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Can Computers Use Brain Scans to Diagnose Psychiatric Disorders?

by Kevin Sitek figures by Daniel Utter Over the years, scientists have developed many techniques to observe what’s going on in the human brain as we think or move. Unfortunately, few of the insights we have made so far have resulted in any improvements…

Using Genetics to Understand Schizophrenia and More

by Emily Kuehn figures by Kaitlyn Choi “My greatest fear is this brain of mine….The worst thing imaginable is to be terrified of one’s own mind, the very matter that controls all that we are and all that we do and feel.” These are the words of a patient…

Optogenetics: Can Chronic Pain Be Treated with Light?

by Krissy Lyon When you accidentally touch a hot stove, you pull your hand away almost immediately, thanks to a quick reflex informed by your body’s pain receptors. Pain is an essential feature of our bodies that alerts us to danger or injury. But…

Man < Machine: Computer Beats Top Human Go Player

Snapshot of a Go game in progress [Image: ‘Go Board Game’ from Sean Welton under a CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 licence]Computers have been capable of beating the best human chess players for almost two decades, but a week-long stretch earlier this month…

Visualizing the generation of antibodies

Antibodies are Y-shaped proteins that are made by the immune system to identify and neutralize pathogens. The generation of good antibodies during an immune response is essential for the body to protect itself against pathogens. Moreover, the vast…