Mary Bates

Science Writer

Mary is a freelance science writer interested in the brains and behavior of humans and other animals. For her graduate degree in psychology, she studied the echolocation abilities of big brown bats. She has written for Psychology Today, Scientific American's Mind Matters blog, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and other print and online publications.

Articles by Mary Bates

Brain-Machine Interfaces: Converting Thoughts Into Action

Far from science fiction, brain-machine interfaces present a glimpse of the future of technologies powered by thought.

BrainFacts/SfN

Gambling Addiction and the Brain

For most people, gambling is a recreational activity. But for a significant minority, it progresses to a serious problem.

BrainFacts/SfN

Mapping the Way Forward for Brain Research

To fully appreciate brain function, scientists are studying what’s going on in various brain regions, and how these regions connect and communicate.

BrainFacts/SfN

The Blood-Brain Barrier

Identifying new ways to bypass the brain's elaborate security system may one day lead to better outcomes for patients with brain tumors or other neurological disorders.