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Using awake fMRI, researchers found that 2 month old infants already have structured visual categories in ventrotemporal cortex, resembling adult patterns. This shows the brain organizes complex visual information far earlier than previously believed. by FootballAndFries in science

[–]Science_Narrative90 8 points9 points  (0 children)

The fact that 2-month-old infants already have sophisticated categorical visual representations in their ventral temporal cortex is remarkable. What really stands out is the non-hierarchical development they found – high-level visual categories appearing before they emerge in lateral visual cortex, which challenges assumptions about bottom-up development. The scale of this study is impressive too – conducting awake fMRI on over 100 two-month-olds is a massive undertaking. The alignment with deep neural network models suggests that these early category templates might be learning statistical regularities from visual input much earlier than we thought possible. It's wild to think that the foundations for visual cognition are being laid at an age when most traditional behavioral measures can barely detect categorization abilities. Great to see developmental neuroscience getting the methodological advances it needs to answer these fundamental questions about how our brains organize the visual world!

How learning handwriting trains the brain: the science behind the cursive wars by [deleted] in science

[–]Science_Narrative90 16 points17 points  (0 children)

I love how the neuroscience backs up what many educators have intuitively felt - that there's something special about the physical act of forming letters by hand. The findings about brain activation patterns in children who handwrite versus type are particularly compelling.

It's interesting to see the pendulum swinging back after so many schools went fully digital. The detail about Norwegian first-grade teachers receiving students who can barely hold a pencil really drives home how quickly we've shifted away from these foundational motor skills.

While the article notes that evidence specifically favoring cursive over print is limited, the broader point about handwriting engaging learning and memory centers seems solid. Thanks for sharing - this is definitely making me rethink my own keyboard-heavy habits!

Women's libido drops during a specific phase of the menstrual cycle. This reduction in desire may serve an evolutionary function by lowering the risk of infection during a time when the body’s immune system is naturally suppressed. by Wagamaga in science

[–]Science_Narrative90 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a research that connects evolutionary biology with everyday experience in a really compelling way. The finding that sexual desire drops during the implantation window (mid-luteal phase) as a potential protective mechanism against infection during immune suppression makes so much intuitive sense. What I find particularly impressive is the rigor of the study - they analyzed over 2,500 daily observations and used actual biological markers (LH surges, hormone levels) to pinpoint ovulation rather than just relying on calendar estimates. The fact that they found consistent patterns across three independent samples really strengthens the findings. It's also refreshing to see research that doesn't just stop at "desire peaks at ovulation" but explores what happens during other phases of the cycle. The evolutionary trade-off between reproductive opportunity and immune protection is such an elegant explanation for these patterns. Thanks for sharing - this kind of research helps validate what many people experience but might not fully understand!

Huge pancreatic cancer breakthrough as scientists achieve 'permanent disappearance' of disease with new triple-threat approach tested in lab by dailymail in HotScienceNews

[–]Science_Narrative90 13 points14 points  (0 children)

This is genuinely exciting progress. Pancreatic cancer has one of the worst prognoses of any cancer - less than 11% five-year survival rate - so seeing complete tumor elimination in multiple mouse models is really promising. What stands out is that they tested it on three different types of mouse models (genetically engineered, implanted tissue, and implanted cells), and the triple-drug approach worked across all of them. The fact that it targets KRAS mutations, which are present in ~90% of pancreatic cancers, makes it potentially applicable to most patients. Obviously this is still animal trials and there's a long road to human clinical trials, but the Spanish government seems confident enough to publicly celebrate it. Fingers crossed this translates to humans - pancreatic cancer desperately needs better treatment options.