Many studies have suggested that psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, might be useful in treating a variety of mental health conditions. But we don't really know what's going on at the level of "functional brain networks" – the communication pathways that connect different regions of the brain.

Scientists Reveal What Your Brain Looks Like on Psilocybin

Philosopher David Chalmers asks us to consider why the activities of life "feel like something." Neuroscientist and psychoanalyst Mark Solms suggests that one aspect of our minds must be felt: affect. Affect is the core element of mood and emotion, and summarizes our body's judgment of good vs. bad actions.

Why Do We Have Consciousness?

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Cannabis use is on the rise globally, prompting questions about its effects on the brain. But what is the truth?. Ultimately, understanding the diverse effects of cannabis on the brain can help individuals make informed decisions about their health. Further...

What Cannabis Does to Your Brain

IFLScience

Psilocybin obliterates your neural fingerprint.

Magic Mushrooms Desynchronize Your Brain For Up To Three Weeks

Professional musicians have a higher chance of being left-handed than the general population. Left-handers have better pitch memory than right-handers. A stroke in the right half of the brain can destroy the ability to perceive music. August 13, 2024, is International Left-Handers Day, and, despite decades of research on left-handedness,...

Left-Handedness and Musicality: 5 Scientific Facts

I live in South Florida, which is frequently referred to as the home of the silver tsunami. This phrase describes the fact that people like me, the Baby Boomers (there are 74.9 million of us, born between 1946 and 1964), are beginning to hit retirement age. Unfortunately, this happens to be the precise age when most cases of Alzheimer’s disease begin to manifest.

Voulez-Vous Help Your Brain?

LiveScience

Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, reduces the synchronicity within a brain network responsible for reflection and the sense of self.

Magic mushrooms temporarily 'dissolve' brain network responsible for sense of self

Upworthy

Stressed? Of course you are. Luckily for you, and the entire U.S. population, scientists believe they may have identified the most relaxing song in the world.Music has forever been associated with bringing about relaxation, happiness, and serenity — whether it's a Gregorian chant or some Enya accompanied by a glass of merlot.Neuroscientists in the United Kingdom think they have found the one song that relieves stress and soothes our souls more than any other.

Neuroscientists say this is the most relaxing song in the world

Well+Good

On a perfect night, you’d put your head down on your cushiony pillow (hopefully not while scrolling TikTok—more on that later), get your eight hours, and wake up refreshed. You may even have the best sleep position in order to get the most quality zzzs. But if lately you've been thinking, why do I wake up every two hours?, you may see sleep as anything but refreshing.

9 Reasons You’re Waking Up Every Two Hours (or More) at Night, and How to Fall Back to Sleep ASAP

Nico Dosenbach, an associate professor of neurology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, got to find out firsthand what happens to the brain when it's on psychedelics. For science, of course. He got a high dose of psilocybin from his colleagues — what else are friends for?...

Scientist Takes High Dose of Psilocybin, Clambers Into MRI Machine to Scan His Own Brain

New York Post

Neurologist Kim Johnson Hatchett has one recommendation for folks who want to keep their brains functioning now and as they age — build strength. 

Hatchett, who has nearly 9,000 TikTok followers, imparted her advice to keep moving for the sake of your body and brain in a recent post, “The scariest thing I see as a neurologist is the gradual weakening of America. Not moving your muscles . . . has an effect on every aspect of your life and most importantly your brain.”



In an interview this week with Self, Hatchett shared how physical activity is more tightly linked to...

I’m a neurologist — this is the scariest thing people do to their brains

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Shin

A 1967 publication titled “Mortality of Bereavement” discovered that bereaved relatives had a 7-fold increased risk of dying within the following year. Despite that the cause of death was undetermined, this is the first scientific evidence indicating that extreme sadness kills.

The Biology of Depression, Anxiety, and the Broken Heart Explained

A recent study on mice found that chronic social isolation reduces the activity of neurons in the anterior insular cortex region of the brain, resulting in impaired social memory. Treatment with (R)-ketamine counteracted this reduction, restoring social memory functioning in these mice. The paper was published in Molecular Psychiatry. Humans...

Study finds (R)-ketamine restores cognitive deficits induced by chronic social isolation

In the intricate architecture of​ the human ⁢brain, the emergence of Alzheimer’s disease often heralds a disheartening reality: a gradual and relentless‌ dismantling of memory,⁣ cognition, and identity. Yet, ⁣amidst ‌the shadows ‍cast by this formidable condition, ‍a new ray of ⁤hope has surfaced from the⁣ depths of‍ neuroscience research. ‌Recent studies are unveiling the intriguing relationship between dopamine—a neurotransmitter central to our ⁤feelings ‌of pleasure and reward—and the notorious brain plaques that characterize ‍Alzheimer’s. The idea​ that‍ this chemical messenger ‌could play a‍ pivotal role in dissolving harmful amyloid-beta plaques not only sparks ⁣curiosity but⁢ ignites a potential breakthrough in our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases. In this exploration, ​we delve⁢ into the science ‍behind dopamine’s unexpected therapeutic promise and the implications it holds for combating one ⁣of humanity’s most pressing health⁤ challenges. Join us as we unravel the layers of this complex puzzle, highlighting a⁣ path that may lead to a future where Alzheimer’s is no longer a looming specter but a challenge​ we can confidently confront.

Melting Away Alzheimer’s: How Dopamine Dissolves Harmful Brain Plaques

Researchers found that psilocybin temporarily disrupts a brain network involved in creating a person’s sense of self. The findings help explain the neurobiology of psychedelic experiences and give insight into harnessing the potential therapeutic effects of psychedelic drugs. Psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin cause acute changes in how people...

How psychedelic drugs alter the brain

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Herbie J Pilato

It's been eight years since former TV child star Sawyer Sweeten, best known from Everybody Loves Raymond, died tragically by suicide at only 19 years old. Sawyer Sweeten, his twin brother Sullivan Sweeten, and their older sister Madylin, played Ray Romano's TV children on Everybody Loves Raymond, the Emmy-winning sitcom that originally aired on CBS 1996 to 2005.

The Tragic Suicide of Former TV Child Star Sawyer Sweeten ('Everybody Loves Raymond'): 9 Years Later

rolling out

Sharon Brangman, MD, explains that 1 in 5 U.S. adults live with a mental illness. However, Black American adults are 20 percent more likely to experience serious mental health problems. Brangman is a brain health and cognitive aging expert at the McKnight Brain Research Foundation. She talks about steps people can take to help maintain brain health as they age.

Sharon Brangman explains how to maintain cognitive health as we age

A dopamine-based technique to tackle Alzheimer’s disease has been uncovered, potentially revolutionizing the way we diagnose, manage, and treat this debilitating condition. The innovative approach promises to change the landscape of Alzheimer’s treatment and offers new hope to millions affected by the disease. Unlocking the science. The esteemed...

Dopamine may help restore memory in Alzheimer’s patients

Roughly a third of all Americans will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. While leading anti-anxiety medications are generally effective and well-tolerated, they come with problematic drawbacks. In a new study, researchers discovered a signaling pathway that when slowed down via a therapeutic injection, effectively halted anxious behaviors in mice.

Researchers discover an entirely new way to treat anxiety

Caught In A "Dopamine Trap" – What Does That Mean?

NewsBreak

‘Then I Am Myself the World’ ponders what it means to be conscious

The human brain is the most complex information integrator known in the universe. With 86 billion neurons and 100 trillion connections between them, the brain gives...

‘Then I Am Myself the World’ ponders what it means to be conscious

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