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 'brain plasticity'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:22:19 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182066&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FcHHww-Xin4g%2F (Editor’s note: Pathways responsible for higher-order thinking in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), or executive center of the brain, remain vulnerable throughout life—during critical early-life developmental windows, when the PFC fully matures in the early 20s, and finally from declines associated with old age. At all ages, physical activity and PFC-navigated social connections are essential components to maintaining brain health. The Experience Corps, a community-based social-engagement program, partners seniors with local schools to promote purpose-driven involvement. Participating seniors have exhibited immediate short-term gains in brain regions vulnerable to aging, such as the PFC, indicating that people with the most to lose have the most to gain from environmental enrichment.) Over ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182066 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:18:19 +0100 5182066 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008448&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36506&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainSciencePodcastBlog%2F%7E3%2Fhed47dbhD2g%2Fdavid-eagleman-on-the-secret-lives-of-the-brain-bsp-75.html In his new book Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain neuroscientist David Eagleman describes consciousness as "the smallest player in the operations of the brain" (page 5) because most of what the brain does is outside conscious awareness (and control). In a recent interview (BSP 75) Dr. Eagleman reviews some of the evidence for this startling position as well as the implications both for the average person and for social policy.   Listen to Episode 75 Episode Transcript (Download PDF) References: Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain by David Eagleman Eagleman, D. "The Brain on Trial," the Atlantic Monthy; July/Aug 2011 ONLINE See Transcript for additional references Related Episodes of BSP: BSP 13: Our first discussion of unconscious decisions BSP 15: Interview with Read ... the Brain Science Podcast and Blog with Dr. Ginger Campbell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008448 Fri, 08 Jul 2011 13:01:01 +0100 5008448 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968694&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36506&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainSciencePodcastBlog%2F%7E3%2FXjSCPI9gHS0%2Fwhy-neuroscience-matters.html On May 11, 2011 Ginger Campbell, MD gave a talk entitled "Why Neuroscience Matters" at the London Skeptics in the Pub. Episode 42 of Books and Ideas is an edited version of that talk, including the lively Q and A with the audience. Listen to Episode 42 of Books and Ideas Free Episode Transcript (Download PDF)     Subscribe to Books and Ideas Podcast:   References  Bayes, A., Grant, S., et al. "Characterization of the proteome, diseases and evolution of the human postsynaptic density." Nature Neuroscience 14, 19–21 (2011) (Published online 12/23/2010). Libet, B. "Do We Have Free Will?" Journal of Consciousness Studies, 6. No. 8-9, 1999, pp. 47-57. On Being Certain: Believing You Are Right Even When You're Not (2008) by Robert Burton; p 127. Philosophy in t... the Brain Science Podcast and Blog with Dr. Ginger Campbell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968694 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 12:00:30 +0100 4968694 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960202&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FKL0ko4TEcXU%2F A couple of very interesting recent announcements show (in a military context) how well-targeted brain training can complement and augment existing approaches, both to help “normal” and “clinical” populations, in ways that silo-based, rear-mirror thinking often misses: U.S. Department of Defense Awards $2 Million to Brain Plasticity Inc. to Study Impact of Brain Training for Traumatic Brain Injuries (press release): “Brain Plasticity Inc. (BPI), a technology incubator dedicated to the discovery and development of novel technologies that harness the basic principles of brain plasticity to improve the lives of people with neurological and psychiatric disorders, was recently awarded a $2 million grant from the United States Department of Defense.” “The grant will fund a two-year... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960202 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 11:21:27 +0100 4960202 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4676941&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=35373&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmerzenich.positscience.com%2F%3Fp%3D255 I had the great pleasure of visiting a wonderful research team studying the neurological origins and treatment of tinnitus at Washington University Medical School in St. Louis last week.  About 30 million U.S. citizens have tinnitus.  For about 4 million of them, the tinnitus is identified as “severe” – which means [...] (Source: On the Brain by Dr. Michael Merzenich, Ph.D.) On the Brain by Dr. Michael Merzenich, Ph.D. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4676941 Mon, 04 Apr 2011 18:46:40 +0100 4676941 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4259032&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FXzPIfCIS5Y8%2F Yesterday I had the chance to chat with Yaakov Stern, leading Cognitive Reserve researcher at Columbia University, and then with a group of 25 lifelong learners in Arizona who attended a brain fitness class (hello, Robert and friends!) based on our consumer guide The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness. On reflection, I found both conversations to be very stimulating for the same reason: they were forward-looking, focused not so much on status quo but on how emerging research, technology and trends may impact our society and lives in years to come. Let’s continue the conversation. Let me share the 10 main trends that we analyzed/ forecasted in our book, and then ask you, sharp readers, to add your own 2 cents to the discussion. 1. We predict an increased emphasis on brain maintenance in ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4259032 Tue, 14 Dec 2010 19:51:03 +0100 4259032 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3699606&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F9kuPOAPPJdk%2F We define Brain Fitness as having the brain-based cognitive, emotional and self-regulation capacities required to succeed in one’s environment. Not everyone is exposed to the same mental demands nor do we all have the same starting points. This means we need to stop looking for ‘magic pills’ and invest more resources in developing toolkits and infrastructure similar to what the physical fitness industry has done over the last 30-40 years. The following question guides much of our work at SharpBrains: “What tools provide the right kind of experience to refine our brains from a structural and functional point of view to harness neuroplasticity into real-world benefits?” We try to provide good information and answers by constantly monitoring and analyzing the state of science and th... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3699606 Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:31:12 +0100 3699606 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3695567&cid=t_153858_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fusing-ultrasound-to-zap-the-brain-back-into-action%2F2010.06.24 Scientists at Arizona State University have developed a new method of non-surgical brain stimulation using pulsed ultrasound that enhances cognitive function in mice, and may one day be used to non-invasively treat patients with mental retardation, Alzheimer’s disease and other central nervous system (CNS) dysfunctions. In intact motor cortex in mice, ultrasound was found to stimulate action potentials and elicit motor responses comparable to those only previously achieved with implanted electrodes and related techniques. It also activates meaningful brain wave patterns and the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus — one of the most potent regulators of brain plasticity. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Medgad... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3695567 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 22:00:01 +0100 3695567 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3603705&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=35373&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmerzenich.positscience.com%2F%3Fp%3D251 I had the great pleasure of attending a symposium held in the College of Education at my alma mater, the University of Portland, focused on this interesting subject, and the implications that it bears for effective learning and teaching. My co-participants were distinguished professors in linguistics and education science (Ellyn Arwood and Richard Christen), and [...] (Source: On the Brain by Dr. Michael Merzenich, Ph.D.) On the Brain by Dr. Michael Merzenich, Ph.D. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3603705 Wed, 26 May 2010 20:27:55 +0100 3603705 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3592274&cid=t_153858_109_f&fid=34761&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedblitz.com%2F%7E%2F12442401%2F1f0jdx%2Fneuromarketing%7ENeurons-That-Fire-Together-Wire-Together.htm One of the key factors in the human brain’s ability to change via neuroplasticity is that neurons form interconnections based on simultaneous firing over a period of time. According to Norman Doidge, author of The Brain That Changes Itself, this theory was first proposed by none other than Sigmund Freud, but was articulated in [...] CommentsThere's the self-perpetuating benefit too. The more neural ... by BrendonThis concept was beautifully illustrated in the film “What ... by Ben Sykes (Source: Neuromarketing) Neuromarketing blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3592274 Thu, 06 May 2010 12:32:18 +0100 3592274 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3581669&cid=t_153858_109_f&fid=34761&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedblitz.com%2F%7E%2F12149755%2F1ek6a6%2Fneuromarketing%7EThe-Brain-That-Changes-Itself.htm Book Review: The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science by Norman Doidge For centuries, the human brain was considered largely immutable after childhood. We were told that we had all the brain cells we’d ever get by the time we were adolescents. In short, even under [...] CommentsI really like the approach this book takes on the brain. I ... by Brian LagoniI had the same thought, Brendon, though I hope that it spawns a ... by Roger DooleyThanks Roger. I enjoyed this when I read it last year, and ... by Brendon Clark (Source: Neuromarketing) Neuromarketing blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3581669 Mon, 03 May 2010 12:28:04 +0100 3581669 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3133638&cid=t_153858_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F31%2Fthe-future-of-psychiatry-5-reasons-for-optimism%2F After reading the last chapter of the book, Demystifying Psychiatry, I felt so much better about where psychiatry might be when my kids are my age. Perhaps, if either is ever diagnosed with a mental illnesses, there will be more targeted treatments, and more optimism for a speedy recovery. Here are a few reasons we can be optimistic about the future of psychiatry: 1. Interdisciplinary Studies Over the next 50 to 100 years, neuroscience research will lead scientists to understand in exquisite detail how humans process information, express and regulate emotions, and motivate themselves to achieve specific goals. This information will affect many clinical and scientific disciplines, including neurology, psychology, biomedical engineering, and computer sciences, but it will likely pay its grea... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3133638 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 11:15:13 +0100 3133638 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3082499&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F6b8ykl2M_7o%2F Nice weekend reading material – recent news reiforcing emerging trends on physical, cognitive and emotional fitness, but with new twists. Fit teens could be smarter teens “Researchers from Sweden and USC examined data on 1.2 million Swedish men born between 1950 and 1976 who also enlisted for the country’s mandatory military service. They looked at the participants’ global intelligence scores as well as logical, visuospatial, verbal and technical scores. The greater the cardiovascular fitness, the higher the cognitive scores at age 18. The association between muscle strength and global intelligence, in contrast, was weak.”   UPMC Health Plan Offers Brain Fitness Software to Improve Health “UPMC Health Plan announced today that it has signed an agreement... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3082499 Sat, 12 Dec 2009 04:28:00 +0100 3082499 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3044879&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F2wBLXqKGsKE%2F Discussion on the future of computerized cognitive behavioral therapy; United BioSource acquires Cognitive Drug Research; innovative partnership between Navigenics and Posit Science; new research on brain impact of Tetris; how a drop in visual skills may precede Alzheimer’s Disease;  excellent report by the National Academies for the US Army available for free now. Brain Teaser Who will you believe, me or your own eyes? discover the 3 Winners of the 2009 Best Visual Illusion of the Year Contest. Neuroscientists Susana Martinez-Conde and Stephen Macknik, who help organize the contest, will give a fun demo on Magic and the Brain at SharpBrains Summit, to discuss the limits of human perception and cognition. Enjoy the final month of 2009! (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3044879 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:30:59 +0100 3044879 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2768727&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FpsjwziqkGe0%2F The July/ August 2009 issue of The Journal on Active Aging includes my article Why We Need to Retool "Use It Or Lose It" An excerpt: "By now you have probably heard about brain plasticity, the lifelong capacity of the brain to change and rewire itself in response to the stimulation of learning and experience. The latest scientific research shows that specific lifestyles and actions can improve the health and level of functioning of our brains, no matter our age. Of particular importance to maintaining cognitive functioning through life are the hippocampus (deep inside the brain, part of what is called the limbic system), which plays a role in learning and memory; and the frontal lobes (behind your forehead), which are key to maintaining decision-making and autonomy. Is ther... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2768727 Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:06:41 +0100 2768727 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2611053&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=35373&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmerzenich.positscience.com%2F%3Fp%3D250 Today, Posit Science announced the release of a new Web-based visual training tool, DriveSharp, specifically designed to improve the performance abilities of adult automobile drivers to a degree that can be expected to very substantially impact their driving safety. This training employs two very important brain plasticity-based strategies to improve your visual assets that support safe driving. The first is the “Useful Field of View Training” developed and patented by Drs. Karlene Ball (University of Alabama at Birmingham) and Daniel Roenker (University of Western Kentucky). Their training tool addresses a key problem that arises in older individuals: the progressive contraction of their “useful field of view” (UFOV). As you get older, you progressively lose the ... On the Brain by Dr. Michael Merzenich, Ph.D. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2611053 Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:01:42 +0100 2611053 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2576714&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=35373&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmerzenich.positscience.com%2F%3Fp%3D249 I delivered a lecture at the University of Konstanz in Germany two weeks ago, as a part of the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Heidelberg Akademie. This is one of 7 scientific academies in Germany. Because Germany was created as an amalgamation of powerful states in the 19th Century, its scientific academies originate with and are still identified with those entities — in the case of the Heidelberg Academy, with the state of Baden-Wuerttemburg. Because I was appealing to a wider scientific audience than usual, my subject was a consideration of the societal consequences of ‘the brain plasticity revolution’. Contemporary neuroscience is revealing, for the first time in our history, our true human natures. It is defining the true rules of human behavior, as brai... On the Brain by Dr. Michael Merzenich, Ph.D. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2576714 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:08:33 +0100 2576714 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2570897&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=35373&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmerzenich.positscience.com%2F%3Fp%3D248 I received a wonderful comment about the hypothesis that early umbilical cord clamping might contribute to the risk of origin of autism from a wonderful former colleague, Dr. David Blake, a researcher in the Department of Neurology at the Medical College of Georgia. His observations: Fraternal twins typically have different placentas, whereas identical twins share a placenta but have different cords. The blood supply, and pre-clamping susceptibility to anoxia, would surely be different. There are plenty of reviews associating prenatal or perinatal anoxia with autism already (as well as advanced maternal and/or paternal age). Given that early cord clamping clearly impacts perinatal anoxia, and has been recommended against, it would seem prudent to just change practice and see where that lea... On the Brain by Dr. Michael Merzenich, Ph.D. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2570897 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:42:51 +0100 2570897 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2570898&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=35373&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmerzenich.positscience.com%2F%3Fp%3D246 I delivered a lecture sponsored by the Danish Neuroscience Society and the Helene Elsass Center (a wonderful new research institution in the suburbs of Copenhagen) that has developed a state-of-the-art research and treatment center focusing on cerebral palsy. I was delighted to sit down with the Center’s Director, Peder Esben Bilde, to review new training software developed by therapists and University of Copenhagen scientists affiliated with the Center, and implemented with the help of a local computer game company. The software uses a conventional computer camera to dynamically record the location of colored bands strapped around a few fingers or hand or wrist or elbow or neck or ankle. The software tracks the motion of these bands in relation to stationary or moving computer-screen-lo... On the Brain by Dr. Michael Merzenich, Ph.D. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2570898 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:05:29 +0100 2570898 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2570899&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=35373&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmerzenich.positscience.com%2F%3Fp%3D239 Millions of individuals (2% of humankind) are plagued by continuous sounds generated in their skulls, not coming from the real world. Because these ringing or roaring sounds are inescapable and because they strongly influence emotional-control processes in the brain, they can literally drive an individual who hears them incessantly just a little bit crazy. No one dies from tinnitus (although its sufferers have a substantially elevated suicide rate). But it represents one of a long list of brain plasticity-generated problems that can substantially degrade – and in the extreme, destroy – a sufferer’s quality of life. I am writing this blog from a scientific meeting in Italy at which 20 top neuroscientists (about half of who some level of direct understanding of tinnitus; the other half... On the Brain by Dr. Michael Merzenich, Ph.D. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2570899 Sat, 13 Jun 2009 22:27:01 +0100 2570899 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2473707&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FibE8_UNvc7g%2F (Editor's Note: interviewing Richard Nisbett, author of the excellent recent book Intelligence and How to Get It: Why Schools and Cultures Count, was in my To Do list. I then found that fellow blogger David DiSalvo was faster than I was and did a great job, so here we bring you David's interview and take). While the debate over intelligence rages on many fronts, the battle over the importance of heredity rages loudest. It’s easy to see why. If the camp that argues intelligence is 75 to 85 percent genetically determined is correct, then we’re faced with some tough questions about the role of education. If intelligence is improved very little by schools, and if the IQ of the majority of the population will remain relatively unchanged no matter how well schools perform, then should school... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2473707 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:27:06 +0100 2473707 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2570900&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=35373&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmerzenich.positscience.com%2F%3Fp%3D241 I had the pleasure of spending a day last week talking with a world authority on brain plasticity issues, Harvard professor Alvaro Pascual-Leone. Dr. Pascual-Leone has employed a special tool in many of his studies, both to document brain change, and to induce it for the benefit of patients. That tool is direct magnetic stimulation of the brain. A very powerful magnetic pulse applied externally over the scalp can be localized to excite a limited brain area. Alvaro and his colleagues showed, historically, that they could actually reconstruct the orderly representations of body movements in the brain by systematically moving the site of stimulation across the surfaces of your skull. Moving from the top of the head down toward the ears, they evoke fine movements from the feet then legs then t... On the Brain by Dr. Michael Merzenich, Ph.D. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2570900 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:28:26 +0100 2570900 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2458243&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F1xndaexWxAA%2F This is a partial list of the literature we reviewed during the research phase of our new book, The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness.  We know many friends of SharpBrains are researchers, healthcare professionals, graduate/ Ph.D. students, who want have direct access to the references (perhaps PubMed should promote itself as a never ending source of mental stimulation?), so here you have this list, organized by relevant chapter. Please note that the list below appears in the book - whose manuscript we had to close in January 2009. Introduction • Basak, C. et al. (2008). Can training in a real-time strategy video game attenuate cognitive decline in older adults? Psychology and Aging. • Begley, S. (2007). Train your mind, change your brain: How a new science reveals our extraordinary ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2458243 Sat, 06 Jun 2009 19:24:20 +0100 2458243 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2447832&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F3XvIPyfyaWA%2F Discussion Guide: The goal of our just published book, The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness, is to inform you, but also to open a much needed debate to contribute to our collective brain fitness. We encourage book clubs to read and discuss the book, and suggest 10 questions to kickstart the conversation. Please do send us your answers and impressions! Education & Learning 10% Students may have working memory problems: Why does this matter?: A recent study screened over 3,000 school-aged students in schools in the UK and found that 1 in 10 was identified as having working memory difficulties. Working memory is our ability to store and manipulate information for a brief time, and difficulties in this brain function may lead into difficulties in reading and mathematics. Dr. Tracy Allo... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2447832 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:53:26 +0100 2447832 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2570902&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=35373&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmerzenich.positscience.com%2F%3Fp%3D181 In a July 9th, 2008 post, I added oxygen deprivation incurred at childbirth as another factor potentially contributing to an increased incidence in autism. As I noted in that blog: “We have published compelling evidence that peri-natal anoxia meets all of the other criteria for adding to “noisy” brain processing. It can have strong, selective impacts on cortical inhibitory processes, and degrades the ability of the cortex to develop normally-selective characteristics of response (see Strata, Merzenich et al, PNAS, 2005). At the same time, we had dismissed perinatal anoxia as a likely factor contributing to autism’s apparent rise because we could not see how ITS incidence could be growing over the past several decades. However, it has recently been argued that the... On the Brain by Dr. Michael Merzenich, Ph.D. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2570902 Sat, 30 May 2009 22:13:15 +0100 2570902 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2570903&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=35373&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmerzenich.positscience.com%2F%3Fp%3D217 The several-month-old report by the Masters of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims on the “Omnibus Autism Proceeding” is old news, but I thought I’d put an oar in, by saying that this is something that the courts got right. There is a large body of evidence that demonstrates, to a level of near-certainty, that the mercury compound used as a preservative for a baby’s immunization injections does NOT cause autism. Perhaps in part because the onset of autism commonly occurs over the time window in which these shots are administered, the popular myth that may be the source of an increase in autism incidence has grown, even in the face of a very large body of evidence to the contrary. I have earlier argued that the ‘red herring’ of mercury has distracted scient... On the Brain by Dr. Michael Merzenich, Ph.D. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2570903 Thu, 28 May 2009 21:26:06 +0100 2570903 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2570904&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=35373&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmerzenich.positscience.com%2F%3Fp%3D230 If you have just discovered this topic, go back to Part 1 (April 3), Part 2 (April 5), Part 3 (April 7) and Part 4 (April 24); whereupon you shall be fully qualified to advance to Part 5. Before I begin to talk about commonly applied strategies of prevention and rehabilitation designed to reduce the numbers of criminal offenders and recidivists amongst us, let’s begin with a note about statistics. In all of my earlier blogs, I talk about the “average” offender and their neurological and personal history. In reality, there are many classes of offenders. While the majority fit the wide bounds that I described, there are innumerable exceptions among the 7+ million individuals operating under the jurisdiction of an American court — including a significant minority who d... On the Brain by Dr. Michael Merzenich, Ph.D. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2570904 Tue, 26 May 2009 19:56:02 +0100 2570904 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2570905&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=35373&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmerzenich.positscience.com%2F%3Fp%3D228 I strongly encourage our readers to check out the newly published book “Move Into Life”, authored by a highly distinguished therapist (and personal friend) Anat Baniel. Anat was originally trained by Moshe Feldenkrais, who developed a novel empirical perspective about physical/cognitive/perceptual rehabilitation that is broadly consistent with the principles of brain plasticity neuroscience. She has very significantly elaborated those practices, and has gradually encorporated a richer scientific perspective into them. Anat summarizes this deeper understanding in this important book — which is full of good information and advice, both for the therapist, and the patient. At the core of her approach is the understanding that awareness, cognition and movement are really insep... On the Brain by Dr. Michael Merzenich, Ph.D. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2570905 Wed, 06 May 2009 15:46:17 +0100 2570905 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2382640&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FqaQH2_3wovU%2F Here you have the April 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. We are excited to release our 2009 market report The State of the Brain Fitness Software Market 2009. To be formally released on May 4th but available now for our clients and readers, this report aims to inform decision-makers at healthcare, insurance, research, public policy, investment and technology organizations about important developments in the brain fitness and cognitive health space. 2009 Market Report The State of the Brain Fitness Software Market 2009: This new 150-page report finds sustained growth in the brain fitness software market (from $225m in 2007 t... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2382640 Fri, 01 May 2009 13:53:07 +0100 2382640 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2570906&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=35373&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmerzenich.positscience.com%2F%3Fp%3D226 We all know a few older-aged paragons, individuals who are still storming through life in their 9th or 10th or 11th decade. I was delighted to read two articles in the New York Times last week that featured two such individuals who have crossed my own path in life. David Perlman is a 90-year-old science writer for the San Francisco Chronicle who is refusing to take a buyout offer from his struggling employer. I know from meeting with him in the past that he’s an all-business, no-nonsense, straightforward, well-informed PROFESSIONAL, in every sense of the word. Why SHOULD he quit, when he gets so much enjoyment about his work? In any event, as he joked in the Times article, he’d “..bankrupt the paper.” if he took a buyout package based on the number of years of emplo... On the Brain by Dr. Michael Merzenich, Ph.D. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2570906 Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:39:23 +0100 2570906 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2320462&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F-swwFitJTAE%2F This is one of the slides I created recently for my talks, and it seems to be getting the point across. Your answer? The follow-up question: is your job and life more similar to the constant problem-solving and mental challenge of the cab driver, or to the routine or the bus driver? Pascale wrote an excellent article on this, check it out: Brain Plasticity - How learning changes your brain. Have a good Good Friday/ Passover/ holiday/ weekend! brain, Brain Plasticity, bus driver, cab driver, hippocampus, Learning, mental challenge, problem solving (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2320462 Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:51:06 +0100 2320462 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2320467&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FOo0Lb0x7KHw%2F Here you have the March 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. I know I am biased - but do believe this Newsletter issue might well be our best so far. I hope you find the time to enjoy it! Bird's Eye View Top Articles and Resources in March: Highlights - a) great articles in SciAm Mind and the Wall Street Journal, b) new resources (book and free DVD) by the Dana Foundation, c) research studies on how our cognitive abilities tend to evolve as we age, the impact of physical exercise on the brain, the lack of long-term effectiveness of ADHD drugs, and how working memory training may benefit math performance. Brain Fitness Survey: O... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2320467 Tue, 31 Mar 2009 04:07:56 +0100 2320467 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2293096&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FsPTvxOgEPpA%2F Physical Fitness Improves Spatial Memory, Increases Size Of Brain Structure (Science Daily) - "Now researchers have found that elderly adults who are more physically fit tend to have bigger hippocampi and better spatial memory than those who are less fit." - "Certain activities are believed to modify hippocampus size in humans. For example, a study of London taxi drivers found that the posterior portion of the hippocampus was larger in experienced taxi drivers than in other subjects. And a study of German medical students found that the same region of the hippocampus increased in size as they studied for their final exams." - "Studies also have found that the hippocampus shrinks with age, a process that coincides with small but significant cognitive declines. The ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2293096 Fri, 20 Mar 2009 06:07:04 +0100 2293096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2259393&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.rawvoice.com%2Fpmn_brainsciencepodcast%2Fmedia.libsyn.com%2Fmedia%2Fbrainsciencepodcast%2F54-brainscience-Merzenich.mp3 "Whatever you struggle with in a sense as it stems from your neurology, the inherent plasticity of the brain gives you a basis for improvement. This is a way underutilized and under-appreciated resource that well all have." Dr. Michael Merzenich on the Brain Science Podcast #54, 2/13/09. Recently there has been growing controversy about the effectiveness of computer-based cognitive training programs. As a co-founder of Posit Science, Inc. Dr. Michael Merzenich is a staunch defender of the methods his company uses to validate the programs that they have developed. But for the purposes of this essay, I want to share some of the key ideas we discussed during his recent interview on the Brain Science Podcast. First of all, I asked him to discuss some of the highlights of his long car... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2259393 Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:28:44 +0100 2259393 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2217627&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FgAFeyCIEMYo%2F CONCLUSIONS What those 2 recent studies say and imply • Cognitive training can help healthy adults improve specific cognitive skills, and improvements seem to last longer than the training itself (Willis et al., 2006; Smith et al., 2009). • Cognitive training can help adults in the early stages of cognitive impairment and dementia improve some cognitive skills (Sitzer et al, 2006) • One needs to make informed decisions. SharpBrains' Evaluation Checklist may prove useful. What neither study says or implies • Whether cognitive training can postpone the emergence of dementia: More long-term studies are needed. (We know that mentally stimulating activities can help build a Cognitive Reserve and delay symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease, but that evidence is not based on randomized clini... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2217627 Thu, 26 Feb 2009 18:21:56 +0100 2217627 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2201696&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F543532638%2F Last week, in this article's first part, we discussed the importance of actually teaching children how to get themselves into a physical state of being relaxed, explored several suggestions I hope you found useful. Let's continue. Teachers can help student overcome stress by teaching them to identify the impediments they might encounter in doing a certain task. The teacher can ask: What's going to get in the way of you doing this work? He or she may have to jump-start the students’ thinking by suggesting such things as: - competing events (family activities, friends call, IM-ing, new video game, etc.) - lack of adequate place to study - inadequate prior preparation or skills - a negative attitude (this is not necessary, I can't do math, I’ll never need to know this, etc). - health fac... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2201696 Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:12:45 +0100 2201696 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2188484&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F539678504%2F Eric Jensen alerted me to a research study published in the February 4th Journal of Neuroscience --- Transgenerational Rescue of a Genetic Defect in Long-Term Potentiation and Memory Formation by Juvenile Enrichment. We both had the same initial WOW! feeling that we had experienced when we first read about the discovery of mirror neurons a decade+ ago. The study's findings seemed to suggest that acquired characteristics can be genetically transmitted, a Lamarckinan belief that had long been discarded by biologists. This seemed improbable, so we decided to check out what the scientific community thought. It's the kind of research that educators certainly need to understand because the potential educational implications are profound, no matter how this particular study sorts out. I've thus a... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2188484 Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:21:17 +0100 2188484 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2184042&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F539056946%2F The IMPACT study which we reported on in December 2007, funded by Posit Science, conducted  by the Mayo Clinic and USC Davis, has just announced publication at the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Reference: - Smith et al. A Cognitive Training Program Designed Based on Principles of Brain Plasticity: Results from the Improvement in Memory with Plasticity-based Adaptive Cognitive Training Study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, April 2009. Computer Exercises Improve Memory And Attention, Study Suggests (Science Daily) - "The Improvement in Memory with Plasticity-based Adaptive Cognitive Training (IMPACT) study was funded by the Posit Science Corporation, which owns the rights to the Brain Fitness Program, tested in the study." - "Of the 487 healthy adul... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2184042 Fri, 13 Feb 2009 18:25:52 +0100 2184042 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2170177&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F535195978%2F Round-up of recent news with a variety of angles, from the effects of gaming to cognitive training for driving skills and brain fitness classes. Seniors use brain training software to sharpen their minds (Dallas Morning News) - "Allstate Insurance has invited some policyholders and other older drivers to try InSight so researchers can evaluate whether the software reduces accidents." - "Depending on the results, the auto insurer says it may expand the pilot project and offer premium discounts to drivers who take the brain training." - "Today, only one in seven licensed drivers is 65 or older. But by 2030, when the last of the boomers turn 65, the proportion will be one in four. " Brain games (Palo Alto Weekly) - "There is research that justifies the belie... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2170177 Sun, 08 Feb 2009 23:54:42 +0100 2170177 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2093189&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F503700948%2F Edge's Question of the Year is, "What will change everything? What game-changing scientific ideas and developments do you expect to live to see?" A couple of scientists respond on areas close to our field: - Controlling Brain Plasticity (by Leo Chalupa) - The first major upgrade of the human brain and the mind it generates since the Pleistocene (by Gregory Paul) You can read those and many other fascinating answers at Edge's Question of the Year. brain, Brain Plasticity, Edge, Gregory Paul, human brain, Leo Chalupa, mind, question of the year (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2093189 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:59:52 +0100 2093189 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2079029&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F493454114%2F Here you have SharpBrains' 30 most popular articles, ranked by the number of people who have read each article in 2008. Please note that, since the first article already includes most of our most popular brain teasers, we have excluded teasers from the rest of the ranking. (If those 50 are not enough for you, you can also try these brain teasers). --- Blog Channel Article Brain teasers 1. Top 50 Brain Teasers and Games to Test your Brain It is always good to stimulate our minds and to learn a bit about how our brains work. Here you have a selection of the 50 Brain Teasers that people have enjoyed the most. Health & Wellness 2. The Ten Habits of Highly Effective Brains Let's review some good lifestyle options we can follow to maintain, and improve, our vibrant brains. My fa... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2079029 Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:55:23 +0100 2079029 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2053746&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F489938436%2F Learning & the Brain is a conference that gets marked on my calendar annually because I always return home having either been exposed to new information, or with a new perspective on an old topic. Last month’s conference in Cambridge, MA, themed Using Emotions Research to Enhance Learning & Achievement, was no exception. As with previous conferences, in addition to the many keynote sessions, I focused on the adult learning strand, since so much of my time is spent providing professional development for, and collaborating with adults. Here are five conference cues as they relate to education. 1. CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH NEW LEARNING Aaron Nelson stated that our memory starts to decline between ages twenty-five and thirty, or to phrase it a bit more positively, Sam Wang says our m... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2053746 Fri, 19 Dec 2008 22:10:09 +0100 2053746 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1981626&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F461018972%2F PBS recently announced the second installment of their popular Brain Fitness Program show, and released this trailer via YouTube: Watch: Brain Fitness 2: Sight & Sound (2:30) Description: Join host Peter Coyote in "Brain Fitness 2: Sight & Sound," the follow-up to "The Brain Fitness Program," as he explores the brain's ability to change and grow, even as we age, helping us maintain and improve our vision and hearing. "Brain Fitness 2: Sight & Sound" is a special in-depth look at the advances in neuroplasticity and how it relates to healthy aging, with a particular focus on making the most of information filtered through our eyes and ears. Check your local listings to catch it, beginning in December 2008. Your brain will thank you. Help PBS conti... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1981626 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:04:43 +0100 1981626 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1955843&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F451083984%2F I first discovered Norman Doidge’s book, The Brain That Changes Itself, in a May, 2007 review in the New York Times. Intrigued, but caught up in myriad end-of-school-year responsibilities, the book was put out of my mind until later that summer, when our school’s learning specialist emailed to say she had just finished a fascinating book. The Brain That Changes Itself: Stores of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science, is a compelling collection of tales about the amazing abilities of the brain to rewire, readjust and relearn after having a slice of itself rendered dysfunctional. The first seven chapters captivated me for their personal stories; the final four chapters for the science and philosophy. Part of what makes Doidge’s writing so accessible is he tells stories, ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1955843 Thu, 13 Nov 2008 01:13:46 +0100 1955843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1770842&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F385446143%2F A couple of recent studies have reinforced the lifelong potential for brain plasticity (the ability of the brain to rewire itself through experience) and the importance of physical exercise for cognitive vitality. One study focused on 1) adults over 50 with mild cognitive impairment, the other one on 2) stroke survivors. 1)  Memory problems: Adults 50-years-old and over with mild cognitive impairment (an advanced form of memory problems, but pre-dementia) were asked to exercise for three 50-minute sessions per week for 24 weeks (a total of 60 hours). Results: there were small, but measurable, cognitive benefits even 18 months after the start of the program (around a year after the supervised exercise activities ended). Study: Nicola T. Lautenschlager et al. Effect of Physical Activity on ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1770842 Sun, 07 Sep 2008 02:08:45 +0100 1770842 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1734635&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn3.libsyn.com%2Fpdtogo%2FSMARTepisode131.mp3%3Fnvb%3D20080826191507%26nva%3D20080827191507%26t%3D0e70c50cd4dd296bc8133 As promised in my previous post on Neurogenesis and Brain Plasticity in Adult Brains, I will now list some interviews, video, articles, and books that go hand-in-hand with these fascinating topics we are discussing. Please comment below if you have favorite additional resources! NEUROGENESIS MIT news – Picower researcher finds neuron growth in adult brain Society for Neuroscience brain brief – Adult Neurogenesis BRAIN PLASTICITY Neuroscience for Kids – Brain Plasticity: What Is It? Society for Neuroscience brain brief – Brain Plasticity, Language Processing and Reading Brain Science Podcast – Ginger Campbell interview with Norman Doidge, MD, discussing Neuroplasticity, and his book The Brain That Changes Itself CBD Radio – Interview with Norman Doidge Carol Dweck discussing &qu... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1734635 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:34:33 +0100 1734635 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1717978&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F368462302%2F Chris hosts a superb edition of Encephalon, presenting the articles as an engaging and pretty comprehensive Q&A session. If you want to read the answers, to the questions below, by some of the best neuroscience and psychology bloggers, simply visit Encephalon 52: Q&A. Q: What is the relationship between neurogenesis and depression? Q: For that matter, is there a relationship between depression and diabetes? Q: What is the molecular basis of bipolar disorder? Q: Can brain stimulation make you a better driver? Q: What is the perceptual defect underlying tone deafness? Q: What determines plasticity in the visual cortex? Q: Can we do anything to control our own brain’s plasticity? Q: Are concepts encoded in single neurons? Q: Speaking of dear old granny, how are social att... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1717978 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:31:54 +0100 1717978 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1689397&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F358994501%2F Back in July, I wrote a post entitled 10 Brain Tips To Teach and Learn. Those tips apply to students of any age, including adults, for ideally adults are still learners. Why is adult learning relevant in a brain-focused blog, you may wonder: The short of it… As we age, our brain: • still forms new brain cells • can change its structure & function • finds positive stress can be beneficial; negative stress can be detrimental • can thrive on novel challenges • needs to be exercised, just like our bodies The long of it… Adults may have a tendency to get set in their ways – I’ve been doing it this way for a long time and it works, so why change? Turns out, though, that change can be a way to keep aging brains healthy. At the April Learning & the Brain conference, the... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1689397 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:31:48 +0100 1689397 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1649634&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F343731943%2F In an emerging, dynamic, high growth market, like brain training, it is difficult to make precise projections. But, we can observe a number of trends that executives, consumers, public policy makers, and the media should watch closely in the coming years, as brain fitness and training becomes mainstream, new tools appear, and an ecosystem grows around it. 1. We predict an increased emphasis on brain maintenance in locations ranging from retirement communities to gyms. As a computer-savvy baby boomer population looks for ways to stay mentally fit, brain fitness, or brain training, is becoming part of their vocabulary and concern. 2. Physical and mental exercise will be better integrated. Physical exercise has been shown to increase the rate of neurogenesis, whereas mental exercise helps ens... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1649634 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:49:38 +0100 1649634 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1582377&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F327418149%2F Thanks to our 3-month-old daughter, my wife and I have been learning much about baby brains. Mostly learning on the job, as you can imagine. We just watched a very nice PBS series titled Secret Life of the Brain that covers brain development accross the lifespan: babies, kids, teenagers, adults, seniors. A bit dated (2002) but excellent watching even today.  Secret Life of the Brain DVD Series (5 programs, $59.98) Description: A startling new map of the human brain has emerged during the past decade of neuroscience research, contradicting much of what was previously believed. Narrated by Blair Brown and directed by David Grubin, this series tells stories through a mix of personal histories, expert commentary, and cutting-edge animation. Viewers learn startling new truths about the brai... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1582377 Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:58:38 +0100 1582377 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1544539&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F319104093%2F A few colleagues referred me over the weekend to a very nice article at business publication Portfolio. While the article does an excellent job at introducing the reader to the concept and promise of computerized cognitive assessments, it also contributes to the mythology of "Brain Age". Let's first take a look at the article How Smart Are You: The business of assessing cognition and memory is moving from testing brain-impaired patients to assessing healthy peoples' brains online. A couple of quotes:  - "Cognitive Drug Research is one a handful of businesses, most of them outside of the U.S., that work with pharmaceutical companies to test how new drugs for everything from nicotine addiction to Alzheimer’s disease affect the mind’s ability to remember things, make deci... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1544539 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:15:14 +0100 1544539 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1437333&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F288396148%2F Daniel Lende and Greg Downey run the though-provoking Neuroanthropology blog. Daniel also teaches a class at University of Notre Dame, and he asked his students to submit group-based blog posts in lieu of the traditional final essays. He explains more on Why A Final Essay When We Can Do This?. Below you have a spectacular post written by 4 of his students. They show how brain imaging is starting to provide a window into the plasticity (glossary here) of our brains, and how our very own actions impact them. For good and for bad. Understanding Brain Imaging --- By Chris Dudley, Matt Gasperetti, Mikey Narvaez, and Sarah Walorski Do you remember the anti-drug public service announcement from the 1980s that showed an egg frying in a hot pan which represented your brain on drugs? During the ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1437333 Mon, 12 May 2008 02:55:42 +0100 1437333 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1346336&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F262844677%2F The next Learning & the Brain conference edition is April 26-29, 2008, in Cambridge, MA. We recommend it highly for educators interested in learning more about latest brain research findings and implications for teaching. See Detailed program. Description: Cognitive neuroscience has discovered that the brain is not ‘hardwired’ from birth, but holds a remarkable lifelong power to change—a phenomenon called ‘plasticity.’ Positive or negative environments, exercise, nurturance, learning, and other experiences continue to change the brain throughout life. These revolutionary findings point to new possibilities for ‘rewiring’ the brain to help overcome learning disorders and to enhance memory, learning, IQ and achievement in all learners. - Brain-based teaching for children,... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1346336 Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:30:29 +0100 1346336 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1316945&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F255106081%2F What stresses you out ? Whatever it is, how you respond to it may have more consequences than you think. Let me show you how. Recapping from last months article (see Stress and Neural Wreckage: Part of the Brain Plasticity Puzzle)...our bodies are a complex balancing act between systems working full time to keep us alive and well. Any change which threatens this balance can be referred to as stress. Cortisol, a key component of the stress response, does an excellent job of allowing us to adapt to most stressors which last more than a couple of minutes. However, having to endure a high stressor for longer periods than half and hour or so negatively impacts the brain in various ways. Sustained exposure to higher than normal levels of cortisol can result in“neural wreckage” via the prunin... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1316945 Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:52:18 +0100 1316945 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1298179&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F250263243%2F Quick links to excellent resources: 1) FEATURE-Brain fitness seen as hot industry of the future (Reuters) 2) Learning & the Brain Conference for Educators and Clinicians. April 26-29, 2008. Cambridge, MA 3) Brain Health Across the Lifespan Seminar for Health & Aging Professionals. May 15th, 2008. San Francisco, CA For more info,   1) FEATURE-Brain fitness seen as hot industry of the future (Reuters) Note: Probably the most comprehensive article I have seen so far covering this emerging field, based on our market report and with original reporting. Highly recommended read.  2) Learning & the Brain Conference for Educators and Clinicians - April 26-29, 2008. Cambridge, MA Description: "Cognitive neuroscience has discovered that the brain is not ‘hardwired’ from... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1298179 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:26:50 +0100 1298179 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1259003&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F241615678%2F This article was written by Pascale Michelon, Ph. D., for SharpBrains.com. Dr. 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 an Adjunct Faculty at Washington University, and teaches Memory Workshops in numerous retirement communities in the St Louis area.   --------------- If you are interested in learning more: - Recommended Books on Brain and Mind - Build Your Cognitive Reserve, an Interview with Yaakov Stern - The Art of Changing the Brain, an Interview with James Zull abstract information, bilingual brain, brain exercise, Brain exercises, brain hea... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1259003 Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:25:35 +0100 1259003 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1252039&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F240040388%2F Conclusions - Barkley's theory has been widely recognized as a significant advance in our thinking about ADHD that helps to organize a vast body of literature and clinical observations about the disorder. As with any theory, it's ultimate value will depend on the amount of new research that it stimulates, and the information that is obtained from those studies. One important point to note is that even if one agress with Barkley's notion that ADHD is fundamentally a deficit of self-regulation, it does not necessarily follow that the interventions he advocates - basically, behavior therapy and medication treatment - are the only approaches to be pursued. Clearly, these are the interventions that currently enjoy the strongest empirical support. They are limited, however, in that neither is c... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1252039 Sat, 23 Feb 2008 19:06:18 +0100 1252039 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1237220&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F236169430%2F We presented SharpBrains' upcoming report, The State of the Brain Fitness Software Market 2008, on Tuesday Feb 12th at an event sponsored by the MIT Club of Northern California, the American Society on Aging, and SmartSilvers. Health & Wellness Stress and Neural Wreckage: Part of the Brain Plasticity Puzzle: an insightful article by one of our new Expert Contributors, Gregory Kellet-a researcher at UCSF- who provides context on how stress kills neurons. Closing the Circuit: Helen Mayberg's research could revolutionize depression treatment: accumulated chronic stress can build into depression over time. Thanks to our collaboration with Greater Good Magazine, Jill Suttie offers a fascinating overview of depression and a promising new treatment. Posit Science Brain Fitness Program 2.0... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1237220 Sat, 16 Feb 2008 19:10:34 +0100 1237220 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1208968&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F229688710%2F Below you have a very insightful article on stress by one of our new Expert Contributors, Gregory Kellet, a researcher at UCSF. Enjoy! (Credit for Pic of Victoria Crater in Mars: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, via Wikipedia).  ---------------------------------------------- “My brain is…fried, toast, frazzled, burnt out.” How many times have you said or heard one version or another of these statements. Most of us think we are being figurative when we utter such phrases, but research shows that the biological consequences of sustained high levels of stress may have us being more accurate than we would like to think. Crash Course on Stress Our bodies are a complex balancing act between systems working full time to keep us alive and well. This balancing act is constantly adapting to th... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1208968 Tue, 05 Feb 2008 16:39:22 +0100 1208968 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1187329&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F225396989%2F We are pleased to announce that we'll have 2 additional excellent contributions during February: - Adrian Preda, M.D., will write about a brain plasticity topic. Adrian Preda, M.D. is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior in the UC Irvine School of Medicine. His expertise in human behavior, psychology and spirituality is based on years of experience working as a psychiatrist, psychotherapist, teacher and researcher in a variety of academic clinical and non-clinical settings, including Yale Psychiatric Institute, Yale New Haven Hospital, Yale Health Plan, UT Southwestern and UC Irvine Neuro-Psychiatric Research. - Joanne Jacobs, education expert and great blogger, will participate in our Author Speaks Series.  Once a Knight Ridder columnist, Joanne is now a freelance w... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1187329 Tue, 29 Jan 2008 18:47:25 +0100 1187329 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1159684&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F218530685%2F As you may have noticed, we just changed a few things in our site, including preparing a more solid Resources section. Please take a look at the navigation bar at the top. One of the new pages, that we will update often, is an expanded Books page. Here are the books that we are recommending now. Fascinating books on neuroplasticity (the ability of the brain to rewire itself through experience): Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain: How a New Science Reveals Our Extraordinary Potential to Transform Ourselves - by Sharon Begley.   The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science - by Norman Doidge.   Great popular science books by our Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Advisor: The Executive Brain: Frontal Lobes and the Civilized Mind - by Elkhono... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1159684 Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:26:09 +0100 1159684 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1143534&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36506&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainSciencePodcastBlog%2F%7E3%2F214724839%2F Discussion Forum Audience Survey Subscribe via iTunes™ Subscribe in a reader or podcatcher Subscribe to Brain Science Podcast with Dr. Ginger Campbell by Email Donations and Subscriptions Links and References: Dr. Taub recommends that interested listeners do their own Google search under “constraint-induced movement therapy” or CI Therapy, but I have included a few links below: About Dr. Taub: Announcement of his recent article in JAMA link to JAMA article mentioned in the podcast William James Fellow Award 1997 Dr. Taub’s faculty page at UAB (includes contact information) Other Links: Information about the Taub Clinic Training program for therapists References: Effect of Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy on Upper Extremity Function 3 to 9 Months Afte... the Brain Science Podcast and Blog with Dr. Ginger Campbell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1143534 Fri, 11 Jan 2008 02:00:24 +0100 1143534 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1132270&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F212264461%2F Dr. Robert Sylwester is an educator of educators, having received multiple awards during his long career as a master communicator of the implications of brain science research for education and learning. He is the author of several books and many journal articles, and member of our Scientific Advisory Board. His most recent book is The Adolescent Brain: Reaching for Autonomy (Corwin Press, 2007). He is an Emeritus Professor of Education at the University of Oregon. I am honored to interview him today. Alvaro Fernandez: Let's start with that eternal source of debate. What do we know about the respective roles of genes and our environment in brain development? Robert Sylwester: Genetic and environmental factors both contribute to brain maturation. Genetics probably play a stronger role in... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1132270 Sun, 06 Jan 2008 23:41:45 +0100 1132270 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1087898&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F198708954%2F Reader Theresa Cerulli just forwarded this Letter to the Editor that she had sent to the New York Times and went unpublished. The letter addresses the OpEd mentioned here (pitching physical vs. mental exercise), and refers to the Cogmed working memory training program, whose results have been studied in multiple papers published in top medical and scientific journals. ------------------------------- Dear Editor: I applaud Sandra Aamodt and Sam Wang for throwing some cold water on the current brain fitness craze in their recent New York Times Magazine Opinion Editorial “Exercise on the Brain.” They are correct in labeling the host of “mental fitness” products that target aging baby boomers as “inspired by science — not to be confused with actually proven by science.” For the ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1087898 Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:09:05 +0100 1087898 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=979700&cid=t_153858_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F175003828%2F Context: Last February we had the chance to attend a great conference on how brain research is influencing education. Highly recommended. Caroline wrote our impressions, summarized as "It was a fascinating mix of neuroscientists and educators talking with and listening to each other. Some topics were meant to be applied today, but many were food for thought - insight on where science and education are headed and how they influence each other". See some of our take-aways below. Announcement: the 2008 edition of this conference, titled Using Brain Research to Enhance Learning, Attention & Memory For Educators, Parents and Clinicians, will take place in San Francisco,  on February 7-9th, 2008. The organizers have kindly invited me to deliver a lecture on Interventions to Sha... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=979700 Thu, 25 Oct 2007 20:22:35 +0100 979700 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=794008&cid=t_153858_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F143237742%2Fhot_wire_your_brain_with_new_r.html As recent as ten years ago – if you claimed a human brain rewired itself – you’d likely lose your position as a brain researcher. Not so today. Nevertheless …  the key is to use these new facts in ways that activate dormant circuits and trigger new neurons. How so? If you were able to rewire your own brain to function better on a daily basis you’d likely rejuvenate areas such as learning leading and laughing. Right? Good news is that we are getting weekly hints from brain research that will rejuvenate key areas of our brains to operate more effectively.Here are 5 tips that emerge from the most recent facts about how to rewire your brain for practical benefits. 1. Use what you read as you read it.  Hook any insights that stand out in memos, dire... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=794008 Sun, 12 Aug 2007 04:56:57 +0100 794008