The human brain's remarkably prolonged development is unique among mammals and is thought to contribute to our advanced learning abilities. Disruptions in this process may explain certain ...

Scientists rebuilt human brain circuits in the lab and discovered that the thalamus acts as a central organizer of cortical wiring. The findings offer new insight into how brain networks form and why ...

For much of the 20th century it was thought that the adult brain was incapable of regeneration. This view has since shifted dramatically and neurogenesis – the birth of new neurons – is now a widely ...

Gene-editing tools like CRISPR have unlocked new treatments for previously uncurable diseases. Now, researchers at the ...

Ancient viral DNA embedded in the human genome may boost people's susceptibility to neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. A study published in May in the ...

The human genome is massive, and it contains many highly repetitive sequences that confounded researchers for years. Many of these repeats were simply written off as junk DNA that had no function.

A toxin from one of the most venomous animals on the planet is giving scientists new clues about how to treat some serious, and potentially fatal human disorders. A multinational research team led by ...

Human expansion in the Amazon increases contact between cities and forests, raising the risk that diseases like yellow fever ...