Brain activity

"Sleep debt” assumes your shut-eye works like a bank account. That lost hours stack up, carry over, and you must eventually repay them in full. Well, you'll be pleased to know that it doesn’t work this way. And chasing “enough sleep” isn't helping.

A new study has uncovered evidence of “synaptic down-selection” as we sleep, suggesting our nightly shut-eye is a perfect opportunity to prune back any neurological hedges that went wild during the day.

If you've ever wonder why you remember surprise events more vividly than the predictable, new research has uncovered how the brain encodes novel information in more detail than the familiar, allocating energy away from what it already knows.

A new study has found that the stride length of a dog’s front legs can be used to accurately diagnose their cognitive decline. Because a person’s change in gait can play a significant role in spotting early signs of Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

Listening to or playing music later in life could do more than lift your spirits – it might also help keep your mind sharp. A large study has found that older adults who regularly engage with music have significantly lower rates of cognitive decline.

A new study combining brainwave monitoring and machine learning has found that certain types of music can dramatically reduce motion sickness symptoms – by more than half in some cases – offering fresh hope for more pleasant travel experiences.

Scientists have identified the first brainwave biomarkers for obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD. The discovery opens the door to personalized, on-demand brain stimulation that targets distressing compulsive behaviors as they arise.

A safe and affordable treatment to effectively combat the progress of Parkinson's dementia has emerged – in the form of a commonly available cough syrup that's already being studied for its brain-protecting power in other degenerative diseases.

Talk about thinking small: researchers at Harvard University have devised a new way to implant flexible bioelectronic devices in the embryos of frogs, mice, and lizards, enabling them to monitor brain activity as these creatures develop.

A personalized facial e-tattoo wirelessly monitors the brain and can tell when it’s being overworked and can use the data it collects to predict mental overload, according to a new study. The tech could help us maintain a productivity sweet spot.

Researchers have developed a 3D-printable electrode that looks like a single strand of human hair and measures brain activity more reliably than the current method used to diagnose things like epilepsy and sleep disorders.

Not everyone with ADHD responds to stimulants like Ritalin, which increase dopamine levels. New research suggests the drug’s effectiveness is less about the dopamine it produces and more about the number and type of brain receptors that respond to it.