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
What Causes Epilepsy in Children?
Pinpointing the causes of seizures in children may provide the key to treating them in the future.
  • BrainFacts/SfN
Bullying and the Brain
Bullying is more than a painful experience — it can have lasting repercussions on the developing brains of young people.
  • BrainFacts/SfN
Recovering From Spinal Cord Injuries
Advances in spinal cord injury research offer hope for recovery.
  • 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.
  • BrainFacts/SfN
The Molecules That Maintain the Brain
A family of proteins determines which nerve cells thrive or die.
  • BrainFacts/SfN
The Cocktail Party Problem
Despite the swanky name, the cocktail party problem has nothing to do with martinis. It’s a term scientists use to refer to the brain’s ability to tune in to a single voice.
  • BrainFacts/SfN
Erich Jarvis: Connecting Birdsong to Human Speech
A neuroscientist emphasizes the importance of a diverse workforce to tackle big questions about the mechanisms and evolution of spoken language.
  • BrainFacts/SfN
Ben Barres: Glial Detective
One neuroscientist describes his commitment to improving the lives of patients and increasing opportunities for women in science.
  • BrainFacts/SfN
A Dose of Music for Pain Relief
A growing understanding of how music alters the experience of pain has led to the incorporation of musical therapy into pain rehabilitation programs.
  • BrainFacts/SfN
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