Neurobiology investigates the biological foundations of the nervous system. It focuses on neurons, neural circuits and molecular mechanisms that allow the brain to process information.
Articles in this section explore neurotransmitters, brain plasticity and the biological basis of cognition.
Fear is a vital instinct. It alerts, protects, and ensures survival. When this mechanism becomes dysregulated, fear can persist long after the threat has disappeared. The memory of danger remains active even in safety. This pattern is seen in certain phobias and in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), where the brain continues to react to cues…
Our brain never ceases to surprise us. After revealing its electrical waves and magnetic fields, it unveils another secret: it emits light. Researchers have detected photons—those tiny particles of light—escaping from the heads of volunteers placed in complete darkness. Invisible to the naked eye, this ultra-weak glow intrigues scientists because it appears to vary with…
Alzheimer’s disease affects millions worldwide and still lacks a curative treatment. Existing medications mostly target amyloid plaques and tau proteins, but they fail to halt cognitive decline. Neuroscientists now agree that the real casualties of this disease are the synapses the microscopic connections between neurons that gradually vanish, leading to memory loss. Restoring synaptic plasticity…
What if running a marathon didn’t just drain your muscles, but also quietly reshaped the very structure of your brain? At the heart of this transformation lies a subtle but essential player: myelin. This sheath, which insulates nerve fibers, isn’t just responsible for the speed of neural signals, it may also act as an emergency…
For millennia, fasting has been practiced across cultures and traditions as an act of discipline and spiritual elevation. Far more than mere deprivation, it represents a return to the essentials, an exercise in self, mastery and detachment from the material world. Beyond its spiritual significance, modern science is now uncovering the profound effects of this…
The human brain, with its remarkable architecture of billions of interconnected neurons, was long considered to be fixed once maturity was reached. For decades, scientists believed that, unlike other tissues in the body, the brain lacked any real regenerative capacity. However, that view was overturned with the discovery of neural stem cells (NSCs)—unique cells capable…
For a long time, we believed that neurons alone were responsible for shaping our thoughts, memories, and adaptive capabilities. This perspective, firmly rooted in classic neuroscience research, led to the significant undervaluation of glial cells, particularly astrocytes. For decades, these cells were merely regarded as structural support, a biological scaffold meant to hold neurons in…
The influence of physical exercise on our well-being is a widely studied topic in the health sciences. There is compelling evidence that regular activity enhances physical fitness, mental health, and even longevity. However, an intriguing new question has emerged: could these benefits extend beyond the individual who exercises, potentially influencing the health of future generations?…