Researchers in Nijmegen found a way to influence a key brain region involved in fear. The headlines soon announced an ‘off switch for fear’, which sounds rather spectacular. But the real story may be even more interesting. We are beginning to understand why fear switches on so quickly—and why it is so difficult to switch off again.
Most people associate estrogen with ovaries, puberty, periods, or hot flashes, but what if I told you this hormone shapes how you think, feel, and even connect with others?
Donders Wonders Summer Series As many of our readers are enjoying a well-deserved summer break,
People are crazy about categories. They make the world clear and manageable: this is this, that is that. Such categorisation is useful for organising thoughts, making decisions, and tackling complex matters. But there is a downside to it. The moment we squeeze reality too tightly into boxes, we sacrifice nuance. The world does not resemble grid paper, it is a multi-layered canvas—and our brains are no different.
Donders Wonders Summer Series As many of our readers are enjoying a well-deserved summer break,
As many of our readers are enjoying a well-deserved summer break, Donders Wonders writers will
I did not start with a career goal of becoming a neuroscientist, nor have I been a book lover in general, since my ADHD often kept me from finishing them. Somehow, while pursuing my growing passion for this field, I came across a few neuroscience books that strengthened my knowledge, broadened my view, and gave me company in the cold, dark Dutch winter.
You’re scrolling through social media when you realize that your phone is at 3%. You need your charger. Now! So, you get up, march to the kitchen with purpose, and… freeze. You’re standing in the middle of the room, staring at the fridge, wondering why you walked in there in the first place. What was I doing here?
Some brains hear words and sense the emotional pressure behind them before language has fully caught up. Maybe high sensitivity is not a weakness, but an early warning system for the invisible weather of a room.
From the design of seatbelts to the symptoms of a heart attack, the average male body has long served as the default model for research and development across society. Fortunately, efforts are now underway to better represent others, including women. But where do we currently stand in neuroscience?
Is there really an off switch for fear? 
How Estrogen Shapes the Female Brain 
What goes wrong in the brain when I lose focus? 
