In this week’s issue of TIME, we explain why the brain does its most creative work while you’re asleep. Subscribers can read the full story here.
Brain
Q&A: Are You Just the Sum of Your Brain’s Connections?
Sebastian Seung, professor of computational neuroscience and physics at MIT and author of the new book, Connectome, argues that you are.
Derek Boogaard: Another Athlete Claimed by Brain Damage
America is becoming a punch-drunk place. With the NHL season raging along and the NFL gearing up for its bone-crunching round of playoffs starting this month, most fans try not to give too much thought to how the players …
How Playing Violent Video Games May Change the Brain
Research finds that children who play violent video games or watch violent TV can become violent themselves, but what drives this change? Are they kids simply mimicking what they see on the screen, or could gaming have a more …
The Healthland Podcast: Spanking, Drinking and Mind Control
Welcome back to the Healthland Podcast. This week, we discuss the harrowing “spanking” case in Texas, the benefits and risks of alcohol, and a new device that allows you to control images on your screen only by concentrating. …
Why Kids Should Stay Out of the Boxing Ring
An estimated 18,000 children and teens are involved in amateur boxing, but a new policy statement from the American Association of Pediatrics says that the risk of both chronic and acute brain injury is simply too high and that …
The Female Erotic Brain, Mapped
The female sexual brain has been charted. For the first time, the brain regions that respond to stimulation of the clitoris, cervix, vagina and nipples have been mapped in a new study.
Can Tanning Be “Addictive”? Not So Fast
We’ve all seen the headlines about sex, food and rock-and-roll “lighting up” the same brain regions as drugs. The latest? “Tanning Bed Users’ Brains Like Addicts’,” claims the UPI, citing a new study.
More Evidence That Exercise Is Key to Brain Health
Regular physical activity — even walking — may be key to maintaining a sharp mind as we get older, two new studies suggest.
The Criminal Mind: How Drugs and Violence May Affect the Brain
Brain imaging studies of violent criminals are difficult to interpret because the most persistent among them — those who are responsible for a disproportionate amount of all crime — are not only violent but also …
Babies: They’re Smarter Than You Think
Every parent thinks they’re baby is exceptionally smart — and cute, too. But while it can’t be true that every infant is above average, Lake Wobegon-style, it turns out that babies become able to reason surprisingly well at a …
Drinking Coffee, Having Sex, Blowing Nose: Among 8 Potential Stroke Triggers
It’s hard to believe that blowing your nose or drinking coffee could be deadly. But for those who — perhaps unknowingly — have an untreated brain aneurysm, these everyday actions could trigger a life-threatening stroke, a new …
Why Your Embarrassment Causes Me So Much Pain
Ever find yourself physically cringing as you watch those hopeful contestants on American Idol who have no clue that they can’t sing? If so, you’re probably a highly empathetic person, according to new study published in the …
