blog posts Study: Amygdala encodes 'cooties' and 'crushes' in the developing brain Apr 9, 2015 2:45 pm by Diana Yates, Life Sciences EditorResearch Share on Facebook Tweet Email Images Illinois scientists have found a signal in the brain that reflects young children’s aversion to members of the opposite sex (the “cooties” effect) and also their growing interest in opposite-sex peers as they enter puberty. Share on Facebook Tweet Email