Our writers share what got them excited about neuroscience in 2025.
2025 Neuroscience Year in Review
The battle of the sexes: Whose brain comes out on top?
Popular culture loves the idea that men and women think differently, but the science is far less dramatic. Here’s what the research shows about cognitive ability and brain differences between the sexes.
The science and stigma behind premenstrual disorders
The idea that women are naturally predisposed to mental and emotional disturbances during “that time of month” dates back centuries. Is it biology or baloney? PMS or BS?
T cells in the immune system: Friend or foe?
T cells are a type of immune cell that defend your body against disease. While these mighty cells normally serve to protect you from foreign invaders, what happens if they turn on you?
The blood brain barrier and its Trojan Horses
Ever wonder what delivering drugs to the brain and Greek mythology have in common? If so, come check out this article on Trojan Horses in science!
When good things turn bad: How your brain decides what you like and dislike
How do we decide what we like and what we don’t? Discover how the brain forms these judgments and how they can flip after just one bad experience.
Vaccines and autism: Let’s talk about it
The conversation around autism and vaccines has become an increasingly hot topic of late (to put it mildly), but did you know that this debate began over 25 years ago? Here is a brief overview of the history and the science around whether vaccines increase the risk of autism.
How to make a guy compost in 10 days
How can we use neuroscience to encourage environmentally-friendly decisions?
Recording everything everywhere all at once
Neuroscientists can now record from many parts of the mouse brain at once, helping us see how millions of neurons work together to guide behavior.
The brain behind the balance
Your brain is more than a thinking machine. Even when you rest, your brain is constantly monitoring, adjusting, and fine-tuning every heartbeat, breath, and chemical signal – keeping your body balanced. The key? A network of regulators hidden in your brain working every second of your life.
Mighty mitochondria, the powerhouses of your nervous system
Neurons require a lot of energy to keep your brain functioning, and this energy is overwhelmingly generated by certain cellular components: the mitochondria. Here, we discuss how mitochondria actually perform their most famous job of producing your cells’ energy, as well as the other roles they play in neuronal health.
Why our brains find conspiracy theories appealing
Discover why conspiracy theories grab our attention, and how the brain’s reward systems and social instincts make them so hard to resist.
Sweet but not innocent: Artificial sweeteners and brain health
A recent study suggests artificial sweeteners are associated with a faster cognitive decline. How might that be happening?
To pee or not to pee: How the brain controls the bladder
That urge to pee? It’s not so simple. Behind it is a complex brain-bladder conversation that decides when to hold and when to go.
Going viral: How scientists use viruses in research every day
Viruses are experts at getting new DNA into cells. Every day, neuroscientists take advantage of this ability to help us understand the brain.
Eye movements: A window into cognition, disease, and individuality
Did you know that our eyes spontaneously move about 3 – 5 times per second? These eye movements, while seemingly simple and mostly unconscious, can tell us a lot about how our brains work. In this PNK post, we’ll dig into the fascinating world of eye movements!
Two sides of the matter: The human brain may be symmetric in form, but not in function
Even though it is a myth that people are either “left-brained” or “right-brained,” certain complex functions, such as spoken language, are primarily found on one side of the human brain. How and why does the brain pick a side for these functions?
Counting sheep: How should we fall asleep?
Have you ever wondered why some people need total silence and darkness to fall asleep, while others prefer to listen to white noise or watch their favorite TV show? Is there a “best” way to fall asleep?
Vagus nerve stimulation: A new frontier
Electrical stimulation is proving to be a powerful treatment for neurological diseases – especially when it comes to the vagus nerve
Your brain’s behavioral blueprint: The chemicals behind how we eat, sleep, feel, and socialize
What do worms, mice, and leafcutter ants have in common? They're helping scientists uncover the power of neuropeptides — chemical messengers in the brain that shape behavior and may hold the key to future drug discovery.
Turning pages, swiping screens, and hitting play: Is reading always the same to our brain?
Whether it’s on paper, screen or audio, there are more ways than ever to enjoy a good book. But do different formats engage the brain in the same way?
Mind-muscle connection: How does your brain tell your muscles to move?
From doing the dishes to playing an instrument, a special connection between your brain and the muscles is key to keep us moving the way we want.
Do plants feel pain?
It may sound like a ridiculous question— but it’s worth asking. From Venus flytraps snapping shut to stressed plants releasing ultrasonic "screams," plants react to touch and damage in surprising similar ways to us.
Can we trust our memory?
We may think our memory is set in stone, but it’s more like wet clay. From false childhood memories to wrongful convictions, explore the science behind how our memories can deceive us — and how they could still be trusted if handled with care.
Emotional support animals: A life- (and brain-) changing bond
Connections with a pet support mental health. How do emotional support animals help manage symptoms of mental illnesses and how does the brain react to this connection?
The unique human ability to cry
Humans are the only species that display tearful, emotional crying. Why have we evolved this behavior? Does it benefit us? And if so, why don’t we cry more?
Video Supplement: How is biomedical research funded in the United States?
The US has been a global leader in funding biomedical research. Learn about how that process works and why it’s so important that we maintain our commitment to funding science.
Animal Matriarchies
You may have heard about patriarchy, but how about matriarchy? Bees, elephants, and bonobos show us how females are often the ones running the show in the wild.
Changing Climate, Changing Brains
How does climate change impact the brain? Spoiler alert: it’s not good
How bats are helping us rethink how the brain hears
Studying bats helps us understand how the brain processes and sorts sounds into categories.
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