We’ve long heard about the brain-boosting powers of things like blueberries, nuts, wine, and chocolate – but is milk the newest brain food? A new study of nearly 1,000 people suggests that it may be. The study, a collaboration between researchers from the University of Maine and the University of South Australia, found that “participants who [...]

“Chemobrain” or “chemofog” is a condition that affects cancer survivors who have undergone chemotherapy. Dozens of studies have shown that post-chemotherapy, patients may experience a decline in cognitive performance and memory, and many doctors have long believed chemobrain to be a significant problem for cancer patients. (To learn more about chemobrain, I recommend this in-depth article.) Despite this [...]

Ed. note: Today we are pleased to present a guest post from Natalie Hunter of Online Schools. Click on her name above for a full biography. For many people, the boon of the information age means we have an unprecedented amount of knowledge at the click of a mouse, and can access news, facts, and trivia [...]

We’ve previously written on this blog about the importance of sleep and noted some interesting ways that lack of sleep can affect your waking self. New research piles on yet another reason you need to get those zzzzzs – getting a good night’s sleep, without interruption, is key for forming memories. This study differs from [...]

I’ve just gotten back from a very exciting scientific meeting in Greece (yes, the life of a brain scientist occasionally has its perks!) I had the opportunity to visit our collaborators in the Long-Lasting Memories consortium. This research group, with members in Greece, Spain, Austria, France, and Cyprus, is working to develop a combined brain [...]

I now have something else to thank my parents for–all those years of piano lessons they forced me to take. New research published in Neuropsychology shows that kids who take music lessons get a brain boost that lasts even into old age. Researchers looked at a group of older adults between ages 60 and 83, [...]

A few weeks ago, we hosted an excellent Q&A session on Facebook about movement, exercise, and the brain. Movement specialist M.A. Greenstein, PhD, aka Dr. G, answered people’s questions and I think we all learned a lot! For those who missed the discussion and prefer to read it in transcript form, I’ve re-posted it here. [...]

I’ve noticed several recent studies and articles about the importance of sleep, so I thought it might be helpful to synthesize some of the major findings into simple, usable points. After writing this, I think I’ll definitely be getting a good night’s sleep tonight–if I can stop worrying about all the sleep I’ve lost to [...]

As if you needed yet another reason to fear high cholesterol and high blood pressure: a new study has shown that people with elevated cholesterol and blood pressure in middle age exhibit more problems with their memories as they age, as compared to people with good cardiovascular health. The study was conducted in nearly 5,000 [...]

The question on most people’s minds this Sunday will be “Packers or Steelers?” not “What does the Super Bowl have to do with your brain?” For those of us who are interested in neuroscience, though, it turns out that there is a whole body of fascinating research and writings on a variety of topics that [...]