Today we have tools to change and manipulate DNA, the fundamental instruction manual that makes up who we are. What would happen if we fast forward in our imagination a little bit, and contemplate the future of genetics in the healthy and diseased brain?
Noninvasive brain stimulation techniques can be broadly classified as electrical, magnetic, or sonographic. Let’s take a glimpse at the most common ones and their promising future.
Imagine controlling a computer or prosthetic limb with just your thoughts. Brain-computer interfaces are making this a reality, offering hope for medical breakthroughs and everyday conveniences. However, with these advancements come privacy, and ethical concerns. Explore the fascinating world of BCIs and what they mean for our future.
Imagine wearing devices that monitor and analyse your brain activity as you go about your daily life. It sounds scary and a potential privacy nightmare. Yet, this very technology, if used ethically, could unlock the mysteries of the brain, offering answers to questions we’ve long sought.
The Internet is packed with content aimed at grabbing your attention, because attention is the internet’s currency. You may have noticed that posts that provoke negative reactions often generate a lot of engagement on social media. I try to figure out why.
You wake up in the middle of the night, needing to use the bathroom, but avoid turning on the light to prevent being blinded. Even in an unfamiliar setting like a hotel room, you can find your way through the darkness. But how does the brain manage this? Over the years, researchers have been shedding light on the mechanisms supporting our brain’s ability to remember spatial information.
Aging and aging related disorders like Alzheimer’s are often associated with cognitive decline. But we can all help our brain to prepare for later years by building up our mental reserves across our lifetime.
Research into the therapeutic use of psychedelics is getting more and more attention. The first substances have already been approved for American and European markets. But what’s the current situation? Can we already ask the general practitioner for shrooms on prescription?
What are the promises and risks of digitalization for our brains? To answer this question, The Future of the Mind symposium at the Donders Institute explored the intersection of behavioral and neuroscience, artificial intelligence, ethics, economy, philosophy, and law.
“The secret of happiness is: Find something more important than you are and dedicate your life to it.” This was said by Daniel Dennett, a world-renowned American Philosopher who sadly passed away on 19 April. He certainly followed his own word and left a legacy of his work on consciousness, free will, ethics and artificial intelligence. Let’s explore some of his ideas!
Music in the child’s brain: How tunes shape our brains 
The brain’s playlist: how rhythmic cycles keep your thoughts in sync 
