brain
number of breaks: 17
Our blood may be making us smarter
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
A contributing gene for cannabis dependence
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
Where mind meets body: a master brain circuit for stress responses
When feeling stressed or nervous, you notice the pounding heart, pale face, and dry mouth – fundamental autonomic responses to psychological stress. Stress responses are conserved in many mammalian species and thought to be beneficial for wild animals, such as when they encounter their enemies. ... click to read more
Stop all the clocks: the hidden long-term consequences of sleep loss
The function of sleep is still elusive despite the well-known effects of sleep loss or poor-quality sleep on cognitive function and long-term health. When and how long animals (including humans) sleep is determined by, on the one hand, their internal circadian clock, which aligns physiology... click to read more
Genes that influence handedness alter brain architecture
For at least 10,000 years, approximately 90% of humans have preferred using the right hand over the left. The question of why about one in ten people are left-handed has fascinated scientists for centuries, but no clear answer has yet emerged. We already knew that genetic... click to read more
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