Bringing Hidden Hearing Loss into the Open

by Jessica Dixonfigures by MacKenzie Mauger Do you have difficulty hearing conversations in noisy spaces? Turns out, you’re not alone! According to the World Health Organization, almost 20% of the global population has hearing loss, with this number increasing to 30% in people over the age of 60. Hearing loss can lead to social isolation and difficulty with daily tasks. Even mild hearing loss can … Continue reading Bringing Hidden Hearing Loss into the Open

Vision you can’t see: How the brain senses the time of day

by Nicolai Penafigures by Jasmin Joseph-Chazan Toward the end of the 20th century, the intricate biology of how the eye produces visual information was thought to be well understood– a combination of sensors and circuits in the eye extract features of visual scenes. This information is conveyed from the eye to the brain by specialized neurons that physically connect the two structures (Figure 1, blue). … Continue reading Vision you can’t see: How the brain senses the time of day

Are microglia the hero or the villain in Alzheimer’s disease?

by Gizem Terzioglufigures by MJ Park Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of people worldwide, and despite years of research efforts, there is still no cure. However, recent studies have highlighted the crucial roles of microglia, the resident immune cells of our brain, in the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. But the question remains: do microglia defend our brain against … Continue reading Are microglia the hero or the villain in Alzheimer’s disease?

Neuroplasticity: how lost skills can be regained after injury or illness

by Beatrice Awasthifigures by Shreya Mantri Loss of motor or cognitive skills can be a devastating after-effect of injury or illness. When things that used to feel easy suddenly feel impossible, a full recovery can appear completely out of reach. In many cases, persisting symptoms of pain, weakness, and fatigue can be due to dysfunction of the nervous system. Fortunately, the nervous system has an … Continue reading Neuroplasticity: how lost skills can be regained after injury or illness

Brain Hijackers: How cancer manipulates the brain to help it grow

by Hannah Farnsworthfigures with Xiaomeng Han Most people know someone in their life who has been impacted by cancer, and a staggering 40% of us will be diagnosed with cancer in our lifetimes. Despite the prevalence of cancer in the general population, there are many types of cancer that still lack effective treatments. One such form of cancer is a type of brain tumor called … Continue reading Brain Hijackers: How cancer manipulates the brain to help it grow