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 research'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:21:40 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159439&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fo71YDxEQEUA%2F We just noticed that the Alliance for Aging Research offers an excellent list of references on Brain Health Research, organized in these 10 sections below. Enjoy! #1 Nourish Your Noggin: Eat a Brain Healthy Diet #2 Use It or Lose It: Stay Mentally Active #3 Work Out for Your Wits: Exercise and Keep Fit #4 Interact with Others: Stay Social #5 Rest for Restoration: Get Plenty of Sleep #6 Unwind for Your Mind: Manage Your Stress #7 Guard Your Gray Matter: Protect Your Head #8 Think Overall Health: Control Other Conditions #9 Give Your Brain a Break: Avoid Unhealthy Habits #10 Understand Your Risk: Consider Your Genes Related articles: The Ten Habits of Highly Effective Brains Debunking 10 Brain Myths (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159439 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 14:52:32 +0100 5159439 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008448&cid=t_139572_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_139572_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=4883742&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=36506&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainSciencePodcastBlog%2F%7E3%2FB5fVKg7dC8w%2Fbrain-networks-with-olaf-sporns-bsp-74.html Discussion of Brain Imaging, including Diffusion Imaging BSP 56: Interview with Dr. Eve Marder about the use of circuit theory in neuroscience BSP 61: Mapping the Brain (and generating huge amounts of data)  ANNOUNCEMENTS: The Brain Science Podcast will be returning to a monthly schedule on July 1, 2011. Please join the new Brain Science Podcast Discussion Forum at GoodReads.com. Get show notes automatically via our Newsletter. Dr. Campbell gave a talk in London last month entitled "Why Neuroscience Matters."(Available here.) Dr. Campbell will be a speaker at The Amazing Meeting 9, July 14-17,2011 in Las Vegas, NV. Don't forget to check out the Books and Ideas podcast and SCIENCEPODCASTERS.ORG. The Brain Science Podcast app is available for iPhone, Android, and iPad. If you hav... the Brain Science Podcast and Blog with Dr. Ginger Campbell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883742 Tue, 31 May 2011 09:00:23 +0100 4883742 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4642776&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=35070&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneurobot.bio.auth.gr%2F2011%2Fincf-proposals-for-google-summer-of-code-2011%2F INCF has published a list of potential projects within Google Summer of Code 2011. The INCF is a professional organization devoted to advancing the field of neuroinformatics. One of its aims is to develop an international neuroinformatics infrastructure, which promotes the sharing of data and computing resources to the international research community. For more details, [...] (Source: Neurobot) Neurobot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4642776 Sat, 26 Mar 2011 20:17:08 +0100 4642776 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4636555&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=36506&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainSciencePodcastBlog%2F%7E3%2F2MrgmzutFLQ%2Fembodied-cognition-with-lawrence-shapiro-bsp-73.html Discussion) Brooks, R. (1991) "New Approaches to Robotics," Science 253: 1227-32. Brooks, R. (1991) "Intelligence without Representation," Artificial Intelligence 47: 139-59. Clark, A. and Chalmer, D. (1998) "The Extended Mind." Analysis 58: 7-19. Glenberg, A. and Kaschak, M. (2002) "Grounding Lanquage in Action," Psychonomic Bulletin & Review 9: 558-65. Ehrlich, S., Levine, S., and Golden-Meadows, S. (2006) "The Importance of Gesture in Children's Spatial Reasoning," Developmental Psychology 42: 1259-68. Thelan, E. and Smith,L. (1994) A Dynamical Systems Approach to the Development of Cognition and Action (Cambridge: MIT Press) See Episode Transcript for additional references.  Subscribe to the Brain Science Podcast: Annoucements:   Join the discussion of this episode in... the Brain Science Podcast and Blog with Dr. Ginger Campbell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4636555 Fri, 25 Mar 2011 11:00:06 +0100 4636555 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592533&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F6rcGkHQY08o%2F Got a Brain? If so, please join us in celebrating Brain Awareness Week (March 14-20th), the annual global campaign organized by the Dana Foundation to increase public awareness about the progress and benefits of brain research. Want to learn about activities in your area? Please visit BAW’s International Calendar of events. Want to discuss professional implications from this research, cross-sector partnerships and industry opportunities? Consider registering for our very own BAW Partner event, the 2011 SharpBrains Summit (March 30th — April 1st). (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592533 Mon, 14 Mar 2011 23:10:25 +0100 4592533 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4405823&cid=t_139572_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F27%2Fphrenology-examining-the-bumps-of-your-brain%2F The next time you say, “so and so should have her head examined,” remember that this was literally done in the 19th century. Phrenology, as it became known, is the study of brain function. Specifically, phrenologists believed that different parts of the brain were responsible for different emotional and intellectual functions. Furthermore, they felt that these functions could be ascertained by measuring the bumps and indentations in your skull. That is, the shape of your skull revealed your character and talents. Viennese doctor and anatomist Franz Josef Gall originated phrenology, though he called it cranioscopy. He was correct in saying that brain function was localized (this was a novel idea at the time), but unfortunately, he got everything else wrong. When Gall was young, he not... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4405823 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 12:01:01 +0100 4405823 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4399675&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=36506&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainSciencePodcastBlog%2F%7E3%2FEyca52pE8hg%2Fmagic-and-the-brain-bsp-72.html Discussion Forum is moving to Goodreads.com. Click here to visit our new group.   Subscribe to the Brain Science Podcast:   Send me feedback at gincampbell at mac dot com or leave voice mail at 205-202-0663. (Source: the Brain Science Podcast and Blog with Dr. Ginger Campbell) the Brain Science Podcast and Blog with Dr. Ginger Campbell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4399675 Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:11:56 +0100 4399675 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4386336&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=35070&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneurobot.bio.auth.gr%2F2011%2Fnerve-stimulation-shown-to-reverse-common-type-of-hearing-impairment%2F Targeted Vagus-nerve stimulation could reverse Tinnitus, a hearing impairment affecting almost 10% of senior citizens and 40% of military veterans. Tinnitus is caused by damage to the inner ear which results in changes to the sound localization at the brain’s auditory cortex. Researchers from University of Texas and MicroTransponder spin-off company published in Nature a [...] (Source: Neurobot) Neurobot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4386336 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 18:29:50 +0100 4386336 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4294828&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FF_-YgpOQQ2c%2F As part of the research behind the book The SharpBrains Guide for Brain Fitness we interviewed dozens of leading cognitive health and fitness scientists and experts worldwide to learn about their research and thoughts, and have a number of take-aways to report. What can we clearly say today that we couldn’t have said only 10 years ago? That what neuroscience pioneer Santiago Ramon y Cajal claimed in the XX century, “Every man can, if he so desires, become the sculptor his own brain”, may well become reality in the XXI. And transform Education, Health, Training, and Gaming in the process, since we have only scratched the surface of what science-based structured mental exercise can do for lifelong brain health and productivity. We are now witnessing the birth of a new field that cross... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4294828 Tue, 28 Dec 2010 00:56:49 +0100 4294828 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4285261&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=35070&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneurobot.bio.auth.gr%2F2010%2Fneuromorpho-org%2F is a centrally curated inventory of digitally reconstructed neurons associated with peer-reviewed publications. It contains contributions from over 40 laboratories worldwide and is continuously updated as new morphological reconstructions are collected, published, and shared. To date, NeuroMorpho.Org is the largest collection of publicly accessible 3D neuronal reconstructions and associated metadata. The goal of NeuroMorpho.Org is to [...] (Source: Neurobot) Neurobot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4285261 Thu, 23 Dec 2010 09:07:44 +0100 4285261 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4281396&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=35070&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneurobot.bio.auth.gr%2F2010%2Fthe-2010-progress-report-on-brain-research%2F Published annually, the Progress Report describes the top findings in brain research during the previous year as selected by executive members of the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives. The 2010 report features in-depth articles on the genetics of psychiatric disorders, deep brain stimulation, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, memory, and neuroprotection, as well as a roundup [...] (Source: Neurobot) Neurobot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4281396 Wed, 22 Dec 2010 19:30:31 +0100 4281396 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4272421&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=35070&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneurobot.bio.auth.gr%2F2010%2Fneurotycho%2F aims to share reliable massive neural and behavioral data for understanding brain mechanism. The dataset was recorded and distributed by Laboratory for Adaptive Intelligence, BSI, RIKEN. It is not only for neuroscientists but for everyone who is interested in learning neural mechanism. Neurotycho.org is organized by Dr. Naotaka Fujii, who is a laboratory head [...] (Source: Neurobot) Neurobot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4272421 Sun, 19 Dec 2010 19:09:50 +0100 4272421 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4031368&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FB6qLbobY-Ng%2F Welcome to Grand Rounds, the weekly col­lec­tion of best health and med­ical blog posts. This week we invite you to enjoy a broad range of insights, tips, and first-hand stories, presented as a Q&A conversation with bloggers willing to answer, below, a total of 22 good questions. On Health and Medicine What can one-word prescriptions deliver How does food processing change food´s nutritional value Can diet Increases Risk of ADHD Is alcoholism an illness What´s better: steady dete­ri­o­ra­tion over 10 years, or symp­tom-free life for 9 years fol­lowed by rapid dete­ri­o­ra­tion in year 10 On Patient Life As we talk about wellness…what about developing self-compassion Can patients with chronic pain still live a full life What is the patient-doctor etiquette for usin... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4031368 Tue, 05 Oct 2010 11:19:13 +0100 4031368 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4186974&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=35070&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneurobot.bio.auth.gr%2F2010%2Ftemplate-matching-methods-for-spike-sorting%2F Template matching is a popular method in spike sorting, mostly employed in the overlap resolution task. Several algorithms have been proposed during the last 5 years, some of them featuring online implementations. Selected publications follow: Zhang et al. Spike sorting based on automatic template reconstruction with a partial solution to the overlapping problem. J Neurosci [...] (Source: Neurobot) Neurobot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4186974 Wed, 04 Aug 2010 08:31:25 +0100 4186974 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4281404&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=36506&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainSciencePodcastBlog%2F%7E3%2FLU55GLxQnbk%2Fexploring-glial-cells-with-r-douglas-fields-bsp-69.html Discussion Forum: Join our Facebook Fan Page: Send me feedback at gincampbell at mac dot com or leave voice mail at 205-202-0663. (Source: the Brain Science Podcast and Blog with Dr. Ginger Campbell) the Brain Science Podcast and Blog with Dr. Ginger Campbell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4281404 Wed, 12 May 2010 14:03:17 +0100 4281404 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3298460&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FNVho1duYvkc%2F (Editor’s Note: In 1990, Congress designated the 1990s the “Decade of the Brain.” President George H. W. Bush proclaimed, “A new era of discovery is dawning in brain research.” During the ensuing decade, scientists greatly advanced our understanding of the brain. The editors of Cerebrum asked the directors of seven brain-related institutes at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to identify the biggest advances, greatest disappointments, and missed opportunities of brain research in the past decade—the decade after the “Decade of the Brain.” They also asked them what looks most promising for the coming decade, the 2010s. Experts focused on research that might change how doctors diagnose and treat human brain disorders.) Neuroscience is at a historic turning point. To... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3298460 Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:54:38 +0100 3298460 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2999698&cid=t_139572_125_f&fid=34820&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dentalblogs.com%2Farchives%2Fadministrator%2Fstudy-shows-connection-between-gum-disease-and-memory-problems%2F We know that gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss for American adults. It also causes an increased risk for health problems, from heart attack and stroke to diabetes complications and low-weight births. But new evidence shows that periodotnal disease can impair mental function, outside of the established connection between gum disease and Alzheimer’s or dementia. The newfound link may stem from inflammation in the body that originates in the mouth. The study, led by Dr. James Noble, involved 2,350 subjects of various  genders who were tested for periodontal disease, then underwent a series of mental skills assessments. Adults over 60 with a high level of Porphyromonas gingivalis, a pathogen that causes gum disease, were three times more likely to forget a three-word sequen... dental blog for dentists about dentistry blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2999698 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:21:32 +0100 2999698 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2865945&cid=t_139572_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F10%2F06%2Fbrief-brain-related-news%2F For really brief notes on the latest news about brain-related research, don’t forget to head to BrainMysteries.com! Bits that caught my eye: Infant pain, adult repercussions The making of the male brain (estrogen required) Eating sweets every day in childhood ‘increases adult aggression’ Reader beware: headlines don’t necessarily mean what they say – take that last one, ‘increases adult aggression’ – what the study shows is that there is a correlation between 10-year-olds who ate confectionary daily and their adult convictions for violence at 34 years old. There is a newsletter put out by this site, and a discussion forum – at least worth a visit, even if you need to read with a pinch or two of scientific common sense. (Source: HealthSk... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2865945 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:43:33 +0100 2865945 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4219971&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=35070&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneurobot.bio.auth.gr%2F2009%2Fclassic-neuroscience-papers%2F Society for Neuroscience provides access to a sample of high impact classic papers addressing a range of neuroscience topics. To suggest a classic paper, e-mail jn(at)sfn(dot)org. Topics are: * Action potentials * Arousal * Attention * Electroencephalography * Emotion * Frontal lobe function * Hormones * Language * Learning and memory * Sprouting * Stress [...] (Source: Neurobot) Neurobot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4219971 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 08:28:05 +0100 4219971 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4219978&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=35070&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneurobot.bio.auth.gr%2F2009%2Fartificial-simulator-of-the-human-nervous-system-to-do-research-into-diseases-and-test-new-medicines%2F Scientists of the University of Granada have generated a computer which permits to reproduce any part of the body’s nervous system, such as the retina, the cerebellum, the hearing centres or the nervous centres This is free and open software, so-called EDLUT, which can be freely downloaded through the Internet. Originally posted at UGR news [...] (Source: Neurobot) Neurobot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4219978 Fri, 22 May 2009 08:21:26 +0100 4219978 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4219985&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=35070&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneurobot.bio.auth.gr%2F2009%2Fbutif-toolbox%2F BUTIFtoolbox is used to extract transient oscillatory dynamics from signals. Until now, it was succesfully applied to LFP (Local Field Potentials) and EEG (Electroencephalographic) signals. Applications to other fields could be researched. (Source: Neurobot) Neurobot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4219985 Thu, 14 May 2009 09:30:03 +0100 4219985 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4220028&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=35070&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneurobot.bio.auth.gr%2F2009%2Fthe-2009-progress-report-on-brain-research%2F Published annually, the Progress Report describes the top findings in brain research during the previous year as selected by executive members of the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives. The 2009 report features in-depth articles on substance abuse, Alzheimer’s disease, obesity, schizophrenia, brain-machine interface, and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as a roundup chapter on other [...] (Source: Neurobot) Neurobot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4220028 Tue, 13 Jan 2009 22:34:41 +0100 4220028 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2018550&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F474885607%2F Dr. Andrew Newberg is an Associate Professor in the Department of Radiology and Psychiatry and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He has published a variety of neuroimaging studies related to aging and dementia. He has also researched the neurophysiological correlates of meditation, prayer, and how brain function is associated with mystical and religious experiences. Dr. Newberg, thank you for being with us today. Can you please explain the source of your interests at the intersection of brain research and spirituality? Since I was a kid, I had a keen interest in spiritual practice. I always wondered how spirituality and religion affect us, and over time I came to appreciate how science can help us explore and understand th... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2018550 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:01:43 +0100 2018550 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1856732&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F413421820%2F James Zull is a professor of Biology. He is also Director Emeritus of the University Center for Innovation in Teaching and Education at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio. These roles most assuredly coalesced in his 2002 book, The Art of Changing the Brain: Enriching the Practice of Teaching by Exploring the Biology of Learning. This is a book for both teachers and parents (because parents are also teachers!) Written with the earnestness of first-person experience and reflection, and a lifetime of expertise in biology, Zull makes a well-rounded case for his ideas. He offers those ideas for your perusal, providing much supporting evidence, but he doesn’t try to ram them into your psyche. Rather, he practices what he preaches by engaging you with stories, informing you with fact, and ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1856732 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 03:53:40 +0100 1856732 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1845423&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F407729982%2F Here you have the twice-a-month newsletter with our most popular blog posts. Please remember that you can subscribe to receive this Newsletter by email, simply by submitting your email at the top of this page. Quick, Are videogames good or bad? That's an impossible question. Good or bad for what? What  specific games are we talking about? More importantly, what are they substituting for, given time is a limited resource?  Contributor Jeremy Adam Smith, managing director of Greater Good magazine, offers an in-depth review on the trade-offs videogames present in: Playing the Blame Game. News Round-Up Math Innovation in UK Schools: a recent (and unpublished) study seems to support the potential role for "Serious Games" in education. Learning and Teaching Scotland reports signific... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1845423 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:01:38 +0100 1845423 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1770843&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F384206750%2F With summer drawing to a close and schools starting up for a new season, what better time to take a look at how schools utilize research about the brain in determining the timing of the flow of school. Not only current brain research, but common sense, tells me the following areas need tweaking. - School start times and sleep - Exposure to natural light - Scheduling of classes SCHOOL START TIMES AND SLEEP Left to your own devices, what time would you go to sleep each evening and what time would you wake up? As adults, it is likely that external responsibilities determine your wake time, and the maturity of age guides your sleep time. More often than not, thanks to a sound night’s sleep, you wake mentally refreshed and prepared to face the day. Teenagers are simply out of luck in this r... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1770843 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:05:33 +0100 1770843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1747361&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F378197185%2F Here you have the twice-a-month newsletter with our most popular blog posts. Please remember that you can subscribe to receive this Newsletter by email, simply by submitting your email at the top of this page. Major Implications from Brain Research Should Social-Emotional Learning Be Part of Academic Curriculum?: It is clear by now that our brains are more than cognitive machines. For example, emotions can either enhance or inhibit our ability to learn. Daniel Goleman explores the implications of "new studies that reveal how teaching kids to be emotionally and socially competent boost their academic achievement." Brought to you in partnership with Greater Good Magazine. Retain older workers beyond retirement: BusinessWeek covers a best practice in a topic of growing importance: ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1747361 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:07:55 +0100 1747361 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1643031&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F341474581%2F Welcome to Encephalon´s 50th edition, where you will find another superb collection of blog posts on all things Brain and Mind. Enjoy these contributions: Science & Technology Mind Hacks reports that Facebook ate my psychiatrist. We can learn about the benefits of social networking sites like Facebook, bringing great perspective to recent and misguided media speculation (fuelled by a recent talk at the Royal College of Psychiatrists). Vaughan, will you please report on the benefits of participating (and, better, hosting) Encephalon?. Dungeons And Dragons - Or Mazes And Monsters?: PodBlack Cat offers a thought-provoking review of the therapy (including self-therapy) applications of role-playing games such as the classic Dungeons And Dragons and the more recent massively multiplay... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1643031 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:05:26 +0100 1643031 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4220084&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=35070&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneurobot.bio.auth.gr%2F2008%2Freview-reliability-synchrony-and-noise%2F This review describes a constructive role for noise in synchronizing populations of neurons. Trends Neurosci. 2008 Jul 4. [Epub ahead of print] Reliability, synchrony and noise. Ermentrout GB, Galán RF, Urban NN. The brain is noisy. Neurons receive tens of thousands of highly fluctuating inputs and generate spike trains that appear highly irregular. Much of [...] (Source: Neurobot) Neurobot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4220084 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:28:52 +0100 4220084 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1606787&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F331380368%2F This study also showed that the subjects could not predict how well they would remember, which is consistent with my 45 years experience as a professor. Students are frequently surprised to discover after an examination that they did not know the material as well as they thought they did. Tests not only reveal what they know and don't know, but serve to increase how much they eventually learn. If I were still teaching, I would give more tests. And I would encourage students to use self-testing as a routine learning strategy, something that one study revealed to be a seldom-used strategy. The repeated self-tests should include all the study material and not drop out the material that the student thinks is already mastered. Source: Karpicke, Jeffrey D., and Roedinger, Henry L. III. 2008. The... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1606787 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 03:55:29 +0100 1606787 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1509845&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F308569760%2F We sometimes neglect to mention a very basic yet powerful method of cognitive and emotional development, for children and adults alike: Play. Dr. David Elkind, author of The Power of Play: Learning That Comes Naturally, discusses the need to build a more "playful culture" in this great article brought to you thanks to our collaboration with Greater Good Magazine. -------------------- Can We Play? -- By Dr. David Elkind Play is rapidly disappearing from our homes, our schools, and our neighborhoods. Over the last two decades alone, children have lost eight hours of free, unstructured, and spontaneous play a week. More than 30,000 schools in the United States have eliminated recess to make more time for academics. From 1997 to 2003, children's time spent outdoors fell 50 perce... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1509845 Tue, 10 Jun 2008 05:22:33 +0100 1509845 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4220109&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=35070&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneurobot.bio.auth.gr%2F2008%2Fuse-of-deep-brain-stimulation-widens%2F Treatment’s promise moves beyond movement disorders By Tom Valeo Posted in The DANA Foundation’s BRAINWORK Vol. 18, No. 3 | May – June 2008 Electrically stimulating the hypothalamus of a morbidly obese man failed to curb his appetite, but jogged his memory instead, and that has pushed researchers to study whether the technique may hold [...] (Source: Neurobot) Neurobot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4220109 Mon, 26 May 2008 19:00:33 +0100 4220109 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1461178&cid=t_139572_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F295914123%2Fgivingyour_brain_a_competitive.html  Increasingly competitive edge workplaces find hidden advantages within human brains.  People who make it in today's shifting horizons ... regularly redirect sight signals. It's a bit like refususing your camera to capture the best shot of a moving target. You could say ... successful people deliberatley refocus their brains for better shots at success. Does that describe you? Did you know … for instance … that  you see objects differently as a result of neuron reorganization.It’s called plasticity and it changes the human brain by creating new signaling routes. How does that advantage an ordinary day? Because adult brains reshape by what people do, we can now gear up mentally for more benefits at work. Yes… real&nb... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1461178 Thu, 22 May 2008 16:01:26 +0100 1461178 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1397919&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F277280044%2F We concluded our Top 50 Brain Teasers post with the challenge: #50. Can you write a haiku describing your experience doing some of the previous teasers? The simple rules: write 3 lines, which don't need to rhyme, containing 5,7, and 5 syllables. There were a number of great and fun takers...you can enjoy their haikus below.  Let's now change the theme: Can you write a haiku describing what problem you would like to see brain research solve? Remember the simple rules: write 3 lines, which don't need to rhyme, containing 5,7, and 5 syllables. You can leave your haiku as a comment for extra points... Previous haikus on brain exercise: - My favorite, by GTB: Haiku's are easy But sometimes they don't make sense Refrigerator - A close second...Mark says: I thought I did well Then I review... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1397919 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 04:16:18 +0100 1397919 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1395269&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F276633288%2F We are working on improving several sections of our website, especially our Resources section. It will look much better in a few days. Our first step has been to re-organize our Neuroscience Interview Series, and below you have how it looks today. During the last 18 months I have had the fortune to interview over 15 cutting-edge neuroscientists and cognitive psychologists on their research and thoughts. Here are some of our favorite quotes (you can read the full interview notes by clicking on the links):   “Learning is physical. Learning means the modification, growth, and pruning of our neurons, connections–called synapses– and neuronal networks, through experience...When we do so, we are cultivating our own neuronal networks. We become our own gardeners”- Dr. James Zull, Pr... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1395269 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:34:55 +0100 1395269 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1371113&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F270115426%2F I will be speaking at the these upcoming conferences: if you are attending, please let me know! >> Boston, April 28th, 2008: Panel on Latest Brain Research Trends, at the Learning and the Brain Conference. >> Boston, April 29th, 2008: New Developments in Cognitive Retraining Technology, at the Innovation Institute. >> Baltimore, May 9th, 2008:  The State of the Brain Fitness Market, at the Games for Health Summit. >> San Francisco, May 15th, 2008: Cognitive and Emotional Training (Brain Fitness) for Healthy Aging, at the Institute on Aging's seminar on Brain Health Accross the Lifespan.   >> San Jose, June 9th, 2008: Brain Fitness Trends and Assisted Living Communities, at the California Assisted Living Association Spring Conference. Assisted Living, brain research, CALA, California A... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1371113 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:55:20 +0100 1371113 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1340889&cid=t_139572_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F262003718%2Fboredoms_your_choice_research.html Research points to surprising facts about boredom you can use to burst its bubble… regardless of your situation. Have you seen it happen? When boredom pops up through lectures, brain dead meetings, workplace routines, negative effects of venting, or feelings of helplessness … one need not get trapped by its snares. How so? Boredom … it turns out is more of a personal choice … and less related to external forces … than once thought.While it’s true that an increasing number of workers hate their jobs … can you imagine Einstein bored, for instance? If your response is … “Yes but …” you have likely chosen to embrace boredom. Your brain is wired to stay stuck in its rut. Highly successful business leader Michael Neuvirth ... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1340889 Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:30:30 +0100 1340889 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1325815&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F257455351%2F As part of our ongoing Author Speaks Series, we are honored to present today this excellent article by Dr. Shannon Moffett, based on her illuminating and engaging book. Enjoy! (and please go to sleep soon if you are reading this late Monday night). ------------ Two years ago I finished a book on the mind/brain, called The Three Pound Enigma: The Human Brain and the Quest to Unlock its Mysteries . Each chapter profiles a leader in a different aspect of mind/brain research, from neurosurgery to zen Buddhism, from cognitive neuroscience to philosophy of mind. One of my subjects was Dr. Robert Stickgold, a zany, hyper-intelligent mensch of a Harvard sleep researcher. When I met him, I was in medical school and having a grand old time—I’d exacted an extension of my tenure beyond the customa... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1325815 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 05:38:04 +0100 1325815 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1298180&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F250211755%2F Eric Jensen is a former middle school teacher and former adjunct professor for several universities including the University of California, San Diego. He co-founded the Learning Brain Expo, a conference for educators, and has written 21 books on the brain and learning. Jensen is currently completing his PhD coursework. His most recent book, Enriching the Brain: How to Maximize Every Learner's Potential (Jossey-Bass, 2006), is highly recommended for educators and parents alike. He wrote this recent article in Phi Delta Kappan in February 2008, sparking a healthy debate on the value of neuroscience applied to education.    Eric, thank you for your time. Can you explain the role that you and your organization play? We act as translators between the neuroscience and education fields, hel... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1298180 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:24:12 +0100 1298180 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4220175&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=35070&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneurobot.bio.auth.gr%2F2008%2Fthe-2008-progress-report-on-brain-research%2F Including essays on arts and cognition by Michael S. Gazzaniga and on deep brain stimulation by Mahlon R. DeLong and Thomas Wichmann Published annually, the Progress Report describes the top findings in brain research during the previous year affecting areas such as disorders of development, aging, and movement, as well as mental and thought disorders. [...] (Source: Neurobot) Neurobot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4220175 Sun, 13 Jan 2008 22:22:49 +0100 4220175 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4220227&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=35070&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneurobot.bio.auth.gr%2F2007%2Fbest-of-the-brain-from-scientific-american%2F Mind, Matter, and Tomorrow’s Brain By Floyd E. Bloom Dana Press For the Scientific American readers, it was a hidden desire. For the collectors, it’s just a must have. For all the rest, just ask yourselves if the following topics in question look familiar. o Is emotional learning [...] (Source: Neurobot) Neurobot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4220227 Wed, 05 Sep 2007 11:18:42 +0100 4220227 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=807031&cid=t_139572_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F145511958%2F5_facts_colleges_forget_to_tel.html College lectures have yet to cultivate entrepreneurial brains – and it shows as Americans backslide in competitive global markets. For one thing, we stall mentally ... because traditional lectures work against the human brain. It doesn’t have to be that way.Dr. Robyn McMaster and I plan to spark vibrant graduate roundtables by rejuvenating curiosity about how humans harness brainpower for entrepreneurial leadership.We’ve just created a Master level Brain Based course to teach this fall for Entrepreneurial Leaders at the University of Rochester‘s Center for Lifelong Learning. The course opens with the question ... What does it take to become an entrepreneurial learder? In response we'll write a book together - titled... Brain Based Learning and Leading ... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=807031 Sat, 18 Aug 2007 15:32:13 +0100 807031 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=797209&cid=t_139572_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F143840870%2Fjapan_announces_plan_to_apply.html Imagine how lives would change is we had access to all the current discoveries made about the brain – in a language we speak and communicate. Think of the added value to lives if people apply the findings of brain science to benefit learning, leading and living! Could it happen - in your mind?  Guess what...?It just happened – Japan’s government announced today that it will lead the way. With practical applications in mind, the Japanese Education, Science, and Technology Ministry – will now apply current research about the brain to improve medical care, welfare, and education soon. Bravo! Check out today’s Daily Yomiuri Online report where the work so far in brain based research has inspired another fund of between 200 billion yen and 300 billion yen for ... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=797209 Tue, 14 Aug 2007 01:18:38 +0100 797209 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4220236&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=35070&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneurobot.bio.auth.gr%2F2007%2Felectrodes-stir-man-from-six-year-coma-state%2F A brain-damaged man, trapped in a coma-like state for six years, has been brought back to consciousness by doctors who planted electrodes deep inside his brain. The doctors implanted DBS electrodes in the central thalamus, a region that plays a key role in regulating sleep and consciousness (image:Cleveland Clinic) Original article from Cosmos Online, 2 [...] (Source: Neurobot) Neurobot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4220236 Fri, 03 Aug 2007 07:33:07 +0100 4220236 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4220240&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=35070&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneurobot.bio.auth.gr%2F2007%2Fthe-2007-progress-report-on-brain-research%2F Including an Essay by Steven E. Hyman, M.D. by The Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives Published annually, the Progress Report describes the top findings in brain research during the previous year affecting areas such as disorders of development, aging, and movement, as well as mental and thought disorders. Each year an essay by a prominent [...] (Source: Neurobot) Neurobot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4220240 Sun, 22 Jul 2007 09:18:47 +0100 4220240 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4220241&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=35070&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneurobot.bio.auth.gr%2F2007%2F2007-advances-in-brain-research%2F Advances in Brain Research: Conversations with six leading neuroscientists by The Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives Advances in Brain Research is an annual News Office publication for science journalists, which highlights cutting-edge brain research through discussions with leading neuroscientists. The following topics are included: What’s New in Neurogenesis Toward a New Approach to Depression When [...] (Source: Neurobot) Neurobot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4220241 Fri, 20 Jul 2007 09:24:03 +0100 4220241 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=693310&cid=t_139572_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F127642858%2Fprickly_and_polite_tests_prime.html People prime the human brian daily for prickly or polite results at work.  John Bargh, researcher at New York University, found that attitudes and emotions often occur without a person’s awareness. Yet these emotions, and impressions impact decisions and judgments more than most people realize. Bargh gave university students one of two scrambled sentence tests. One group of students received the five minute test – peppered with words such as …aggressivelyrudebotherdisturbintrudeinfringe. The second group received a similar 5-minute test with words such as …respectconsiderateappreciatepatientlyyieldpolitecourteousCan you guess the results? After the test students were to discuss their results with the researcher – who had planted a person in the doo... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=693310 Mon, 25 Jun 2007 03:21:02 +0100 693310 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4220279&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=35070&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneurobot.bio.auth.gr%2F2006%2Fneuronal-ensemble-control-of-prosthetic-devices-by-a-human-with-tetraplegia%2F “Neuromotor prostheses (NMPs) aim to replace or restore lost motor functions in paralysed humans by routeing movement-related signals from the brain, around damaged parts of the nervous system, to external effectors. To translate preclinical results from intact animals to a clinically useful NMP, movement signals must persist in cortex after spinal cord injury and be [...] (Source: Neurobot) Neurobot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4220279 Tue, 07 Nov 2006 11:52:40 +0100 4220279 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4220286&cid=t_139572_122_f&fid=35070&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneurobot.bio.auth.gr%2F2006%2Fthe-2006-progress-report-on-brain-research%2F Advances in Neuroimaging by The Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives Published annually, the Progress Report describes the top findings in brain research during the previous year affecting areas such as disorders of development, aging, and movement, as well as mental and thought disorders. Each year an essay by a prominent neuroscientist discusses an important current [...] (Source: Neurobot) Neurobot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4220286 Thu, 15 Jun 2006 16:41:25 +0100 4220286