Adam J. West

For those hurt by verbal abuse, especially from someone close, the old “sticks and stones” adage is little consolation. While negatively charged language may not “break bones,” it does leave indelible marks on young minds, damaging development and creating problems echoing throughout their lives. What is the impact of cruel or abusive language from an early age? And, what can help to prevent or overcome it?

On Monday, January 20, 2025, President Donald J. Trump, the 45^th and now 47^th President of the United States, began his second term after a four-year hiatus. President Trump has promised, from campaign trail to inauguration, to help lead the United States of America into a “Golden Age”—a time of greatness and prosperity unlike any other. But, can any government overseen by fallible human beings, with limited time, capacities, and vision, ever bring about such an age?

The field of neuroscience is a fascinating exploration of the human brain and nervous system. It examines how the brain is involved in everything we do—thinking, feeling, moving, learning, and remembering—as well as how it communicates with the body. Neuroscientists study brain development, adaptability, and what happens when things “go wrong,” such as through injury or disease. The brain, the human body’s “control center,” shapes our experiences and actions in physical terms. But is there more to existence than electric and chemical stimuli?