MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'applied'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:03:48 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050920&cid=t_145509_122_f&fid=37835&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iqscorner.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fmore-on-problem-with-1-sd-15-ss-3-ss-iq.html In a prior post I raised concerns about the use of the 1 SD (15 SS/3 ss) rule-of-thumb for evaluating differences between two IQ subtest scores that are part of the same composite or cluster. My central point was that this simplistic rule-of-thumb fails to incorporate information regarding the cohesiveness or inter-correlation of the tests within a cluster. More importantly, some human ability domains are more cohesive/tight (e.g., Gc) than others (Gv), and the resulting correlation between two compared tests require the use of the SD (diff) formula that incorporates the correlation between the tests within a domain that are to be compared.I presented estimated SD (diff) values for select subtest comparisons within the WISC-IV and WJ III in different construct domains. The estimates used t... Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050920 Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:00:00 +0100 5050920 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050794&cid=t_145509_113_f&fid=34625&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNeilVerselsHealthcareItBlog%2F%7E3%2FwbRRoA18ohw%2F In case you were still of the opinion that Google and Microsoft were the major players and groundbreaking pioneers of personal health records, here’s a partial list of other companies that have been at it for at least as long. I believe CapMed goes back as far as 1991. Some have been bought by larger firms, but many are still independent. Clip and save, or pass on to your favorite tech journalist that got snookered by the Google PR machine. Access Strategies CapMed ActiveHealth Management MEDecision HealthCapable MyMedLab NoMoreClipboard.com Carefx Good Health Network iPHER MedicalDrive.com MediKeeper Applied Research Works In any case, I remain unconvinced that the direct-to-consumer, “untethered” model—no connection to an electronic medical record unless the patient s... Neil Versel's Healthcare IT Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050794 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 20:43:06 +0100 5050794 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028450&cid=t_145509_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F14%2Fgratitude-for-the-canadian-healthcare-system-from-an-american-patient%2F “…our challenge is twofold: We have to find a way to cover all our people; and we have to figure out how to get better value for the US$2 trillion we currently spend on healthcare.” – David M. Cutler, Otto Eckstein Professor of Applied Economics at Harvard University and Member of the Institute of Medicine -commenting on the US healthcare system. Last month I was invited to speak for a week for The International Certificate Programme in Dual Diagnosis associated with Brock University under the guidance of Dr. Dorothy Griffiths & Dr. Frances Owen. Work I’ve developed over the past several years on psychotherapy for people with intellectual disabilities has been implemented in the States and most of the countries with socialized medicine.  The Canadians have a real fl... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028450 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:34:58 +0100 5028450 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953134&cid=t_145509_122_f&fid=37835&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iqscorner.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fiap-101-psychometric-brief-problem-with.html In regard to my prior "temp" post, I wrote so much in my NASP listserv response that I have decided to take my email response, correct a few typo's, and post it now as blog post. I may return to this later to write a lengthier IAP 101 Research Brief or report.Psychologists who engage in intelligence testing frequently compare subtest scores to determine if they are statistically and practically different...as part of the clinical interpretation process. Most IQ test publishers provide sound statistical procedures (tables or software for evaluating the statistical difference of two test scores; confidence band comparison rules-of-thumb).However, traditional and clinical lore has produced a common "rule-of-thumb" that is problematic. The typical scenario is when a clinician subtracts two tes... Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953134 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:29:00 +0100 4953134 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911573&cid=t_145509_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F07%2Fhow-forensic-psychology-began-and-flourished%2F There are many subsets of psychology. No doubt one of the most fascinating is forensic psychology. Forensic psychology is basically the intersection of psychology and the legal system. It’s quite a broad field. Psychologists work in a variety of settings, including police departments, prisons, courts and juvenile detention centers. And they do everything from assessing whether an incarcerated individual is ready for parole to advising attorneys on jury selection to serving as experts on the stand to counseling cops and their spouses to creating treatment programs for offenders. Most are trained as clinical or counseling psychologists. So how did this interesting specialty emerge and expand? Here’s a brief look at the history of forensic psychology. The Birth of Forensic Psychology The... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911573 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:09:18 +0100 4911573 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4570642&cid=t_145509_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FqAdeoyML3gI%2F This report includes pro­pri­etary sur­veys, mar­ket data and in-depth analy­sis of 32 com­pa­nies, 10 Inno­va­tion Case Stud­ies pre­pared by 2010 Inno­va­tion Awards Win­ners and Final­ists, and 23 Research Exec­u­tive Briefs pre­pared by lead­ing scientists. Report Sum­mary This 207-page report tracks devel­op­ments at over thirty pub­lic and pri­vate com­pa­nies offer­ing dig­i­tal tools to assess, enhance and repair brain-based cog­ni­tive and self-regulation func­tions and pro­vides impor­tant indus­try data, insights and analy­sis to help investors, exec­u­tives, entre­pre­neurs, and pol­icy mak­ers nav­i­gate the oppor­tu­ni­ties and risks of this rapidly grow­ing field. The report dis­cusses the impli­ca­tions of cog­ni­tive ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4570642 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:50:17 +0100 4570642 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4525058&cid=t_145509_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F02%2F26%2Ftable-of-contents%2F Journal of Applied Social Psychology, Volume 41, Issue 2 (February 2011) © Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Original Articles Gender Versus Gender Role in Attributions of Blame for a Sexual Assault, Arnold S. Kahn, Kimberly A. Rodgers, Charley Martin, Kiah Malick, Jamie Claytor, Maria Gandolfo, Rebecca Seay, Jacklyn R. McMillan and Ellen Webne Reviewers and the Detection of Deceptive Information in Recorded Interviews, Gabriel Giordano, Joey George, Kent Marett and Brian Keane Mediation and Moderated Mediation in the Relationship Among Role Models, Self-Efficacy, Entrepreneurial Career Intention, and Gender, Anat BarNir, Warren E. Watson and Holly M. Hutchins The Effect of Anticipated Service Interruptions on Disaster Preparedness Intentions, Lise D. Martel and Charles W. Mueller Families o... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4525058 Sat, 26 Feb 2011 04:01:53 +0100 4525058 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4522154&cid=t_145509_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F02%2F26%2Ftable-of-contents%2F The Situationist is pleased to bring you a new blog feature: a sampling of cutting edge research straight from some of the world’s most renowned mind science journals!  We will periodically be posting the table of contents from the latest issues of mind science journals to expose our readers to articles on interesting and diverse topics relevant to law and mind sciences. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, Volume 41, Issue 2 (February 2011) © Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Original Articles Gender Versus Gender Role in Attributions of Blame for a Sexual Assault, Arnold S. Kahn, Kimberly A. Rodgers, Charley Martin, Kiah Malick, Jamie Claytor, Maria Gandolfo, Rebecca Seay, Jacklyn R. McMillan and Ellen Webne Reviewers and the Detection of Deceptive Information in Recorded Interviews, G... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4522154 Sat, 26 Feb 2011 04:01:53 +0100 4522154 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4460182&cid=t_145509_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FcNF2uULPpF8%2F According to legend, academic researchers are good at discovering underlying mechanisms and pathways of disease, but less so at applied research for discovering drugs that can treat disease. Now, though, a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine debunks this myth - public sector research institutions were involved in developing more than 20 percent of new, innovative drugs approved between 1990 and 2007. This figure was derived by examining a newly constructed patent database for meds approved by the FDA after 1962 and identifying pertinent patents filed by PSRIs - defined as universities, research hospitals, nonprofit research institutes, and federal labs. From there, the researchers determined whether patents were for applied research. They found that PSRIs contributed to the di... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4460182 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 15:31:55 +0100 4460182 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4186906&cid=t_145509_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Finfection-control-and-the-doctor-patient-relationship%2F2010.11.20 Hospitals have recently been stepping up their infection control procedures, in the wake of news about iatrogenic infections afflicting patients when they are admitted. Doctors are increasingly wearing a variety of protective garb — gowns, gloves, and masks — while seeing patients. In an interesting New York Times column, Pauline Chen wonders how this affects the doctor-patient relationship. She cites a study from the Annals of Family Medicine, which concluded that, fear of contagion among physicians, studies have shown, can compromise the quality of care delivered. When compared with patients not in isolation, those individuals on contact precautions have fewer interactions with clinicians, more delays in care, decreased satisfaction and greater incidences of depression and anxiety. T... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4186906 Sat, 20 Nov 2010 15:00:09 +0100 4186906 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4186941&cid=t_145509_109_f&fid=37784&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpsychblog%2F%7E3%2FfHj2BX2mD_M%2Fstress-and-education-967.html Guy Brandon is a counsellor, author and the founder of www.StressingOut.org, a website dedicated to resources for stress, depression, anxiety and related conditions. Stress is a very normal and natural occurrence which happens in response to a wide variety of circumstances. It is an evolutionary response that it triggered by feelings of a lack of control, priming our bodies to react to a challenging situation. Stress has numerous effects on the body, but essentially prepares us for immediate action: fight or flight. The processes involved also affect the mind, altering decision- making processes and enabling us to take swift and decisive action. Reasons for stress Although stress evolved to keep us safe from physical threats, it is most commonly experienced for social reasons nowadays – ... PsychBLOG.co.uk blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4186941 Sat, 20 Nov 2010 10:30:36 +0100 4186941 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3845054&cid=t_145509_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fprosthetic-limbs-controlled-brain-power-close-reality%2F The Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins Hospital is now testing the development of prosthetic limbs controlled by the most powerful robot of all – the wearer’s own brain thoughts. Director Michael McLoughlin discusses this work. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3845054 Mon, 09 Aug 2010 10:00:25 +0100 3845054 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3790702&cid=t_145509_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-cancer-letter-reveals-rhodes-scholar-falsification-by-duke-cancer-researcher%2F2010.07.26 This is not good. Not good at all. Recently Paul Goldberg of The Cancer Letter reported on an investigation into Duke cancer researcher Anil Potti, M.D., and claims made that he was a Rhodes Scholar in Australia. The misrepresentation was made on grant applications to National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the American Cancer Society (ACS). The Cancer Letter, a $375 per year go-to newsletter on cancer research, funding, and drug development, has made this issue free at this PDF link. News & Observer higher education reporter Eric Ferreri has a nice overview of the situation. Potti has been placed on administrative leave by Duke, and the ACS has suspended payments on his grant and initiated their own investigation. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Terr... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3790702 Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:00:07 +0100 3790702 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3706778&cid=t_145509_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FxiHveFhb7SE%2F In spite of the recent economic downturn, revenues for digital technologies to assess, enhance and treat cognition, or digital brain health and fitness tools, grew 35% in 2009. “The convergence of demographic and policy trends with cognitive neuroscience discoveries and technological innovation is giving birth to a nascent marketplace that can fundamentally transform what brain health is, how it is measured, and how it is done,” says Alvaro Fernandez, member of the World Economic Forum’s Council on the Aging Society and Editor-in-Chief of the report. “This groundbreaking report can help pioneers shape the emerging toolkit to benefit an aging society that increasingly seeks new ways to enhance cognitive functionality and mental wellness across the lifespan.” &#... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3706778 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:26:58 +0100 3706778 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3648496&cid=t_145509_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fknowledge-vs-certainty-in-medicine%2F2010.06.10 “I don’t want knowledge. I want certainty!” — David Bowie, from Law (Earthlings on Fire) If there’s a trait among humans that seems universal, it appears to be an unquenchable thirst for certainty. It is likely to be a major force that drives people into the arms of religion, even radical religions that have clearly irrational views, such as the idea that flying planes into large buildings and killing thousands of people is a one-way ticket to heaven. However, this craving for certainty isn’t expressed only by religiosity. As anyone who accepts science as the basis of medical therapy knows, there’s a lot of the same psychology going on in medicine as well. This should come as no surprise to those committed to science-based medicine because there is a profound conflict... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3648496 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:00:54 +0100 3648496 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3607662&cid=t_145509_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F4LM9fpoeyVs%2F Let me now share what the Judging Panel and the SharpBrains team found most impressive from each Winner and Finalist of the 2010 Brain Fitness Innovation Awards, accompanied by some additional information on each of these 10 noteworthy initiatives and case studies. Grand Prize Winner USA Hockey, Inc., is the National Governing Body of the sport of ice hockey in the United States. With a membership of nearly 600,000 players, coaches, officials and volunteers that span all 50 states, USA Hockey seeks to promote the growth of hockey and provide the best possible experience for all participants by encouraging, developing, advancing and administering the sport. Project Scope: The National Team Development Program (NTDP), a USA Hockey body, is a full-time development program aimed at preparing ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3607662 Fri, 28 May 2010 04:04:56 +0100 3607662 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3595712&cid=t_145509_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FT38ThbcsgI0%2F Please join us in congratulating USA Hockey, Allstate, and Nationwide, for reaching the podium of the 2010 Brain Fitness Innovation Awards, unveiled today. The podium’s top position went to USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP), a full-time development program aimed at preparing student-athletes for participation on the US National Under-18 and Under-17 Teams, for its innovative cognitive training system designed with the help of Applied Cognitive Engineering (ACE) and the BIRD Foundation to help hockey players develop perception and decision-making skills. More than two years in the making and $2 million to produce, the Hockey IntelliGym offers players a video-game-like training environment to enhance ‘hockey-sense’-the information gathered from surrounding... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3595712 Mon, 24 May 2010 19:59:55 +0100 3595712 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3490744&cid=t_145509_122_f&fid=37835&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iqscorner.com%2F2010%2F04%2Fhere-is-another-of-iqs-corner-iq-test.html Here is another of IQ's Corner "IQ Test CHC DNA Fingerprint" test comparison series.  This particular CHC fingerprint figure compares the CHC composition of the respective full scale total composite IQ scores from the WJ III/BAT III and the the earlier version of these batteries....the WJ-R/BAT-R.Background information regarding the development, use and interpretation of this IQ global IQ score feature can be found at a prior post and in the IQ Test CHC DNA Fingerprint section on the blog side bar.  More can be found at IQ's Corner sister blog...the ICDP blog.I now present a comparison of the R/III versions of the WJ/BAT batteries as I have seen psych reports where a subject had previously been administered the WJ-R and was later tested with the revised WJ III (in the case of Spa... Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3490744 Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:42:00 +0100 3490744 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3366164&cid=t_145509_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fyou-awake-yet%2F photo: Thinkstock If you managed to sync up to Daylight Saving Time this morning, you probably lost an hour’s sleep. And, according to a study published by the Journal of Applied Psychology, that means you’re more likely to get injured on the job today. Not surprisingly, lack of sleep seems to make some worker bees less alert, heightening their risk of injury on the Monday after Daylight Saving Time. At Blisstree, we’re drinking extra coffee and keeping our mugs far away from our keyboards. (from Scientific American) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3366164 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:00:20 +0100 3366164 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3350420&cid=t_145509_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F6ki3S0Q1arM%2F We are pleased to announce the new annual Brain Fitness Innovation Awards, designed to foster innovation and best practice sharing by celebrating outstanding pioneers who apply neuroplasticity-based research and tools in the “real world”. The awards will recognize organizations that are devising and implementing results-oriented and scalable initiatives that demonstrate their commitment to the brain fitness of their clients, members, patients, students or employees, and showcase innovative uses of non-invasive tools to improve cognitive and emotional functions and “real-world” outcomes. Prizes 1 Grand Prize Winner will receive: $2,500 check, consulting session with SharpBrains staff, 2 tickets for each SharpBrains Summit in 2011; 10 signed copies of The SharpBrains ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3350420 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:08:14 +0100 3350420 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3124577&cid=t_145509_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F28%2Fthe-power-of-the-will-to-live%2F Last year, we delved into the psychology of New Year’s resolutions, describing what little research has been done on why and how people make New Year’s resolutions. So here’s the good news from this year’s research tidbit — if you’re getting old and thinking that death is on your door, the week is yours to live and enjoy. Chances are good that you’ll make it to New Year’s day. Shimizu & Pelham (2008) looked at death records for millions of people using Social Security Death Index (SSDI) records. This database contains more than 70 million records of people who died in the U.S. in the past 65 years, according to the researchers. They wanted to determine whether people died more often before a major holiday (Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3124577 Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:03:53 +0100 3124577 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2984915&cid=t_145509_122_f&fid=37835&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iqscorner.com%2F2009%2F11%2Fmds-analysis-of-wj-iii-implications-for.html IAP AP101 # 3 report is now available (click here for all AP101 reports and briefs).  "IAP AP101 Report #3: MDS Analysis of the CHC-based WJ III Battery: Implications for possible refinements and extensions of the CHC model of human intelligence" can be viewed  or downloaded by clicking here.The PPT files are also viewable and downloadable via SlideShare.AbstractThe WJ III Battery is comprised of both cognitive (intelligence) and achievement components.  As reported in the technical manual, the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) theory of cognitive abilities organizational structure of the WJ III has been validated.  The current investigation analyzed the cognitive and achievement tests for all WJ III norm subjects from ages 6-18 years of age.  Multidimensional scaling (MD... Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2984915 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:42:00 +0100 2984915 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2899078&cid=t_145509_122_f&fid=37835&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iqscorner.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fap101-brief-1a-g-or-not-to-g-iq-part-vs.html IQs Corner readers may find the Applied Psychometrics 101 Brief #1:  g or not to g in Atkins MR death penalty cases (post at sister blog) of interest.  Briefly, the two-post AP101 Brief presents and disucsses the relative g-loadings (g-ness) of composite scores from the WAIS-III, WJ III, and KAIT in a university adult sample. Questions are raised, based on analysis of data from a sample of 200 young adults, regarding the use of different composite scores from intelligence batteries in place of the total (full scale) IQ score when considerable variability exists in an IQ batteries composite scores. (Source: Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner)) Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2899078 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:06:00 +0100 2899078 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2832286&cid=t_145509_122_f&fid=37835&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iqscorner.com%2F2009%2F09%2Ffyi-court-computes-average-iq-score.html I've been contacted by an individual in the legal profession re: a very recent Circuit Court of Appeals (I'm not designating which district at this time) Atkins ruling where the court reconciled three different IQ test scores, one being a group IQ score from first grade, the other the WAIS-R as an adult in the early 1990s, and the last a WAIS-III in mid 2000, by taking the arithmetic average of the three.  Granted, the three scores were very similar....but no measurement person I know would support the notion of taking the average of three different IQ test scores across decades (one being a group test when the individual was in first grade) to come up with an IQ estimate upon which to base a decision regarding life-or-death.  I'm stunned....but am becoming less shocked at the lack of ps... Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2832286 Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:00:00 +0100 2832286 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2796598&cid=t_145509_122_f&fid=37835&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iqscorner.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fapplied-psychometrics-101-why-iq-scores.html If you downloaded the report AP101 #1 yesterday, you should return to the post and download a revised version. Some confusion in the discussion and estimation of the range of expected IQ difference scores (between different IQ tests that correlate at different levels) has been clarified.I want to thank Dr. Joel Schneider for pointing out the confusion in the first draft. I plan to post future reports in a similar "draft" form--with the goal to receive comments and feedback that will result in better revised reports. (Source: Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner)) Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2796598 Sat, 12 Sep 2009 16:36:00 +0100 2796598 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2796599&cid=t_145509_122_f&fid=37835&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iqscorner.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fwhy-can-iq-scores-can-differ-applied.html This report (and future reports) are accessible via a section [(Applied Psychometric 101 (AP101) Reports] on the side bar of this blog.AbstractDespite reported evidence of strong concurrent correlations among IQ tests (concurrent validity), different IQ tests often produce different IQ scores for the same individual. This may be due to a number of factors. Prior to discussing the various factors, one must first understand the basic language of typical IQ-IQ comparison research. In the first of this series, IQ-IQ test correlations are explained. Statistically significant high correlations between different IQ tests, although providing strong concurrent validity evidence for tests, do not guarantee similar or identical IQ scores for all individuals tested.Blogmaster commentsI've made a much ... Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2796599 Sat, 12 Sep 2009 00:27:00 +0100 2796599 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2699730&cid=t_145509_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F-JW8Doxud-I%2F Here you have the August edition of our monthly newsletter covering cognitive health and brain fitness topics. Please remember that you can subscribe to receive this Newsletter by email, using the box at the top of this page. Scientific publication Frontiers in Neuroscience recently published a special issue on Augmenting Cognition, and invited me to contribute with an article titled Preparing Society for the Cognitive Age. Groundbreaking brain research has occurred over the last 20 years. The opportunity to improve brain health and performance is immense, but we need to ensure the marketplace matures in a rational and sustainable manner, both through healthcare and non-healthcare channels. Click Here to read my article. Announcements In May 2009 SharpBrains published The State of the Bra... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2699730 Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:18:24 +0100 2699730 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511975&cid=t_145509_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F25PQKVoRdEE%2F Think about this: How can anyone take care of his or her brain when every week brings a new barrage of articles and studies which seem to contradict each other? Do supplements improve memory? Do you need both physical and mental exercise –or is one of them enough? Which brain training approach, if any, is worth one's time and money? We tried to address these questions, and many others, in our recent book, The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness (182 pages, $24.95), that we presented at Games for Health Conference last week. The book is the result of over two years of extensive research including more than a hundred interviews with scientists, professionals and consumers, and a deep review of the scientific literature, led by neuropsychologist Elkhonon Goldberg and myself with the help of ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511975 Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:52:14 +0100 2511975 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441590&cid=t_145509_109_f&fid=37784&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpsychblog%2F%7E3%2F04oz160933E%2Feyewitness-testimony-can-you-really-trust-your-own-eyes-851.html We all like to think that we have good memories for events and that if we were to be witness to a crime or incident that we would be able to recall in detail the events of the day. However our memories are not that reliable at all.  This has implications on many levels, but especially in the courtroom and with the police. For example: “Some researchers in Bologna demonstrate the spectacular hopelessness of memory. One morning in 1980, a bomb exploded in Bologna station: 85 people died, and the clock stopped ominously showing 10.25, the time of the explosion. This image became a famous symbol for the event, but the clock was repaired soon after, and worked perfectly for the next 16 years. When it broke again in 1996, it was decided to leave the clock showing 10.25 permanently, as a memor... PsychBLOG.co.uk blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441590 Thu, 28 May 2009 00:00:58 +0100 2441590 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405346&cid=t_145509_109_f&fid=37784&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpsychblog%2F%7E3%2Fdrxdw5HjkWk%2Fwho-is-it-that-really-suffers-when-a-prison-sentence-is-given-815.html At this very moment in time there are 82,813 people in prisons in the UK (weekly updates of prison UK populations) whereas in February 2004 there were only 69,122. We are punishing more-and-more people every year with prison but is it effective (a topic for another post) and does it only punish those who were at fault? In the first known study of its kind, University of Michigan researchers found that people with a family member or friend in prison or jail suffer worse physical and mental health and more stress and depressive symptoms than those without a loved one behind bars. Moreover, these symptoms worsen the closer the relationship to the person who was locked up According to the study, those who knew someone in prison had 40 percent more days where poor physical health interfered wit... PsychBLOG.co.uk blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405346 Wed, 13 May 2009 09:05:28 +0100 2405346 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2398788&cid=t_145509_109_f&fid=37784&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpsychblog%2F%7E3%2FImI5Gq1RntI%2Fis-a-home-smoking-ban-enough-to-stop-teen-smoking-808.html We all know the power of role models and I have written about the effect of role modes on behaviour many times before: from the moving ‘Children See, Children Do‘ campaign to talking about the effectiveness of the pictures of death and destruction that now adorn our fag packets. All these ideas are supported by the Behaviourist Bandura and his Social Learning Theory which proposes that children especially learn their behaviours through the observation and imitation of role models.  Bandura demonstrated this in his 1961 research where he exposed children to aggressive role models who acted violently (both physical and verbal violence) towards an inflatable bobo-doll. He found that children who were passive witnesses to this violent act were more likely to imitate this behaviour... PsychBLOG.co.uk blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2398788 Sun, 10 May 2009 10:22:01 +0100 2398788 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2390100&cid=t_145509_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FBpmMVyNz6XA%2F In this report we estimate the size of the US brain fitness software market at $265M in 2008, up from $225M in 2007 (18% annual growth), and from $100m in 2005. Two segments fuelled the market growth from 2007 to 2008: consumers (grew from $80m to $95m) and healthcare & insurance providers (grew from $65m to $80m). The 150-page report finds promising research and initiatives to drive significant growth, combined with increased consumer confusion given aggressive marketing claims and lack of education and standards. The report includes: - The complete results of an exclusive January 2009 Survey with 2,000+ respondents - A proprietary Market & Research Momentum Matrix to categorize 21 key vendors into four categories - 10 Research Executive Briefs written by leading scientists at p... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2390100 Tue, 05 May 2009 00:11:54 +0100 2390100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2342020&cid=t_145509_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F04%2F17%2Fon-the-evidence-for-decisions-about-the-use-of-therapeutic-interventions%2F You might have seen a theme emerging this week in my posts - clinical reasoning, evidence-base for treatments, balance between science and art … I came across this rather weighty document today in which Professor Sir Michael David Rawlins presents THE HARVEIAN ORATION Delivered before the Fellows of The Royal College of Physicians of London on Thursday 16 October 2008. Despite the rather grand titles, this discussion (published in full in pdf) is both a well-articulated explanation of levels of evidence and judgement, and quite an easy read. In his paper, he describes the development and elevation of the RCT to the ‘pinnacle’ of evidence. He also describes the limitations of the RCT - which is particularly appropriate in the area of nonpharmaceutical therapies for pain m... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2342020 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:34:42 +0100 2342020 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2196264&cid=t_145509_122_f&fid=37835&url=http%3A%2F%2Fintelligencetesting.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fbrazil-psychological-assesement.html I'm exited as h__ll to be invited to make two presentations at an annual Brazil conference on psychological assessment. Click here to view to see the general agenda. I'm pumped that I've been invited to make two different presentations. I'm humbled.Technorati Tags: psychology, educational psychology, school psychology, neuropsychology, neuroscience, Brazil, bilingual assessment, South American, conferences, WJ III, CHC theory, applied psychometrics (Source: Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner)) Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2196264 Wed, 18 Feb 2009 03:54:00 +0100 2196264 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2192427&cid=t_145509_122_f&fid=37835&url=http%3A%2F%2Fintelligencetesting.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fbrazil-psychological-assesement.html I'm exited as h__ll to be invited to make two presentations at an annual Brazil conference on psychological assessment. Click here to view to see the general agenda. I'm pumped that I've been invited to make two different presentations. I'm humbled.Technorati Tags: psychology, educational psychology, school psychology, neuropsychology, neuroscience, Brazil, bilingual assessment, South American, conferences, WJ III, CHC theory, applied psychometrics (Source: Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner)) Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2192427 Wed, 18 Feb 2009 03:54:00 +0100 2192427 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2116893&cid=t_145509_109_f&fid=37784&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpsychblog%2F%7E3%2FG5b_koKDkrw%2Fthe-pressures-of-being-a-role-model-768.html If you’ve ever seen the Channel 4 comedy Teachers then you might understand why the GTCE is considering implimenting a ‘role model’ code.  But is this really needed or necessary?  Yes, role models are influential, especially in the earlier years of childrens’ development, but shouldn’t they be allowed a private life? Teachers are  set to get a ‘role model’ code outlining what behaviour is seen as ‘acceptable’ both in and out of school.  We could face losing our status if we get drunk and into arguments while out socialising, or do not get help for drink or drug problems if a draft GTCE code it approved.  Obviously, as we know from Behaviourist theories like Social Learning Theory (SLT) that children are impressionable and will, if... PsychBLOG.co.uk blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2116893 Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:00:05 +0100 2116893 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2116894&cid=t_145509_109_f&fid=37784&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpsychblog%2F%7E3%2F9dR9UfH_w9g%2Fare-we-over-interpreting-fmri-results-762.html Recently we have looked at the impressive progression in the ability of fMRI scanners to record brain activity in ‘real time’ but are we over interpreting these results?  Over the last decade-or-two more-and-more researchers have been turning to fMRI scanners to open the ‘black box’ which is the brain. These scanners measure brain activity by measuring the amount of oxygen in the different parts of specific cortical or sub-cortical areas (this is a very simplistic view of the technology). However, there is a storm brewing about the validity of these scanners and questions being raised about the short-sightedness of using fMRI scanners to ‘pin-point’ specific areas within the brain when localising functions; asking the question are we oversimplifying t... PsychBLOG.co.uk blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2116894 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:00:53 +0100 2116894 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2079027&cid=t_145509_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F495728856%2F This article provides is a very good market overview. The reporter and I also discussed in depth the need for better consumer education and professional development, so people can make informed decisions, and for cognitive assessments to serve as independent baseline, help identify priorities and measure results. Please note that our market estimates do include revenues of computerized cognitive assessments, today mostly used in clinical trials, and wthin the military and sports teams. 2) Navigating the brain fitness landscape: do's and don'ts (McKnight's Long Term Care News) Comment: "Choosing the right cognitive fitness product or program for senior living residents is harder than it sounds. But understanding residents' needs, identifying your objectives and considering the total c... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2079027 Fri, 26 Dec 2008 18:03:07 +0100 2079027 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2053747&cid=t_145509_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F489099510%2F "USA Hockey Inc., is the national governing body for the sport of ice hockey in the United States. As such, its mission is to promote the growth of hockey and provide the best possible experience for all participants by encouraging, developing, advancing and administering the sport." Why do we talk about ice hockey in a  brain fitness blog? Well, we recently announced this very innovative initiative, and now can offer more context: USA Hockey and Intelligym: - "USA Hockey, with partners ACE (Applied Cognitive Engineering) and the BIRD (Binational Industrial Research and Development) Foundation, have announced plans to develop a revolutionary product that will, for the first time ever, provide players a training tool to develop “hockey sense.” - "To be called Hockey... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2053747 Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:43:31 +0100 2053747 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511016&cid=t_145509_109_f&fid=37784&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpsychblog%2F%7E3%2F0co0Dhb0OKM%2Flooking-inside-the-brain-in-real-time.-possible-726.html Could it soon really be possible to look inside the brain in ‘real time’. Over the last three decades we have made leaps-and-bounds in developing non-invasive processes to scan brains; PET, MRI, fMRI etc. These scanning techniques have allowed psychologists an insight into the processes of the brain during specific tasks or just to investigate the size, location and use of particular brain structures, but the time needed to process the vast amount of information that is collected has meant that there’s no ‘real time’ option of seeing exactly what is happening, there-and then. However, neuroscientist and inventor Christopher deCharms demonstrates a new way to use fMRI to show brain activity – thoughts, emotions, pain – while it is happening. In othe... PsychBLOG.co.uk blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511016 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:43 +0100 2511016 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1933522&cid=t_145509_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F442595738%2F Very interesting new market development: עסקה חדשה בקנדה לסטארט-אפ הישראלי אייס; עשוי לרשום הכנסות של עשרות ... The Marker, Israel - Oct 28, 2008 מנתונים שפירסמה באחרונה חברת המחקר SharpBrains, עולה כי שוק התוכנות לאימון המוח הכפיל עצמו בתוך פחות משנתיים. ההצלחה הבולטת בתחום היא של חברת נינטנדו ... In other words, Applied Cognitive Engineering (ACE) and USA Hockey have partnered to bring to market a cognitive simulation game to improve the performance of ice hockey players - similar to what  ACE has been offering to professional and amateur basketball players. ACE has raised $2.5M, and ACE and USA Hockey have received a jo... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1933522 Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:18:42 +0100 1933522 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1902633&cid=t_145509_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fdan-releases-video-documentry%2F Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh and Defeat Autism Now have created a new video documentry which is planned to be revealed as part of the national Defeat Autism Now (DAN!) national conference in San Diego, CA.  The film tells the story of four children diagnosed with autism, who achieved success using treatments rooted in Applied Behavior Analysis. [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1902633 Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:34:52 +0100 1902633 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1871398&cid=t_145509_109_f&fid=37784&url=http%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fpsychclips%2Fstress.avi.ff.avi.flv As we’ve evolved, the human stress response has saved our lives. Today, we turn on the same life-saving physical reaction to cope with intense, ongoing stressors - and we can’t seem to turn it off. “Stress: Portrait of a Killer” reveals just how dangerous prolonged exposure to stress can be. Is stress a saviour, tyrant or plague? This, along with many other questions are raised in a recent KPBS television programmme called ‘Stress: Portrait of a Killer’. The video starts by looking at how it may be possible to make comparisons between wild baboons and humans and their stress responses. In the video it is argued that humans have a specific problem with stress: we don’t know how to turn it off. In the wild the stress response is designed to help in times of crisis ... PsychBLOG.co.uk blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1871398 Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:55 +0100 1871398 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1870899&cid=t_145509_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fz5-4GqiRtXs%2F The cost of treatments and therapies for autism and how to pay for them. The question of what is the best/right/appropriate “treatment” for autistic children and is an educational/behavioral method like Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) really a treatment that should be covered by insurance companies, or is is something that school districts (under IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) should be providing? Who pays, or who can pay, or who should pay, for what—-and what about speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy? And while ABA is widely used as a methodology for teaching autistic children, especially younger children in early intervention, what about for older autistic children? Given the troubled history of ABA and behavior therapy, it... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1870899 Sun, 12 Oct 2008 22:00:25 +0100 1870899 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511020&cid=t_145509_109_f&fid=37784&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpsychblog%2F%7E3%2F2-2ykFkoVPc%2Fgreys-anatomy-as-health-promotion-really-662.html This study shows the enormous potential for entertainment television to serve as a health educator.” This obviously raises many questions as far as health promotion goes.  Firstly, that the medium of television, and more importantly entertainment programmes can be very powerful in getting positive messages and health awareness out to the viewers. However, this power has to be used carfully – if viewers believe that the information they are ‘absorbing’ from medical entertainment programmes are accurate (as almost 60% of viewers do) we need to ensure that there’s no false or misleading information in these programmes.  A real double-edged sword. Tags: A2, adverts, health, health promotion, prevention, Research (Source: PsychBLOG.co.uk) PsychBLOG.co.uk blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511020 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:50 +0100 2511020 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1860077&cid=t_145509_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F414499048%2F Over the next weeks we are going to be sharing the Executive Summary of our market report The State of the Brain Fitness Software Market 2008 with members and clients of several partner organizations (the British Columbia Seniors Living Association, where I will be speaking this Thursday, Neurotech Reports, where I will speak on October 24th, and the Health 2.0 conference, where we are sponsoring a panel on gaming for health), so it is only fair that we first share it with our own readers. Executive Summary A spate of recent global news coverage on brain fitness and brain training reflects a growing interest in natural, non drug-based interventions to keep our brains sharp as we age. This interest is very timely, given an aging population, increasing prevalence of Alzheimer’s rates, ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1860077 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:17:34 +0100 1860077 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1847988&cid=t_145509_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FpUrn5X2I4Jo%2F (HR3690) will provide retired military families with autistic children the same health care benefits as active duty services members, today’s Mount Vernon Gazette reports. Some 8,784 retiree families stand to benefit, according to Department of Defense statistics. The legislation was introduced by Virginia Congressman James P. Moran (D-8) and Florida Congressman Jeff Miller (R). Currently, active duty service members who have an autistic child receive benefits through TRICARE, which provides $2,500 a month (a max of $30,000 per year) for Applied Behavioral Analysis; these dependents end when an active duty military person retires. Congressman Miller’s description of autism suggests that a lot more understanding about autism needs to occur: “This bipartisan bill to extend... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1847988 Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:00:44 +0100 1847988 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1807164&cid=t_145509_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F09%2F19%2Fterrific-trivia-look-at-what-piques-my-interest-today%2F I couldn’t go very far past Scott Blake’s site for his ‘Bar Code Art’. This guy has a mind even more way out than mine!! To quote: ‘I started making art with barcodes right before Y2K, inspired by the year 2000 computer bug, and threatening digital apocalypse.’ What he’s got on his website is truly whimsical - you too can get your own, personalised barcode to represent YOU - your age, weight, height, gender and country! And you can take a look at his barcode counter that is counting ‘10,000,000,000 UPC barcodes. (that’s 10 billion possibilities) Capturing every imaginable product. This animation takes 10 years to complete.’ Uh, I don’t think I’ll be watching them all… Anyway, if you have ever wondered about bar ... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1807164 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:31:18 +0100 1807164 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1597294&cid=t_145509_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fan-emotional-video-to-aba-applied-behavioral-analysis%2F Applied Behavioral Analysis is a way of ‘correcting’ Autistic behaviors such as stimming, pacing, etc by punishing people for behaviors that are a result from Autism.  Kathy, an Autisitc adult volunteered at an ABA school for awhile and posted a very emotional responce about what she saw and how it impacted her. (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1597294 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:27:59 +0100 1597294 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1489344&cid=t_145509_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F302622796%2F This reports gives anyone interested in how to understand which products are truly in a position to make a difference in brain function, and which markets will be interested and profitable for such products an invaluable guide. We found the analysis clear, precise, loaded with substantive insight. One would be foolhardy not to use this publication as the best guide to this market." -- Dr. Arthur Lavin, Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, Case Medical School, and Medical Director of A Working Mind. "As we begin the task of developing a Brain Fitness Center at our Sunrise Senior Living Community, this Brain Fitness Market Report is proving helpful in numerous ways to develop our “road map” to navigate through the maze of information, myths and confusion that exists as ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1489344 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:22:40 +0100 1489344 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1424072&cid=t_145509_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F284403277%2F As you have probably noticed, a growing number of Expert Contributors are writing in our blog, so that we can collectively discuss the latest research and trends on cognitive and brain health, and the implications of brain research in general for our everyday lives.  If you haven't done so already, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter (above) and our RSS feed (on the right). Below you have the profiles of some of our Contributors and links to their best articles with us so far. Enjoy! Dr. Pascale Michelon has a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology and has worked as a Research Scientist at Washington University in Saint Louis, in the Psychology Department. She conducted several research projects to understand how the brain makes use of visual information and memorizes facts. She is now... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1424072 Tue, 06 May 2008 05:16:08 +0100 1424072 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1386076&cid=t_145509_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F273955806%2F Laurie Duddy’s 8 year old twins, Tommy and Alex, both have severe autism. She—and a number of other parents of autistic children—are now studying for a master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis at Caldwell College in northern New Jersey. Today’s New York Times profiles the program and some of the parents who are studying in it: In most states, a generic special education degree is sufficient to treat children with autism and to use the particular techniques of A.B.A., the only therapy for the disorder with proven results in peer-reviewed research. But many colleges and universities now offer specialized degrees in A.B.A. Graduate programs are offered at Northeastern University in Boston, Florida State University in Tallahassee, the University of North Carol... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1386076 Sun, 20 Apr 2008 08:10:53 +0100 1386076 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1331746&cid=t_145509_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F259320050%2F Interested a good, non-technical, summary of the implications of recent brain science in our daily lives? Biologist John Medina offers that in his article below (as part of our Author Speaks Series) and in his new book: Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School. Enjoy! (Note: John will be in the Bay Area on April 8 and 9th, speaking at Google and San Jose Rotary). ---------------------- Brain Rules -- By John Medina Go ahead and multiply the number 8,388,628 x 2 in your head. Can you do it in a few seconds? There is a young man who can double that number 24 times in the space of a few seconds. He gets it right every time. There is a boy who can tell you the exact time of day at any moment, even in his sleep. There is a girl who can correctly determi... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1331746 Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:34:18 +0100 1331746 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1284744&cid=t_145509_127_f&fid=34828&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrclouthier.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F03%2Fgeorge-goodheart.html , a man who revolutionized natural and chiropractic health care practice by developing the technique called Applied Kinesiology has passed. He will be looked back on as one of the greatest minds to ever exist in the health care arena and his presence in this world will be greatly missed by so many of us who loved him. I owe a great debt to him for allowing me to practice in the way I do now and to have the wonderful profession and life that I have. He was a great man among greats and he will always be looked to by many as the father of modern natural medicine that is extremely effective and honors the bodies wisdom to heal itself.Today is a sad day but a day of great honor for George Goodheart. Our prayers and love are with his family and all those whose lives he has touched. (Source: Dr. ... Dr. Steve Clouthier blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1284744 Thu, 06 Mar 2008 22:28:00 +0100 1284744 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1207597&cid=t_145509_109_f&fid=35666&url=http%3A%2F%2Fphineasgage.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F02%2F05%2Freducing-the-problem-of-face-recognition-to-an-average%2F Although computer software has become adept at face detection - Google’s image search does it, and so does you camera if you bought it within the past year - the problem of recognising a face as belonging to a specific individual has proven a hard nut to crack. Essentially, this is a problem of classification. A model for this process should be able to sort images of three persons into three separate categories. This is remarkably difficult to do. If you look at the sheer physical differences between images of the same person, they easily outnumber the differences between images of different persons, taken from the same angle under the same lighting conditions. In other words, the bulk of the physical variability between different face images is uninformative, as far as face recognit... The Phineas Gage Fan Club blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1207597 Tue, 05 Feb 2008 22:29:17 +0100 1207597 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1030191&cid=t_145509_109_f&fid=35666&url=http%3A%2F%2Fphineasgage.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F11%2F15%2Fevidence-for-shallow-voters-or-mere-exposure%2F Picture by Brandt Luke Zorn, Wikimedia Commons Iacoboni has gotten in trouble recently for some bizarre, non-peer reviewed and much publicised studies investigating voters’ neural reactions to the different presidential candidates. Vaughan noted that it is a little surprising that Iacoboni, who has done some fantastic work, would put his name on such weak research. I couldn’t help but be reminded of a post over at Dr Petra Boynton’s blog on the shameless proposals she has received from marketing companies. Essentially, the business model is that you as a researcher either gather some junk data yourself for handsome compensation, or alternatively, you simply sign off on a ready-made article. It is a credibility-for-cash transaction. Unfortunately, such spin doctor stories... The Phineas Gage Fan Club blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1030191 Thu, 15 Nov 2007 21:06:24 +0100 1030191 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1005288&cid=t_145509_109_f&fid=35666&url=http%3A%2F%2Fphineasgage.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F11%2F05%2Fits-the-socialising-not-just-the-bingo-new-take-on-brain-training%2F This study is quite inspiring in that a single 10-minute session of intellectual or social stimulation was enough to bring about significant differences in task performance. Furthermore, it really is a testament to the power of social interaction that the intellectual task group didn’t come out ahead, even though they had basically spent 10 minutes doing very similar tasks to the ones they were assessed with. However, a few caveats should be considered. First of all, although the intellectual task resembles actual brain training, they are not one and the same. I would love to see a direct comparison between something like Mindfit and the social interaction condition used here. Secondly, although I wasn’t entirely serious about the possibility of Seinfeld rotting your brain, the... The Phineas Gage Fan Club blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1005288 Mon, 05 Nov 2007 17:45:03 +0100 1005288 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=991917&cid=t_145509_109_f&fid=35666&url=http%3A%2F%2Fphineasgage.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F10%2F30%2Fin-defense-of-electroconvulsive-therapy%2F The TED talks website contains material for a hundred posts, but a video posted earlier today hits particularly close to home. In this talk, Sherwin Nuland, a surgeon turned writer, gives an authoritative and unexpectedly personal account of the history of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), sometimes known as electric shock therapy. The talk is only about 20 minutes, and gets very interesting around the 7 minute mark where Nuland describes how ECT once saved his life, as he puts it. If the general public could be accused of placing too much trust in antidepressant medication, the reverse is certainly true of ECT. Ask anyone about electric shock therapy, and they’ll conjure up horror stories, and associations with frontal lobotomy. This is unfair, since there is some evidence that ECT a... The Phineas Gage Fan Club blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=991917 Tue, 30 Oct 2007 22:06:34 +0100 991917 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=954165&cid=t_145509_109_f&fid=35666&url=http%3A%2F%2Fphineasgage.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F10%2F16%2Fhearing-limitations-pt-2-distinguishing-mp3-from-cd%2F As a continuation of the recent post on audiophiles, let’s look closer at how good we are detecting the compression in digital music formats. Most music formats, such as MP3 or the AAC format used by iTunes, define the rate of compression as the number of bits that is used to encode each second of music. The standard bitrate, as used by the iTunes Music Store and elsewhere, is 128 kbit/s. Music geeks (myself included) tend to use slightly higher bitrates, while the proper audiophiles use lossless formats that compress the file without actually removing any information. Recently, Radiohead released their new album as a free download, only to experience some fan backlash for their choice of a 160 kbit/s bitrate. Critics bemoaned the fact that this was half as much as the 320 kbit/s rat... The Phineas Gage Fan Club blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=954165 Tue, 16 Oct 2007 13:56:35 +0100 954165 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=947989&cid=t_145509_109_f&fid=35666&url=http%3A%2F%2Fphineasgage.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F10%2F13%2Faudiophiles-and-the-limitations-of-human-hearing%2F The other week Gizmodo posted an amusing rant about a set of $7250 speaker cables, and the gushing review they received. Among other things, the reviewer referred to the cables as “danceable.” James Randi soon popped around to offer his $1 million prize to the cable company, if they could prove that their cables outperform “normal” Monster cables in a double-blind test. This is actually an issue of the limits of human perception. Is it really possible to tell the difference between normal high-end equipment, and equipment that veers into the audiophile range? It’s clear that according to many audiophiles, the answer is going to be yes. Wikipedia informs us that there are actually two schools among audio enthusiasts: the objectivist school, which favours double... The Phineas Gage Fan Club blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=947989 Sat, 13 Oct 2007 11:16:51 +0100 947989 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=880274&cid=t_145509_109_f&fid=35666&url=http%3A%2F%2Fphineasgage.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F09%2F18%2Fhow-useful-is-a-group-level-truth-to-the-individual%2F Today’s post is about the tension between the often-times weak predictions of psychology and other sciences, and the decisions of the individual. My blog stats might serve as an example. The figure below plots the number of visitors over the last 30 days. You would be hard pressed to make any predictions regarding how many visitors the blog will have tomorrow. Nor would you be able to say what the overall trend in the data is. The story is similar when we look at the number of visitors per week: You can now predict that the blog should receive somewhere between 400 and 700 visitors this coming week, but it looks like the blog is receiving pretty much a constant stream of visitors. This is unlikely, considering how little blogging has taken place lately. Let’s look at the numb... The Phineas Gage Fan Club blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=880274 Tue, 18 Sep 2007 13:24:46 +0100 880274 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=875267&cid=t_145509_109_f&fid=35666&url=http%3A%2F%2Fphineasgage.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F09%2F16%2Fdetecting-genetic-disorders-3d-face-scans%2F Following on from last week’s post on smile measuring software, The Scotsman (via Gizmodo) reports on the work by Hammond and colleagues at UCL, who are developing 3d face scans as a quick, inexpensive alternative to genetic testing. This is not as crazy as it sounds at first since it is known that in a number of congenital conditions, the hallmark behavioural, physiological or cognitive deficits are also (conveniently) accompanied by characteristic appearances. The classic example of this is Down syndrome, which you need no software to recognise. More examples appear in the figure above, where you can compare the characteristic appearances of various conditions to the unaffected face in the middle. Hammond’s software can be used to identify 30 congenital conditions, ranging fr... The Phineas Gage Fan Club blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=875267 Sun, 16 Sep 2007 22:41:43 +0100 875267 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=867405&cid=t_145509_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2F155602546%2F Once again, I am going to say, “don’t shoot the messenger”. Before anyone gets all in a tizzy, take the time to really read through what the research is claiming in its entirety. Yes, they are suggesting that certain breakfast breads are effective in controlling blood sugars through the dinner hour, but they are in no way suggesting that you shove 5 pieces of white toast in your mouth and call it a morning. “It is known that a carbohydrate-rich breakfast with low GI can moderate increases in blood sugar after lunch. But my results show that low GI in combination with the right amount of so-called indigestible carbohydrates, that is, dietary fiber and resistant starch, can keep the blood-sugar level low for up to ten hours, which means until after dinner,” says... Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=867405 Wed, 12 Sep 2007 18:25:18 +0100 867405 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=848404&cid=t_145509_109_f&fid=35666&url=http%3A%2F%2Fphineasgage.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F09%2F07%2Fai-detection-of-facial-expressions%2F I’ve written previously about how algorithms that detect faces in images are appearing everywhere, including Google Images and many recent digital cameras, where they are used to ensure that focus is on the face (presumably, no one who buys a Cybershot is interested in the aesthetic effects of not having the face in focus). This technology is being expanded into the realm of specific facial expressions by OMRON (among others), a company that just released software that promises to measure the smile factor of faces in a picture. The smile factor as OMRON conceives of it goes from 0 to 100 %, and will presumably serve to shift the blame nicely when you want people to smile more in a picture (”look, I think the picture is fine, but the camera thinks you should be smiling more&#822... The Phineas Gage Fan Club blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=848404 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 12:46:12 +0100 848404 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=505561&cid=t_145509_127_f&fid=34828&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrclouthier.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Fapplied-kinesiology-george-goodheart-dc.html If you click on the link above you will see on that page a link that you can click on a link that starts "new study confirms ......". When you get a chance to read this article/study you will see while Applied Kinesiology has always gotten such great results. I have practiced Applied Kinesiology for years in my office in The Woodlands, Texas and have seen what would be considered to many to be miraculous results. With Applied Kinesiology they are not miraculous but expected and regularly seen. If you have been having trouble getting to the bottom of your health challenge consider Applied Kinesiology treatment. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier) Dr. Steve Clouthier blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=505561 Tue, 27 Mar 2007 18:36:00 +0100 505561 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=478753&cid=t_145509_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F03%2F07%2Fanodyne-infrared-therapy%2F Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Lifestyle, Products, ServicesBefore experiencing wounds or diabetic ulcers, patients affected by diabetic peripheral neuropathy suffer from loss of sensation, loss of balance, chronic pain, or loss of feeling in their extremities. An infrared therapy is showing promising results for the reduction of pain from peripheral neuropathy. Anodyne Infrared Therapy is a treatment that uses light energy to exponentially increase (up to 400%) the circulation in peripheral areas (arms, legs). Light-emitting diodes are fitted into flexible pads that can be applied directly to the skin on any affected part of the body. The light energy helps increase blood flow by delivering nutrients to the injured site. Anodyne therapy consists of 10 to 12 sessions ... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=478753 Wed, 07 Mar 2007 05:00:00 +0100 478753