Credit: iStock There is no shortage of research showing how alcohol harms your body. While there are many long-term consequences to drinking, alcohol also produces immediate negative effects such as drowsiness and/or sedation, loss of balance and coordination, and a depressive mood. Surprisingly, how we react to these symptoms could actually protect us from developing … Continue reading Exploring Why Alcohol Makes Some People Feel Awful, But Not Others
Brain Physiology
Understanding the Link Between Oral Health and Dementia
Credit: iStock/simarik Dementia is a brain disorder that affects memory, thinking and cognitive functioning. It is the seventh leading cause of death in older people and affects more than 57 million people worldwide. In recent years, research on this topic has expanded, meaning you may have seen more recommendations (such as healthy eating and exercising) … Continue reading Understanding the Link Between Oral Health and Dementia
From Tomatoes to Treadmills: What Scientists Are Discovering About Everyday Health
American Physiology Summit attendees view scientific posters. Credit: Erica Roth From record-breaking running speeds set by a 91-year-old to how your body responds to climate shifts, the American Physiology Summit brought together researchers exploring the science of health and life itself. Here’s how their findings presented at the annual meeting of the American Physiological Society could … Continue reading From Tomatoes to Treadmills: What Scientists Are Discovering About Everyday Health
The Top 10 Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts of 2024
Credit: iStock/gustavofrazao It’s been another “ph-un” filled year of physiology on the I Spy Physiology blog! We’ve featured posts ranging from marijuana research and bone cancer in children to how many steps do we really need to take per day and if alkaline water lives up to the hype. To complement our Women’s Health Research … Continue reading The Top 10 Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts of 2024
How Exercise Protects You from Dementia
Credit: iStock More than 7 million people in the U.S. live with neurodegenerative disorders. These are chronic diseases of the nervous system that worsen over time. Degenerative disorders are difficult to slow or reverse when nerve cells (neurons) stop working the way they should or die. Examples include Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and … Continue reading How Exercise Protects You from Dementia
Seeing Isn’t Always Believing: Exploring Optical Illusions
Credit: Edward H. Adelson Take a look at the square on the left side of the photo above. Does the color of tile A appear darker than the color of tile B? It turns out that both tiles are the same color. Don’t believe me? Look at the square on the right side to what … Continue reading Seeing Isn’t Always Believing: Exploring Optical Illusions
Night Vision: It’s All about the Rods
Credit: iStock/Bhupi Have you ever wondered how you can see at night? Or why the same picture looks different in the dark versus daylight? It has to do with a type of photoreceptor in your eyes called “rods.” Your eyes have different types of receptors that let you see light. Each type is responsible for … Continue reading Night Vision: It’s All about the Rods
Scientists Are Learning How Different People Adapt in Space
Credit: iStock/Elen11 Astronauts are exposed to a unique environment during space travel. A few examples include radiation, isolation, confinement and a lack of gravity. This affects their physiology in many ways, including cardiovascular and musculoskeletal deconditioning, vision changes and immune dysfunction. Over the past 60 years of human space exploration, astronauts have had a range … Continue reading Scientists Are Learning How Different People Adapt in Space
How Does Social Media Affect the Brain?
Credit: iStock Social media plays a huge role in how many of us spend our days. Around the world, people between ages 16 and 64 spend an average of two and a half hours per day on social media. Younger generations may spend three to four hours on their electronic devices, and some studies show … Continue reading How Does Social Media Affect the Brain?
Maybe Birds Need Sleep Masks Too
Credit: iStock/nicholas_dale Cities are getting brighter at night with well-lit crosswalks, sidewalks and paths through parks and wooded areas. Lighting can make it easier for drivers, bicyclists and runners to navigate the darkness safely. But increased lighting has unintended consequences for wildlife, including songbirds. Just like humans, songbirds are active during the day and sleep … Continue reading Maybe Birds Need Sleep Masks Too