Brain Babble

Stress

High-Stakes Stress: Why More AEDs Are Popping Up in Casinos

Jordan Gaines Lewis, Ph.D. on July 30, 2017

Whether you’re a card shark or prefer the slots, make sure you’ve got a healthy heart before you sit down to play.

Unconscious

How Does "Delayed Drowning" Happen?

Jordan Gaines Lewis, Ph.D. on June 15, 2017

Every summer, we hear news stories about kids drowning days after being in the pool. What, exactly, is "dry" or "delayed" drowning?

Career

Commencement Speech: What Scientists Can Start Doing Today

Jordan Gaines Lewis, Ph.D. on May 28, 2017

Text of speech given at Penn State College of Medicine's 2017 Commencement.

Sleep

Why Am I Dependent on Caffeine, and How Can I Wean Off?

Jordan Gaines Lewis, Ph.D. on April 26, 2017

Many of us require a cup of coffee (or five) every morning. Why do we become dependent on caffeine? And is it possible to wean off and get back to "normal"?

Career

How Do EpiPens Work?

Jordan Gaines Lewis, Ph.D. on March 8, 2017

EpiPen has been in the news in recent months for its soaring prices. But how do they work, exactly?

Alcoholism

Why Does Drinking Milk Ease the Pain of Eating Spicy Food?

Jordan Gaines Lewis, Ph.D. on February 16, 2017

Why does milk but not water soothe the savage serrano? Here's the science behind why a glass of cold milk eases the pain of spicy foods.

Autism

No, the Mercury in Vaccines Does Not Cause Autism

Jordan Gaines Lewis, Ph.D. on January 12, 2017

There is no evidence to suggest that the vaccine preservative thimerosal is dangerous, nor that young children's bodies "can't handle" current recommended immunization schedules.

Stress

What Are Migraines, Exactly?

Jordan Gaines Lewis, Ph.D. on October 24, 2016

What exactly are migraines, and how are they different from headaches?

Diet

The Bacteria That Mold Your Brain

Jordan Gaines Lewis, Ph.D. on September 28, 2016

New research shows that the microbiome plays a huge role in our behavior. Can changing our diet become a new health treatment?

Neuroscience

#PhelpsFace and the Neuroscience of Getting “in the Zone”

Jordan Gaines Lewis, Ph.D. on August 11, 2016

What explains the swimmer's snarling face toward Chad le Clos before Monday's 200m butterfly?

Anger

Why Do We Get "Hangry"?

Jordan Gaines Lewis, Ph.D. on July 6, 2016

Here are 3 reasons why some of us get angry when we're hungry ("hangry").

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Brain: The Expectant Mom's Guide, Part 2

Jordan Gaines Lewis, Ph.D. on February 24, 2016

Part 2 of a two-part series on the crazy neuroscience of pregnancy. What causes clumsiness, food cravings, and moodiness?

Sleep

Shouldn't You Just Go to Bed Already?

Jordan Gaines Lewis, Ph.D. on January 14, 2016

I have a big test tomorrow. Should I stay up late and study, or just let myself sleep?

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Brain: The Expectant Mom's Guide

Jordan Gaines Lewis, Ph.D. on November 10, 2015

Does “pregnancy brain” actually exist? There’s no doubt that many changes are happening to a woman’s body during pregnancy, but how do these changes affect the brain?

Memory

Why Do Some People Get Déjà Vu More Often Than Others?

Jordan Gaines Lewis, Ph.D. on October 13, 2015

What is déjà vu? Why do some people get it all the time, and some people never do?

Conformity

The Psychology Behind the Pumpkin Spice Fad

Jordan Gaines Lewis, Ph.D. on September 11, 2015

Why do we get so obsessed with pumpkin spice everything this time of year? Here's the psychology behind the craze.

Persuasion

The Psychology of Jimmy Kimmel's "Lie Witness News"

Jordan Gaines Lewis, Ph.D. on July 8, 2015

Why are the pedestrians interviewed on Jimmy Kimmel Live's "Lie Witness News" segment so easily fooled? Actually, many methods of persuasion are at work here.