Credit: iStock Our waiter set down a warm bowl in front of me. The aroma and steam rising from the bowl grabbed me by the nostrils and sent me on a bullet train 40 years back to my grandma’s kitchen in Guam. I closed my eyes as the sweet perfume of coconut cream brought back … Continue reading How Smell Brings Back Memories
Brain
Spotlight On: The Nervous System
Credit: iStock Of all the organs in our bodies, the brain is the most complex and deeply tied to what makes us human. Billions of nerve cells (neurons) in the nervous system make trillions of connections that are the basis of our thoughts, feelings and actions. Our genes make sure our nervous system is generally … Continue reading Spotlight On: The Nervous System
Connections between Food, Drink and the Brain: Research from Experimental Biology 2019
Scientists who study physiology and other biomedical research fields—including anatomy, biochemistry, pathology and pharmacology—gather every year at the Experimental Biology (EB) meeting to network, collaborate and communicate new research findings. This year’s EB meeting in Orlando, Fla., featured studies ranging from the gut microbiome to heart disease to adolescent health. Read on to learn more … Continue reading Connections between Food, Drink and the Brain: Research from Experimental Biology 2019
Your Sweet Memory
Most of us know it’s not healthy to eat a lot of sugar. Overeating sweets for a long time can cause weight gain, cavities, type 2 diabetes and other health problems. But what if sweets also had effects on your brain and memory? Researchers at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México reported at the … Continue reading Your Sweet Memory
Is Fat the Sixth Taste?
Restaurant menus for Valentine’s Day can be described in one word: decadent. From molten chocolate cake to marbled steaks, fat makes these foods so palatable. For a long time, scientists thought that we find heavy foods more appealing because of their mouth feel and aroma. However, recent studies suggest that the tongue might be able … Continue reading Is Fat the Sixth Taste?
Football Safety Tips from Birds? How Woodpeckers Avoid Concussions after Head Impact
The NFL has been under a lot of heat over concussion injuries in its players and the long-term brain injury and health impacts. With the size of the player and the speed he runs, it’s not hard to imagine the sheer force and damage that can occur from even a single collision. Woodpeckers, though, bang … Continue reading Football Safety Tips from Birds? How Woodpeckers Avoid Concussions after Head Impact
Over 50 Percent of School-Age Children in the U.S. Are Dehydrated: Why Should We Be Alarmed?
The fluid in our body is water mixed with minerals and nutrient particles. Balancing the amount of mineral and nutrients to water level ensures that our body works properly. A recent study found that more than half of U.S. children between six and 19 are not drinking enough water. What are the health consequences if … Continue reading Over 50 Percent of School-Age Children in the U.S. Are Dehydrated: Why Should We Be Alarmed?
Can You Work Off Depression with a Workout?
Stress is a part of all of our lives. From work, to family, to waiting in rush hour traffic, stress comes at us from all directions and in many shapes and sizes. Stress and other physical and mental health problems have been linked to increases in depression, which is a globally recognized public health problem. … Continue reading Can You Work Off Depression with a Workout?
A Bug Steps into a Hole…
What happens when you accidentally step into a hole? You were expecting a solid landing, but all of a sudden, it’s not there. One leg is left hanging, and you are caught off-guard. How the body reacts in this situation says a lot about how the brain controls the muscles used to walk. A new … Continue reading A Bug Steps into a Hole…