Category: Linkage

Quick links from the past week in mind and brain news:

Researchers find gene linked to the chance of being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

The Telegraph talk up psychology and neuroscience, arguing that ‘The Future is All in Your Head‘.

The evolution and function of laughter is discussed in Seed Magazine.

Brainscan Blog hails the opening of a new fMRI lab to study the neuroscience of sign language.

Behind every great genius – is another great genuis, claim Live Science.

Philosopher Daniel Dennett in a fairly content-free interview in the New York Times discusses his forthcoming book on the biology of religious belief.

Members of a remote Amazon tribe can solve basic problems in geometry, despite never having seen a math book, suggesting geometric ability may be innate.

The New York Times article ‘This Is Your Brain on Schadenfreude‘ discusses the neural response to others’ displeasure.

“None of the circuits involved in conscious reasoning were particularly engaged”. No big surprises from studies of the neuropsychology of political affiliation.

A gene which regulates the enzyme CYP2A6 – known to be involved in the metabolism of nicotine – may be key to understanding the genetics of cigarette addiction.

The recent column from Ben Bad Science Goldacre is on the widely reported, and improbable, neuroscience of why the novels of Agatha Christie are so successful (column here). The neurobabble used to obfuscate the fact that she wrote quite well is astounding. No, her books did not directly alter your brain chemistry to make the novels ‘literally unputdownable’ – except in the boring everyday sense that everything you do and think alters your brain chemisty. The best bit is the man who originated the misleading reports claims that it was all some sort of post-modern in-joke with readers and viewers (who were supposed to know they were being lied to). Goldacre’s strongly worded conclusion:

So I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: the public are confused about science, for the simple reason that the media is full of grandiose humanities graduates, acting as self-appointed experts and science communicators, who construct their own parody of what they think science is: and then, to compound their crime, they go on to critique science, as if their parody was the reality
… Can we have some science on telly, please.

And on that note, I’ve heard good reports for this programme, on BBC2; a short series looking at claims for alternative medicine like acupuncture and faith healing. Any science broadcast that takes in the need for experimental trials, control groups, placebo effects (Hack #73 incidentally) and the dangers of overgeneralising findings is good by me. Although the BBC News report is disappointingly titled Acupuncture ‘deactivates brain’ and subtitled ‘Acupuncture works by deactivating the area of the brain governing pain, a TV show will claim’. Oh well, at least they used the scare quotes.

Quick links from the past week in mind and brain news:

Scientific American ask ‘What’s all that gray matter good for, anyway?‘

Exercise may significantly reduce the risk of developing dementia, especially in those who are frail.

‘Jonathan Edwards looks into… Memory’ in a rather luke warm radio documentary from the BBC (despite some interesting sections on sports psychology).

The Mental Health Foundation launches a campaign to highlight the link between diet and mental health. Their campaign seems a a bit obsessed with fish oil, however. Omega-3 fatty acids can also be found in certain vegetable oils.

Researchers discover that mood is inversely related to the number of meetings you attend.

Men show less activation in the areas related to understanding others emotions when “maintaining justice and issuing punishment” or “witnessing retribution” (take your pick!) according to a new study.

Quick links from the past week in mind and brain news:

Fantastic Time article on the recent burst of research on the psychology and neuroscience of meditation.

An article in Salon discusses the impact of traumatic brain injury on American soldiers serving in Iraq.

Study reports that babies that acquire certain infections during birth may be more likely to develop cerebral palsy.

The superior temporal cortex (part of the ‘auditory cortex’) kicks in during expectant listening, even during silence.

Nice pointer to some of the good work philosophers are now doing in the cognitive sciences: Jeffrey Foss writes an insightful article about consciousness in the Toronto Globe and Mail.

A third of people with schizophrenia who stop their medication do because of poor response suggests new study.

Stats monger The Economist investigates the increasing popularity of bayesian statistics in theories of brain function.

“My Brain Is a Walnut”. I know the feeling. Slate investigates the science of neuroimaging.

Quick links from the past week in mind and brain news:

Brain Waves considers the role of ‘bonding hormone’ oxytocin and the potential for a love spray.

Town tries soft lighting to calm violent drinkers.

In contrast to one of last year’s controversial claims, a new study provides evidence that suicide risk does not increase when adults start using antidepressants.

The development of anorexia linked to earlier birth problems.

Mental health think tank demands major overhaul to UK psychiatric services.

New York Times on the psychology and neuroscience of cuteness.

Blog The Genius discusses theories from a recent book on the neuropsychology of memory.

A couple of good articles from Wired (via BoingBoing):
* Man with a cochlear implant hacks his own device to allow him to listen to music again.
* The new technology of brain scan lie detection raises new ethical concerns.

On a related note, New Scientist reports on a drive to develop ‘a lie detector that can be used without the subject knowing they are being assessed’. Best of luck.

Newsweek discusses the popularity and effectiveness of ‘e-therapy‘ (online version is accompanied by advert titled ‘find out happy you really are’ – wtf?)

Cognitive Daily discusses research on ‘How do kids decide robots are worth talking to?’

Quick links from the past week in mind and brain news:

Slate asks the question “Is Anorexia Genetic?: What the newest theory leaves out”. A commentary on a recent Newsweek article discussed previously on Mind Hacks.

“Language affects ‘half of vision'” says somewhat misleading title that belies some interesting research in colour perception and categorisation.

Scientific American considers recent research on the psychology of suicide bombers and discounts popular myths about the perpetrators.

People consistently pour larger measures of alcohol into short wide glasses than tall thin ones.

Language Log investigates the science behind recent media claims that Agatha Christie novels are ‘good for the brain’.

Quick links from the past week in mind and brain news:

Chronobiology site Circadiana recommends books about clocks and sleep.

Brain Waves previews the upcoming ‘5th International Neuroesthetics Conference’ which focuses on how the brain responds to gourmet food, fine wine and aromatic perfumes.

Feeling good is the ’cause, not effect’ of achievement according to researchers.

David Letterman’s lawyers fight an odd restraining order imposed by a judge who is perhaps suffering from folie √† deux?

Robot demonstrates ‘self awareness‘ (i.e. can distinguish itself in a mirror) (via /.)

Wired on watching your own real-time brain scan to ‘think away the pain‘.

The ‘quality’ of your dancing could advertse your ‘sexual quality‘ to others as measured by body symmetry.

New Scientist on the desperate need for adequate mental health care after the trauma of the Asian tsunami.

Trial of implanted stem cells to treat brain injury in children starts.

Quick links from the past week in mind and brain news:

British and American smiles may be different, claims book author (thanks David!).

Cognitive Daily on the neglected area of self-discipline and its importance in acheivement.

Author Jay Ingram on the evidence that subliminal ads influence behaviour.

URB597, an antidepressant drug in development, increases brain levels of chemicals found in cannabis.

The Huge Entity discusess ‘Sex, emotion and the female amygdala‘.

Face to Face: The Science of Reading Faces: Transcript and video of an interview with psychologist Paul Ekman.

NASA works with Kim Peek, inspiration for movie Rain Main to better understand Peek’s remarkable talents.

Monitoring real-time activation of pain centres in a brain-scanner can help control pain.

The State has an account of a woman who developed ‘foreign accent syndrome‘ after a stroke.

I’m not sure whether this is a new section to the website, or whether I’ve been asleep since it started, but I’ve just discovered the New Scientist brain channel that collects all their brain-related stories and articles in one place.

It includes an archive of their news stories, feature articles and additional web only neuroscience resources. There’s even a spiffy interactive map of the brain for those needing a brief guide to the space between the ears.

Free access as well as protected content is included, so non-subscribers can pick out the wheat from the chaff.

Link to New Scientist brain channel.

Quick links from the past week in mind and brain news:

Best Visual Illusion of the Year Contest launched!

Arguments between couples slow wound healing (presumably suffered during previous arguments).

Mirror neurons work differently in people with autism.

Colour blindness may have hidden advantages (the ability to better discriminate shades of khaki!)

Cycle helmet shaped like a brain (via BoingBoing)

Large head size linked to later development of brain cancer.

Interview with procrastination researcher and his classification of different procrastination types (‘habitual lollygagger’ anyone?).

Cognitive Daily tackles ‘Internet addiction: Anatomy of a problem‘.

Photographer Chris Combs presents a series of photos entitled ‘Inside the Spectrum, focusing on autism (via MeFi).

Quick links from the past week in mind and brain news:

The New York Times disusses the trials discusses the psychology of child prodigies.

A study finds that the chemical high from new romantic love fades after a year.

Blog ‘The Huge Entity’ presents some choice Shakespearean quotes on psychological themes.

Computer scientists create a model of ‘surprise‘

The more creative / schizotypal a person is, the more sexual partners they are likely to have (or, perhaps, report?)

New theory links Alzheimer’s disease to diabetes.

Wired report on the Dalai Lama’s recent meetings with neuroscientsts studying meditation

The New York Times discusses the debates over internet addiction and newly offered treatments (via Slashdot).

A new blog highlights the latests in neuroimaging and brain scanning research. Enter Brainscan.

Quick links from the past week in mind and brain news:

Great new blog on combating stress, depression and addiction is now online and accepting new readers!

‘Singing for the Brain‘ shows remarkable results in helping people with Alzheimer’s communicate by using song.

Makes for a great story but probably best taken with a pinch of salt: Naked statue triggers mental imbalance, supposedly.

Emotional deprivation and neglect in childhood has long lasting effects on neurohormones. The Guardian also has the story.

Therapy for anxiety disorders can be successfully conducted over email.

People with mild symptoms of depression are better at perceiving details of their social environment than those who are not depressed.

Brain imaging study show ‘first ever’ images of stress in the brain.

People best able to filter out irrelevant information are better at remembering.

Relatives of people diagnosed with autism show similarities in brain structure and behaviour.

Tom Cruise’s on-air anti-psychiatry tirade recreated by talking aliens (via BoingBoing).

Quick links from the past week in mind and brain news:

Twin study from the University of Amsterdam suggests a genetic contribution to loneliness.

What are we doing when we look away during a conversation? asks Cognitive Daily.

Brain differences found in relatives of people with autism.

Body image, not menopause, causes lack of desire in older women, argues Petra Boyton.

Interview with Leslie Savan on the influence of advertising and media speak on the style and structure of popular language.

Review of neuroscience studies suggests that adolescents are neurologically more vulnerable to addictions.

Nature reviews Nancy Andreasen’s new book “The Creating Brain: The Neuroscience of Genius”.

Quick links from the past week in mind and brain news:

An article on why people believe in alien abduction, and a link to an online study on unusual sleep experiences.

Wired on recent studies suggesting ritual users of the hallucinogen Peyote show no mental or neurological impairment.

Researchers find brain differences in how males and females experience humour.

Interesting Wikipedia page on the diffusion of innovations.

MRI scans can help with the diagnosis of schizophrenia claim researchers (again).

Children of bipolar parents score higher on creativity test.

Complex links between depression, suicide and epilepsy discovered by recent study.

Brief review of book on the ‘science of false memories‘.

Quick links from the past week in mind and brain news:

Electrodes, inserted into the brain, can be used to change blood pressure.

Study reports factors which could predict relationship violence. Further interesting commentary on applying these findings to everyday life.

Study on the historical records of British asylum fails to support stereotype that women were inappropriately detained for mental illness in Victorian times.

Fortean Times has a profile of troubled author Arthur Koestler, who funded Edinburgh University’s Koestler Parapsychology Unit.

Magnetically induced ‘blindsight‘ induced in healthy human volunteers.

Articles one and two on using ‘mirror box’ for pain in non-phantom limbs.

Women with highest levels of estrogen more likely to be attractive, claims new study.

Quick links from the past week in mind and brain news:

Interactive websites can significantly help people with chronic illness (via Slashdot)

“Your brain’s sex can make you ill” says clumsy BBC headline, hiding a story about tailoring treatments by sex.

Chronic nicotine and alcohol consumption seem to have a ‘double whammy‘ on mental function.

Cool visual illusions that change on distance of viewing (via BoingBoing).

Email users and victorian letter writers share similarities in frequency of replying.

People with schizophrenia not fooled by certain optical illusions.

Wired features a story by a deaf man as he gets a cochlear implant to restore his hearing.

Cognitive Daily discuss research on why experts have better memory for their field of expertise.