Numerous companies sell neurofeedback devices directly to consumers. The idea is that by measuring a person’s brain activity and showing it to them in real time, the individual can learn to self-regulate their brainwaves and, in turn, change their behavior. Proponents of neurofeedback say it can improve attention, mood, sleeping habits, meditation, and even athletic performance. Yet, there are still outstanding questions about the effectiveness of neurofeedback.

Read more at IEEE Pulse: Why Consumer Neurofeedback Devices Are More Than Hype for Brain Health.

Get to know a most unusual primate: the golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana). These colorful, social, and tough monkeys live in the mountains of central and southwestern China - and it’s more than just their appearance that makes them unique.

Elephants indicate a playful mood with specific trunk positions and head movements. Now, a new study in African elephants demonstrates rapid motor mimicry of these play signals — a behavioral phenomenon shared with other mammals and linked to empathic abilities.

Read more at my Animal Minds blog: Play Encourages Cooperation and Tolerance in Elephants.

Relying on lab-based studies of captive-bred fish may lead us to underestimate their intelligence. Now, researchers have developed a way to run cognitive tests of fish in the animals' natural environments. The results may reveal that fish are smarter than previously assumed.

Read more at my Animal Minds blog: Fish Are Smarter Than You Think.

It’s not often that an octopus is described as cute or whimsical. But dumbo octopuses have a certain squishy charm about them. With their large eyes and prominent, ear-like fins, they resemble the floppy-eared Disney elephant. But there is more to these elusive octopuses than just their adorable appearance.