Articles by

Allison Whitten

Gene Expression in Neurons Solves a Brain Evolution Puzzle

The neocortex stands out as a stunning achievement of biological evolution. All mammals have this swath of...

Why Pain Feels Worse at Night

It’s long been a mystery why one of the most basic human experiences—feeling physical pain—fluctuates in intensity...

The Brain Has a ‘Low-Power Mode’ That Blunts Our Senses

Since leptin is released by fat cells, scientists believe its presence in the blood is likely to...

A Brain Chemical Helps Neurons Know When to Start a Movement

By washing through the brain, neuromodulators “allow you to govern the excitability of a large region of...