Brain And Consciousness Research Archives Page 14

Research Suggests Experience, Not Genetics, Affects Musicians' Brain Responses (2/3/2008)

By looking at brains listening to Bach, Elizabeth Margulis, a music cognition researcher, has found evidence to support one side in a long-running debate among musicians. Practice, training and experience, it appears, are what develop a musician's ear, not genetic predisposition. ...> Full Article

Depressed Mice Reveal Critical Chemical Pathway for Treatment (2/3/2008)

Blocking production of a single enzyme alleviates symptoms of depression and anxiety in mice that have low serotonin levels, Duke University Medical Center researchers have found. ...> Full Article

Research Suggests Why Scratching is So Relieving (2/2/2008)

In the first study to use imaging technology to see what goes on in the brain when we scratch, researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center have uncovered new clues about why scratching may be so relieving - and why it can be hard to stop. The work is reported online in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology and will appear in a future print issue. ...> Full Article

Newborn brain cells modulate learning and memory (2/1/2008)

Boosted by physical and mental exercise, neural stem cells continue to sprout new neurons throughout life, but the exact function of these newcomers has been the topic of much debate. Removing a genetic master switch that maintains neural stem cells in their proliferative state finally gave researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies some definitive answers. ...> Full Article

Researchers Map Signaling Networks that Control Neuron Function (1/31/2008)

Relationship between Thousands of Proteins at Work in the Brain Could Impact Diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's Disease, and Spinal Cord Injury ...> Full Article

Problem solved - just keep an 'open mind' (1/31/2008)

Ever wondered what goes on in your brain when you are trying to solve a problem? Researchers have found that keeping an 'open mind' is the key to being able to solve problems. ...> Full Article

Scientists Make Progress In Determining How The Brain Selectively Interprets Sound (1/30/2008)

Surprisingly few auditory neurons may be involved in zeroing-in on a particular sound ...> Full Article

Creative and noncreative problem solvers exhibit different patterns of brain activity, study reveals (1/30/2008)

Why do some people solve problems more creatively than others? Are people who think creatively somehow different from those who tend to think in a more methodical fashion? ...> Full Article

Destined to lie, cheat or steal? New research finds that believing in free will can keep us honest (1/30/2008)

In an age where cheating scandals plague all levels of governments and major corporations are brought down by unethical actions, the debate about the origins and nature of how and why decisions are made play into a larger debate about genetic determinism and free will. ...> Full Article

Aching Back? Put Your Mind To It (1/29/2008)

Study in Journal PAIN Describes Relief by Mindfulness Meditation ...> Full Article

Your Personality Type Influences How Much Self-control You Have (1/28/2008)

A new study from Northwestern introduces personality types used frequently in consumer research to the realm of self-improvement. People are motivated by one of two fundamental needs: they are either "promotion-focused," seeking products that will help them achieve hopes and aspirations, or they are "prevention-focused," seeking items that help achieve a need for safety and security. According to the research, people are better able to exercise self-control when they choose goal-pursuit strategies -- such as diets or money management -- that "fit" with their promotion or prevention focus. ...> Full Article

Key Factor In Stress Effects On The Brain Identified (1/28/2008)

Acute and chronic stress can have devastating effects on the brain, and Yale School of Medicine researchers have pinpointed one receptor that plays a key role in that harmful cycle. ...> Full Article

Laughter Is The Best Medicine (1/28/2008)

Laughter is the best medicine. We've heard the expression time and again. For decades, researchers have explored how humor helps patients relieve stress and heal. Melissa B. Wanzer, EdD, professor of communication studies at Canisius College in Buffalo, NY, has taken it one step further, with her research on how humor helps medical professionals cope with their difficult jobs. She also looked at how humor affects the elderly and how it can increase communication in the workplace and in the classroom. ...> Full Article

New tool probes brain circuits (1/27/2008)

Method applied to learning/memory pathway ...> Full Article

Don't worry, be (moderately) happy, research suggests (1/27/2008)

Could the pursuit of happiness go too far? Most self-help books on the subject offer tips on how to maximize one's bliss, but a new study suggests that moderate happiness may be preferable to full-fledged elation. ...> Full Article

Unanimous Union: The mind and body together lean toward 'truthiness' (1/27/2008)

'Truthiness,' according to television satirist Stephen Colbert, represents the human preference to follow our intuition despite the presence of facts or evidence. For example, the more ambiguous an answer to a question, the more likely an individual will believe it is truthful. ...> Full Article

Sports machismo may be cue to male teen violence (1/26/2008)

The sports culture surrounding football and wrestling may be fueling aggressive and violent behavior not only among teen male players but also among their male friends and peers on and off the field, according to a Penn State study. ...> Full Article

Marijuana Withdrawal As Bad As Withdrawal From Cigarettes (1/26/2008)

Research by a group of scientists studying the effects of heavy marijuana use suggests that withdrawal from the use of marijuana is similar to what is experienced by people when they quit smoking cigarettes. Abstinence from each of these drugs appears to cause several common symptoms, such as irritability, anger and trouble sleeping - based on self reporting in a recent study of 12 heavy users of both marijuana and cigarettes. ...> Full Article

New study focuses on eye movement (1/25/2008)

A scientist has uncovered one of the "missing links" in understanding visual signals that determine where and why we move our eyes to focus on details in our environment. ...> Full Article

A good fight may keep you and your marriage healthy (1/25/2008)

A good fight with your spouse may be good for your health, research suggests. ...> Full Article

Kids learn more when mom is listening (1/24/2008)

Kids may roll their eyes when their mother asks them about their school day, but answering her may actually help them learn. New research from Vanderbilt University reveals that children learn the solution to a problem best when they explain it to their mom. ...> Full Article

What gives us fingertip dexterity? (1/24/2008)

Quickly moving your fingertips to tap or press a surface is essential for everyday life to, say, pick up small objects, use a BlackBerry or an iPhone. But researchers at the University of Southern California say that this seemingly trivial action is the result of a complex neuro-motor-mechanical process orchestrated with precision timing by the brain, nervous system and muscles of the hand. ...> Full Article

The Look of a Leader (1/24/2008)

According to new research a CEO's appearance can reveal a lot about how successful he or she is. ...> Full Article

Team Discovers How Brain's Own tPA Helps Regulate Blood Flow to Neurons (1/23/2008)

Powerful Enzyme - Best Known as Emergency Stroke Drug - Could Also Play Key Role in Alzheimer's Disease ...> Full Article

Scientists Close In on Taurine's Activity in the Brain (1/23/2008)

The Abundant Amino Acid Works on a Well-Studied Brain Cell Receptor ...> Full Article

Team Identifies Key Factor in Stress Effects on the Brain (1/23/2008)

Acute and chronic stress can have devastating effects on the brain, and Yale School of Medicine researchers have pinpointed one receptor that plays a key role in that harmful cycle, it was reported this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. ...> Full Article

Study finds significant differences in protocols hospitals use to determine brain death (1/22/2008)

A survey of some of the top hospitals in the country has found that protocols followed to determine brain death differ significantly among those institutions. In the January 22 issue of the journal Neurology, a team of researchers reports finding that brain death protocols at hospitals cited as top neurology and neurosurgery centers by U.S. News and World Report often do not follow the standards established by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). The paper has received early online release. ...> Full Article

Religious beliefs focus too much on self (1/22/2008)

Moving away from traditional religious beliefs to trendy, self-focused religions and spirituality is not making young adults happier, according to new research. ...> Full Article

Study examines response of older, younger adults to thirst (1/22/2008)

Twelve healthy subjects in their 60s and 70s showed a different pattern of brain activations during thirst and satiation than did 10 healthy subjects in their 20s who drank the same amounts and underwent imaging with positron-emission tomography (PET). Dysfunction in activated neural regions could help explain why older adults show the dangerous tendency toward reduced drinking in response to dehydration. ...> Full Article

Face Facts: People Don't Stand Out In A Crowd (1/21/2008)

Why is it difficult to pick out even a familiar face in a crowd? We all experience this, but the phenomenon has been poorly understood until now. The results of a recent study may have implications for individuals with face-recognition disorders and visual-attention related ailments -- and eventually could help scientists develop an artificial visual system that approaches the sophistication of human visual perception. ...> Full Article