Neuroscience

A groundbreaking study published in the peer-reviewed journal Science Advances has revealed that everything we perceive visually is not in real time, but actually an average of what we saw up to 15 seconds ago—a revelation that could fundamentally reshape our understanding of human perception and consciousness. This research, led by teams from the University of Aberdeen and University of California, Berkeley, suggests our brains constantly merge recent visual history to present us with a stable, coherent world—essentially tricking us into viewing a smooth, illusionary reality (Popular Mechanics; Science.org; UNILAD).

A landmark study in Science Advances reveals that our visual perception is not in real time; instead, the brain blends recent images over roughly the last 15 seconds to create a stable view of the world. This finding shows how the mind smooths rapid changes to maintain coherence, a process that shapes everyday life from driving to learning.

For Thai readers, the implications are immediate. Visual processing affects safety on crowded roads, athletic performance, and the way information is presented in classrooms and on screens. In a society saturated with smartphones, understanding this lag helps people navigate a fast-moving environment more effectively and with greater awareness of perceptual limits.

A newly published international study has confirmed what many Thais may intuitively sense—feeling good can actually help us remember more, even when the subject matter itself is boring or meaningless. In ground-breaking research led by scientists from Hangzhou Normal University and Nanjing Normal University, the team demonstrated that positive emotions during learning measurably enhance our ability to recall information, offering potential life-changing applications for students, teachers, and anyone aiming to boost brain power (Neuroscience News; MedicalXpress; News-Medical).

A new wave of so-called ‘neurohacking’ camps has sparked international curiosity and debate, following the latest Financial Times feature on a retreat in Washington state that claims to deliver “worldly bliss” and decades’ worth of enlightenment in just five days. While the promise of rapid cognitive transformation is enticing, the trend is raising pressing questions about the science, safety, and cultural implications—especially for health-conscious Thai readers seeking to optimize mind and spirit.

A wave of neurohacking retreats has drawn global interest after a Financial Times feature described a Washington state camp promising “worldly bliss” and decades of insight in just five days. For health-minded readers in Thailand, the lure of rapid cognitive and emotional shifts is strong, but science, safety, and cultural implications demand careful scrutiny.

These programs aim to compress extensive self-development into a short period. They blend neuroscience, meditation, psychology, and sometimes controversial biohacking practices. Thailand’s thriving wellness tourism scene, increasingly popular across Asia, is tapping into cognitive optimization and mindful living. Thai travelers often seek experiences that combine mental clarity with cultural and spiritual depth, making neurohacking a topic of practical relevance here.

A recent international study confirms a simple insight many Thai educators have long sensed: feeling good can improve memory, even with material that is dry or dull. Led by researchers from Hangzhou Normal University and Nanjing Normal University, the study shows that positive emotions during learning enhance recall later on. This could influence teaching strategies for students, teachers, and lifelong learners in Thailand.

The research, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, tracked brain activity in 44 participants as they viewed neutral squiggles. Each squiggle was paired with images designed to evoke positive, negative, or neutral emotions. When memory was tested a day later, only the squiggles linked to positive emotions were reliably remembered. Squiggles associated with neutral or negative feelings were largely forgotten.

Time often seems to sprint as we age, a feeling echoed by Thai families across the country. New research summarized in the European Review sheds light on why our brains mark time differently as we grow older and offers practical steps to savor daily life, tailored for Thai readers.

The core idea is simple: time perception shifts with life stages. Children experience many firsts—new classrooms, skills, and activities—that flood the brain with distinct memories. Adults tend to follow routines, creating fewer novel moments. When daily life becomes predictable, days and months blur, and time feels faster.

For many Thais, it’s a familiar refrain heard from elders: “Each year passes faster than the last.” This shared experience, long chalked up to nostalgia or busy lives, now has new scientific backing. Recent research published in the journal European Review and summarized in an Earth.com article explains why our perception of time truly seems to speed up with age, lending insight into both the mechanics of the brain and possible ways for everyone, young or old, to reclaim a sense of fuller, richer days (Earth.com).

The prospect of hackers infiltrating the human brain, once a fixture of science fiction, is now edging closer to reality as advances in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology present both exciting possibilities and alarming vulnerabilities, a new wave of international neuroscience research has revealed. While Thai hospitals and technology agencies are beginning to experiment with neurotech applications for medical treatments and education, experts are sounding urgent warnings about the ethical and security risks that could soon face Thai citizens and institutions alike if safeguards are not put in place.

A recent study suggests that mild, non-invasive brain stimulation may help math learning in university students. The technique, transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS), targeted different brain regions to test effects on calculation and drill-based recall. Results showed that stimulating the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) improved calculation tasks, while stimulation of the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) did not enhance drill-based remembering. The research involved 72 university students and indicates potential support for learners who struggle with mathematics, but experts caution that more evidence is needed before classroom use.

A groundbreaking study has found that applying mild electrical currents to the human brain—using a non-invasive method called transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS)—can significantly improve mathematics learning in university students. The research, conducted by a team at the University of Oxford and reported by Live Science, hints at the potential of this technique for at-home use in the future, though experts caution that more evidence is needed before such tools become widespread or mainstream (Live Science).

A growing trend promising rapid mood boosts, sharpened focus, and improved life satisfaction through short neurohacking retreats is gaining attention in Thailand and across Asia. Yet experts urge caution about safety, ethics, and true effectiveness. The short camps blend meditation, brain training, digital detoxes, and access to cognitive enhancers or stimulation devices, but whether a week can yield lasting cognitive or spiritual benefits remains debated.

Neurohacking sits within a broader field of biohacking. It ranges from traditional Southeast Asian herbal practices to modern non-invasive brain stimulation, cognitive exercises, and digital tools. The central question: can a few days of practice yield meaningful, lasting gains?

A rapid rise in brain-computer interface technology is moving from research labs into clinics and classrooms. In Thailand, hospitals and tech firms are exploring neurotech for rehabilitation and learning. Experts warn that privacy and security safeguards must evolve in tandem to protect patients and citizens.

BCIs connect the brain to computers through implants or wearable sensors. They translate neural signals into actions, enabling advanced prosthetics, communication for people with paralysis, and immersive training or gaming. Across Asia, pilot programs signal a shift from experimentation to real-world use.

In recent years, neurohacking camps have promised participants transformative breakthroughs—offering “worldly bliss in five days” by employing a blend of meditation, brain training, nootropics, and high-tech interventions designed to “hack” the brain for better focus, emotional balance, and life satisfaction. While the concept, explored in the recent Financial Times feature “Inside the ‘neurohacking’ camp that promises worldly bliss in five days”, has captured global attention, it also raises profound questions about the effectiveness, ethics, and safety of such programs, especially as they attract participants from across Asia, including an increasing number of Thais curious about self-optimization.

A groundbreaking new study has captured international attention, suggesting that what humans perceive in the present moment is actually a snapshot from up to 15 seconds in the past. This fascinating finding challenges longstanding assumptions about how the brain processes visual information and could have far-reaching implications for cognitive science, education, and even the design of safety protocols in everyday life (Times of India).

The research, conducted by a team of neuroscientists and recently highlighted in the international press, explores the mechanics of the brain’s ‘visual buffer’—a mental process where the brain accumulates and merges visual stimuli over a period of time. According to the study, rather than updating our internal picture of the world from instant to instant, our brains synthesize the last several seconds of visual inputs to create a stable, coherent scene. As a result, our conscious perception lags behind real-time events by approximately 15 seconds.

A groundbreaking study has revealed that scents can fundamentally alter decision-making in mammals by forging indirect associations in the brain—findings that may pave the way for innovative treatments for mental health conditions in humans. The new research, conducted by a multidisciplinary team led by a doctoral student and supervised by a leading neuroscientist, used behavioral experiments in mice to explore how the brain’s response to smells influences future choices—offering important insights for both science and society.

A recent study reveals that odors can subtly shape decision-making by forming indirect brain connections. For Thai audiences, the findings illuminate potential future therapies for mental health conditions while underscoring the practical value of everyday scents.

In the research, mice learned to associate a banana scent with a pleasant taste and an almond scent with a salty taste. Later, the banana scent was paired with an unpleasant event. The mice began avoiding the sweet taste whenever the banana odor appeared, even though the taste itself did not change. This demonstrates that decisions can be guided by indirect connections between sensory cues. The lead investigator explains that the brain creates an indirect link between the sweet taste and the aversive experience through its association with a specific smell.

A new study reveals that what we perceive as the present may lag real-time events by up to 15 seconds. This challenges traditional views of vision and has implications for education, safety, and cognitive science. Neuroscience researchers describe the brain’s visual buffer as merging recent stimuli into a stable image, creating a natural lag between events and conscious experience. The mind effectively uses a rolling average of input to maintain continuity, but this comes at the cost of precise timing.

A groundbreaking new study has revealed the essential role of an immune molecule, interleukin 34 (IL34), in fine-tuning brain development—a discovery that could reshape understanding of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Conducted by researchers at Duke University and published in the journal Immunity on July 2, 2025, the study finds that IL34 acts as a key messenger, directing the brain’s own immune cells, known as microglia, on when and how to “prune” connections between neurons in early life. This process of synaptic pruning is fundamental, as it creates stronger, more efficient neural pathways underlying emotion, decision-making, and learning abilities (Duke University Medical School).

A new study identifies interleukin-34 (IL-34) as a critical cue that guides early brain development by directing microglia, the brain’s immune cells, on when to prune synapses. Proper IL-34 timing helps build resilient neural networks and supports later emotional health, learning, and cognition. Researchers describe IL-34 as a signal that tells microglia when to start and stop pruning during infancy.

Traditionally, microglia were seen mainly as defenders against infection. The findings now show they actively shape brain architecture as well. Supported by national health research funding and dementia-focused philanthropic support, the work demonstrates that normal IL-34 signaling enables microglia to engage at the right moments. When IL-34 functions correctly, pruning proceeds in a balanced, developmentally appropriate way.

A new study from Karolinska Institute in Stockholm provides fresh evidence that the adult brain can generate new neurons, even in old age. Published in Science, the findings challenge the belief that brain growth ends in childhood and open doors to potential treatments for neurological and mental health conditions. For Thai readers, the research highlights implications for dementia, stroke recovery, and lifelong learning in an aging society.

Researchers examined brain tissue from 46 individuals aged from infancy to 78 years, using advanced single-cell genomics. They focused on the hippocampus, a region essential for memory and learning, and found neural progenitor cells actively dividing in adulthood alongside mature neurons. The results align with animal studies that have long shown adult stem cells in the brain.

A groundbreaking study from Sweden has provided compelling evidence that the adult human brain continues to generate new neurons well into old age, debunking the long-standing belief that brain cell growth halts after childhood. This discovery, published in the journal Science and highlighted in a recent Gizmodo report, offers new hope for future treatments of neurological and psychological disorders, and reshapes our understanding of the brain’s lifelong potential.

For decades, it was widely believed—taught both in schools and medical textbooks—that the human brain reached its full complement of neurons in early life, and that no new neurons were formed past childhood. While previous studies hinted at ongoing brain cell growth, scientific opinion remained split, with some researchers finding scant evidence for adult neurogenesis and others reporting clear signs. The confusion was particularly acute when it came to humans, since much of the existing evidence came from studies in animals such as mice or pigs.

New research published in eNeuro reveals how the human brain tracks and navigates rapid emotional transitions, using music to illuminate the shifting neural landscapes behind our changing moods. This discovery, which highlights the powerful influence of previous emotional states on subsequent emotional experiences, holds promise for informing future therapies for mood disorders such as depression—conditions characterized by difficulty in shifting out of negative emotional states.

In a world where music soundtracks everything from daily commutes to spiritual rituals, the news that our brains process emotional music based on recent experiences is both intuitively familiar and scientifically groundbreaking. Thai readers, whose relationship with music spans mor lam and luk thung to Western pop, may find these findings particularly resonant, linking the local appreciation of musical storytelling with new understandings of mental health.

A new study reveals how the brain tracks emotional shifts through music, offering insights into mood regulation and potential therapies for mood disorders such as depression. The research shows that prior emotions influence how we experience upcoming feelings, highlighting opportunities to tailor interventions that ease negative states.

For Thai readers, music connects tradition with contemporary well-being. From mor lam and luk thung to international pop, music’s storytelling power mirrors everyday life and community healing, now supported by neuroscience.