Consciousness, Self-Organization, and Neuroscience

Pregnancy

New Study Finds Sex Differences in Fetal Brain Development

Joel Frohlich Ph.D. on February 27, 2024

Male and female fetuses show different changes in brain activity during late pregnancy. Will this help us understand sex differences in childhood psychiatric disorders like autism?

Male and female fetuses show different changes in brain activity during late pregnancy. Will this help us understand sex differences in childhood psychiatric disorders like autism?

Psychopharmacology

Is Cannabis Psychedelic?

Joel Frohlich Ph.D. on February 17, 2024

A new study compared the neural effects of oral THC, the main active compound of cannabis, with a microdose of the classic psychedelic LSD.

A new study compared the neural effects of oral THC, the main active compound of cannabis, with a microdose of the classic psychedelic LSD.

Consciousness

Do Babies Have Consciousness?

Joel Frohlich Ph.D. on January 1, 2024

You might not remember being a baby. How do we know what an infant's experience of the world feels like?

You might not remember being a baby. How do we know what an infant's experience of the world feels like?

Sleep

How to Build a Consciousness Detector

Joel Frohlich Ph.D. on June 16, 2021

Building a machine that would detect consciousness sounds like science fiction, but the growing science of consciousness is beginning to show the way.

Building a machine that would detect consciousness sounds like science fiction, but the growing science of consciousness is beginning to show the way.

Fantasies

How Neuroscientists Use Tennis to Study Consciousness in Unresponsive Patients

Joel Frohlich Ph.D. on May 23, 2021

How can we know if an unresponsive person feels or experiences anything? Functional neuroimaging may hold the answer.

How can we know if an unresponsive person feels or experiences anything? Functional neuroimaging may hold the answer.

Default Mode Network

How Floating in Darkness Takes the Body off the Mind

Joel Frohlich Ph.D. on May 20, 2021

Float tanks are becoming popular in many cities. Now, scientists are finally applying neuroimaging to discover how sensory reduction affects the brain.

Float tanks are becoming popular in many cities. Now, scientists are finally applying neuroimaging to discover how sensory reduction affects the brain.

Ketamine

The Rhythm of Detachment

Joel Frohlich Ph.D. on February 16, 2021

Some people experience profound detachment from themselves and their environment. Will a new neuroscience finding pave the way for new therapies?

Some people experience profound detachment from themselves and their environment. Will a new neuroscience finding pave the way for new therapies?

Sleep

We Finally Know What the Claustrum Does

Joel Frohlich Ph.D. on November 11, 2020

Consciousness is perhaps the most mysterious phenomenon in all of science. Could this brain area bring us closer to understanding it?

Consciousness is perhaps the most mysterious phenomenon in all of science. Could this brain area bring us closer to understanding it?

Spirituality

What Is Reality? An Interview with Donald Hoffman

Joel Frohlich Ph.D. on December 13, 2019

I ask the author of The Case Against Reality about hallucinations, DMT, spirituality, quantum physics, and why we can see the Milky Way at night if it has no fitness payoff.

I ask the author of The Case Against Reality about hallucinations, DMT, spirituality, quantum physics, and why we can see the Milky Way at night if it has no fitness payoff.

Sleep

What Happens to Your Brain When You Sleep?

Joel Frohlich Ph.D. on April 22, 2019

Each night when you dream, your brain hallucinates in a paralyzed body. What is this phenomenon called, and how does the brain put us through this nightly show?

Each night when you dream, your brain hallucinates in a paralyzed body. What is this phenomenon called, and how does the brain put us through this nightly show?

Happiness

Are Children With Angelman Syndrome Really Happy?

Joel Frohlich Ph.D. on November 26, 2018

Children born with this rare disorder challenge conventional ideas about happiness and health.

Children born with this rare disorder challenge conventional ideas about happiness and health.

Sleep

The Wisdom of the Sloth: Is Sleep a Lost Virtue?

Joel Frohlich Ph.D. on June 20, 2018

A lack of sleep may increase your risk for Alzheimer's disease, heart attack, and even suicide. Have we gone too far in undervaluing sleep?

A lack of sleep may increase your risk for Alzheimer's disease, heart attack, and even suicide. Have we gone too far in undervaluing sleep?

Friends

Consciousness: The Final Frontier

Joel Frohlich Ph.D. on April 16, 2018

The cerebellum contains the majority of the cells in the brain. So why does removing it have little effect on consciousness?

The cerebellum contains the majority of the cells in the brain. So why does removing it have little effect on consciousness?

Left Brain - Right Brain

No, You’re Not Left-Brained or Right-Brained

Joel Frohlich Ph.D. on February 15, 2018

Creative types are right-brained? Analytical types are left-brained? Think again.

Creative types are right-brained? Analytical types are left-brained? Think again.

Ketamine

Schizophrenia in a Vial? The Story of Ketamine

Joel Frohlich Ph.D. on September 19, 2017

A back-of-the-shelf anesthetic induces all the symptoms of schizophrenia—but only in adults. What does this reveal about brain development and the nature of schizophrenia?

A back-of-the-shelf anesthetic induces all the symptoms of schizophrenia—but only in adults. What does this reveal about brain development and the nature of schizophrenia?

Synesthesia

Garbage Smells Green and Gunshots Are Rainbows

Joel Frohlich Ph.D. on September 15, 2017

Some people hear colors and see sounds, a phenomenon called synesthesia.

Some people hear colors and see sounds, a phenomenon called synesthesia.

Neuroscience

Surfing Brainwaves With EEG

Joel Frohlich Ph.D. on May 31, 2017

Would you watch a movie filmed at one frame per second? Many brain scans are like slow movies. To add the dimension of time, we need EEG.

Would you watch a movie filmed at one frame per second? Many brain scans are like slow movies. To add the dimension of time, we need EEG.

Neuroscience

Reverse Engineering the Brain

Joel Frohlich Ph.D. on May 9, 2017

Can we learn everything about the brain by studying individual brain cells? To answer this question, we need to consider emergent properties and self-organization.

Can we learn everything about the brain by studying individual brain cells? To answer this question, we need to consider emergent properties and self-organization.

Fear

What Does Information Look Like in the Brain?

Joel Frohlich Ph.D. on March 6, 2017

Does thinking harder or experiencing deep emotions like love, fear, or anguish light up more neurons? Probably not.

Does thinking harder or experiencing deep emotions like love, fear, or anguish light up more neurons? Probably not.

Neuroscience

What the Heck Is a Claustrum?

Joel Frohlich Ph.D. on February 27, 2017

An announcement at the BRAIN initiative meeting highlights a small brain structure with surprising integration with the rest of the mouse brain. So is it involved in consciousness?

An announcement at the BRAIN initiative meeting highlights a small brain structure with surprising integration with the rest of the mouse brain. So is it involved in consciousness?