The World, the Universe and Us First complete map of brain activity; Queen ant lays eggs of another species; The perils of scrolling while on the toilet
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Sep 5, 2025 A groundbreaking study reveals the first complete map of mouse brain activity, shedding light on how decision-making is distributed across brain regions. In a bizarre twist, queen ants are laying eggs that produce male offspring of a different species, showcasing unusual reproductive strategies. Plus, new research warns that scrolling on your phone while on the toilet could increase your risk of hemorrhoids by 50%. Embrace these fascinating insights into brain science, ant evolution, and modern health habits!
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Decisions Are Distributed Across The Brain
- Decision-related activity emerged as distributed communication across cortical and subcortical regions.
- Expectations and prior information were encoded broadly, even in early sensory areas.
Pre-Action Signal Buildup Mirrors Intuition
- Decision-related signals build before an action and accumulate to a threshold that triggers behaviour.
- The authors suggest this pre-action buildup may relate to intuition.
Perception As An Operational Consciousness Measure
- The study measures an intermediate form of consciousness: perception and reporting of stimuli.
- Asking whether mice see and indicate a stimulus gives an operational handle on conscious perception.