The hottest Neuroscience Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Science Topics

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Brain Blast • 39 implied HN points • 30 May 24
🔬 Science Neuroscience
  1. Brain Blast is a newsletter that covers brain-related news, research papers, and deep dives into various brain and mind topics.
  2. The newsletter is authored by a veteran brain research academic.
  3. Subscribing to Brain Blast gives access to weekly updates on the latest in neuroscience and psychology.

Evolving Beyond Determinism

Holodoxa • 199 implied HN points • 31 Oct 23
🔬 Science Neuroscience
  1. Consciousness and free will are gaining scholarly attention, moving beyond being considered intellectual backwaters.
  2. There is a growing interest in naturalistic explanations of the human mind, relying on science rather than mystical or religious beliefs.
  3. The book 'Free Agents: How Evolution Gave Us Free Will' by Kevin J. Mitchell offers a scientific defense of free will against determinism, emphasizing the role of conscious experience in guiding human behavior.

Belief exhaustion (part one)

Brain Pizza • 728 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Neuroscience
  1. Belief exhaustion is the emotional and psychological toll on individuals rigidly adhering to extreme beliefs, resulting in mental and emotional fatigue.
  2. Some people experience belief exhaustion and end up giving up their convictions due to the demanding nature of their beliefs.
  3. The collapse of political regimes sometimes shows the phenomenon of belief exhaustion, where individuals abandon their certainties leading to a rapid disintegration of shared reality.
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July Readings

Brain Pizza • 1191 implied HN points • 11 Jul 23
🔬 Science Neuroscience
  1. The post discusses various July readings on topics like anger, self-promotion, sleep, loneliness, and more.
  2. The author, Shane O'Mara, is a neuroscientist, psychologist, and writer who provides regular content on Brain Pizza.
  3. Readers can sign up for a 7-day free trial to access more content from Shane O'Mara.

A History of Intelligence

Holodoxa • 199 implied HN points • 19 Sep 23
🔬 Science Neuroscience
  1. Animals like primates and octopus exhibit intelligent behavior through learning powerful "world models" which is missing in AI systems today.
  2. The book 'A Brief History of Intelligence' outlines five key evolutionary breakthroughs that led to human intelligence: steering, reinforcement, simulating, mentalizing, and language.
  3. Human intelligence has evolved through the ability to navigate environments, learn through trial-and-error, simulate future events, understand others' minds, and develop spoken/written language.

Barcoding Brains

Asimov Press • 225 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
🔬 Science Neuroscience
  1. Connectomics is a method that maps connections in the brain, helping scientists understand how these connections affect our behavior and brain function. However, it's really slow and expensive to do.
  2. A non-profit called E11 Bio is developing new tools to make brain mapping faster and cheaper. They aim to create a complete map of a mouse's brain in just five years for a fraction of the current cost.
  3. Understanding the brain's connections can improve treatments for various brain diseases and potentially lead to advanced technologies like brain-computer interfaces. This could really change how we approach brain health and artificial intelligence.

(Ad-free Video) What's New in Science With Sabine and Lawrence | Fusion Dark Matter, String Theory in Biology, and Rapid Evolution

Critical Mass • 3 implied HN points • 13 Feb 26
🔬 Science Neuroscience
  1. Future fusion reactors might produce axion-like particles through neutron–lithium reactions in their shielding, offering a new way to search for very light, weakly interacting dark-matter candidates.
  2. Quantum interference has been observed with clusters of thousands of atoms, pushing the boundary of everyday quantum effects and reigniting debate about whether wavefunction collapse is a real physical process.
  3. Cross-disciplinary methods are yielding surprises: string-theory math and AI are being applied to biological and mathematical problems, evidence suggests life rebounded faster after the Chicxulub impact, and some tumors can hijack nerve signaling to suppress local immunity.

Neuroscience/AI - Can rats ‘think’? A paper by Chongxi Lai and colleagues on cognitive teleportation in rats [8 min read]

James W. Phillips' Newsletter • 157 implied HN points • 10 Apr 23
🔬 Science Neuroscience
  1. There is a paper on cognitive teleportation in rats, pushing the boundaries of what we understand about rodent cognition.
  2. The research involves tasks where rats navigate in virtual reality based on their brain signals, not physical movements.
  3. The study successfully shows rats 'thinking' by rewarding them for imagining being in a particular location, showcasing impressive advancements in neuroscience and AI.

A Search for Sick Animals

Asimov Press • 186 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
🔬 Science Neuroscience
  1. Animal models are really important for studying diseases like Parkinson's because they can show how conditions develop and help test new treatments.
  2. Researchers have looked for animals with naturally occurring Parkinson's, but finding them is hard. A recent study claims to have found a monkey with the disease indicating there may be others we just haven't discovered yet.
  3. If scientists can identify more animals with Parkinson's, it could lead to better understanding and treatment options for humans. It's important to keep searching for these models.

The Living Computer

Anima Mundi • 61 implied HN points • 03 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Neuroscience
  1. Scientists are working on computers that use biological systems instead of traditional silicon. This means they want tech to think and learn like living creatures.
  2. Many researchers believe that understanding consciousness is key to creating intelligent machines. They're not just focused on making machines smarter, but on exploring what being conscious really means.
  3. There's a push to connect technology with nature, focusing on how living systems interact with each other. This could change our approach to artificial intelligence and its relationship with the world.

Using neuro-imaging and language models to decode thoughts

The Counterfactual • 139 implied HN points • 31 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Neuroscience
  1. Researchers are using brain scans, like fMRI, along with language models to decode what people are thinking about or listening to. This could help understand brain activity better.
  2. The technology could support people who can't speak, like stroke patients, by interpreting their thoughts into language. However, it's not perfect and needs more development.
  3. There are concerns about privacy, as this technology might one day read thoughts against a person’s will. But for now, people can consciously resist the decoding to some extent.

Welcome to the Science of Learning!

The Science of Learning • 179 implied HN points • 06 Jun 23
🚌 Education Neuroscience
  1. The newsletter focuses on the latest research in learning science and how it can improve teaching practices. It's a great way for educators to stay informed.
  2. Readers can expect to see summaries of studies and practical tips for applying research findings in the classroom. It’s meant to help enhance teaching effectiveness.
  3. It's free to subscribe and will have new content coming out once or twice a month. This offers a chance for teachers and learners to engage with new ideas together.

The Love Bug

Eat Shit and Prosper • 319 implied HN points • 17 Jan 23
🔬 Science Neuroscience
  1. Oxytocin is known as the 'love hormone' and is linked to feelings of bonding and social connection. It plays a role in childbirth and breastfeeding, helping to create strong bonds between parents and children.
  2. A specific gut bacterium, Lactobacillus reuteri, can increase oxytocin levels in animals. This bacterium is important for healing and may influence our social behaviors and immune response.
  3. Oxytocin can also affect how we view others, creating in-groups and out-groups. It can enhance connections within a group but might lead to negative feelings towards those outside the group, highlighting the complexities of human relationships.

Links for 2024-02-07

Axis of Ordinary • 58 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Neuroscience
  1. Google introduces Self-Discover AI improving reasoning benchmarks.
  2. Nabeel Qureshi discusses intelligence and the potential for transformative breakthroughs.
  3. Research on understanding brain function and whole brain emulation is advancing.

Links for 2023-02-17

Axis of Ordinary • 117 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
🔬 Science Neuroscience
  1. Building AGI for law to assist lawyers with complex legal questions and unique work products.
  2. Discovery about mammalian brain development and evolution in relation to neocortex.
  3. Frontiers of AI-powered experimentation at the convergence of multiple technologies.

The Mystery of Consciousness

startupdreams • 741 implied HN points • 01 Jun 23
🔬 Science Neuroscience
  1. Debate exists on whether the human brain operates like a finite state machine with predictable outputs based on inputs
  2. The concept of free will raises questions about human behavior being entirely predictable or not
  3. Exploring theories like the Quantum Mind suggests that consciousness may operate on a quantum level, intertwining with physics

Nautilus Early Access

ASeq Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 25 Nov 25
🔬 Science Neuroscience
  1. Nautilus has been pushing an early-access program and that push seems to have increased market interest by showing the platform can support early-access projects.
  2. A recent scientific demo focused on Tau proteoforms (about 768), which is a useful small-scale result but doesn’t demonstrate the claimed ability to interrogate billions of wells or many different proteins.
  3. Because the demo was small, it’s unclear how well the high-density patterning and machine-learning pattern matching perform at scale, so fuller multi-protein or high-well-count demonstrations are needed.

Fallacies in Computational Neuroscience

NeuroLogos • 98 implied HN points • 25 Apr 23
🔬 Science Neuroscience
  1. Garbage in, garbage out - common issue in computational models
  2. Unity Gain Simulation - building intricate models of basic concepts without gaining insights
  3. The Prayer Wheel - emphasizing model complexity and need for powerful computers as a form of validation

How To See Impossible Colours

Everything Is Amazing • 733 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
🔬 Science Neuroscience
  1. By focusing your eyes in a certain way, you can see impossible colors like red-green or blue-yellow.
  2. Seeing colors like Stygian Blue or Hyperbolic Orange challenges our understanding, as they seem darker or brighter than physically possible.
  3. Experimenting with how you view colors can lead to unique perceptual experiences, expanding the boundaries of human vision.

In search of the mystery of the cortical column and human-like general intelligence

Artificial General Ideas • 1 implied HN point • 25 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Neuroscience
  1. Build NeuroAI by reverse-engineering general cortical principles so systems learn, think, and plan efficiently like humans and learn from experience rather than just from written human knowledge.
  2. Prioritize new kinds of world models that are hierarchical, causally structured, and compositional, and combine those with episodic memory, distributed reasoning across perception and action, active inference, and continual learning.
  3. Close the loop between AI and neuroscience by using brain observations—like recurrence, feedback, attention, replay, schemas, and local plasticity—to drive algorithm design and iterate with targeted experiments to refine theories.

Weekly Dose of Optimism #126

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 106 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
🔬 Science Neuroscience
  1. Sana Biotechnology has made a huge step by transplanting insulin-producing cells for diabetes patients without needing drugs to suppress the immune system. This could change diabetes treatment for the better.
  2. Recent research shows that even non-brain cells can have memory-like processes, suggesting that memory might not be exclusive to the brain. This could lead to new ways of treating diseases by training our body's cells.
  3. A new AI model called METAGENE-1 can analyze wastewater to detect pathogens and monitor health risks. This technology could help us better prepare for pandemics in the future.

Making Sense of Consciousness Part 7: Volition

Rough Diamonds • 9 implied HN points • 24 Nov 25
📖 Philosophy Neuroscience
  1. We feel like our actions are our own when we can see and understand the choices we make. If we can't perceive our decision-making process, we may feel a loss of control.
  2. There's a time right before we move where our brain shows readiness for action, which is called W-time. This moment is closely linked to when we consciously feel that we have decided to move.
  3. People with certain conditions, like schizophrenia or motor disorders, can experience distorted perceptions of their own actions. They might struggle to sense control over their movements, feeling like some actions aren't truly theirs.

Weekly Dose of Optimism #123

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 116 implied HN points • 06 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Neuroscience
  1. E11 Bio is using a creative way to map the brain by injecting viruses that label neurons. This could help us understand the brain better and develop new treatments for neurological issues.
  2. A new study shows deep brain stimulation can help restore walking in people with spinal cord injuries. This method could lead to better recovery options for those with movement difficulties.
  3. Meta is looking to use nuclear energy to power its operations. This move shows a commitment to sustainable energy and could set a trend for other tech companies to follow.

Why Do We Fall Sleep When We Are Bored?

Psych • 39 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
🔬 Science Neuroscience
  1. Feeling sleepy when bored is linked to a brain part for feeling good and motivation.
  2. Adenosine may be responsible for the sleep effect in the brain part that makes us sleepy.
  3. Activating specific parts in the brain linked to sleep could help treat insomnia.

DIY Psychological Parts-Work: A Hacker’s Guide to IFS and Entactogens (20/30)

psychotechnology • 8 implied HN points • 21 Nov 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Neuroscience
  1. The mind is made of semi-independent parts or subagents that have their own ages, goals, and roles, and you can learn to notice and talk to them to get clearer answers about how you feel.
  2. Cultivate your inner system like a garden: practice parts-work sober first, develop your own simple ways of classifying and communicating with parts, and use what fits your mind.
  3. Entactogens (like MDMA) can make parts-work more plastic and compassionate while psychedelics may cause bigger, riskier reorganizations, so approach drug-assisted work cautiously and seek professional help if things get destabilized.

On medium-sized questions in neuroscience

NeuroLogos • 58 implied HN points • 11 Apr 23
🔬 Science Neuroscience
  1. Neuroscientists explore a wide variety of interesting questions about brains and behavior beyond just imitating human intelligence or achieving cognitive enhancement.
  2. There is value in focusing on medium-sized scientific questions that are scientifically well-posed, of general interest, and can lead to more specific experimental questions and philosophical speculations.
  3. Topics like sensory substitution, fading percepts, and hyperacuity offer concrete questions for researchers to investigate, such as understanding how signals in the brain enable new senses, how eye movements affect visual experience, and how human vision surpasses the limits of individual retinal cells.

Making Sense of Consciousness Part 1: Perceptual Awareness

Rough Diamonds • 32 implied HN points • 25 Jun 25
🔬 Science Neuroscience
  1. Consciousness is all about personal experiences and awareness of self, and it's usually absent during deep sleep or anesthesia. Understanding how consciousness works doesn't require diving into complex philosophy.
  2. There are fascinating phenomena like blindsight, where people can respond to visual stimuli without consciously seeing them, showing that our brains can process information even when we're not aware of it.
  3. Similar to blindsight, there are cases of 'deaf hearing' and 'numb touch,' where individuals can react to sounds or sensations without consciously feeling them. This suggests that perception can happen on different levels, even with brain damage.

A Nicotine Analogue I Had Known and Didn’t Love: 6-methylnicotine (22/30)

psychotechnology • 7 implied HN points • 23 Nov 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Neuroscience
  1. methylnicotine produces a smoother, milder stimulant buzz with fewer physical side effects, but it often feels flatter and less helpful for focused, productive writing than regular nicotine.
  2. Both commercial products add 80 mg of L-theanine and come in different delivery forms, so the calming additive and format make it hard to judge the pure effects of 6-MN and tolerance is a big confounder.
  3. Public research on 6-MN is sparse and mostly proprietary; some users report lower heart rate or help cutting down stronger nicotine products, but overall it isn’t clearly superior and more study of nicotinic analogues would be useful.

Why We're Not Engineering Probiotics

Eat Shit and Prosper • 139 implied HN points • 31 Jan 23
🔬 Science Neuroscience
  1. Natural bacteria like _Bacteroides_ can do important tasks in our bodies better than engineered ones. They have evolved over millions of years and have a complex understanding of their role in our ecosystem.
  2. Engineering probiotics may seem like a safe option, but it often overlooks the richness of existing microbes that might serve our needs without modification.
  3. Working with natural bacteria could lead to breakthroughs in health similar to how domesticated animals have changed human life in the past; there's so much potential waiting to be explored.

From Ego to AI: AI as the path to the Age of Aquarius

Rob Leclerc • 19 implied HN points • 01 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Neuroscience
  1. Fear of AI dominance may be influenced by our ego, but future AI-human symbiosis could be positive.
  2. The Default Mode Network in the brain plays a crucial role in shaping our self-identity and consciousness.
  3. As AI technology advances, it may lead to changes in human consciousness, potentially altering our sense of self and cognitive abilities.

Neural Annealing: Directing Psychedelic Trips Towards Healing (25/30)

psychotechnology • 5 implied HN points • 26 Nov 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Neuroscience
  1. The mind is like a lattice of beliefs that can get stuck, and adding ‘heat’ lets those stuck parts loosen so the system can settle into a healthier arrangement.
  2. Psychedelics can act as that heat, melting rigid or traumatic beliefs and allowing new, more accurate views to form — but they work best when you intentionally direct the process rather than just watching visuals.
  3. You need skills and safeguards: cultivate tolerance for uncertainty, body-based awareness, and therapeutic practices, start with small doses and good set/setting, and respect that these tools can be both powerful and risky.

Links for 2024-02-10

Axis of Ordinary • 19 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🔬 Science Neuroscience
  1. AI advancements are progressing rapidly, with more agents leading to better performance in Language Models.
  2. Neuroscience is evolving with innovations like sensors enhancing sensation in prosthetic limbs and brain control enabled by neural networks.
  3. Physics research reveals insights such as gravity showcasing the strong force in the proton and implications of linearity in quantum mechanics.

Making the First Transgenic Ants

Asimov Press • 154 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🔬 Science Neuroscience
  1. Engineered ants are used to study neuroscience of pheromone signaling
  2. Creating transgenic ants involved precise genetic engineering and long, meticulous work
  3. Transgenic ants provided insights into the brain's response to communication signals, aiding in understanding insect behavior