We continuously learn about the consequences of our actions and change our behaviour accordingly so we can in future repeat a response that produced the desired outcome and hold back learned behaviours that are no longer appropriate. Imagine you are hungry and go to the... click to read more

Ouch! — we often can't help shouting when stubbing a toe or getting a finger squashed in a door. These are everyday experiences that elicit pain. But how do we actually recognize those experiences as painful? Why is pain precious? Pain sensing begins with specialized nerve... click to read more

There is nothing subtle about the immune system. T cells, potent immune cells found in the blood, can kill just about anything. In response to a viral infection, T cells move in, kill any of your cells that have a virus inside them, coordinate a... click to read more

Why are we all different? This is one of the oldest and most contested scientific questions. Naturally, the brain is often the focus of these discussions, as it is the control center for our body and behavior. The debate of "nature vs nurture" tried to... click to read more

It's easy to see how certain traits can be linked back to your genetics, such as your hair color or height. It's also undeniable that some mental health disorders, such as schizophrenia, have a strong genetic link. More recently, substance use disorder - a category... click to read more