neurobiology Archives

The Fascinating History of the Color Red

Dov Michaeli, MD, PhD - 4/14/2021 - 16

The color red was most likely the first color (besides black and white) to be registered in our ancient ancestors brains.

A Brief But Powerful History of the Colors Purple and Blue

Dov Michaeli, MD, PhD - 2/9/2021 - 1

The colors purple and blue have a long and complex history that touches on social privilege, experimentation, cell biology, and more.

The Unfortunate Consequences of Disbelieving in Free Will

Dov Michaeli, MD, PhD - 8/12/2020 - 1

Studies about the concept of belief or non-belief in free will shed light on the question of how ostensibly religious people commit atrocities.

What Can We Learn About Fatherhood From Science?

Dov Michaeli, MD, PhD - 6/19/2020 - 17

A scientist explores what we can learn about fatherhood from the science of the brain, hormones, and behavior. Read more!

depressed black lab (Photo credit: CC: Lecates 2007, Newtown, Alpharetta, GA, US)

Why Dogs Don’t Get Schizophrenia, But People Do

Dov Michaeli, MD, PhD - 3/22/2020 - 13

Dogs suffer from almost every psychiatric disorder that afflicts humans, except one – schizophrenia. Evolutionary genetics explains why.

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Does Your Dog Have Personality? But of Course!

Dov Michaeli, MD, PhD - 9/24/2019 - 3

Dog behavior has been shaped by millennia of contact with humans. So it shouldn’t surprise us that they have personality traits similar but not identical to our own.

What We Can Learn About Ourselves from the Genome of Honeybees

Dov Michaeli, MD, PhD - 8/27/2019 - 0

A remarkable study of the genomics and behavior of honeybees has revealed important insights into human behavior and metabolism.

Science Shines a Light on the Evolution of Music and Language

Dov Michaeli, MD, PhD - 6/29/2019 - 0

Scientific experiments help elucidate the evolution of music from a meaningless jumble of sounds into a more coherent form of human communication.

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How Did We End Up in a Post-factual World?

Dov Michaeli, MD, PhD - 5/15/2019 - 2

Belief in alternative facts is the hallmark of the post-factual world. It arises from our tribal nature and is very difficult to change.

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Want to Know Why Exercise is So Good for Your Brain?

Dov Michaeli, MD, PhD - 1/7/2019 - 1

Exercise induces epigenetic changes that increase BDNF, a protein that keeps neurons healthy and improves cognitive function.

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How Little White Lies Can Lead to Great Big Ones

Dov Michaeli, MD, PhD - 11/29/2018 - 5

Studies show lies increase with repetition but only when the participant benefited. Self-interest is the thing that pushes people down that slippery slope.

How Memories Can Be Modified and Manipulated

Dov Michaeli, MD, PhD - 4/15/2018 - 0

Our memories may not be truly our own. They’re subject to social influences, some positive (they correct factual errors and omissions) and some negative (they manipulate the memory of facts to conform to the “accepted” version regardless of veracity). This is not just an exercise in theoretical psychology, it has important social implications.