Mental Floss

NEUROLOGY

Hypnic jerks can be a pain.

Up to 70 percent of people have experienced hypnic jerks, but they’re usually nothing to worry about.

Celine Dion performs in London's Hyde Park.

Celine Dion recently announced that she has been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome (SPS), a rare and progressive neurological disorder that only affects about one or two out of every 1 million people.

Russia's Alina Zagitova, gold medalist at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.

Figure skaters have the same neurological processes that cause dizziness in the rest of us. Here’s how they counteract them.

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If you want to squish and snuggle every floofy doggo you come across, you're not alone. You may be experiencing cute aggression.

The book didn't stand a chance.

If you’re trying to teach yourself how to fall asleep faster, reading before bed is a good habit to pick up—here’s why.

She's walking on sunshine.

Music preferences are subjective, but there are certain quantifiable metrics that help us identify the best upbeat songs.

These hikers's gut microbes are running the show.

Your gut microbes might be yearning for their outdoor counterparts—and telling your brain to go find them.

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If you've been separated from a loved one during quarantine, smell a comforting scent—like a sweater they've worn—to lift your mood and relieve stress.

Violinist Dagmar Turner played George Gershwin's "Summertime" and other selections during her brain surgery performance.

She flexed her fine motor skills with a mid-surgery violin performance that featured George Gershwin’s “Summertime” and more.

This is how Bernadette Sheridan, who has grapheme-color synesthesia, sees the name Aiden.

Among the many types of synesthesia is grapheme-color, where people often perceive letters in color blocks.

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There are different types of epileptic seizures that come with different epilepsy symptoms. Here are some more facts about this neurological condition.

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Scientists usually study male lab rats because they believe that females’ hormonal changes would skew results, but there’s more to the story.

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Feeling groggy after your nap? It's not just you.

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And scientists just discovered them.

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If you think you remember being a baby, your brain is deceiving you.

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The entertainer's much-imitated dance moves pose challenges for neurosurgeons.

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It starts in the brain.

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No, you're not the only one who has seen the face of Elvis in a potato chip.

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A small group of neurons seems to regulate feelings of fear and worry in mice.

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During one of his surgeries, a patient famously cried, “I smell burnt toast!”

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We thought we knew why we lose consciousness, but new research suggests we may have had it wrong.

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Quick, low-pressure art projects activate the brain’s reward center.

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"Even learning to read in your thirties profoundly transforms brain networks."

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Brain cells called dorsal raphe nucleus neurons help support voluntary wakefulness in mice.