How do thoughts, emotions, memory and perception emerge? In this section, we unpack the latest discoveries in brain and neuroscience, offering new perspectives on how the mind works and how we experience the world.
Far from being a sign of decline, aging can become a source of authority. In some societies, elders embody memory, justice, and social cohesion. Tensions run so high that the slightest gesture could spark a clash. Suddenly, silence falls. An old man steps forward, his slow pace sharply contrasting with the agitation of the young,…
What happens when no thoughts seem accessible? The brain doesn’t simply stop. We often imagine our thoughts as a continuous stream of images, words, and memories. However, most of us have experienced a sudden inner void a moment when nothing seems clear, and no identifiable thoughts emerge. This phenomenon, known as mind blanking, has sparked…
Can we restore plasticity in an Alzheimer’s brain? Early experimental findings suggest it may be possible. 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…
Can a simple word trigger an uncontrollable reaction? Some rare phenomena suggest that language can act far beyond its meaning. Some oddities slip into everyday life like flashes of absurdity. In Morocco, for reasons no one has yet explained, the mere mention of the word “honey” can trigger uncontrollable outbursts in certain individuals a phenomenon…
Alzheimer’s progression is not random. Mathematical models are now helping decode its hidden pathways. Alzheimer’s disease remains one of the most formidable challenges in neurology, both in terms of its growing prevalence and the complexity of its underlying mechanisms. While amyloid plaques and tau tangles are well-established pathological markers, a fundamental question persists: why do…
Remembering everything, forgetting nothing… what if that ability isn’t a gift, but a burden? The rare case of hyperthymesia raises questions about the role of forgetting. On June 8, 2000, a letter arrived on the desk of Professor James McGaugh, a neuroscientist at the University of California, Irvine. It was from a woman named Jill…
What if well-being protects memory? A study suggests our psychological state may play a key role in cognitive aging. Preventing cognitive decline has become a major public health concern. As life expectancy increases, so do cases of dementia, pushing researchers to identify factors that could help protect the brain. Risk factors such as depression and…
What if some non-speaking autistic individuals can read but can’t show it? A study challenges how we assess language abilities. The absence of functional speech in some autistic individuals often leads to a general underestimation of their cognitive and linguistic abilities. This perception is rooted in a confusion between language and spoken output, as if…
When everything feels harder for no clear reason, it may not be a loss of ability but a shift in the brain’s priorities. Mental fatigue is one of the most universal experiences of modern life. After hours of focusing, learning, or handling repetitive tasks, a subtle heaviness sets in and motivation begins to wane. This…
What if some voices come from our own mental images? A hypothesis that challenges how we understand hallucinations. Every time he closes his eyes, the image of his father appears, a stern face etched into childhood memory. And with it, a harsh, violent voice. No one is speaking. He’s alone in the room. But he…