the brain

To mimic a single human neuron requires a deep neural network

To mimic a single human neuron requires a deep neural network

  • No comments
Researchers from the Hebrew University used artificial intelligence as a “computational twin” of a neuron and found that the branched structure of dendrites and the nonlinear responses at synapses give human cells high computational complexity. The finding does not prove that a single cell
Have antibodies to Alzheimer's been discovered? Illustration: depositphotos.com.

Experimental Alzheimer's antibody passes first safety test

  • No comments
The antibody IBC-Ab002, based on research by Prof. Michal Schwartz of the Weizmann Institute of Science, was tested in 40 patients in the early stages of the disease. The treatment was found to be safe and tolerable at the doses tested and led to changes in biomarkers, but
A jumping spider is not susceptible to certain optical illusions, and it may have four pairs of eyes—a hint that it may perceive time differently than humans and other animals. Illustration: depositphotos.com

From dragonfly to starfish: Why don't animals see time at the same pace?

  • 6 תגובות
Flying animals and predators chasing prey perceive visual changes much faster than slow-moving animals. Extensive research reveals how lifestyle and environment have shaped the “picture rate” of visual systems.
Brain scans. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Stem cell “mini-brains” reveal therapeutic direction for rare childhood disease

  • No comments
Researchers created brain organoids from cells from patients with a rare disease linked to the DHDDS gene, and identified impairment in lipid metabolism, glycosylation, and mitochondrial function.
Illustration illustrating the location of the hippocampus. Illustration: depositphotos.com

A “switchboard” in the hippocampus may explain how the brain learns without erasing memories

  • No comments
New research suggests that the brain uses the same cells in different patterns to learn new information without erasing previous memories.
A California two-spot octopus in front of a mirror at the Dartmouth Octopus Laboratory. Credit: Mary Kieseler, Dartmouth.

Octopuses have learned to use their eyes to find hidden prey.

  • No comments
Octopuses have been able to use their eyes to find prey behind them, providing new evidence of the surprising evolution of intelligence.
A combination of the brain and artificial intelligence. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Harvard and Hebrew University to Collaborate on NeuroAI Research

  • No comments
Harvard's Kempner Institute and the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Science at the Hebrew University will conduct joint academic activities in the field that connects brain research and artificial intelligence.
New research suggests a possible link between serotonin activity in the brain and the worsening of tinnitus. Illustration: Avi Blizovsky via DALEE

Serotonin may worsen tinnitus through a dedicated brain pathway

  • No comments
A fluorescent image of astrocytes – the star-like support cells in the brain – which new research suggests form independent, wide-ranging communication networks. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Research in Nature: Not only neurons, but also astrocytes in the brain create a hidden communication network

  • No comments
Researchers have mapped 3D networks of support cells in the mouse brain for the first time, revealing long-range connections between distant regions and between the two hemispheres.
Medical cannabis did not improve post-traumatic stress disorder. Illustration: depositphotos.com

"An extensive data analysis determines that there is insufficient evidence to support the claim that medical cannabis helps treat anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder."

  • 3 תגובות
A new meta-analysis of 54 randomized trials has found that the widespread use of cannabinoids to treat mental and substance use disorders is rarely justified. Overall, there was insufficient randomized trial data to support
In recent decades, there has been a growing understanding that small parts of a city – specific street segments – may have a greater impact on crime. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Crime Hotspots: Does the Street We Live On Change Hormones Related to Aggression and Anxiety?

  • 2 תגובות
A planned Israeli study will map street sections in Tel Aviv and examine whether living in areas with high crime is linked to testosterone and cortisol levels and measures of mental well-being.
Studying while listening to music. Illustration: depositphotos.com

The sounds in the background

Hebrew University study: “Speech-matched” background music improved word recall more than silence
Structure of a nerve cell Illustration: depositphotos.com

Lessons in visualization

  • No comments
With all due respect to electrical signals, the language of the brain is chemistry. In a pioneering study, researchers at Tel Aviv University have managed to use imaging devices to see this chemistry in action.
The human eye. Illustration: depositphotos.com

New study suggests: Vertebrate eyes evolved from a single middle eye of a worm-like ancestor

  • One response
A review article in Current Biology suggests that about 600 million years ago, vertebrate ancestors lost a pair of lateral eyes when they adopted a sedentary lifestyle, and then redeveloped paired eyes from a middle sensory organ,

When water tells a story: turning MRI into a microscope for the brain

  • No comments
A family in distress during war. Illustration: Avi Blizovsky via DALEE

Israeli study: Parental burnout is a key factor in children's difficulties during war

  • No comments
A longitudinal study of 123 mothers during the first months of the October 2023 war found that the link to child difficulties was primarily related to the burnout of the parent caring for the home, and not just the spouse's deployment to active duty.
The brain network that links thought and movement, known as SCAN, was first described by researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine in 2023 and has now been identified in a new study as the neural basis of Parkinson’s disease. An experimental treatment targeting this network more than doubled the improvement in symptoms in a small group of Parkinson’s patients. The disease is characterized by hyperconnectivity between SCAN and the subcortex of the brain.

Parkinson's as a "mind-body network" problem: New brain target may improve non-invasive treatment

  • No comments
Red-eared slider turtle – water turtle. Credit: Tel Aviv University

The turtle brain detects visual surprises regardless of location in the eye, an ability previously attributed to mammals

Tel Aviv University study: Neural recordings in alert turtles showed that the dorsal cortex responds strongly to unexpected changes in the environment even when the turtle moves its head or eyes, and almost completely filters out changes caused by movement.
Nerve damage. Illustration: depositphotos.com

From the nose to the spinal cord: Norexone sends tiny “messengers” to repair damaged nerves

  • No comments
Exosomes loaded with siRNA against PTEN, developed at the Technion and Tel Aviv University, are designed to reduce inflammation and encourage regeneration in the central nervous system – an area that is also relevant to myelin damage such as in multiple sclerosis.

Non-invasive hippocampal-focused brain stimulation reduced intrusive memories in PTSD: Preliminary findings from Tel Aviv University

A pilot study published in the journal Brain Stimulation found that fMRI-based personalized TMS therapy, administered immediately after traumatic memory activation during the reconsolidation phase, reduced flashbacks and intrusive thoughts in ten participants.
Overview of the experimental setup for tactile detection in a granular substrate. (a) Human experimental setup, showing a participant's finger scooping sand into a box filled with sand, with an LED strip guiding the path of movement and a cube buried in fixed positions. (b) Robotic experimental setup, including a UR5 arm with a tactile sensor and a cube buried in sand. (c) Schematic diagram of the scooping process. Credit: Queen Mary University of London.

New study: Humans are capable of “remote touch” and identify objects buried in sand before contact

  • 3 תגובות
Experiments indicate higher-than-expected tactile sensitivity; humans achieved 70.7% accuracy, and researchers see potential for robotics, assistive technologies, and searching in limited visibility conditions
Alzheimer's. Illustration: depositphotos.com

From cancer to Alzheimer's: Engineered immune cells reduce protein deposits in the brain

In a study published in PNAS, T cells were engineered to recognize amyloid proteins in the brain; the injections reduced the extent of deposits and markers of brain inflammation—offering a new direction for degenerative brain diseases
Different types of skin diseases. Illustration: depositphotos.com

The relationship between skin development and immune defense

  • No comments
Researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, led by Dr. Idan Cohen and Prof. Roy Gazit, have shown that ZNF750 in epithelial cells synchronizes the development of the skin barrier with immune defense, in part by increasing IL34, which is necessary for development.
(Toxoplasma gondii), a parasite found in cat feces. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Parasite carried by billions leads a 'secret life' inside the brain

  • No comments
A study in Nature Communications reveals that Toxoplasma gondii cysts are not a dormant reservoir but a diverse system of subtypes, which may explain why there is currently no treatment that eradicates the cysts.
CRAO is an eye emergency, but in a randomized trial, Tenctpelz did not improve vision and raised concerns about bleeding. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Treatment with Tencaplase did not improve outcomes in retinal artery occlusion and raised safety concerns

  • No comments
In a randomized, double-blind trial, no benefit in visual acuity was found after 30 days, and serious bleeding events were recorded in the treatment group.
Greenland shark. From the study Nature Communications, 17(1), 39. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-67429-6

Greenland shark retains sight for centuries. Possibly with DNA repair

  • One response
A study in Nature Communications found adaptations for low-light vision and hints at maintenance mechanisms that prevent retinal degeneration in extreme old age. However, despite the evolutionary and environmental distance, it may be possible to learn something about the preservation of vision in humans.
Artificial intelligence and creativity. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Who is more creative in “branching thinking” tests—humans or large language models?

  • 3 תגובות
Scientific Reports examined the ability to generate ideas and originality, and the practical question is when the model expands creativity and when it reduces it.
Neurons grown from stem cells in the lab form a connected network. In this study, researchers used CRISPR to turn off genes in stem cells, then monitored how successfully the cells developed into neurons. Scale bar: 100 micrometers.

CRISPR screening maps hundreds of genes essential for brain cell development and identifies new syndrome in children

  • 2 תגובות
An international team of researchers, including those from the Hebrew University, identified 331 genes critical for neuronal differentiation, and pointed to PEDS1 as a cause of a neurodevelopmental disorder.
Children donating to others. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Hebrew University study: Children with fewer resources give more – but with age, children from wealthy families give less

“Token” experiments among hundreds of elementary school students found that scarcity increases giving, while high parental status was linked to a decline in giving as children get older, in a pattern reminiscent of the adult world.
How memory works. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Is your memory real?

  • One response
In an experiment with 421 participants who were required to recall words after a minute and a half and after a day, more than 4,000 “memory justifications” were collected. Despite a decrease in the number of items recalled, the linguistic content and detail of the justifications for the items that were correctly recalled remained the same.
Alzheimer's. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Dassault Systèmes showcased a “virtual twin” simulation for Alzheimer’s and real-time sensor data connection at CES 2026

  • No comments
Step Inside Alzheimer's showcased a concept for combining AI, digital health records, and smart home data to enable early monitoring and detection; Eureka Park showcased startups from the company's accelerators
Human language may seem inefficient compared to digital codes, but its structure is deeply adapted to the way the brain works. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Why humans don't talk like computers: Scientists have found an answer

  • One response
New research suggests that human language is less “compressed” than digital code, but saves the brain effort with familiar patterns and prediction
Sea anemone. Prof. Lior Appelbaum and Prof. Oren Levy, Bar Ilan University

Why do we sleep anyway? The surprising answer that comes from the sea

  • One response
Researchers from Bar-Ilan University have succeeded in deciphering the ancient sleep mechanism and reveal that sleep protects nerve cells.
When to reveal and when to hide the truth. Illustration: depositphotos.com

When do we choose not to know – and when do we seek a painful truth?

Researchers at Tel Aviv University propose a model that explains how information avoidance and painful information seeking serve the same need: emotional regulation in the face of uncertainty.
Collaboration between humans and artificial intelligence. Extensive research has found that artificial intelligence can strengthen creative thinking by encouraging exploration and discovery, rather than just striving for efficiency. Illustration: depositphotos.com

New study debunks myth: Artificial intelligence doesn't stifle creativity – it can enhance it

  • 3 תגובות
Microscopic photograph: In the top row - a photograph of the brain of a normal fly, and in the bottom row - the brain of a fly with neurodegeneration, showing holes in the brain. Credit: Shai Kloksi

An enzyme that prevents sleep and mood disorders

  • 3 תגובות
The researchers showed that a deficiency in SIRT6 (which declines with age) diverts tryptophan into the neurotoxic kynurenine pathway at the expense of serotonin and melatonin production; inhibiting the enzyme TDO2 in fruit flies reduced brain damage and neuromotor deterioration. The findings were published in Nature
The OmniPredict system uses a multi-modal language model to predict in real time what pedestrians are likely to do – and in early tests it outperformed leading models without dedicated training. Simulation: Avi Blizovsky via DALEE

New AI model is surprisingly good at “reading” human minds

  • No comments
Researchers have developed a new artificial intelligence system that advances autonomous vehicles beyond simply “seeing” pedestrians, to the ability to predict their next action.
Image caption: Princeton researchers have found that the prefrontal cortex of primates reuses modular thinking blocks to solve similar tasks. This gives biological brains a flexibility that artificial intelligence still lacks. The insight could help improve AI systems so that they retain old skills even as they learn new ones. Credit: Adapted by Dan Wahaba (Princeton University), based on “Brain Silhouette 2” (Littleolred, CC0 1.0, freesvg.org) and “Lego bricks” (Benjamin D. Esham, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons).

The brain has a shortcut to learning that artificial intelligence can't copy

  • 4 תגובות
Researchers have found that the brain repeatedly relies on the same cognitive “building blocks” when performing different types of tasks. By reassembling these blocks in new ways, the brain can rapidly generate behaviors
Prof. Christian Meyer presents the multi-million-unit neuromorphic computer at the TSMC conference in Amsterdam. Photo: Avi Blizovsky

Narrowing the energy efficiency gap between the brain and artificial intelligence

  • No comments
At the 2025 TSMC Europe OIP conference in Amsterdam, Prof. Christian Meyer from TU Dresden presented SpiNNaker-2 – a giant neuromorphic computer, based on event processing and thin-edge hardware, designed to run artificial intelligence models in real time.
Image from the study shows axons of neurons in the ACA (red) and ORB (green), which innervate the visual cortex and target distinct layers. Credit: Sur Lab/MIT Picower Institute

Your brain rewrites reality according to your state of consciousness.

  • No comments
Researchers at MIT have discovered that the prefrontal cortex doesn't just send "general commands" to the rest of the brain—it tailors its messages specifically to different areas, depending on arousal level and movement.
Bird consciousness. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Why did evolution create consciousness and do it more than once?

  • One response
Researchers at Ruhr University Bochum are investigating why consciousness evolved and why different species have developed it in different ways. By comparing humans to birds, they show that complex consciousness may arise through different neural structures.
Rape. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Walls of Silence: Why is the world silent when women are raped in war?

  • No comments
New research by Prof. Shulamit Almog and Dr. Gal Amir from the University of Haifa reveals four "walls of silence" surrounding sexual violence during wartime - from politics and international cynicism through collective and personal shame to trauma

RNA-based gene therapy may mark a breakthrough in the treatment of ALS

International research led by Tel Aviv University has found a way to delay the progression of the deadly disease, and even restore damaged nerve cells.
Paracetamol boxes. Illustration: depositphotos.com

After decades, the hidden mechanism of action of paracetamol has been deciphered

  • No comments
New research from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem reveals that paracetamol (Tylenol/Panadol) does not only act in the brain and spinal cord, as was believed for years, but also in the peripheral nerve endings - where pain begins.
Glioblastoma tumor tissue removed from a patient and immediately soaked in a solution containing an amino acid that only bacteria consume. On the left, you can see that the cancer cells, whose nuclei are marked in orange, have taken up the amino acid marked in blue – evidence of the presence of live, active bacteria in the tumor. On the right, after antibiotic treatment, the consumption of the amino acid has stopped.

Inside the brain: Bacteria live in tumors and metastases – and may affect treatment and patient survival

  • No comments
Weizmann Institute study in collaboration with Beilinson and Rambam identifies a diverse microbiome in glioblastoma and brain metastases; overlap with bacteria in primary tumors, variation by location in the brain, and association with temozolomide resistance and survival; published in Nature Cancer
Alzheimer's. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Adjust the biological clock and protect the brain from Alzheimer's

  • No comments
REV-ERBα inhibition increases NAD+ and reduces tau in mice, study in Nature Aging
The Eye. Courtesy of Prof. Yossi Mendel, Bar Ilan University

Towards a world without blindness? Biohybrid retinal implant from Bar-Ilan

  • 2 תגובות
Are we on the way to a world without blindness? New biomedical developments point to a future where implants will replace photoreceptors that degenerate with age.
Paralyzed man controls drone with his mind. Illustration: Avi Blizovsky via DALEE

Flying with the Power of Thought: Paralyzed Man Controls Drone Through Brain-Machine Interface

  • No comments
Tom, paralyzed in all four limbs, was able to fly a drone and navigate an obstacle course using an implanted microelectrode array and decoding “virtual” finger movements – a leap forward in the accuracy and speed of BCI control.
From a presentation by Psychic Analytics at the AutoSens Europe conference

The company that allows you to drink before driving (to learn about the effects)

  • One response
The system, developed by the Swedish company Site Psychic Analytics, analyzes eye movements, breathing, and facial expressions in real time, and warns before the driver loses concentration – while maintaining complete privacy.
The nervous system. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Is the breakthrough that will change the treatment of neurological diseases already here?

A team led by Dr. Gilad Levy in Prof. Boaz Barak's lab identified TFII-I (GTF2I) as a negative regulator of myelination; its elimination in myelin cells thickened the sheath and accelerated nerve conduction – a published finding
Science website logo
SEARCH