At the Junction

Making sense of cutting edge neuroscience.

Samantha Jones, Ph.D.

If You Couldn’t Imagine Ghosts, Would They Still Be Scary?

For people who have trouble creating mental images, reading a scary story is a walk in the park.

COVID-19 "Brain Fog" Is Real

If you had COVID-19 and felt like your brain was, or still is, a bit foggy, you're not alone. Researchers are figuring out where that "brain fog" might come from.

How Gut Microbes May Affect Your Sleep

"Microbiome" has become a buzzword, but for good reason. Now, research in mice hints at its importance in sleep regulation.

New Evidence That Spaceflight Changes Astronaut Brains

Humans are surprisingly adaptable—we can adjust to various environments, including the inside of a spacecraft. But what are the neurological consequences of that adjustment?

COVID-19 and Your Brain: An Ongoing Investigation

The effects of COVID-19 on the brain are both undeniable and puzzling. Now, brain autopsy findings show that oxygen deprivation may play an important role.

COVID-19 Is Not Just a Respiratory Illness

As COVID-19 spreads across the globe, scientists are learning that it can cause neurological symptoms—something they didn't expect.

Yet Another Reason to Love Dogs

New research provides insight into why dog-assisted therapy may be a game-changer for kids with autism or Down syndrome.

Keep Sexism Out of Math

For anyone still claiming that women pursue careers in math less frequently than men because of biological differences: think again.

Facing Stigmas in Academia on World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day made me wonder: how well can our brains bounce back from depression?

What Does Space Do to an Astronaut's Brain?

Last night was the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch. Among the sea of people celebrating in downtown Washington, DC, I wondered: are those astronauts' brains okay?

Tripping Nemo: Zebrafish on Ayahuasca

Is ayahuasca bad for brains? Last year, a group of researchers in Brazil gave the psychedelic brew to fish (yes, fish) to find out.

Your Brain on Christmas

Does the smell of pine, the sound of caroling, and the sight of "stockings hung by the chimney with care" bring a smile to your face? Let's unwrap your brain on Christmas.

Evolution of the Primate Brain: Size Is Just a Start

Are humans just chimps in clothes? Kinda, sorta. . .but there's a lot more to it than that, and it has to do with our brains.

Evolution of the Primate Brain: Is Bigger Better?

What makes us humans different from our primate relatives? Our brain is a good place to start.

Did Mom's Immune System Affect Your Fetal Brain?

Environmental influence starts in utero: Mom’s immune system affects the brain development of her offspring.

Dissecting the Brain, One Cell at a Time

Rapidly improving sequencing technologies are allowing scientists to study brain development like never before.