This year, Live Science covered a range of fascinating studies about the brain, shedding light on how our most complex organ functions. From the impact of male hormones on brain volume to the intricate neural networks activated during movie watching, these studies offer intriguing glimpses into the workings of the human mind.
Arguably the most complex organ in the body, the brain is an elegant mess of cells, chemicals and electrical impulses that orchestrates our thoughts, behaviors and unconscious bodily functions. This year, Live Science covered a slew of fascinating studies about the brain, each of which revealed new insights about how the organ ticks while also raising new questions. The male hormone cycle and the brainAlthough not often discussed, the male hormone cycle is quite striking.
Steroid hormones in the male body — including testosterone, cortisol and estradiol — decrease about 70% throughout the day and then reset overnight. This year, a brain-scan study revealed that the brain loses and regains volume in time with this daily cycle. At this point, though, it's unclear whether the hormones themselves drive the brain changes or how this cycle affects male brain function. Your brain on cinemaMany people throw on a movie when they want to'turn off their brain' for a bit. But a recent study found that, actually, 24 different brain networks light up as you watch different types of films. By tying brain activity patterns to what was happening in a given scene, the scientists behind the study were able to construct the most accurate functional brain map to date. Transformation of babies' brains after birthA groundbreaking study in fetuses and newborns highlights how the activity of certain parts of the brain suddenly shift after birth. There is a huge uptick in activity in the subcortical network, which acts like a relay hub for information, and the sensorimotor network, which is responsible for processing external stimuli and coordinating movements. The researchers now want to study the same brain networks in preterm babies, to see if there's a notable difference from full-term babies. The drive to eatA simple circuit made of just three types of neurons may underlie our drive to eat, a study foun
BRAIN NEUROSCIENCE HORMONES HUMAN DEVELOPMENT FOOD BEHAVIOR
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