Neurons Caught Rapidly Switching Gears
Even during routine tasks such as a daily stroll, our brain needs to shift gears, switching from navigating the city to jumping out of the way of a bike or...
When the Brain’s GPS Goes Off the Grid
In a new study just published in Nature, Weizmann Institute of Science researchers, in collaboration with colleagues from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, unveiled for the first time how three-dimensional...
The Hunger Games: Uncovering the Secret of the Hunger Switch in the Brain
Being constantly hungry, no matter how much you eat – that’s the daily struggle of people with genetic defects in the brain’s appetite controls, and it often ends in severe...
Austism and Viral Infections in Pregnancy: Are They Linked?
A study in mice by the Weizmann Institute of Science suggests how an acute inflammatory immune response in pregnancy may be tied to autism spectrum disorders. Despite extensive research, scientists...
Breathe in before Answering: Cognitive Function Tied to Inhalation
A shot of espresso, a piece of chocolate or a headstand – all of these have been recommended before taking a big test. The best advice, however, could be to...
‘Brain on a Chip’ Reveals How the Brain Folds
Being born with a ‘tabula rasa’ – a clean slate – for the brain is something of a curse. Our brains are already wrinkled like walnuts by the time we...
The Connection Between Attention and Reflex
How does attention direct the subconscious actions of our sensory organs? Many of us have had the experience of sitting on the sofa at the end of a long day...
Epilepsy Gene Studies Open New Research Paths
Following the recent discovery of an epilepsy gene called HNRNPU from a study of 500 children and adults with severe epilepsies, a joint University of Melbourne and Weizmann Institute of...