Issue | November 2018 | Intelligent Science

Features

Shawna Williams | Nov 1, 2018 | 10+ min read

Imaging, behavioral, and genetic data yield clues to what’s behind effective thinking.

Ashley Yeager | Nov 1, 2018 | 10 min read

As researchers unravel the molecular machinery that links exercise and cognition, working out is emerging as a promising neurotherapy.

When Should Service Dogs Be Admitted into the Lab?

Jef Akst | Nov 1, 2018 | 10+ min read

Becoming a neuroscientist with a service dog by your side presents numerous challenges. Joey Ramp, who went back to college to study her own post-traumatic stress disorder, is learning this the hard way.

Contributors

Meet some of the people featured in the November 2018 issue of The Scientist.

Editorial

Smarts and Hearts

IQ can’t capture the breadth, depth, or variety of human intelligence.

Speaking of Science

Ten-Minute Sabbatical

Take a break from the bench to puzzle and peruse.

Notebook

Genetic Sequencing Uncovers New Options for Multiple Myeloma Patients

A small pilot study suggests the approach can identify effective treatments already approved for other cancers.

Noninvasive Brain Stimulation Modulates Memory Networks

Studies have demonstrated that magnetic and electrical currents can enhance memory in human subjects, but the technology is not yet ready for prime time.

After a Lobectomy, a Boy Still Recognizes Words and Faces

A longitudinal study tracking the progress of an epilepsy patient after surgery shows the brain’s ability to reorganize itself to function nearly normally.

Dialogue Improves Children’s Learning Abilities

Regardless of parental income and education, children who engage in more two-way conversation with their parents learn better.

Freeze Frame

Caught on Camera

Selected Images of the Day from the-scientist.com

Modus Operandi

Retina Recordings Reinvented

Ultraflexible mesh electrodes monitor the intact, functioning eyes of awake animals.

The Literature

Faulty Cell Transport System Implicated in Alzheimer’s Disease

Tau proteins disrupt the movement of molecules into and out of neuronal cells’ nuclei.

Winter Brain Blues

Researchers identify neurological pathways through which light affects mood and learning in mice.

Defeating Fear Depends on Amygdala Suppression

Researchers determine the neurological mechanics underpinning a technique to extinguish fearful memories using goal-directed eye movements.

Profile

Genetic Neurologist: A Profile of Huda Zoghbi

Turning to molecular genetics, the Baylor pediatric neurologist and geneticist works to discover the biological basis for the rare neurological diseases she sees in her patients.

Scientist to Watch

Robb Rutledge Pinpoints the Factors That Make Us Happy—Or Not

The University College London researcher is a pioneer in the use of smartphone apps for psychology research.

Lab Tools

Using Temperature-Sensitive Channels to Study Neural Circuitry

Meet the researchers building a thermogenetic toolbox.

Careers

Examining Grad Student Mental Health

Some academic institutions are beginning to complement the work of student organizations in addressing mental health problems in graduate school.

Reading Frames

Vaccines Did Not Cause My Daughter’s Autism

In a new book, a vaccine researcher describes the scientific facts and personal anecdotes behind his family’s experience with autism and its comorbid disabilities.