Neurons in the eye turn light into electrical signals. How and where signals travel between these cells is thought to affect vision.

How does the brain track smells? Scientists use the olfactory system in insects to study how the brain responds to and processes different odors.

Scientists who study the brain do so for many reasons. For some, the opportunity to study the most complex living structure in the known universe is itself an exciting quest. So much is still unknown about brain function and development.

Researching the brain and mind requires a major financial investment on a global scale, and takes place in a wide variety of locations and organizations.

The human brain — a spongy, three-pound mass of tissue — is the most complex living structure in the known universe.

The brain uses some unconventional means to communicate.

The two halves of the nervous system work together in order for your body to properly communicate its sensations and needs.

Most medicines today were developed using trial-and-error techniques, which often do not reveal why a drug produces a particular effect. But the expanding knowledge gained from molecular biology methods makes safer and more effective drugs possible.

Providing a high-quality, three-dimensional image of organs and structures inside the body without X-rays or other radiation, MRIs are noninvasive and unsurpassed in the anatomical detail they show.

Sleep is crucial for concentration, memory, coordination, and even emotional health. Research holds promise for devising new treatments to allow millions of people to get a good night’s sleep.