Credit: iStock/Prostock-Studio From the quick sting of a paper cut to living with arthritis every day, pain is a part of everyone’s life. And in fact, roughly 25% of people in the U.S. live with chronic pain. How does your body know when to feel this sensation? Let’s take the paper cut as an example. … Continue reading The Science of Pain: From Nerves to Brain
Brain Physiology
Finding My Voice in Science Through Physiology
Diani Nanayakkara presents her poster “Brainstem Astrocytic Remodeling in Diet-Induced Obesity: Implications for Sympathetic Excitation,” at the 2026 American Physiology Summit. Credit: D. Nanayakkara When I joined the Comparative Biomedical Sciences PhD program at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oklahoma State University in fall 2023, I came to graduate school with curiosity and creativity, … Continue reading Finding My Voice in Science Through Physiology
What Is Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus?
Credit: iStock/aldomurillo Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is often called the “treatable dementia,” yet many people had never heard of it until singer-songwriter Billy Joel announced his diagnosis in 2025. Despite affecting up to 5% of adults over age 80, it is frequently mistaken for normal aging, Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease. In NPH, cerebrospinal fluid—the … Continue reading What Is Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus?
How a Swallow Slows the Heart
Credit: iStock/courtneyk Like many dads, I love a little reading time with my 3-year-old before bed. Because of my work, my son and I talk about “heart beeps,” as he calls them. One night, he asked if I wanted to hear his heart beep. I said yes and laid my head on his chest. Doing … Continue reading How a Swallow Slows the Heart
Interoception: The Body’s Hidden Sixth Sense
Credit: iStock/magicmine Our bodies are constantly sensing what is happening inside us, even when we are not aware of it. This internal awareness is known as interoception. Similar to homeostasis, the term interoception describes something we experience every day—the process through which the body monitors its internal environment and sends signals to the brain to … Continue reading Interoception: The Body’s Hidden Sixth Sense
Rewiring Your Brain: How Your Thoughts Shape Your Reality
Credit: iStock Your brain is made up of specialized cells called neurons that are constantly communicating with each other. Neuronal communication underlies all your experiences and perceptions. Your movements, thoughts, memories, fears and beliefs all arise from patterns of neurons communicating. When patterns are repeated, the connections between neurons (called synapses) strengthen. This is called … Continue reading Rewiring Your Brain: How Your Thoughts Shape Your Reality
Not Just a Pump: How Your Heart Talks to the Rest of Your Body
Credit: iStock/pepifoto When we learn about the heart in school, it’s usually described as a pump: strong, steady and rhythmic. That’s true. But what fascinates me most, as a physiologist, is that the heart is also a communicator, constantly exchanging messages with your brain, kidneys, muscles and blood vessels to keep your body balanced, safe … Continue reading Not Just a Pump: How Your Heart Talks to the Rest of Your Body
The Hidden Biology Behind Everyday Habits
Credit: iStock/Fauzi Muda Have you wondered why much of our daily life runs on autopilot? We check our phones without thinking, follow familiar routes and repeat routines almost automatically. These patterns feel psychological, yet they are deeply biological. Habits are neural shortcuts that the brain builds to conserve energy and increase efficiency. Through repetition, behaviors … Continue reading The Hidden Biology Behind Everyday Habits
Spotlight On: Parkinson’s Disease
Credit: iStock/Devonyu Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects how the brain controls movement. It develops gradually, often beginning with subtle symptoms that are easy to overlook. The condition was first described in 1817 by the British physician James Parkinson. Today it is recognized as one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases worldwide, … Continue reading Spotlight On: Parkinson’s Disease
The Memory Sniper: How Stress Modifies Our Brain
Credit: iStock/kali9 Her tangled locks were fluttering around her face.Rosy cheeks; grin pasted in place.The wind roared in her ears as the rollercoaster plummeted down.The rush of adrenaline through her veins sent her stumbling into the past.“You have great potential; never give it up in life,” her father remarked.It was her first real oil painting … Continue reading The Memory Sniper: How Stress Modifies Our Brain