Holly Barker

Holly Barker

Live Science Contributor

Holly Barker is a freelance science journalist based in the U.K. She holds a PhD in clinical neuroscience from King's College London and a BSc degree in biochemistry from the University of Manchester. She has previously written for Spectrum News, The Scientist and Discover.

Articles by: Holly Barker

photo shows a child's feet and legs as he stands on a scale. Another pair of feet (presumably his mother's) can be seen standing beside him in professional looking flats, while a doctor wearing a white coat and holding a tablet can be seen blurred in the foreground

How does the brain regulate body weight?

By Holly Barker published

An almond-shaped structure deep in the brain controls people's feelings of hunger and fullness in an attempt to keep them at a constant body weight. In obesity, its signaling can be disrupted.

illustration shows a synapse (gap between two nerve cells) where chemical messengers from one cross over to the other

How do brain cells send messages?

By Holly Barker published

Brain cells, or neurons, have multiple means of communication, and their chatter may be influenced by the cells around them, research suggests.