Primates form and use abstract rules
A new theoretical framework describes how humans and other primates use the prefrontal cortex to make and update the rules that guide their behaviours.
Many women feel ‘phantom kicks’ after pregnancy
The prevalence of ‘phantom kicks’ after the end of pregnancy has implications for fetal health monitoring and women’s mental health.
Predicting the severity of psychotic symptoms
Rather than considering schizophrenia symptoms as present or absent, researchers are using machine learning to predict their severity on a continuous scale.
Injuries disrupt the brain’s distributed connectivity
Damage to one hemisphere of the brain can lead to decreased connectivity across the brain, beyond the site of injury.
Haemoglobin levels affect the results of brain connectivity studies
Natural variations in haemoglobin levels should be considered when using functional MRI to study brain connectivity.
Parenthood permanently changes the brain
The experience of raising children is linked to life-long changes to the brain’s structure in mothers and fathers.
Better multitasking takes practice
New research shows that multitasking involves more of the brain than previously thought, which might also explain why practice improves performance.
Evidence of a link between learning errors and psychotic-like experiences
Poor predictive models may hinder the brain’s ability to perceive our environment correctly, potentially leading to psychotic-like experiences.
Attention and decision-making are closely related
New research disproves a commonly held belief that attention and decision-making are two independent processes.
Beneath the Surface and Inside Out: exploring neuroscience through art
Artworks combining textiles and neuroscience explore the connection – and the potential disconnect – between the brain’s internal and external worlds.