An international research team found that cats prefer to sleep on their left side, potentially as an evolutionary advantage for hunting and escape behavior. Sleeping on the left allows them to process threats with the right hemisphere of the brain, which specializes in spatial awareness and rapid movements.
Human high-order thalamic nuclei gate conscious perception through the thalamofrontal loop
Researchers investigated the neural basis of conscious perception using intracranial recordings in humans. They discovered that the intralaminar and medial thalamic nuclei (imTha) exhibit early and strong activity linked to consciousness, acting as a “gate” that drives information to the prefrontal cortex. This supports the idea that the thalamofrontal loop is essential for visual awareness and provides direct evidence for the thalamus’s role in the rapid emergence of conscious experience.
Researchers investigated the neural basis of conscious perception using intracranial recordings in humans. They discovered that the intralaminar and medial thalamic nuclei (imTha) exhibit early and strong activity linked to consciousness, acting as a “gate” that drives information to the prefrontal cortex. This supports the idea that the thalamofrontal loop is essential for visual awareness and provides direct evidence for the thalamus’s role in the rapid emergence of conscious experience.
A new study published in Science has identified the thalamus as a central player in how humans become consciously aware of visual information. Researchers discovered that specific thalamic regions activate earlier and more strongly during moments of visual awareness, suggesting they act as a gateway for conscious perception.
This study reveals a role for the superior colliculus in higher-order cognition, independent of its role in spatial orienting. Researchers found that the superior colliculus exhibits robust encoding of learned visual categories and its inactivation markedly impaired category decisions in rhesus macaques.
Andrej Karpathy discusses the transformative changes in software development driven by large language models (LLMs) and artificial intelligence, comparing the current era to the early days of computing. The article details Software 3.0 as the latest evolution in software development paradigms, where LLMs are programmable systems that interpret natural language prompts.
A new study reveals how the brain determines whether a smell is pleasant or revolting, highlighting the role of the amygdala and two genetically distinct cell types that can assign either positive or negative value to odors. This discovery could lead to treatments for anxiety, PTSD, or sensory disorders.
Celebrating the 200th anniversary of benzene's discovery and its profound impact on chemistry and various fields, from health and energy to materials science and education. The article traces the history of benzene, its unique properties, and its role as a building block for complex molecules like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, and ultimately, graphene.
A new study reveals that caffeine increases the complexity of brain activity during sleep, especially in younger adults, potentially disrupting the brain’s ability to recover overnight. Researchers used EEG and AI to analyze sleep in 40 adults after caffeine or placebo intake, identifying less predictable brain signals and increased wake-like brainwave patterns.
Research on mice suggests that inhaling menthol may improve cognitive abilities and reduce inflammation associated with Alzheimer's disease. The study found a reduction in the IL-1β protein and potential links to T regulatory cells, offering a novel avenue for Alzheimer's therapies.
A new scientific review maps the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind memory formation, consolidation, generalization, and updating, revealing how memories are stored, altered, and even manipulated in the brain. Key breakthroughs allow scientists to visualize and activate specific neurons involved in memory, offering deeper insight into how learning occurs and how fear memories may become overgeneralized in disorders like PTSD.
