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Cats prefer to sleep on their left side

A research team analyzed YouTube videos of sleeping cats to find that two thirds sleep on their left side. This bias is thought to be an evolutionary strategy, favoring the use of the right hemisphere of the brain for spatial awareness and threat processing after waking.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalCurrent Biology

Our brain prefers positive vocal sounds that come from our left

Researchers found that the brain's auditory cortex responds strongly to positive human sounds coming from the left, but not from the right or front. This bias may have an evolutionary advantage, as it could help detect potential threats or predators.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study

How brains synchronize during cooperative tasks

Researchers employed computer vision to extract social behaviors and linked them to brain synchronization patterns in a novel approach. During cooperative play, brain synchronization was strongest when participants shared gaze, while individual play showed increased within-brain synchronization.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalNeurophotonics
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Corpus callosum found to switch off right hemisphere during speech

Researchers at the HSE Centre for Language and Brain found that a thicker corpus callosum is associated with less lateralization of language functions to the right hemisphere. The study used advanced neuroimaging methods, including fMRI, to measure brain activity while participants completed a sentence completion task.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalPLOS ONE

A person’s race influences question asking as much as their stroke history

A new study from Duke University found that a person's race affects their inclination to ask questions, with Black women asking half as many questions as White participants. This may impact diagnosis and treatment of communication impairments resulting from right hemisphere stroke.

SourceDuke University·JournalJournal of Speech Language and Hearing Research·TypeObservational study

Synchronized neural oscillations in the right brain induce empathic behavior

Researchers discovered that synchronized neural oscillations in the right hemisphere of the brain induce empathic behavior in mice, allowing them to perceive and share each other's fear. The study identified the causal relationship between 5-7 Hz oscillations in the cingulo-amygdala circuit and empathic responses.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNeuron
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Only left inferior frontal gyrus found responsible for action naming

A study by HSE researchers found that only the left inferior frontal gyrus is critically involved in action naming, which could help preserve speech in patients after brain surgery. The study used fMRI and rTMS to stimulate the brain and found that stimulating this region led to more accurate action naming.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalBrain Structure and Function

Word and face recognition can be adequately supported with half a brain, study finds

Researchers found that individuals who underwent hemispherectomy surgery at a young age can still recognize differences between pairs of words or faces with remarkable accuracy. The study, published in PNAS, sheds light on brain plasticity and its limitations.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Kessler Foundation scientists explore evidence for improving outcomes for prism adaptation therapy in stroke survivors

Researchers analyzed fMRI studies on healthy individuals and stroke survivors to understand the neural mechanisms underlying prism adaptation therapy. The study found differences in brain activity patterns between healthy individuals and those with spatial neglect, suggesting a shift in spatial processing to the left hemisphere.

SourceKessler Foundation·JournalBrain Sciences·TypeMeta-analysis

Children use both brain hemispheres to understand language, unlike adults

In a groundbreaking study, researchers found that children's brains use both hemispheres to process language, whereas adults typically rely on one hemisphere. This discovery suggests that children's brains are more adaptable and resilient, allowing them to recover from neural injuries more effectively.

SourceGeorgetown University Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

How the brain controls our speech

Research at Goethe University Frankfurt reveals that both hemispheres of the brain contribute to speech control, with the left hemisphere handling fast processes and the right hemisphere controlling slower processes. This discovery challenges the long-held assumption that the right hemisphere only analyzes spoken words.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalNature Communications
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Where in the brain does creativity come from? Evidence from jazz musicians

A recent study by Drexel University's Creativity Research Lab found that creativity is primarily driven by the right hemisphere in jazz guitarists during improvisation. Inexperienced musicians rely on their right hemisphere, while highly experienced musicians use their left hemisphere for creative tasks.

SourceDrexel University

Why two out of three babies are cradled on the left

A study published in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews found that between 66-72% of people hold infants with their left arm. The preference is similar across men and women, and may be linked to emotional processing in the brain.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalNeuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

Learning language

Researchers discovered that the right hemisphere plays a crucial role in processing foreign speech sounds at the beginning of language learning. Successful learners showed increased activity in the right hemisphere during sound recognition tasks. The study's findings have the potential to improve instructional methods for adult learners.

SourceUniversity of Delaware
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Risk-taking bias in the brain

Researchers discovered that individuals with epilepsy exhibit increased high-frequency brain activity in the right hemisphere when making risky bets and the left hemisphere when avoiding risks. The findings suggest a brain-based mechanism for risk-taking biases, which can be influenced by past behaviors.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

The reasons for hemispheric dominance in the brain

Biopsychologists demonstrate that subtle timing differences in the right hemisphere allow it to control specific functions, while the left hemisphere delays its activity. The study reveals a sophisticated mechanism underlying hemispheric dominance.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalCell Reports

Case study: Child's lobectomy reveals brain's ability to reorganize its visual system

A study published in Cell Reports found that a child's brain can reorganize its visual system after losing parts of the visual cortex. The child, UD, had nearly half of his right hemisphere removed due to epilepsy, but his brain compensated by using the intact left hemisphere for tasks like facial recognition and object analysis.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalCell Reports
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Feelings determine from which side we embrace each other

Researchers studied over 2,500 hugs to understand how emotional context affects hug behavior. They found that emotional states influence the lateralization of hugs, with left-sided hugs more common in positive situations and right-sided hugs in negative contexts. Handedness and footedness also play a role in predicting hug direction.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalPsychological Research

Stuttering: Stop signals in the brain prevent fluent speech

A hyperactive network in the right frontal part of the brain plays a crucial role in stuttering by inhibiting speech movement planning and execution. The more severe the stuttering, the stronger the connections between brain regions involved in neural inhibition of speech movements.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalBrain

Stuttering: Stop signals in the brain disturb speech flow

Research at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences reveals that hyperactivity in the right hemisphere of the brain is central to stuttering. The study found a stronger connection between brain regions involved in speech movements, leading to impaired fluency.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences·JournalBrain

Dog brains process both what we say and how we say it

A study found that dogs use left and right hemispheres to process words and intonation, integrating information to arrive at a unified meaning. Dogs also activate their reward center when they hear praise in praising intonation, suggesting they can combine word and tone for correct interpretation.

SourceEötvös Loránd University·JournalScience
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Asleep somewhere new, one brain hemisphere keeps watch

A study by Brown University researchers found that one brain hemisphere remains more awake than the other during deep sleep on the first night in a new place. This 'first-night effect' is thought to be an evolutionary adaptation to protect against potential danger.

SourceBrown University·JournalCurrent Biology

Right brain may help predict recovery of language after stroke

Researchers found that patients with aphasia who performed better on speech-fluency tests had higher structural integrity in right hemisphere regions. These areas were found to contribute to speech-fluency, suggesting the right side of the brain reorganizes itself for recovery.

SourceAmerican Academy of Neurology·JournalNeurology

The components of imitation

Researchers investigate brain structure involved in imitation after stroke or brain injury, discovering the importance of similarity between observed action and produced movement. Lesions in the left hemisphere affect anatomical match, while those in the right hemisphere impact spatial translation.

SourceInternational School of Advanced Studies (SISSA)·JournalNeuropsychologia
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Infant brains develop years faster than we thought

Scientists discovered that infant brain development occurs years faster than previously thought, with face perception abilities emerging as early as four months. The study used electroencephalography to track brain activity in response to facial images, revealing a unique right-hemisphere processing of faces.

SourceeLife

Might lefties and righties benefit differently from a power nap?

Researchers found that the right hemisphere of the brain is more integrated and communicative than the left hemisphere during rest, regardless of hand dominance. This study may help explain why power naps benefit focus and mental clarity.

SourceGeorgetown University Medical Center

Delusions associated with consistent pattern of brain injury

A new study reveals a consistent pattern of brain injury to the frontal lobe and right hemisphere causes delusions. The overcompensation of the left hemisphere leads to the creation of false narratives that cannot be edited, resulting in pathologic beliefs.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalNeurology

How is our left brain is different from our right?

Researchers found asymmetrical synaptic structure and molecule composition between left and right hippocampus synapses. This discovery sheds light on the distinct neural mechanisms underlying learning and memory processes.

SourceNational Institute for Physiological Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Right-brain stroke could be underdiagnosed

A German study found that patients with right-brain stroke were less likely to receive thrombolysis treatment and be admitted to hospital within 3 hours of stroke onset compared to those with left-hemispheric events. This underdiagnosis poses challenges for optimizing stroke management, particularly in the early stages.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet

Stuttering more than talk - research shows brain's role in disorder

Researchers at Purdue University found that adults who stutter process language differently than those who don't, even when not speaking. The study, published in August, measured brain electrical activity and response time to find complex interactions between language and motor systems.

SourcePurdue University
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Right side of brain learns language skills after stroke

A new study demonstrates that learning and speech therapy can alter the way compensatory pathways in the brain work after a stroke. The research supports the hypothesis that brain pathways in the right hemisphere are directly involved in the recovery of language skills.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalNeuron

Study finds there's a critical time for learning all languages, including sign language

Researchers found that children who learned ASL before puberty exhibit distinct brain activity patterns when reading sign language, while those who learn it after puberty show reduced right hemisphere activity. This study highlights the importance of early language exposure in shaping neural systems for language.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalNature Neuroscience

Right side of brain may be key to recognizing yourself, study says

Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center found that the right hemisphere helps people recognize themselves in pictures. The study used morphed images blending a patient's face with famous faces and showed that patients' right brains could recognize their own faces even when anesthetized, but not when only the left brain was ...

SourceBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center·JournalNature

On the scent

Scientists discover that people prefer certain smells when sniffed through one nostril over the other. The left nostril is more accurate for identifying odours, while the right nostril enhances pleasantness perception. This finding fits with brain processing theories and may lead to further research on smell perception.

SourceNew Scientist·JournalThe New Scientist