That pollution does not stop in the lungs, but directly attacks the brain, has ceased to be a hypothesis to become a documented certainty. In Barcelona, the ALFA study (Alzheimer and Families), promoted by the Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC) of the Pasqual Maragall Foundation, has been the key thermometer to confirm what many investigations already suggested. Through neuroimaging of healthy people, it has been revealed that continuous exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particles –coming mainly from road traffic and the wear of brakes and tires– causes a thinning of the cerebral cortex in the same areas where Alzheimer's begins to wreak havoc. The damage, therefore, settles in silently long before the first symptoms appear.

At every moment, our brain receives a flood of stimuli. Images, sounds, bodily sensations, emotions, and fleeting thoughts constantly invade our minds. Most disappear without a trace, while others are etched with surprising persistence, to the point of accompanying us throughout our lives. Why do we remember an apparently trivial conversation with such clarity, and yet forget facts that may seem important? of accompanying us throughout our lives. Why do we remember an apparently trivial conversation with such clarity, and yet forget facts that may seem important?This question, which has been part of psychology for decades, has entered a new phase thanks to recent work showing that memory is not a passive storage process, but an active and dynamic decision regulated in time, which is inscribed in the molecular biology of specific brain circuits. A study published in Natureby researchers from The Rockefeller University and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, led by neuroscientist Priya Rajasethupathy, shows that the brain uses internal “timers” to decide what is worth remembering, a mechanism that favors memory and contributes to building our mental identity.Traditionally, research on memory has focused on the hippocampus, a structure of the limbic system known to be key for the formation of episodic memories. These are memories of specific personal experiences, situated in a particular time and place, and include the emotional context in which they were generated. It has also long been known that new experiences activate specific sets of neurons and that, if the neuronal connections formed are sufficiently reinforced, the memory is consolidated and transferred to the cerebral cortex, where it is stored long-term. This model, however, does not explain why apparently very similar experiences can have such different fates in memory.

“Happiness” is an intense and immediate state of joy, pleasure, or euphoria, which makes us “feel good”. That is why, when we speak colloquially, we often use the terms happiness and well-being as if they were synonyms. But cerebrally, these concepts are different and have diverse implications for our health and quality of life. Understanding the distinction between happiness and well-being is not only interesting from an academic point of view, but it is also essential for promoting sustainable emotional balance and lasting mental health.

No trace remains of the auditorium seating, and only the concrete skeleton of the stands is left, but the space of the former Mundet Homes theater is still impressive. After years of abandonment and highly restricted access, the building, designed by Manuel Baldrich and owned by the Barcelona Provincial Council, opened its doors this Monday to present the project that will transform the space forever: the Barcelona Center for Applied Neurosciences (BCAN), the first research center for neuroscience applied to health in Catalonia. The project, promoted by the University of Barcelona (UB), the Catalan Government, and the Provincial Council, will demolish the theater—which has been out of use since 1994—and transform this corner of the Collserola foothills into a space "of absolute scientific importance" where high-level academic and research activity will take place. The parish priest of the University of Barcelona, ​​recalling his first visit to this theater as a young professor, said it was a "very special" day for the Mundet campus because a solution had finally been found for a space that had been abandoned for decades. The renovation work will cost approximately 12 million euros, half of which will be provided by the Barcelona Provincial Council and the other half by the Catalan Government through European funds. To receive this EU funding, the work—which will begin in July 2027—must be completed before the end of 2028. The new research center is expected to be fully operational between 2029 and 2030. Guardia recalled that, while the space had been abandoned, several proposals had been considered, such as converting the old theater on the Mundet Campus into a large convention, symposium, and congress center, or constructing structures to house scientific research. She also explained that the new project, which aims to make Catalonia an international leader in neuroscience applied to health, stems from the impetus the university received from the frustration of not winning the Neurotech Spain project. The Minister of Universities and Research, Núria Montserrat, also referred to the history of the site, which in the past had also been an orphanage with the theater as its main recreational area. "A space that once provided care will now do so through research," she noted. Like the other speakers before her, the President of the Barcelona Provincial Council, Lluïsa Moret, also celebrated the collaboration between different institutions that made the project possible.

A piano, a brain monitoring device, and a large screen. With these three objects, the Frederic Mompou Hall of the General Society of Authors and Publishers (SGAE) was transformed this Tuesday into a live neuroscience laboratory to understand what happens in a musician's brain while playing. Composer and pianist Rafael Vargas presented a work created using a 40 Hz frequency, also known as gamma frequency—related to processes such as attention, memory, and neuronal synchronization—demonstrating the relationship between music and neuroscience. "Music lives in all areas of the brain," explains Vargas, who also points out its importance in other aspects of daily life, such as education and health. The event, which represents the first experience in Spain with a musical composition of this kind, stems from the Neuromusic, Education, and Health (NES) project, part of the NUS Agency's Master's program in Neuromusic at Nebrija University. The research initiative studies how sound and rhythm can modulate brain activity and, more specifically, how the 40 Hz frequency can aid in brain plasticity and the prevention of diseases like Alzheimer's. Vargas wore a brain-monitoring headset that recorded his brainwaves while he played the piano. These waves, which determine what is happening in the pianist's brain, were projected onto a large screen for the audience to view. After the performance, a group of experts, including neurologists, engineers, and psychologists, will analyze these images to understand the educational and therapeutic applications of sound stimulation and, therefore, to demonstrate how music can be a tool for learning and mental development. Connecting music, education, and health

In this regard, Vargas, who is also co-director of the neuromusic master's program at NUS Agency, explains that the project aims to connect three areas: music—as the primary stimulus—with education and health. "Unlike music therapy, this project seeks to demonstrate that playing the piano activates healthy areas of the brain that help people with learning difficulties and optimize their ability to make decisions more quickly, including in the emotional sphere," the composer points out. He also emphasizes its importance in the development of diseases like Alzheimer's. "In neurodegenerative problems, it can be crucial because music can reach these areas and improve brain connectivity," the pianist highlights, adding that one of the reasons for investigating this with a piano is that it is the instrument that works with the most areas of the brain simultaneously and, therefore, activates a range of functions. "That means that someone who studies music, for example, can perform better in school, but also in life in general," concludes Vargas, who points out that these are two parallel areas.

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We live in a time when daily life seems defined by speed, self-imposed pressure, and the constant feeling of not being able to do everything. It seems increasingly difficult to stop and listen to our bodies and emotions. This is the topic of Dr. Noelia Samartin Veiga, a neuroscientist and clinical psychologist, and author of the book... You have come to live (Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial, 2026).

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The effect of hormones on brain function is a controversial topic because it lends itself to abuse by those seeking scientific confirmation of their biases. We have often heard that women's brains are not as good as men's in processes requiring mathematical skills, for example. Sexist statements of this kind are easy oversimplifications of an extremely complex and interesting phenomenon, which slow down research in this field. Because what is evident is that all the body's tissues are subject to the strong biological influence of these powerful molecules called hormones. If there are significant differences in the physiology of the liver, heart, or immune system between men and women, to cite a few well-studied examples, it would be very strange if the brain were the only organ that escaped their influence. A few years ago, a study was conducted that demonstrated that in humans, the male brain cannot be macroscopically distinguished from the female brain. It stirred up quite a controversy because it seemed to disprove the importance of hormones. The thing is, functional differences aren't necessarily visible to the naked eye.

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According to theMonthly Statistical Report of the DGAIAAccording to a report from the Catalan Agency for Prevention and Protection of Children and Adolescents (DGPPIA) in February 2025, 1.4% of Catalan children and adolescents have experienced or are still experiencing situations of abuse, neglect, or family abandonment. The percentage is likely higher, as this figure is based only on reported cases. Globally, according to UNICEF According to the WHO, 6 out of 10 children under the age of 5 experience some form of physical, emotional, or sexual violence. In total, it is estimated that nearly 1 billion children may have been exposed to this violence in the past year—figures that are absolutely chilling.

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Imagine a friend telling you about their weekend, or perhaps you're telling someone else about it, or even reminiscing about it yourself. You could describe the sensory details you experienced, like the cool breeze, the colors of the sunset, or the aroma of coffee; or you could focus more on the thoughts and emotions the experience evoked, such as feeling free, recalling old dreams you'd half-forgotten, or noticing a shift within you. While both accounts describe the same objective facts, the way you present them completely affects how you remember them later.

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Speaking more than one language is associated with a lower risk of accelerated aging because it protects brain and physical health, slows the biological processes of aging, and strengthens resilience throughout life. Neuroscience has been studying the effects of multilingualism on the brain for years: we already knew that protects against Alzheimer's, that Bilingualism sharpens the mind and what does it do? the fastest and most efficient peopleA new study now shows that people who speak only one language have twice the risk (2.11 times) of accelerated aging, while those who live in a multilingual environment and regularly speak at least one additional language are 2.17 times less likely to experience this decline.

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The University of Barcelona (UB) has doubled the arrival of researchers from the United States in the 2024-2025 academic year. According to Rector Joan Guardia, 14 researchers joined last year, compared to seven in the previous two. He admitted that "quite a few applications" have been received to work at the center, but some were not "viable"; a situation that Guardia linked to the progressive exodus ofAmerican researchers harmed by Donald Trump's policies, which withdraws funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and censors lines of research related to gender perspectives and the climate crisis, among other topics.

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Every September, students of all ages, from pre-school through post-compulsory education, reconnect with classmates, routines, and books. It is a key moment for mental, emotional, and social development. Returning to school goes far beyond learning new concepts: it is a cognitive and emotional "reboot" that nourishes the brain and reinforces identity. Recent research, led by neuropsychologists Bruce McCandliss and Jason Yeatman of Stanford University (USA), and published in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, underlines this relevance from a neurophysiological perspective.

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Emilia Redolar, a neuroscientist and professor of health sciences at the UOC, explains that the optimal nap should last 20 minutes, although we can extend it to an hour and a half without it being harmful. It's after 90 minutes that a nap could have negative effects, as it can generate mental overload and negatively impact sleep the following night.

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Sometimes we find ourselves trapped in habits and behaviors that we think we can't change and, precisely because of that, we think we'll never get what we want. "I'm not good at languages"; "I won't be able to beat that sports record"; "I don't have the patience to play any instrument," and other phrases of the sort are just some of the negative beliefs that can become entrenched within us and make us believe they are true.

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The neurobiologist and International Science Teaching Foundation director, Héctor Ruiz Martín, has written several books to bring the evidence on learning and educational practices closer together.

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The brain is the organ of thought. It is where all mental capacities originate and where they are managed, including learning, with all the cognitive processes associated with it. 130 years ago, in a laboratory located in Carrer de Carme in Barcelona, the doctor and researcher Santiago Ramon y Cajal first drew the neurons of the brain and the connections they make between them. Much progress has been made since then, with the use of non-invasive techniques that allow us to see the activity of different areas of the brain while we are performing any action. For example, we can discern which brain areas associated with motivation and pleasure are activated more intensely when we are doing something that interests us than when we are doing it out of obligation. Or when we do it individually or as part of a collaborative process.

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