Simply Neuroscience

Written by Shivani Munaga Edited by: Fahad Hassan Shah and Nadia Hall (Image from: https://elandancearts.ca/why-dancing-is-so-good-for-your-brain/) When you watch a teenager learn choreography for the first time, you are actually watching a hard mental task hiding inside a fun one. They have to copy a teacher who faces them, so their left and right are flipped. To fix this, they have to reverse …

Written by: Jessica Karlovcec, MSc Edited by: Ayush Halder (Image from: https://today.uconn.edu/2022/06/opioid-addiction-and-withdrawal-what-you-should-know/) What are opioids? Opioids are the strongest and most effective pain-relieving drugs available (Veilleux et al., 2010). Some opioids, like morphine and codeine, are derived from the opium poppy and are considered “natural” opioids (Pathan &#…

Written by: Emma Reid Edited by: Fahad Hassan Shah and Nadia Hall (Photo by dhproductions from Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/person-holding-round-clear-container-tGYrlchfObE) Introduction For decades, neurons have dominated the field of neuroscience. They have been at the center of it all: neurodegeneration research, medicines, clinical trials, even daily tasks to strengthen the brain. Bu…

Written by: Ayşe Ela Erol Edited by: Ayush Halder (Image from: https://medium.com/@ayieragwendo/maladaptive-daydreaming-1268b1d6d67d) Introduction Daydreaming is one of the most ordinary yet mysterious activities of the human mind. Most of the time, it is harmless, even seen as part of creativity and problem-solving. However, in some cases, daydreaming can exceed its function and become a difficu…

Written by: Abigail Ayodele Agbaze (linkedin.com/in/abigail-a-0491b2196) Edited by: Fahad Hassan Shah (Image from: https://www.union.edu/schaffer-library/new-snack-machine) Half your day has been spent attending lectures. Your stomach rumbles, reminding you it is time to eat. You promised yourself that this semester you would eat healthier and avoid the infamous freshman fifteen. But when you rea…

Written by: Parishi K. Shah and Christina M. Sharkey Edited by: Fahad Hassan Shah Figure 1. Decreased emotional recognition correlated with FA deterioration following brain tumor removal. Note. From Sinha, R., Dijkshoorn, A. B. C., Li, C., Manly, T., & Price, S. J. (2020). Glioblastoma surgery related emotion recognition deficits are associated with right cerebral hemisphere tract changes. …

Written by: Nidhi Sujin Edited by: Nadia Hall (Image from: alamy.com) Many people have felt some form of romantic jealousy before. Jealousy is a complex and intense emotion. But little research has been done about jealousy and its causes and effects. Looking at recent studies, we can explore how jealousy can be used as a shield in relationships, as well as how it can destroy relationships. Romant…

Written by: Vee Nguyen Edited by: Fahad Hassan Shah (Image from: https://root-nation.com/en/articles-en/analytics-en/en-what-happens-to-stronauts-brains-in-space/) Introduction Space may seem exciting, but for the brain, it is a place of constant danger. In microgravity (a state in which objects appear to be weightless), fluids shift upward, increasing pressure in the head, which affects astronau…

Written by: Raghad AlGhamdi, BSc Clinical Psychology Edited by: Fahad Hassan Shah (Image from: https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/neurobiology-depression) Many of us know what it feels like to be sad or unmotivated, but depression goes deeper than that. Depression is a mental health condition that affects all aspects of an individual’s life. In many cases, this can include a feeling of emptiness, …

Written by: Deepika Miryala Edited by: Fahad Hassan Shah and Nadia Hall (Image from: https://acls123.com/what-is-multiple-sclerosis/) Abstract Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition that has an unfortunate lack of information despite its relative prevalence and unpleasant effects. However, research is beginning to shine light on its origins, consequences, and potential treatments. Several causes …

Written by: Deepika Miryala Edited by: Fahad Hassan Shah and Nadia Hall (Image from: https://www.labclinics.com/2018/11/08/role-dna-methylation-disease/?lang=en) Abstract Currently, Alzheimer's disease is one of the leading causes of death globally. For years, scientists have considered genetics to be one of the most important areas of study when it comes to the human body and lifespan. In recent…

Written by: Heth Joshi Edited by: Fahad Hassan Shah (Image from: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/young-man-hugging-pillow-on-260nw-1157191009.jpg) Missing someone is not only about emotions; it is biological to a certain extent. Ever had a moment in the crowd where your best friend is not there to finish your inside joke? Or have you ever missed your partner because your thought seems “…

Written by: Dr. Ankit Sharma  Edited by: Nadia Hall (Image from: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/too-much-screen-time-robbing-us-being-human-bret-becton-z1iyc ) “A calm mind brings inner strength and self-confidence, so that’s very important for good health.” – Dalai Lama  “My day starts with my phone, and my day ends with it”. This is a common point of discussion nowadays among friends and famili…

Written by: Dr. Ankit Sharma Edited by: Nadia Hall (Image from: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/too-much-screen-time-robbing-us-being-human-bret-becton-z1iyc ) “A calm mind brings inner strength and self-confidence, so that’s very important for good health.” – Dalai Lama “My day starts with my phone, and my day ends with it”. This is a common point of discussion nowadays among friends and families…

Written by: Deepika Miryala Edited by: Ayush Halder and Nadia Hall (Image from: https://www.turmerry.com/blogs/dreamerry/dreams?srsltid=AfmBOopmoNP1KCczZ35LgbwFg2ZrAduFqGafG34MUBZFFTO7ITYvqipN ) Abstract As researchers uncover the purposes of dreaming, the ways in which dreaming and stress influence each other has become increasingly apparent. Dreaming is a state of sleep in which the brain imagi…

Written by: Deepika Miryala Edited by: Fahad Hassan Shah (Art by Vivian Hsia, from https://pepperdine-graphic.com/opinion-give-kindness-more-often/ ) Introduction Random Acts of Kindness, or RAOKs, are small gestures of goodwill that can have big impacts. In fact, people from various cultures consistently cite kindness as a top-valued character trait, and humans naturally appreciate others who ar…

Written by: Ahmed Moeed Yusuf Edited by: Fahad Hassan Shah and Nadia Hall (Image from: https://www.plymouth.edu/theclock/squid-game-a-spoiler-free-philosophical-analysis/ ) Abstract Squid Game , the global hit series, captivates with high-stakes games, desperation, violence, and moral dilemmas. This article looks at the mental and brain processes that make the series so popular. Drawing on resear…

Written by: Matthieu S Edited by: Ayush Halder (Image from: https://stjudewellnesscenter.org/3-ways-to-train-your-brain-like-a-muscle/ ) I have been a long-time follower of Simply Neuroscience because they do a great job of digging into how the brain works. They have covered the big stuff, like neuroplasticity, and the smaller things, like the neural dance behind why you chose coffee over tea thi…

Written by: Kennedy Owens Edited by: Aylin Abbasi (Image from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23418-cerebellum ) The cerebellum has long been an underinvestigated and often overlooked region of the brain. Until recently, neuroscience neglected to recognize this region for higher-order cognitive abilities beyond the fine motor skills typically associated with it. However, emerging evid…

Written by: Katherine Jordan Edited by: Aylin Abbasi (Image from: https://www.facebook.com/neurodiversitycentre/posts/understanding-developmental-coordination-disorder-dcd-dcd-also-known-as-dyspraxi/1115629560286681/ ) Introduction Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a commonly misunderstood disorder (Gentle et al., 2024). Its symptoms might be overlooked or mistaken for clumsiness or la…