The original version of this story appeared in Quanta Magazine. Whenever you’re actively performing a task—say, lifting weights at the gym or taking a hard exam—the parts of your brain required to ...

The Default Mode Network as Core Consciousness Is the Default Mode Network the heart of who we are? Posted June 9, 2025 | Reviewed by Monica Vilhauer Ph.D. As you read this, in the background—or ...

Children who feel unsafe at home, in school, or in their neighborhood show differences in brain connectivity. A new neuroimaging study published in Psychological Medicine suggests these differences ...

Has there been a psychedelic surge lately, or is it just me? Throughout my time in college, I swear I couldn't go one day without talking to someone who admitted to taking psychedelics for ...

A recent study published in PLOS One failed to find evidence that caffeine consumption is linked to changes in a brain ...

Effortless, enjoyable productivity is a state of consciousness prized and sought after by people in business, the arts, research, education and anyone else who wants to produce a stream of creative ...

That moment when you’re lying on your back, staring blankly at the ceiling while your mind wanders, isn’t wasted time or a sign of laziness. It’s actually one of the most powerful creativity boosters ...

A new study provides evidence that narcissistic and antisocial personality traits are linked to both shared and distinct patterns of brain connectivity. The research, published in the journal ...

As you read this, in the background—or perhaps the foreground—is the wandering mind. This basal activity may be best represented in current neuroscience by the Default Mode Network (DMN). The DMN is ...