About Neuroscience
- Scientists have only begun to understand the wonders of the nervous system, using increasingly sophisticated tools and techniques.
Brain Basics
- Learn the basics of how the brain’s 100 billion nerve cells are born, grow, connect, and function.
Sensing, Thinking & Behaving
- How do cell circuits enable us to read and speak? How and why do we form relationships? How do we think, remember, or despair?
Diseases & Disorders
- Discover causes of disorders of the brain and body, as well as the science enabling prevention or treatment.
Across the Lifespan
- From birth through old age, brain cells and the connections between them change in response to the environment.
In Society
- The study of the brain and nervous system applies to countless facets of daily life, from decisions about money and education, to the way we view ourselves and others.
- - In Society

Ask an Expert

Introduction

Have a question about the brain? Send it to us. Each month, a question is selected and a scientist with relevant expertise responds, with answers posted here.

Past Questions and Answers

What are hallucinations?

Source: Society for Neuroscience

Hallucinations emerge when inner thoughts and expectations overpower sensory experience.

How does marijuana affect brain function?

Source: Society for Neuroscience

The main active ingredient in marijuana alters the normal communication between cells and circuits in the brain.

How does the brain use food as energy?

Source: Society for Neuroscience

Just like other cells in the body, brain cells use a form of sugar called glucose to fuel their activities. This energy comes from the foods we consume daily, and is regularly delivered to brain cells through the blood.

Are you born with all your brain cells, or do you grow new ones?

Source: Society for Neuroscience

We are born with most of the cells that make up our nervous system. However, some parts of the brain add new cells during infancy, and one adds cells throughout life.

How does the brain handle long-term stress?

Source: Society for Neuroscience

People differ enormously as to what they consider to be stressful and how they respond to it. In general, short periods of moderate stress can actually be a good thing for the brain.

When are children’s brains viewed as “adult brains”?

Source: Society for Neuroscience

There is no magical age at which brain development suddenly stops. The brain is constantly changing, even in adulthood and old age.

See all BrainFacts.org articles about Ask an Expert »

SfN welcomes all your brain-related questions.

Every month, we choose one reader question and get an answer from a top neuroscientist. Always been curious about something?

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Topics

Animal research. Are mice the best tool to study addiction?

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Ask an Expert

Introduction

Past Questions and Answers

What are hallucinations?

How does marijuana affect brain function?

How does the brain use food as energy?

Are you born with all your brain cells, or do you grow new ones?

How does the brain handle long-term stress?

When are children’s brains viewed as “adult brains”?

SfN welcomes all your brain-related questions.

Related

Topics

BrainFacts.org

Stay Connected

BrainFacts.org

Information For:

A PUBLIC INFORMATIONINITIATIVE OF:

Introduction

Past Questions and Answers

SfN welcomes all your brain-related questions.

Related

Topics

Stay Connected

Questions & Feedback

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INITIATIVE OF: