Quick links from the past week in mind and brain news:
Awesome Developing Intelligence post gives a remarkably concise review of cognitive science and discusses what this tells us about the best targets for cognitive enhancement.
BookForum looks at two memoirs that recount the psychological and physical intricacies of illness of the body and brain.
The mighty Language Log has a great analysis looking at the fallacies of yet another popular piece on sex differences in mind and brain.
The Economist has an article on the science of cognitive nutrition.
The ideas behind ‘critical neuroscience‘ are discussed by Neuroanthropology.
Eric Schwitzgebel on the Wittgensteinian puzzle of whether philosophy solves problems with language or problems with the world.
ABC Radio National’s The Philosopher’s Zone has an interesting discussion on the philosophy of moral dilemmas.
While we’re on the subject of morality the NYT Freakanomics blog has two guest posts on moral hypocrisy.
Sharp Brains has a special on mind and brain haikus.
ABC Radio National’s In Conversation looks at the anthropology of sisters, mothering and motherhood across the world’s cultures.
Dr Petra has the most sensible post you’ll read about the recent news reports on Viagra supposedly increasing sexual function in women who take antidepressants.
Advances in object recognition around age 2 may herald symbolic thought, reports Science News.
Pure Pedantry has an interesting commentary on the merits of postponing your alcoholism.
Perpetually falling woman learns to balance with her tongue. The Telegraph has a story about a woman who has lost her sense of balance owing to brain injury.
The Primary Visual Cortex is an excellent new blog on vision science and perception.
A robot that “resembles the love child of a monkey and an iMac”. The Times has an excellent piece on robots designed to emotionally interface with humans.
Not Quite Rocket Science looks at a new study on language evolution in the lab and Wired Science has some further in-depth analysis.
A new book called ‘Brain Research for Policy Wonks’ is reviewed by Nature Reviews Neuroscience.
New Scientist has a special article and video report on the somewhat recursively titled ‘Seven Reasons Why People Hate Reason‘.
The psychology of motivation – when passionate interest becomes a business – is discussed by The Washington Post.
The New York times examines the methods and motivations of web trolls.
An eye-tracking study that compared how individuals with Williams syndrome (“hyper social”) and autism (“hypo social”) view pictures of social scenes is covered by The Neurocritic.
Mind Hacks 