A recent Berkeley study looked at how human experimenters affect brain activity in bats during spatial tasks. They found that many neurons in the bats' hippocampus responded differently based on which experimenter was present, both when bats were flying and resting. This suggests that animal brains are sensitive to human presence and identity, even when not directly interacting. The findings highlight the need to consider experimenter effects in future research.

A recent Hopkins study shows how memories can be used to trigger goal-directed behavior in mice. Researchers found that specific brain cells in the hippocampus remember shelter locations, and that when threatened, these cells guide mice to safety. Activating these cells artificially made mice go to the shelter, while blocking them disrupted escape. This reveals how the brain uses spatial memories to guide behavior in threatening situations.

A recent study has revealed that non-cognitive skills can be as crucial as cognitive ones for academic success. Researchers found that genetic predispositions for non-cognitive skills became increasingly predictive of academic achievement as children grew older. Environmental factors are also important in this discussion, as well as a feedback loop where children’s personalities and abilities shape their learning experiences.