca Cola “calms jumpy nerves,” Vitamin Water is “nutritious,” and Gatorade will turn you into Michael Jordan. Within the past few years, a new brain-branded league of products has entered the beverages aisle, creating conflict within a neuroscientist like me. While I’m excited […]
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