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7 Billion Brains

How people differ and what this means for individuals’ cognitive and mental health.

Neuroscience
Can Neuroscientists Read Your Thoughts?

Tara Thiagarajan Ph.D. on October 23, 2020

Will we eventually be able to "read thoughts" with neuroscience imaging methods? One key challenge is that we don't yet know what a thought actually is.

Will we eventually be able to "read thoughts" with neuroscience imaging methods? One key challenge is that we don't yet know what a thought actually is.

Somatosensory cortex
Neuroscience
Mapping Your Brain

Tara Thiagarajan Ph.D. on June 25, 2020

Scientists have long tried to carve up the brain into different functional parts but this has been an elusive exercise. Our individual brain maps are not as similar as we might think.

Scientists have long tried to carve up the brain into different functional parts but this has been an elusive exercise. Our individual brain maps are not as similar as we might think.

Coronavirus Disease 2019
The Coronavirus-Unemployment Trade-Off

Tara Thiagarajan Ph.D. on March 21, 2020

As more people lose their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic, what level of health risk is worth prolonged unemployment?

As more people lose their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic, what level of health risk is worth prolonged unemployment?

Health
What Does Having a "Mental Health Disorder" Actually Mean?

Tara Thiagarajan Ph.D. on January 9, 2020

Mental health 'disorders' are essentially names given to broad groupings of symptoms with no definitive etiology, but there are lots of avenues to explore to tackle your distress.

Mental health 'disorders' are essentially names given to broad groupings of symptoms with no definitive etiology, but there are lots of avenues to explore to tackle your distress.

Cognition
Core Cognition: An Important Pillar of Your Mental Health

Tara Thiagarajan Ph.D. on October 17, 2019

By understanding which aspects of your mental well-being need some attention, you can reveal new opportunities for self-improvement.

By understanding which aspects of your mental well-being need some attention, you can reveal new opportunities for self-improvement.

Health
Mental Well-Being: What’s Your Score?

Tara Thiagarajan Ph.D. on July 26, 2019

If you had to say which features of your mental well-being were doing ok, and which ones could do with a bit of extra attention, would you know the answer?

If you had to say which features of your mental well-being were doing ok, and which ones could do with a bit of extra attention, would you know the answer?

Genetics
The Mosaic of DNA in Your Brain

Tara Thiagarajan Ph.D. on February 27, 2019

You may think your DNA is one unique sequence, but your brain has other ideas.

You may think your DNA is one unique sequence, but your brain has other ideas.

Health
Vitamins for Brain Health

Tara Thiagarajan Ph.D. on January 31, 2019

No one ever tells you to eat your vitamins for your brain. Yet it might just be the most important reason that you should.

No one ever tells you to eat your vitamins for your brain. Yet it might just be the most important reason that you should.

Depression
Your Individual Depression

Tara Thiagarajan Ph.D. on January 23, 2019

There are potentially hundreds of different symptom combinations which can lead to a diagnosis of depression. What does this mean for you?

There are potentially hundreds of different symptom combinations which can lead to a diagnosis of depression. What does this mean for you?

Genetics
Do You Have an Average Brain? Its Unlikely.

Tara Thiagarajan Ph.D. on January 16, 2019

Each brain evolves over a lifetime in a unique way, leading to wide variation among us. This means there is perhaps no such thing as an average brain.

Each brain evolves over a lifetime in a unique way, leading to wide variation among us. This means there is perhaps no such thing as an average brain.