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Explore Neuroscience

Brain Basics

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Q&A About the Brain

Quick and Easy

Get the answers to some of the most common questions about the brain.
Understanding Sleep
Understanding Mood

How do moods differ from emotions? Can you alter your mood safely?
How Does the Brain Work?
How Does Exercise Affect the Brain?

Not only is exercise good for your muscles and bones, but it is also an important part of keeping your brain healthy.
What Happens at the Synapse?
What is Addiction?

Addiction has devastating effects on overall health, interpersonal relationships, and quality of life. But how does addiction develop?
How Do Scientists Study the Brain?

Scientists who conduct experiments to learn about the brain are called neuroscientists, and like all scientists, they use the scientific method.
How Does the Brain Develop?
Find Fact Sheets in Multiple Languages

See PDF versions of our Fact Sheets, and more, in:

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Fact Sheets

Just the Facts

Discover how brain systems work, from micro to macro – and what happens when they don’t.
Cells of the Brain

The brain is a mosaic made up of different cell types, each with their own unique properties. Here are the basics.
Stroke
Genetics

Nature and Nurture:
A Dynamic Interplay

Genetic research has become a mainstay of neuroscience, illuminating how the brain is put together, the molecular pathways of its operations, and the myriad things that can go wrong.
Right Brain, Left Brain: A Misnomer
Connectivity

The human brain is a network of networks: an intricate, integrated system that coordinates operations among billions of cells.
Neurotransmitters
Neuroanatomy: The Basics

The brain and nervous system are a network of many specialized parts.
Explore More

Check out some of our popular explanatory articles.

When the Myth is the Message: Neuromyths and Education

A Delicate Balance: Risks, Rewards, and the Adolescent Brain

Why Do We Love Music?

The Cognitive Benefits of Being Bilingual

Videos

How Exercise Affects the Brain

Exercise is good for your overall health—including your brain! Learn about its brain-health benefits and get tips for your own exercise routine. One of our videos in partnership with Everwell.
Managing Your Screen Time

Digital technology has transformed our lives, but all the time we spend on our computers, smartphones, and tablets could be affecting our brains. Just as you manage your money or diet, it’s important to manage screen time
How Stress Affects the Brain

Stress is a normal part of life, but when it becomes long-term or overwhelming, it can be harmful. Learn what happens in your brain when you’re stressed, how stress can negatively affect your body, and what practices you can ad
How Psychotherapy Affects the Brain

Psychotherapy, also known as “talk therapy,” can help people identify and change harmful thinking and behaviors, and it can produce changes in the brain. One of our videos in partnership with Everwell.
How Addiction Affects the Brain

Addiction is not due to weakness or a lack of willpower. Instead, it’s a chronic disease involving changes in the brain. Watch to learn more. One of our videos in partnership with Everwell.
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Check out some of our popular video playlists.

Healthy Brain Tips

Secret Science Club: Brain Lectures

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Glossary

Glossary of Key Brain Science Terms

Definitions that help when reading about how the brain works and how scientists make new discoveries about it.