Artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing at breathtaking speed, but its foundations remain very different from those of the human brain. The most powerful artificial neural networks rely on billions of parameters and massive amounts of data to accomplish specific tasks. By contrast, the human brain learns from only a handful of examples, adapts rapidly to…
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 growing interest in cognitive science over the past few years. Is it…
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…
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 certain brain regions deteriorate early, while others show remarkable resistance? This selective vulnerability and…
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 anxiety are now well established. However, the potential protective effects of psychological wellbeing remain underexplored. Psychological wellbeing goes beyond…
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 not speaking aloud equated to lacking inner language or comprehension. However, several recent studies challenge this reductive view. Reading and…
In his novel The Echo Maker, Richard Powers explores the fragile boundaries of consciousness through the story of Mark Schluter, a man whose grasp on reality begins to fracture. After a serious accident, Mark awakens in a hospital room. He sees a familiar face leaning over him, his sister Karen. The voice is right, the…
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 phenomenon is more than just an unpleasant sensation, it reshapes the way the brain evaluates the efforts we’re willing to make. Contrary to…
Parkinson’s disease affects nearly 1% of people over the age of 60. It results from the gradual degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, a deep brain region involved in motor control. This neuronal loss leads to characteristic symptoms: resting tremors, muscle stiffness, motor slowness, and balance issues. While current dopamine-based treatments help alleviate…
Our perception of space feels fluid and seamless. We instantly detect what happens on our left and right, trace visual trajectories, and identify objects in complex environments. Beneath this apparent unity, however, lies a highly structured bilateral brain organization: the left hemisphere processes input from the right visual field, and the right hemisphere, from the…