Nervous System
These Frankenstein-Like Sea Creatures Can Actually Fuse Their Bodies Together
Two comb jellies can merge their digestive and nervous systems and even sync their bodily functions, according to new research. The discovery could have implications for human medicine
Everything You Wanted to Know About the Longest Nerve in the Body
Like a highway system, the vagus nerve branches profusely from your brain through your organs to marshal bodily functions, including aspects of the mind such as mood, pleasure and fear
New Hampshire Resident Dies From Rare but Serious Mosquito-Borne Illness
It's one of four cases of Eastern equine encephalitis reported in the U.S. so far this year—and the state's first since 2014
Eerie Lampreys Hint at the Origins of Our 'Fight-or-Flight' Response and Sympathetic Nervous System
The jawless, parasitic fish largely haven't changed over the last 340 million years, but they might be better sources for studying our own evolution than thought, a recent study suggests
The Dirty Secret About How Our Hands Spread Disease
The human hand is an incredible tool—and a deadly threat
In a First, a Prosthetic Limb Can Sense Temperature Like a Living Hand
The advance may help users feel a greater sense of human connection through touch
Michael J. Fox Reflects on Rise to Fame and Life with Parkinson's
A new documentary offers an intimate look at the actor and activist's story
Woman Who Can Smell Parkinson’s Helps Develop a Skin Swab Diagnostic Test
The test, which would be the first of its kind for this disease, can make a diagnosis in about three minutes
The Curious Case of Charles Osborne, Who Hiccupped for 68 Years Straight
A 1922 accident sparked the Iowa man’s intractable hiccups, which suddenly subsided in 1990
Why 'Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark' Frightened So Many Parents in the 1990s
Launched 40 years ago, Alvin Schwartz's spooky series pitted school administrators against PTO members pleading to ban the books
Powerful Immune System Response May Be Behind 'Covid Toes'
A new study brings doctors closer to understanding the mysterious frostbite-like lesions on patients' toes and fingers
Scientists Studied Spicy Chili Peppers and Cool Menthol for Their Nobel Prize–Winning Research on Heat and Touch
Their independent discoveries answer fundamental questions about how we sense our environment and could lead to breakthrough pain relief treatments
Study Shows Fingerprint Ridges Play Key Role in Sense of Touch
Experiments show that our fingertips’ finely tuned sensitivity maps onto the whorled ridges of our prints
Some Fish Fins Are as Sensitive as a Primate's Fingertips
Experiments reveal fish fins aren't just for getting around. They could have implications for underwater robotics
Could This Brain Implant Stop Epilepsy Seizures?
A new approach, which involves an implantable device delivering neurotransmitters to the brain, proves effective in mice
See the Founder of Modern Neuroscience's Unique Way of Looking at the Inner Workings of the Brain Through Art
Art meets science in the first U.S. traveling exhibition of Santiago Ramón y Cajal’s sketches
How Hacking Neural Networks Can Help Amputees Flawlessly Crack an Egg
By tapping into the body's nervous system, researchers could create touch-sensitive prosthetics
Unnerving Find: Cells That Control Goosebumps and Nipple Erections
A new study documents eight new types of nerve cells, including ones that control sweating and blood flow
Metaphorically Speaking, Your Nervous System is a Dictatorship
Except when it's an oligarchy. Or a democracy. Or all three.
Ask Smithsonian: Why Do We Get Prune Fingers?
Some researchers say that, like tire treads, our fingers and toes could get better traction in wet conditions
Page 1 of 2