Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news about fascinating discoveries, scientific advances and more. CNN — An analysis of the skull of a 319-million-year-old fossilized fish has led to the discovery of the oldest well-preserved example of a vertebrate brain, shedding new light on the early evolution of bony …
Paleontologist Matt Friedman was surprised to discover a remarkably detailed 319-million-year-old fish brain fossil while testing micro-scans for a larger project. “He had all these characteristics, and I was like, ‘Is this really a brain I’m looking at? “,” says Friedman of the University of Michigan. “So I zoomed in on that area of the …
Scientist Accidentally Discovers Oldest Vertebrate Brain Read More »
Scientists previously believed that silent synapses were only present early in development. The ability of the adult brain to form new memories and absorb new information can be explained by these immature connections. MIT neuroscientists have found that the adult brain is filled with millions of “silent synapses” – immature connections between neurons that aren’t …
As Elon Musk’s Neuralink plans to begin human trials in six months, a neurotech company has unveiled a device that treats depression and is now inside the skull of the first patient. Inner Cosmos’ “digital pill” consists of two parts: an electrode that sits under the skin of the scalp and the “prescription pod” that …
Memory and perception seem to be entirely separate experiences, and neuroscientists were convinced that the brain also produces them differently. But in the 1990s, neuroimaging studies revealed that parts of the brain that were thought to be active only during sensory perception are also active during memory recall. “It started to raise the question of …
How your brain distinguishes memories from perceptions Read More »
In order for humans to ever venture among the stars, we will have to solve big logistical problems. Travel time is not the least of them. Space is so vast and human technology so limited that the time it would take to get to another star presents a significant hurdle. The Voyager 1 probe, for …
Monkey experiment reveals brain switch that could be useful for space travel Read More »
Earlier this year, astronomers found an absolute monster of a galaxy. Hidden some 3 billion light-years away, Alcyoneus is a giant radio galaxy reaching 5 megaparsecs in space. It’s 16.3 million light-years long, and it is the largest known structure of galactic origin. This discovery sheds light on our poor understanding of these colossi and …
Astronomers spot the largest galaxy ever, and the scale will break your brain Read More »
November 30 (Reuters) – Elon Musk said on Wednesday he expected a wireless brain chip developed by his company Neuralink to begin human clinical trials in six months, after the company missed the deadlines he had set. The company is developing brain chip interfaces that it says could help disabled patients move and communicate again, …
Elon Musk expects Neuralink brain chip to begin human trials in 6 months Read More »
Neuralink, Elon Musk’s startup that hopes to link our brains directly to computers, showed progress in two medical areas on Wednesday: helping blind people see and helping people with spinal cord injuries walk. The company, one of five led by Musk, is working on technology to deposit thousands of electrodes thinner than a hair into …
Neuralink’s brain chip plans: Help the blind see and the paralyzed walk Read More »
Summary: The adult brain contains millions of “silent synapses,” or immature connections between neurons that remain dormant until needed to learn new information and store new memories. Source: WITH MIT neuroscientists have found that the adult brain contains millions of “silent synapses” – immature connections between neurons that remain inactive until recruited to help form …
Silent synapses are abundant in the adult brain – Neuroscience News Read More »
