Scientific publications generate a written conversation that evolves over time. Each new publication expands on the conversational foundation established by its predecessors. Despite our positive view that a recent study by Eklund and colleagues makes a valuable contribution to the conversation in our field of brain mapping, many reports have interpreted that findings from this paper cast doubt on all studies conducted with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) over the last two decades. Read more
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When you hear the word ribbon, you might think of wrapping presents or maybe a yellow, red, or blue satin award you won when you were seven (or even yesterday). You probably don’t think that an integral part of what contributes to your thoughts and perceptions is a strip of neural tissue known as the cortical ribbon. Read more
As a scientific conference approaches, I always think back to my first science fair: I stood next to my homemade presentation of graphs and tables glued to a poster board positioned next to hundreds of others made by fellow elementary school students. Read more
What comes to mind when you think of the brain? You probably imagine a crinkly, walnut-like structure, with a multitude of hills and valleys (gyri and sulci, respectively). But did you know that under this rippled, walnut-shaped outer surface of the cerebrum (referred to as the cortex) lie other structures that are smaller, but equally complex? Read more
Machine learning helps determine which infants will gain the most from cochlear implantation6/13/2016 Intact hearing in early childhood is essential for normal development of communication skills and language. Neural circuits are responsible for the healthy development of hearing, which is foundational for most academic skills, such as reading and language communication. Read more
For decades, psychologists, neuroscientists and brain mappers have studied fear and anxiety using language that obscures the distinctions between these complex emotional states. The difficulty in articulating the unique characteristics of these complex emotions has prevented a differentiation in not only their semantic definitions, but also their neurobiological underpinnings. Read more
Recently, scientists have discovered what may be “the penalty kicking center” of the human body. Researchers at the University of North Uist observed hundreds of individuals, and found that people activate muscles in the foot when they kick a penalty, as opposed to when they are resting or sitting. Read more
Walt Whitman was born on this day in 1819. His lifespan overlapped with a period in neuroscience history that laid the foundation for today’s exciting time of brain exploration. For example, in 1854 when Whitman was 35 years old, Emil Huschke produced the first lithograph of the human brain. Read more
We’ve all heard weird factoids about brains. For example, dolphins sleep one hemisphere at a time. But, did you know that your brain has a resting state? This is somewhat of a contradictory label since it’s hard to define rest when it comes to the human brain. Read more
Reading is a fundamental ability that is critical for academic success. Currently, 5-15% of school children suffer from reading difficulties, which positions them at a lower starting point in school. Without an appropriate way of detecting these difficulties before they occur, we lack an objective methodology to diagnose reading difficulties. Read more
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