A glimpse into the neural circuitry of hunger and feeding. — Imagine your favourite food. Think about its texture, how it looks on a plate, its colour. Is it warm or cold? Does the smell and taste of it conjure memories of places or people you love? None of these qualities have anything to do with the most basic and essential…

On the malleable nature of memory. — For a long time, I held a very vivid memory in my mind of petting a dolphin at the San Francisco zoo when I was ten years old. Each time I brought this scene to mind, it seemed as though the memory became clearer and more vivid. I remember wearing…

The circadian cycles of sickness and health — Each year, many of us welcome small pleasures of autumn, like watching the leaves proceed through a spectrum of fiery jewel tones before raking them into big crunchy piles, bundling ourselves up in cosy sweaters as temperatures drop, and stealing an extra hour of sleep as millions of Americans turn…

Understanding the neuroscience of addiction and drug tolerance — Years ago, while I was studying for the GRE, the major admissions exam required by many PhD programs, a friend was also studying for her MCAT. As exams go, the GRE is unpleasant but not unendurable. Typically, you plan to spend 4 uninterrupted hours in a room with a few…

Face blindness, communication, and neurodiversity in digital social life — “It’s so nice to see your face” is a phrase I’ve heard more in the past three weeks than I have over the sum of the last several years. When our lab shut down, we were, along with millions of others, plunged into a panicked state of suspended animation. …

Empathy and Pain in the Evolution of our Social Brains My first mouse of the day was called “LG1202”. Had I met this mouse in a different time, maybe found him in a pet store or in my back yard, this wouldn’t have been the name I’d chosen for him…