Lifeboat Foundation

Our brain’s memory center bears a sleek design.

A peek into living tissue from human hippocampi, a brain region crucial for memory and learning, revealed relatively few cell-to-cell connections for the vast number of nerve cells. But signals sent via those sparse connections proved extremely reliable and precise, researchers report December 11 in Cell.

One seahorse-shaped hippocampus sits deep within each hemisphere of the mammalian brain. In each hippocampus’s CA3 area, humans have about 1.7 million nerve cells called pyramidal cells. This subregion is thought to be the most internally connected part of the brain in mammals.

What if the secret to slowing down aging was hiding in our brains? A groundbreaking study by researchers at the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle, published in Nature in January 2025, may have uncovered some exciting clues. Using cutting-edge technology, the team analyzed over 1.2 million brain cells from young and aged mice to understand how they change with time. They found that certain cells become inflamed, while others lose critical functions, and all eyes are now on the hypothalamus as a key player in the aging process. These findings deepen our understanding of aging and could pave the way for treatments that keep our brains younger for longer.

Integrated into a high-resolution wireless biosensing device, the antennas could enable researchers to decode complex electrical signals generated by cells.

Monitoring electrical signals in biological systems allows scientists to study how cells communicate, providing valuable insights that can improve the diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as arrhythmia and Alzheimer’s disease.

But devices that record electrical signals in cell cultures and other liquid environments often use wires to connect each electrode on the device to its respective amplifier. Because only so many wires can be connected to the device, this restricts the number of recording sites, limiting the information that can be collected from cells.

Researchers are developing a groundbreaking, non-medication approach to combat insomnia, particularly in military personnel.

By using a novel brain stimulation technique that targets specific brain networks, the team led by William “Scott” Killgore aims to significantly enhance sleep quality and readiness in service members. Their promising initial results have led to a larger study to further validate and refine this technology.

Military Sleep Challenges

A study led by researchers from the Indiana University School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, and other institutions has identified neuroanatomical differences in children associated with early substance use initiation.

Early-age substance use is strongly associated with a heightened risk for substance use disorders (SUDs) and other adverse outcomes later in life. Neuroanatomical changes in brain structure have been linked to substance use, especially in youth when the brain is undergoing substantial development.

But are the changes seen in substance user brains primarily a result of the substance use itself, or is it an inherent predisposition in some individuals with certain neuroanatomical variations?

Scientists to examine if humans’ and dogs’ brains synchronise when they interact in a way similar to parents and babies.

Read writing from Sebastian Schepis on Medium. Software engineer, CTO, Co-Pi@Daigle Labs, mystic, meditator, father, friend. My interests include consciousness, prime numbers, math, music, people, nature.

How does mindfulness meditation reshape the resting mind? New research explores how experienced meditators’ brain activity differs from non-meditators.

A recent study published in PLOS Computational Biology found that people with stronger autistic traits, particularly those with a preference for predictability, tend to exhibit unique curiosity-driven behaviors. These individuals showed persistence in tasks requiring sustained attention, often leading to superior learning outcomes.

Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental condition that affects how individuals perceive and interact with the world. It is characterized by differences in communication, social interaction, and behavior patterns. Rather than being a singular condition, autism exists on a spectrum, meaning that individuals experience varying levels of intensity and expression of traits. While some may require significant support in daily life, others might navigate independently with unique strengths and challenges.

Autistic traits are characteristics commonly associated with autism but may also be present in varying degrees within the general population. These traits can include a preference for routines, heightened sensitivity to sensory input, and intense focus on specific topics of interest. While these traits can sometimes pose challenges, they also contribute to unique ways of thinking and problem-solving.