15 Times the Brain Astonished Us in 2024
In 2024, groundbreaking neuroscience discoveries unveiled the brain’s mysteries, including its adaptability, structural changes, and functional complexities. Highlights include lab-grown minibrains, pregnancy-induced brain changes, psychedelic effects on self-perception, the role of gut microbes in brain evolution, and a detailed new brain map. Advances in memory storage, eating behavior circuits, and flow state research showcased how the brain processes information and adapts to various stimuli.
From lab-grown minibrains to psychedelic discoveries, 2024 brought an array of groundbreaking neuroscience findings. Here’s a recap of the year’s most fascinating brain-related revelations:
1. The Male Hormone Cycle and Brain Changes
Daily fluctuations in male hormones, like testosterone, lead to brain volume changes synchronized with these cycles, though the exact effects on brain function remain unclear.
2. Your Brain at the Movies
Watching films activates 24 distinct brain networks, offering scientists the most detailed brain activity map to date by linking scenes to neural patterns.
3. Brain Shifts After Birth
A study on newborns revealed a surge in activity in the subcortical and sensorimotor networks post-birth, which researchers aim to compare in preterm infants.
4. The Drive to Eat
A circuit of three neuron types detects hunger signals and triggers eating behaviors. Altering this circuit caused lab mice to overeat drastically, even without food.
5. Pregnancy’s Brain Changes
Pregnancy leads to a permanent reduction of about 80% in gray matter volume, reflecting neural “pruning” similar to changes during puberty.
6. Three Copies of Memory
Mice studies suggest the brain stores three versions of every memory, differing in creation time and durability, aiding future memory-related research.
7. Conscious Lab-Grown Brains?
Mini-brains grown in labs spark debates about consciousness, though scientists agree we’re far from creating conscious organoids.
8. Psychedelics and Self-Perception
Psilocybin disrupts the brain’s default mode network, temporarily dissolving the sense of self, with some effects lasting weeks.
9. Unraveling Psychosis
AI-analyzed brain scans revealed distinct patterns in individuals experiencing psychosis, supporting theories about attention-related network malfunctions.
10. Universal Primate Brain Patterns
Primate species, including humans, share brain-wave patterns that help manage conscious thought, showing the interplay of fast and slow waves in the cortex.
11. “Flow” State Unveiled
Brain scans of musicians highlighted key regions involved in achieving a flow state, settling debates over competing theories about this phenomenon.
12. Rapid Reading Ability
Humans process the structure and meaning of written language in milliseconds, showcasing the brain’s ability to swiftly parse complex information.
13. Gut Microbes and Brain Size
Microbes from humans and large-brained primates produce brain energy more efficiently than those in smaller-brained species, hinting at an evolutionary role.
14. Stunning New Brain Map
Researchers created a detailed map of a brain segment, revealing 57,000 neurons, 150 million synapses, and mysterious “whorls” in neuronal wiring.
15. 3D-Printed Brain Tissue
Using stem cells, scientists 3D-printed functional brain tissue capable of forming networks and communicating, marking a milestone in neuroscience.
Each discovery highlights the brain’s complexity, sparking curiosity and raising new questions about this remarkable organ.