News about PaperPanda, Open Access, and Research
Exposure to leaded petrol as a child has been linked to an average IQ drop of 2.6 points among US adults, increasing to 5.9 points among those born in the mid-to-late 1960s Health 7 March 2022 By Clare Wilson Fumes from cars using leaded petrol may affect IQ PictureLux/The Hollywood Archive/Alamy More than half of … Read more
Researchers have discovered two types of human brain cells that physically help us form memories. These cells play a significant role in dividing continuous conscious experience into distinct segments that can be recalled in the future. As we move from the past, through the present, and into the future, we form autobiographical memories – … Read more
One of the largest COVID-19 brain imaging studies to date has shed some unsettling light on the disease’s impact on our brains. Even in those with a mild or moderate case, a SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with “significant” neurological changes and loss of gray matter. The study looked at the brain scans of 785 … Read more
Despite the joys that may come from a boozy Friday night, alcohol is bad for us. And not just in large quantities. Recent studies have been warning that even a moderate amount of drinking is linked to cardiovascular issues and brain damage. A new study looking at over 36,000 adults has now put the boot in as well, finding … Read more
The longing and wistfulness of nostalgia can make a person feel many different things. Amidst the memories, both happy and sad, you might even find a unique form of pain relief. The observation is not new. Beyond boosting wellbeing and improving physical comfort, nostalgia has previously been shown to lessen perceptions of pain. Yet … Read more
South Australia has launched a world-first programme to reduce premature births by testing omega-3 levels during pregnancy and giving supplements when they are low Health 28 February 2022 By Alice Klein Omega-3 fish oil can be taken as daily supplements R_Szatkowski/Shutterstock Giving omega-3 supplements to pregnant women with low levels of this fatty acid could … Read more
We humans are versatile and accomplished navigators, but insects might have navigation skills that are even better. For them, it’s literally a matter of life and death – and that’s why we decided to freeze some ants and beetles (don’t worry, they still survived) to learn more about how they remember their way home after … Read more
The capacity to engage with and comprehend music spans nearly every human society. While other creatures also display musical behaviors (think bird song, humpback whale calls, or bonobo vocalizations), our musical cognition appears to be evolutionary distinct within the animal kingdom. A new study has given us more insight into the brain’s relationship with music, finding that … Read more
Brain cells that promote wakefulness fire too much in older mice, which may explain why many people find it harder to sleep as we get older Health 24 February 2022 By Jason Arunn Murugesu A man wearing an eye mask in bed Peter Dazeley/Getty Images It may get harder to sleep as we get older … Read more
To sleep, perchance to dream.