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'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:49:04 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182057&cid=t_99541_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2F70_d3_OsOXE%2F Exercise as a Preventive or Disease-Modifying Treatment of Dementia A neurologist reports on the newly published article “Physical Exercise as a Preventive or Disease-Modifying Treatment of Dementia and Brain Aging,” Ahlskog et al, Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 2011. Their meta-analysis found that exercise affects brain health in animal models, and suggest it can modify cognitive outcomes with normal aging and perhaps reduce the risk of neurodegenerative disease like dementia. Physical (as opposed to mental) exercise is recommended. Although the amount and type of exercise has not been completely assessed, patients are being counseled to practice regular vigorous exercise. DOI: 10.4016/33263.01. (Source: Channel N) Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182057 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 01:51:31 +0100 5182057 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181773&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1565 Thanks to umbilical cord blood cells and a new way to increase the number of cells exponentially, this Colorado mother of 6 is on her way to getting better. After giving birth prematurely she began chemotherapy treatments as well an infusion of  almost 2.3 billion ( thats billion with a B!!) new cells harvested from umbilical cord blood.  It seems that this could be the wave of the future, and although this is still in its experimental stages, there is hope for this mom and many others. You can continue reading here. watch this video for a comprehensive look at umbilical cord blood banking.   {Click here for a free information packet and special coupon for MAZE Cord Blood Laboratories! } (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181773 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 19:35:25 +0100 5181773 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181897&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F09%2F01%2Fsxsw-2012-psychology-picks-need-your-vote%2F Time is running out to vote for some of your favorite SXSW 2012 Interactive panel ideas through the SXSW panel picker (Friday at midnight is the deadline). Yes, you need to register a free account in order to vote, but it takes only a minute to do so. I’ve organized a panel again for consideration, as have some other psychologists and professionals. I’ve highlighted three panels I’d like you to vote a big thumbs-up on, if you have a minute today. While people’s votes only constitute 30 percent of how a panel idea is chosen to present at SXSW Interactive, it’s an important part of the process that helps the organizers make the tough decisions. The panel I’ve proposed is about online therapy. But not your everyday kind of online therapy… Click on th... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181897 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:14:46 +0100 5181897 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181802&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmisdiagnosis-happens-all-the-time-tips-to-avoid-it%2F2011.09.01 Billionaire Teddy Forstmann has apparently been diagnosed with a serious form of brain cancer.  There’s a tragic twist to the story: according to Fox Business News, Forstmann believes that for more than a year, he had been misdiagnosed with meningitis. ABC News wonders: How could such a misfortune befall a billionaire —- a man able to afford the best doctors, best technology and the most sophisticated diagnostic tests? They’re missing the point.  Misdiagnosis happens with shocking regularity – as much as (more…) *This blog post was originally published at BestDoctors.com: See First Blog* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181802 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:00:03 +0100 5181802 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182065&cid=t_99541_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FI8F8AzUnEz4%2F We are pleased to announce that full recordings for all presentations delivered during the 2011 SharpBrains Summit: Retooling Brain Health for the 21st Century (March 30 — April 1, 2011) are now available both to Summit Participants and to non-Participants. You can Learn More Here and Access 40+ Talks and 20+ hours of up-to-date information and analysis of brain science, technology and innovation, delivered by nothing short of a world-class faculty. –> Reg­is­tered Sum­mit Par­tic­i­pants can access all Ses­sion Record­ings by click­ing on the ses­sion titles in the Agenda page and using the same Username and Password they used to participate in the Summit. –> Didn’t Reg­is­ter to Par­tic­i­pate in the 2011 Sharp­Brains Sum­mit but want to access all Ses­... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182065 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:21:34 +0100 5182065 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181899&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F31%2F3-fascinating-facts-about-our-brilliant-brains%2F Our brains do a lot of work behind the scenes to help us function and thrive. But we largely know this already. What might surprise you are the details of this work. For instance, as neuroscientist David Eagleman writes in his book Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain: Your brain is built of cells called neurons and glia—hundreds of billions of them. Each one of these cells is as complicated as a city. And each one contains the entire human genome and traffics billions of molecules in intricate economies. Each cell sends electrical pulses to other cells, up to hundred of times per second. If you represented each of these trillions and trillions of pulses in your brain by a single photon of light, the combined output would be blinding. The cells are connected to one another in a netw... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181899 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:57:59 +0100 5181899 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181774&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1553       There are days you can soothe your baby and then there are days you can’t.  We have ALL been there, and not just once! Each time your baby cries and can’t be soothed, we are thinking of the next step and solution. Sometimes all it takes is a certain way you are rocking them, or a certain type of music (maybe even your own voice!) Its easy to say either 1) i will pick them up or 2) i won’t pick  them up.  But when it comes right down to it each day and each time he cries and won’t stop is completely different from the time before. Here are some tips to help you cope with a crying colicky baby.  And even if your baby isn’t colicky, here are some suggestions to help you and your baby learn together  how to help each other. Its easy to ma... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181774 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 16:57:43 +0100 5181774 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182066&cid=t_99541_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=5182096&cid=t_99541_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fthe-multiple-sclerosis-spell-checker%2F The more I write about multiple sclerosis, the more I realize that I’m smarter than my computer about said topic. Sometimes I feel like my spell-checking software hasn’t caught up with the vernacular of our disease. Other times, I feel like we’re just making up words for stuff — oft, we are! Myelin, Cog-Fog, Assistive, PML, CCSVI… not something your everyday word processing program recognizes; and I need it too! In my current state, I find myself relying more and more on the brain under my fingertips more than I trust my own T-Cell infested gob but squiggly red, blue or green highlights (GREAT! Now I’m to understand color-coding as well) splash their way across my screen as I type. I once mentioned, a few years ago now my issue with typing my passwords when my fingers aren�... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182096 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 13:13:11 +0100 5182096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174740&cid=t_99541_122_f&fid=34755&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneuropsychological.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fnew-books.html Taking a look this week at new texts in introductory neuroscience & neuropsychology and at new books about the brain written for a general audience. It is always a fun activity to see what's out there, and the selections just get better and better each year! What are your favs of 2011? (Source: BrainBlog) BrainBlog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174740 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 02:23:00 +0100 5174740 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174739&cid=t_99541_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2F4gWxLl2NVYc%2F Milgram’s Obedience to Authority Experiment Morality and responsibility for violence are explored in a re-enactment of Yale psychologist Stanley Milgram’s famous experiment on obedience to authority. Under the close supervision and direction of a professor, participants are told to administer increasingly dangerous electric shocks to a person in another room, under the pretense that it’s an experiment about learning and memory. They hear screams and protests from the “learner” pretending to be receiving shocks, but when the professor tells them to continue, most do, even after believing the “learner” may have died as a result. In Milgram’s first study, 65 percent went on to deliver the maximum 450 volt shock. Variations were conducted over th... Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174739 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:30:35 +0100 5174739 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174665&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F29%2Fbeliefs-about-memory-interview-with-dan-simons%2F In a recent survey of the U.S. population, researchers Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris assessed common beliefs about memory.  They found that common beliefs are often incongruent with scientific findings.  Recently I had an opportunity to ask Simons about some of the implications of the survey. What motivated this survey on understanding memory? Our goal in conducting the study was to supplement the research we had done for our book, The Invisible Gorilla. The book focuses on everyday illusions, cases in which people’s intuitive beliefs about how the mind works are faulty. In writing the book, we realized that nobody had ever conducted a national survey to measure how pervasive those beliefs are. Our PLoS One paper reports the results from a subset of the items in the survey,... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174665 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:53:28 +0100 5174665 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174667&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F28%2Fthe-curious-case-of-phineas-gage-and-others-like-him%2F If you’ve ever taken an introductory psychology class, then you probably know the story of Phineas Gage, the 25-year-old railroad worker whose personality dramatically changed after a rod pierced his skull. Gage lost portions of his frontal lobe and went from being a kind and mild-mannered man to rude and unrestrained. On September 21, 1848, The Boston Post reported on the incident. The article was called “Horrible Accident” and said: As Phineas P. Gage, a foreman on the railroad in Cavendish, was yesterday engaged in tamping for a blast, the powder exploded, carrying an instrument through his head an inch in length, which he was using at the time. The iron entered on the side of his face, shattering the upper jaw, and passing back of the left eye, and out at the top of the head.... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174667 Sun, 28 Aug 2011 12:17:17 +0100 5174667 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169547&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-importance-of-physicals-for-young-athletes%2F2011.08.27 Increasing numbers of young people participate in outdoor activities, including strenuous competitive athletics. In so doing, they subject their bodies to stresses that are more intense and prolonged than those presented by a largely sedentary life. Every story of a sudden death in a young person is a tragedy, and usually accompanied by commentary pondering the role and utility of pre-activity screening. Could the death have been prevented? What was the physiological condition of the deceased? Could the collapse, often attributed to a heart problem, have been predicted? Was there an examination or evaluation that might have indicated that the deceased was at greater risk, or should have been held out of the activity? These are all important questions, with no simple answers. Sudden collaps... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169547 Sat, 27 Aug 2011 16:00:00 +0100 5169547 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169573&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F27%2Fzimbardos-infamous-prison-experiment-where-the-key-players-are-now%2F It’s arguably one of the most controversial experiments. It all started in the basement of the psychology building at Stanford University on August 17, 1971 after psychologist Phil Zimbardo and colleagues took an ad out in the paper stating: “Male college students needed for psychological study of prison life. $15 per day for 1-2 weeks.” Over 70 people volunteered for the Stanford Prison Experiment. Twenty-four healthy, smart college-aged men were picked and randomly assigned either to be a guard or a prisoner. The aim of the study was to explore the psychology of prison life and how specific situations affect people’s behavior. But the experiment didn’t last very long — six days to be exact. Zimbardo was forced to pull the plug because of the disturbing behavior of the guard... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169573 Sat, 27 Aug 2011 12:04:17 +0100 5169573 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159196&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F26%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-august-26-2011%2F I sometimes wonder if our focus on “doing things right” is what causes us more pain, anguish and difficulty than anything else in life. It’s almost as if those red marks on our graded assignments as kids stay with us when we become adults. In fact, our fear of impending negative feedback often grows as we grow older. We hold our vulnerabilities even closer, wrapping them up carefully like we would a glass vase or a precious piece of china. We’re fearful of sharing our feelings. We hold back our laughter, forgetting that as kids we let it all out from our bellies to our mouths. And to shield our pain, instead of crying, confronting or expressing ourselves, we avoid loved ones when they’ve hurt us. Yet, in order to fully live, to feel completely alive, we must f... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159196 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:36:56 +0100 5159196 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159198&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F25%2Fcan-religion-or-spirituality-help-ward-off-depression%2F People of all shapes, sizes, colors and nationalities get depression. There seems to be little rhyme or reason to whom it strikes and when. Many people swear by certain things to help them keep depression away. Some people use exercise, while others throw themselves more into their work. Others take a daily dose of a herb like St. John’s Wort or fish oil, because of the association these ingredients have had with a reduction in depression in some studies. But what about religion? Can a strong sense of spirituality or religion help you ward off depression? According to new research that followed a group of people over 10 years, the answer is a qualified “Yes.” The new longitudinal research out of Columbia University wanted to followup on previous research demonstrating th... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159198 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:10:27 +0100 5159198 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159439&cid=t_99541_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=5159201&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F24%2Fis-it-really-mind-over-matter-the-mind-and-body-are-one%2F You have probably heard the phrase mind over matter, which implies the mind and matter are separable.  Or maybe you have heard it’s all in your head, or it’s mental.  Both of these phrases imply the separation of mind and brain (or body). So to explore this issue, I’d like to share some videos that discuss the unity of mind-body.  They can help us better understand how inseparable the mind and brain (body) really are. Mind vs. Brain: In the above video, Yale psychologist Paul Bloom says, “The mind is a product of the brain.  The mind is what the brain does.” Can we overload our brains? Steven Pinker, a scientist at Harvard, discusses the mind-brain myth in the video above.   Substance Dualism *Mirror* This is an excellent video (above) that discusses and re... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159201 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 11:29:31 +0100 5159201 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159002&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=39261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvactruth.com%2F2011%2F08%2F23%2Fvaccine-ingredients-non-ionic-surfactants-tween-80-triton-x-100-nonoxynol-9%2F In conclusion, treatment of human and nonhuman cells with detergent at concentrations below the level that causes cytolysis induced apoptotic death.”     Cancer and Tween-80 Injections Effects of repeated subcutaneous injection of Tween-80 in rats  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/5914564 “In the rats injected with Tween-80, 1 subcutaneous sarcoma was found at the site of injection, and 2 similar sarcomas were also found in the rats injected with Tween-80 and small amounts of 3′-me-DAB. In mice 2 subcutaneous sarcomas were induced by injections of Tween-80 alone. These results raise the possibility that Tween-80 may be directly involved in carcinogenesis.” [Emphasis added]     Triton X-100 and Tween 80 Damage the Gut (Ciba-Geigy Corporation) Evaluation of... vactruth.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159002 Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:45:49 +0100 5159002 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159925&cid=t_99541_180_f&fid=38609&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDavidSeah-BetterLivingThroughNewMedia%2F%7E3%2Fz3YV1wojitY%2F This article Do You Suffer from Decision Fatigue over at the New York Times Magazine suggests that the very act of making a decision exacts a “biological cost”. Excerpt: [...] No matter how rational and high-minded you try to be, you can’t make decision after decision without paying a biological price. It’s different from ordinary physical fatigue — you’re not consciously aware of being tired — but you’re low on mental energy. The more choices you make throughout the day, the harder each one becomes for your brain, and eventually it looks for shortcuts, usually in either of two very different ways. One shortcut is to become reckless: to act impulsively instead of expending the energy to first think through the consequences. (Sure, tweet that photo! What could go ... David Seah - Design, Development, Inspiration, Empowerment blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159925 Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:38:11 +0100 5159925 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158892&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F008252.html Brains age and many research projects have shown younger minds perform better than older minds in tests of decision-making. But in a test where decisions at each step affected not only the immediate reward but also the size of future rewards eldery people beat college-age students in a mental game. We make decisions all our lives—so you'd think we'd get better and better at it. Yet research has shown that younger adults are better decision makers than older ones. Some Texas psychologists, puzzled by these findings, suspected the experiments were biased toward younger brains. So, rather than testing the ability to make decisions one at a time without regard to past or future, as earlier research did, these psychologists designed... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158892 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5158892 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159492&cid=t_99541_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fms-clogs-my-funnel%2F I guess I think both in words and in pictures. As a writer, it’s kind of required that I use words but, in my mind, I oft see what multiple sclerosis is doing to me in misty cartoons and ghostly graphics. I envision ‘brain floss’ to clear away the annoying plaques along my axons the way minty, flat-glide dental tape clears bits of barbeque from between my teeth. I could almost see the poison of Novantrone zapping new immune cells as they emerged from my bone marrow before they could make their way to a morning meal of my myelin. Lharmeet’s Sign looked like Igor flipping those big, nasty switches in Dr Frankenstein’s laboratory and sending massive jolts down the Jacob’s Ladder of my spinal cord. And now, the clogged funnel… I think I’ve mentioned this metaphor in a previous... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159492 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 20:39:39 +0100 5159492 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159204&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F22%2Fweb-surfing-at-work-helps-you-be-more-productive%2F Thank goodness the Wall Street Journal isn’t known for its outstanding health reporting. In a story written by Rachel Emma Silverman, she reports on some preliminary research recently presented at a management conference. Like a lot of research that gives us “surprising” results, it was done on a single group of 96 undergraduate students at a single college campus. And the task designed for the college laboratory setting by the researchers would be difficult to characterize as analogous to most people’s work environment or jobs — it was highlighting every single letter “e” or, in the second part, “a,” while reading. The question the researchers asked — Can surfing the Internet help you to become a more productive employee? The an... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159204 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:23:31 +0100 5159204 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159431&cid=t_99541_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2FCte1OyUG5vE%2F The Full Story – Soften the Fck Up Mental health issues and young men, in an awareness campaign about depression, anxiety, suicide, shame, and social issues from male perspectives. Clips of personal narrative in a simple, accessible video. Check out other videos and the whole campaign at the Australian web site. (Source: Channel N) Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159431 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 12:30:40 +0100 5159431 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158893&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F008250.html NY Times reporter John Tierney and researcher Roy Baumeister have written a book, “Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength”, about Baumeister's area of scientific research: how the brain's performance degrades when it has to make lots of decisions and when it is tired. A New York Times Mag article by Tierney surveys some of the findings from the book. If you make a group of decisions count on the later ones to be of lower quality. As they started picking features, customers would carefully weigh the choices, but as decision fatigue set in, they would start settling for whatever the default option was. And the more tough choices they encountered early in the process — like going through those 56... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158893 Sun, 21 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5158893 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158958&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D463 For years, we’ve been told that a woman may experience dental problems during pregnancy.  But popular wisdom has held that any extensive dental care to resolve a problem during pregnancy should be put on hold till after the baby is born to avoid any unanticipated issues with the treatment. Now a study reports that it is imperative to resolve dental problems when they happen and not to wait till post-delivery.  Apparently, the bacteria that may form as a result of dental problems can be transmitted to newborns in a number of ways common to mothering (you know, kissing your baby, feeding your baby, etc).  Infants are not born with bacteria in their mouths and the transmission of such can create “rampant tooth decay” in the child as he or she grows. So don’t avoid t... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158958 Sat, 20 Aug 2011 16:09:24 +0100 5158958 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139876&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F18%2Fwhy-you-cant-make-a-good-decision-at-500-pm-decision-fatigue%2F We live in the most prosperous society on Earth at this moment. You can walk into any Gap or Target store and choose from more than 2 dozen different types of jeans (and in some cases, more than 3 dozen). All of that choice comes at a price, however. It’s called “decision fatigue” and its full impact is only starting to be fully understood by psychologists and researchers. Our brains can suffer from “mental fatigue,” just as our bodies can become physically fatigued after a long workout. What is so surprising about this phenomenon is just how little people appreciate the importance of mental fatigue and its resulting decision fatigue — even when making decisions that can be life-changing. John Tierney in The New York Times has the lengthy story (5,350 w... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139876 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:17:30 +0100 5139876 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139704&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1537     According to the Orlando Sentinel, a new bill in Florida last month requires health care providers to educate their clients about cord blood banking options, including public and private banks. In addition, the Florida Department of Health website has now included a link to a non commercial site, www.parentguidecordblood.org which explains the process of collecting cord blood at birth, the options, costs and accreditation.  On this site is a cost comparison chart explaining initial and yearly costs  for some private cord blood banks. Once you have done research on each bank, try to find the one that has no yearly fee, it will ultimately cost much less over the span of 20 years. You can read more about it , here. {Click here for a free information packet and specia... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139704 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:21:42 +0100 5139704 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139877&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F17%2Fquiz-do-you-make-other-people-happy%2F As put forth by the Second Splendid Truth: One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy; One of the best ways to make other people is to be happy yourself. Everyone accepts the Second Splendid Truth, Part A; the Second Splendid Truth, Part B often isn’t as clear to people. But to focus on Part A here — how do you know if you’re making other people happy? What are some signs? Are the following statements true for you: Do people seem to feel comfortable confiding in you? Do people follow your recommendations? Are you a source of material comfort or security for someone else? Do people whom you’ve introduced often go on to have a continuing relationship? Do people seem to drift toward you? Join a conversation that you’re having, sit down next... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139877 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:46:16 +0100 5139877 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5140020&cid=t_99541_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FG3_SB0nhgiw%2F Charting Brain Growth in Humans and Chimps (New York Times): – “Although baby humans and baby chimpanzees both start out with undeveloped forebrains, a new study reports that the human brain increases in volume much more rapidly early on.“ – “The growth is in a region of the brain known as the prefrontal cortex and is part of what makes humans cognitively advanced compared with other animals, including the chimpanzee, our closest relative. The prefrontal cortex plays a major role in decision-making, self-awareness and creative thinking.” –> To learn more about study Differential Prefrontal White Matter Development in Chimpanzees and Humans: click Here (requires subscription). –> To explore what may have happened otherwise, you may want to watch the new movie Rise of ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5140020 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 20:59:35 +0100 5140020 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139998&cid=t_99541_117_f&fid=37824&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doctorkalitenko.com%2Fblog%2Falarming-phenomenon-present-human-brains-absent-primates%2F A new study has shown that human brains tend to shrink over time; but that the brains of monkeys do not. Shrinkage of the brain means that there are a loss of cells, but why is it that monkeys do not experience this – yet humans do? It is suggested that this shrinkage may be the price we must pay for our extended lifespans, but could it be something else? The exposures and diet of a monkey are of course vastly different than that of our own – which opens the door to other explanations. Could it be toxicity instead of an extended life? For example: MSG, a common food additive – kills neurons in the brain, while other compounds such as Mercury and lead are brain toxic. How to protect yourself from toxins: Stay away from mercury: fish, amalgams for fillings. Stay away from... Doctor Kalitenko antiaging blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139998 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 17:51:16 +0100 5139998 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139705&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1523       Whether you’ve known from day one that you’d be asking for an epidural or have your heart set on a medicine-free birth, here’s the lowdown on epidurals and how they can take some of the pain out of labor and delivery. Remember that we are all individuals and our different thresholds of pain span the gamut from high to low.  It is fortunate that for those who want medication, it is available.  Here is a comprehensive article about epidurals, what they are, how they work and who can best benefit from them.  You can read more here.   {Click here for a free information packet and special coupon for MAZE Cord Blood Laboratories! } (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139705 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 17:34:53 +0100 5139705 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5140015&cid=t_99541_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2FWnpJSYv0U-o%2F A cute, short, comedy skit portraying a five year old psychotherapist in a session with her frustrated middle-aged client. (Source: Channel N) Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5140015 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 17:34:00 +0100 5140015 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139879&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F16%2Fis-addiction-simply-a-brain-disease-it-is-now%2F Among addiction experts and researchers, there’s been a long-running debate as to whether drug or alcohol addiction, and even “behavioral addictions” such as compulsive gambling, are actual diseases or not. It’s not just a matter of semantics — if researchers can trace addiction’s root causes to an actual medical malfunction in the brain, perhaps that disease could be directly treated. Who am I to disagree with a “four-year process with more than 80 experts actively working on it?” Their result? Addiction is a “chronic brain disorder and not simply a behavioral problem.” I suppose if we wanted, one could argue that all mental disorders can be viewed as “brain disorders” and not “simply behavioral problems.”... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139879 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:39:38 +0100 5139879 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130656&cid=t_99541_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F15%2Fmanual-for-cancer-services-brain-and-cns-measures%2F Title:  Manual for Cancer Services: Brain and CNS measures  Scan or Click to download 'Manual for Cancer Services: Brain and CNS measures' The Skinny: Following a three month consultation period, the final Brain and CNS Measures are now published for inclusion in the Manual for Cancer Services. The measures can also be found on the CQUINS website at http://www.cquins.nhs.net/ Publisher: DH Published: 11/07/11 Size: 66p. Filed under: Ooops Missed Category! Tagged: Brain cancer, Cancer, Grey Literature, Health Outcomes, Neoplasms, Outcomes, Quality, Quality Assurance, Quality assurance in health services, Quality Improvement, Quality management (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130656 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:10:18 +0100 5130656 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130817&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F14%2F2-must-try-mindfulness-practices%2F “Just as an untamed elephant can do damage, trampling crops and injuring people, so the untamed, capricious mind can cause harm to us and those around us.” So writes Jan Chozen Bays, M.D., a physician and Zen teacher, in her book How to Train a Wild Elephant & Other Adventures in Mindfulness: Simple Daily Mindfulness Practices for Living Life More Fully & Joyfully. How often have you let negative thoughts run your life? Let a punitive perspective take over so you end up beating yourself up for the smallest of supposed offenses? Or just experienced the days like you’re listing through a boring book, going through the motions but skimming the significant stuff? Something that can help is mindfulness. According to Chozen Bays, “Mindfulness unifies our body, heart and mind, br... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130817 Sun, 14 Aug 2011 11:02:49 +0100 5130817 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5125806&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F13%2Fthe-idiots-guide-to-dealing-with-idiots%2F Idiots. The world is full of them. How hard it is for us, non-idiots, to put up with them. But to get our jobs done, our kids fed, and our pets groomed, we must deal with them. Idiots come in many shapes, forms, and types, but the ones that frustrate me the most are those who don’t believe in any form of mental illness. These creatures maintain that all mood disorders are cute, creative stories crafted by persons who enjoy obsessing, ruminating, and crying their eyes out… a wealthy bunch who can’t think of anything better to do than come up with a make-believe tale about a few neurons wandering around the limbic system afraid to ask for directions, just like Moses. We must tune out the idiots to achieve any kind of sanity or serenity. But how? Here are four ways that have work... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5125806 Sat, 13 Aug 2011 11:07:11 +0100 5125806 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5125896&cid=t_99541_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F6LuBfLqR9WU%2F Many of us have known women (and men) who seem addicted to tanning—no matter how glaring the health risks, you’ll still find them hitting the tanning beds. Is it just a desire for that bronze (or orange) glow that gets ‘em? Or is there something about the process of tanning itself that keeps folks coming back? New research leans toward the latter, showing that tanning bed users exhibit brain changes during a tanning session that mirror those seen in drug addicts. “Using tanning beds has rewarding effects in the brain so people may feel compelled to persist … even though it’s bad for them,” said Dr. Bryon Adinoff, a psychiatry professor and author of the tanning study, published in the journal Addiction Biology. Tanning bed usage has continued to grow in recent years, desp... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5125896 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:01:29 +0100 5125896 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5125741&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Finteresting-neuro-case-requires-er-doc-to-recall-forgotten-med-school-knowledge%2F2011.08.12 Yesterday, I presented the case of a woman with double vision and ptosis and challenged you all to a game of “spot the lesion.” To be honest, I found this stuff impenetrable as a medical student and it was only by sheer force of will that I was able to commit it to memory for exactly long enough to pass a test on it before immediately purging it from my memory. I did this several times for various board exams and such, but it never really “stuck.” Hated neuro beyond words, I did. As mind-numbing as I found it all in the abstract, I get excited about these cases in application. I may not remember where exactly the internal capsule is or what it does, but when I see someone with an interesting neuro deficit due to a lesion there, all of a sudden it makes so much more ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5125741 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:00:00 +0100 5125741 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5125807&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F12%2Fwomens-sex-noises-and-orgasm-screams-voluntary-or-not%2F According to this study, whether they know it or not, women appear to vocalize during sex not to express their own enjoyment so much as to help the man reach climax. This is in keeping with the idea that we all have sexual scripts in our head of both our idealized sexual encounter, as well as what we believe our partners want: Both men’s and women’s perceptions of their partners’ ideal duration of foreplay and intercourse were found to be more strongly related to their own sexual stereotypes than to their partners’ self-reported sexual desires, suggesting that people rely on sexual stereotypes when estimating their partners’ ideal sexual scripts (Miller & Byers, 2004). Maybe these vocalizations are a part of that idealized sexual script, or at least done i... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5125807 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:42:29 +0100 5125807 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5125814&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F11%2F14405%2F From The Atlantic (by David Eagleman): On the steamy first day of August 1966, Charles Whitman took an elevator to the top floor of the University of Texas Tower in Austin. The 25-year-old climbed the stairs to the observation deck, lugging with him a footlocker full of guns and ammunition. At the top, he killed a receptionist with the butt of his rifle. Two families of tourists came up the stairwell; he shot at them at point-blank range. Then he began to fire indiscriminately from the deck at people below. The first woman he shot was pregnant. As her boyfriend knelt to help her, Whitman shot him as well. He shot pedestrians in the street and an ambulance driver who came to rescue them. The evening before, Whitman had sat at his typewriter and composed a suicide note: I don’t really unde... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5125814 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 03:03:41 +0100 5125814 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118640&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrlindagalloway.files.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fbreastfeeding.jpg Could breastfeeding kill a newborn?  That is the question a California district attorney will ask a jury at the trial of a breastfeeding mother. Most women do not intend to harm their children but substance abuse and addiction comes with a heavy price. Such was the case of Maggie Jean Wortman, who has been charged with second degree murder after medical tests revealed that her newborn son died from methamphetamine intoxication obtained through her breast milk. Wortman’s 19-month-old daughter also tested positive for methamphetamine and was placed in protective custody. How could this happen? The transfer of drugs from the mother’s blood to human milk depends on the chemical composition of the drug. Antibiotics such as penicillin will remain in the mother’s blood for long periods of ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118640 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 21:00:00 +0100 5118640 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118804&cid=t_99541_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fhf4KEUKSGxI%2F Giffords’ recovery renews focus on coverage gap for veterans (Miami Herald): - “Doctors and rehabilitation specialists have learned a great deal from the treatment of traumatic brain injuries in combat veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. One in five veterans of those wars has suffered some form of traumatic brain injury, most commonly concussions from roadside bombs.” - “Yet veterans’ health care doesn’t consistently cover cognitive rehabilitation therapy, the same therapy that’s helped Giffords and other well-known figures — such as Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota and ABC News correspondent Bob Woodruff — get their lives back to normal after major brain traumas.” - “Cognitive rehabilitation can include speech and communication therapies, and therapies to boost memory ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118804 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:40:39 +0100 5118804 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118775&cid=t_99541_113_f&fid=39278&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogsite.mdbuyline.com%2F%3Fp%3D327 The world of first line stroke diagnosis may soon rely on a small portable device called the “brain sensing system” that uses a headset to diagnose strokes (hemorrhagic and ischemic), aneurysms, and concussions.  These conditions affect over 800,000 Americans each year. Historically, a CT scan is utilized for diagnosing a stroke.  The brain sensing system uses passive sonar signal detectors incorporated into a headset, allowing a test to be performed in minutes and in just about any setting.  So, how good is brain sensing system?  A pilot study performed on 40 patients showed that the system has 97.3% sensitivity and 98.8% specificity for the diagnosis of stroke (. In comparison, CT angiography has a sensitivity of 70% and specificity was 100%. When I asked Dr. Geoffrey S.F. Ling, ... MD Buyline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118775 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:32:31 +0100 5118775 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118716&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34761&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedblitz.com%2F%7E%2F26686253%2F0%2Fneuromarketing%7EStudy-Brain-Games-Give-Cognitive-Boost.htm At last, there is scientific proof that it’s possible to boost generalized cognitive performance with specific training, in this case web-based brain games. For years, we’ve heard first that we should keep sharp by doing crossword puzzles or similar brain-challenging activities, only to find later that research has been unable to prove their effectiveness in [...] CommentsPosit counts Dr. Michael Merzenich, a key figure in ... by Roger DooleyI'm a big fan of Lumosity. Can definitely see improvement in my ... by Ben MillerPlus 6 more...Related StoriesBrain Fitness: Skip the Sudoku, Be a VolunteerA Better Brain in Four DaysUse Your Cell Phone, Save Your Brain (Source: Neuromarketing) Neuromarketing blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118716 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:38:24 +0100 5118716 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118711&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F10%2F3-facts-you-might-not-know-about-freud-and-his-biggest-addiction%2F You may know that Sigmund Freud, the famed founder of psychoanalysis, had a fascination with cocaine and abused it for many years. But you might not know these three facts that relate to Freud’s longstanding interest in cocaine. Howard Markel, M.D., Ph.D, professor of medical history at the University of Michigan, documents all this and more in his comprehensive, beautifully written book An Anatomy of Addiction: Sigmund Freud, William Halsted and the Miracle Drug Cocaine. 1. Freud was initially attracted to cocaine because he wanted to help a close friend. One of Freud’s dearest friends, Dr. Ernst von Fleischl-Marxow, was heavily addicted to morphine, and Freud initially believed that cocaine could cure him. A brilliant man and talented doctor, Fleischl-Marxow had an accident while do... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118711 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:18:48 +0100 5118711 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5119048&cid=t_99541_180_f&fid=38619&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FALifeCoachsBlog%2F%7E3%2Fvn5AgmgSd3o%2F You know a lot of stuff, right? But how do you know the stuff you know is right? What if isn’t, are you prepared for that? A few years ago whilst on vacation there was a heated debate going on between my mother-in-law and my wife one evening. Kate my mother-in-law, was telling a story at dinner that was at odds with how Helen remembered it. It was obvious that even though both people Continue reading... (Source: Life Coach Blog: The Discomfort Zone :) Life Coach Blog: The Discomfort Zone : blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5119048 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:36:54 +0100 5119048 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118803&cid=t_99541_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2FdQcll-geJVI%2F Introduction to Peer-Run Crisis Respites Two peer advocates describe the process they underwent to get peer-run crisis respite centers supported by funders in Massachusetts. A detailed and practical discussion about building community among stakeholders, elements of presentations, incorporating evidence and values, communicating a message, creating buzz, and how to present proposals to politicians. Peer-run respites (small comfortable settings for short-term psychiatric crisis peer support care, as an alternative to acute care hospitals) are growing in popularity but many people are still not sure what they are or why they have value. This very helpful video is accompanied by lots of information, research, and presentations to aid people in learning about and starting up respite centers wh... Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118803 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 23:59:10 +0100 5118803 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118580&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F008232.html Suppose you and your pet rat both come down with a bacterial infection. It could even be you and the rat that lives in your yard or basement. Okay, there's a rat in your life somehow or other. So you both get an infection. You both get over the infection. Suppose you don't get much exercise after the infection. But the rat either runs away from your cat or it rides an exercise wheel. The rat getting exercise will avoid memory loss that a bacterial infection will otherwise cause. So the rat's going to gain on your mentally unless you exercise too. A small amount of exercise shields older animals from memory loss following a bacterial infection, according to a... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118580 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5118580 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118712&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F09%2Ffacebook-tied-to-poor-mental-health-in-teens-kids%2F You know it’s a good time of the year for psychology “news” when the American Psychological Association holds its annual convention. Why? Because they push out a bunch of sexy press releases about presentations at the conference. Case in point, “Social Networking’s Good and Bad Impacts on Kids,” a presentation that presents a seemingly-random selection of research findings about social networking websites like Facebook from the past few years. This quickly gets turned into an exclusive focus on the negative aspects of the talk — “Facebook tied to poor mental health in teens: What parents must know” (CBS News), “Too Much Technology Breeds Health Problems in Teens” (Patch.com), and of course the inevitable, “Is constant &#82... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118712 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 21:43:50 +0100 5118712 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118619&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1506     Being a grandparent is easy, you get to lavish all the love and hugs to your new grandchild and then you get to leave. Or not.  Its a slippery slope being a grandparent these days.  There is so much information on the internet about  pregnancy, labor and delivery, cord blood banking, and child rearing that it is dizzying.  Things are different now than they were ‘back in the day’  and as grandparents you must learn to move forward with your child and grandchild in order to promote a successful grand-parenting experience for everyone. Here is a great article about how to do just that. {Click here for a free information packet and special coupon for MAZE Cord Blood Laboratories! } (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118619 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 16:14:55 +0100 5118619 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107600&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F08%2Fbipolar-disorder-missed-when-presenting-with-depression%2F Coming as a surprise to more than a few mental health professionals, a new study out today suggests that bipolar disorder is often missed in patients who present only with major depression. The study examined 5,635 adults seen at community and hospital psychiatry departments in a number of different countries. The discrepancy was reported because of the use of “bipolarity specifier criteria” that are broader than the DSM-IV criteria, the standard for diagnosis of mental disorders by mental health professionals. Using the broader bipolar criteria developed by the researchers found an additional 31 percent of patients who could have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. So what’s really going on here? Are professionals really “missing” bipolar disorder? Or have ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107600 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:49:39 +0100 5107600 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107902&cid=t_99541_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation.com%2F12-step-and-mutual-help-programs%2F Twelve-Step and Mutual-Help Programs for Addictive DisordersThis important statement was made after an extensive review of outcomes research on addiction treatment. It reflects the conclusions of recent scientific reviews that alcohol and other drug addictions are chronic, relapsing diseases of the brain.The Minnesota Model, which throughout the 1980s featured 28 days of intensive inpatient and residential treatment, has more recently evolved to a longer continuum of care and greater reliance on outpatient treatment. Brief detoxification establishes abstinence, and patients move to successively less intensive levels of care from inpatient, to partial, to intensive outpatient, to less frequent outpatient visits. The model of chronic illness, which O’Brien and McLellan used in comparin... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107902 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 04:37:18 +0100 5107902 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096203&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fnyt-reports-on-research-that-links-height-to-cancer-risk%2F2011.08.04 Female models may be tall and beautiful, but they are also at markedly increased risk of developing cancer. The New York Times reported on a fascinating research article regarding height of a women and risk of cancer. Specifically, for every four-inch increase in height over 5 feet 1 inch, the risk that a woman would develop cancer increased by about 16 percent, especially for: • Colon Cancer (RR per 10 cm increase in height 1.25, 95% CI 1.19—1.30) • Rectal Cancer (1.14, 1.07—1.22) • Malignant Melanoma (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Fauquier ENT Blog* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096203 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 21:00:00 +0100 5096203 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096340&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F04%2F8-practical-pointers-to-help-your-child-pay-attention%2F Getting kids to pay attention is hard enough. But thanks to today’s technological advances, it can become an even bigger challenge. For instance, a University of Washington study found a link between toddlers watching TV and diminished attention spans by seven years old. Another study from UCLA found that kids who used technology had less reflective thought. Interestingly, however, they did have greater visual-spatial skills. “Technology is producing learners with a new set of cognitive strengths and weaknesses,” said Lucy Jo Palladino, Ph.D, psychologist, attention expert and author of Dreamers, Discoverers & Dynamos: How to Help the Child Who Is Bright, Bored and Having Problems in School, a guide for kids who are inventive thinkers, crave novelty and are strongly drawn to dist... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096340 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:49:03 +0100 5096340 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096341&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F04%2Fdoctor-is-my-mood-disorder-due-to-a-chemical-imbalance%2F Dear Mrs. ——– You have asked me about the cause of your mood disorder, and whether it is due to a “chemical imbalance”. The only honest answer I can give you is, “I don’t know”—but I’ll try to explain what psychiatrists do and don’t know about the causes of so-called mental illness, and why the term “chemical imbalance” is simplistic and a bit misleading. By the way, I don’t like the term “mental disorder”, because it makes it seem as if there’s a huge distinction between the mind and the body—and most psychiatrists don’t see it that way. I wrote about this recently, and used the term “brain-mind” to describe the unity of mind and body.1 So, for lack of a better term, I’ll just refer to “psychiatric illnesses.” Now, this notion of... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096341 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 10:35:19 +0100 5096341 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096176&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1496       Expectant parents can announce the good news to their Facebook friends via a brand new Facebook family member status option. We’ve told you about the online blogging FB journal set up by some expectant parents.  This new section allows parents to be to update their pregnancy, including due dates, photos and perhaps the baby’s name.  Once added, the unborn child is listed alongside family members on the user’s profile, and a notification is posted on the user’s Facebook wall. Is this TMI? Or just another way to enjoy your pregnancy?  Its all about social media these days, so it seems appropriate to continue on this road. We are living in the virtual world, why not take advantage of it?? {Click here for a free information packet and special coup... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096176 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:31:08 +0100 5096176 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096679&cid=t_99541_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2FdRz7UvDFjxg%2F Watson: Do Mind the Wainscoting Interview in which the lead researcher for the Watson/Jeopardy machine learning project reveals how the program detects patterns in natural language to answer trivia puzzles in the game show Jeopardy. Short video is part of a series for World Science Festival’s  Man Made Minds video week, which includes more clips about Watson’s design and performance. Above video: news report about Watson’s Jeopardy win. (Source: Channel N) Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096679 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 02:24:09 +0100 5096679 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096351&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34761&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedblitz.com%2F%7E%2F26586270%2F0%2Fneuromarketing%7ESands-Research-Targets-Billion-Brains.htm In 1996, John Keating wrote a book titled Two Billion Armpits: How Experts Sell China What It Really Wants, referring to the size of the consumer goods market in China. Texas-based Sands Research is writing a new chapter that might be titled 1.3 Billion Brains. Most neuromarketing studies have taken place in the US and [...] CommentsGreat to see neuroscience application are going global! by David BrainsGreat post Roger! Thank you. From the 1996 armpit book to ... by Sandra ZorattiRelated StoriesStronger Contracts, Less TrustLicense to MisbehavePrediction Power: Asking Gets Results (Source: Neuromarketing) Neuromarketing blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096351 Tue, 02 Aug 2011 12:34:10 +0100 5096351 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096345&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F02%2Fthe-critical-thinking-coach-interview-with-stephen-haggerty-part-2%2F This is part 2 of an interview with Stephen Haggerty (read part 1 here), a Critical Thinking Teacher of the Year award winner at Eastern Kentucky University. Does one need to be highly intelligent to be a good critical thinker? Highly intelligent…what does that mean?  Does that term imply book intelligence? Street smarts?  I would argue anyone could engage in higher-level thinking if they are trained in the terminology and how to apply it. It takes a lot of practice to be a critical and creative thinker who communicates effectively, but I do believe if one is dedicated to being more successful in life, then they can learn to apply the principles of critical and creative thinking through effective communication. It seems some critical thinking advocates view critical thinking as nothin... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096345 Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:10:16 +0100 5096345 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086151&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1488   If your body is lacking in certain vitamins and minerals, taking prenatal vitamins is a must.  Besides the obvious like calcium and iron, it is very very important to make sure you get enough folic acid. This helps to reduce the risk of neural tube defects,such as spina bifida among others.  Making sure you are healthy inside and out during your pregnancy can only increase your chances of a having a healthy baby.  If you are planning on becoming pregnant, make sure to start taking your prenatal vitamins before you try to conceive. It can only help !! For answers from the community of thebump.com, you can read more suggestions and answers here.   {Click here for a free information packet and special coupon for MAZE Cord Blood Laboratories! }   (Source: Cord Blood... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086151 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:20:02 +0100 5086151 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086356&cid=t_99541_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FuEjEDMUJhrQ%2F First of all, an announcement. We are starting a Virtual Internship Program @ SharpBrains, allowing full-time undergrad and grad students and postdocs to lead 100-hour projects jointly defined by themselves and by SharpBrains. Interested candidates should Contact Us indicating a) a preliminary project proposal (200 words or less), and b) brief bio and qualifications (200 words or less). Internships don’t require travel and will be paid in-kind, with access to SharpBrains reports and conference recordings. SharpBrains will select a limited number of Interns based on fit between candidates’ proposal and bio and SharpBrains mission and activities. Let’s now explore the latest edition of the monthly Sharp­Brains eNewslet­ter, starting with a comprehensive perspective on the educati... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086356 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 05:29:36 +0100 5086356 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086122&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F008214.html Does cutting the size of the stomach thru bariatric surgery cause weight loss by cutting the appeal of fatty foods? Bethesda, Md. (July 27, 2011)—Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, the most common type of bariatric surgery in the United States, is currently considered the most effective therapy for morbid obesity. Patients who undergo this procedure, in which the stomach is reduced to a small pouch and connected to the middle of the small intestine, often lose massive amounts of weight. However, the reasons behind this surgery’s success have been unclear. Shedding more light on why this procedure prompts such dramatic weight loss, a team of researchers has found, in a study using both humans and rats, that Roux-en-Y appears to lead patients... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086122 Sun, 31 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5086122 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086353&cid=t_99541_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2Fvp4eW_ap8dE%2F (click to view video) Alison Gopnik On infant learning, connectionism, philosophy, and cognitive science. Learning and representation, applications in computing and developmental psychology and the role of probablistic modeling. What knowledge is innate and what is learned from environment? Experiments show powerful results, and Gopnik reveals how previously opposed views can actually support one another. Interviewed at CogSci 2010: Cognition in Flux. (Source: Channel N) Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086353 Sat, 30 Jul 2011 23:28:49 +0100 5086353 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086125&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F008211.html Feeling tense or worried or critical? Then you are in a perfect mood to bid on eBay. Relaxed people were willing to bid higher prices than the non-relaxed. NEW YORK – July 28, 2011 – A forthcoming paper in the American Marketing Association's Journal of Marketing Research by Professor Michel Tuan Pham, Kravis Professor of Business, Marketing, Columbia Business School; Iris W. Hung, Assistant Professor of Marketing, NUS Business School, National University of Singapore; and Gerald J. Gorn, Wang Seng Liang Professor of Business, Marketing Area Chair Professor at the School of Business, Faculty of Business and Economics, the University of Hong Kong, finds that states of relaxation consistently increase the monetary valuations of products, actually inflating these valuations by... (Source: F... FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086125 Sat, 30 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5086125 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077868&cid=t_99541_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FbVs7OP1xH_I%2F In recent years, we have witnessed the beginnings of a revolution in education.  Technology has fundamentally altered the way we do many things in daily life, but it is just starting to make headway in changing the way we teach.  Just as television shows like Sesame Street enhanced the passive learning of information for kids by teaching in a fun format, electronic games offer to greatly enhance the way kids and adults are taught by actively engaging them in the process. The Entertainment Software Association estimates that sixty-seven percent of American households play video or computer games [1].  They are especially popular among young males, with a recent study of teenagers by researchers at Yale reporting that 76.3% of male (and 29.2% of female) teens play video games [2].  These... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077868 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 20:36:31 +0100 5077868 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077768&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F29%2Fdbs-for-depression-still-mixed-results%2F Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a treatment long used for Parkinson’s disease. But in the past decade, some researchers have also examined its use for the treatment of severe clinical depression. Severe major depression is a serious problem in society, because some studies estimate that up to 30 percent of those who attempt to be treated for it find they have “treatment resistant” depression — that is, traditional treatments simply don’t work very well. Deep brain stimulation has mixed results. As we reported on back in February, a long-term followup of 20 patients found an average response rate to DBS of 64 percent. Not shabby, but also not the hopeful, guaranteed cure it was once held out to be. Maiken Scott, the behavioral health reporter for Philadelphia... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077768 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:39:07 +0100 5077768 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069646&cid=t_99541_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F7WRGFlNNhZU%2F New study shows Transcendental Meditation improves brain functioning in ADHD students (press release): - “Prior research shows ADHD children have slower brain development and a reduced ability to cope with stress,” said Dr. Stixrud. “Virtually everyone finds it difficult to pay attention, organize themselves and get things done when they’re under stress,” he explained. “Stress interferes with the ability to learn—it shuts down the brain. Functions such as attention, memory, organization, and integration are compromised.” - Dr. Stixrud added, “Because stress significantly compromises attention and all of the key executive functions such as inhibition, working memory, organization, and mental flexibility, it made sense that a technique (such as Transcendental Meditation) th... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069646 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 20:35:14 +0100 5069646 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069530&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F27%2Flunch-wars-win-the-battle-for-our-childrens-health%2F Oh how happy I was to see the new book Lunch Wars: How to Start a School Food Revolution and Win the Battle for Our Children’s Heath by Amy Kalafa, producer of the award-winning documentary “Two Angry Moms.” I get on my soapbox all too often about this very issue, because I have one child who is so sensitive to food that teachers can tell if he ate a cookie at lunch, and the other possesses about as much will power as I have when it comes to saying no to cinnamon-flavored soft pretzels. Why, in the world, would they offer seven-year-olds the option to buy Klondike bars, cinnamon-flavored soft-pretzels, Doritos, and Gatorade? I think the answer has to do with budgets. But in the process we are raising fat kids whose academic progress is compromised by all the crap they shove in their ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069530 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:56:50 +0100 5069530 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069451&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1475     It used to be the norm, that once you  had a Caesarian section, you always had to have one. Not any more. However, opinions differ greatly when it comes to  VBAC  decision. VBAC is now considered a safe option for most women expecting twins, moms who have had two prior c-sections with a transverse incision, and even for those with an unknown incision type. Recovery for VBAC is usually faster which means a shorter stay in the hospital.  This is a decision for you and your doctor together.  If you feel you want to try, about 80 % of VABCs are successful. If you like the odds, then go for it, if you choose to have another section, remember its only important that the baby arrive safely. Read more here from Heidi Murkoff of Whattoexpect.com .   {Click here for a fr... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069451 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:55:41 +0100 5069451 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069531&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F27%2Fthe-dangers-of-letting-your-online-persona-do-the-talking%2F Last week, while taking a break from work, I found myself reading through a friend’s personal blog. While everything was well written, and while the author herself did a careful job remaining anonymous to most of her readers, I couldn’t help but cringe at some of the stuff she was writing about. Personal stuff. Stuff that, once it’s out there, you just can’t take back. Part of my cringing was due to the fact that about a year ago, I was right there with her. I’ve had a personal blog for years, and it used to be the one place where I could completely dump my emotions. A creative writer who has to work (on non-creative writing) quite a lot to pay the bills, I don’t always get to spend the hours a day I’d like to on my own pieces — so whenever I... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069531 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 10:13:22 +0100 5069531 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069413&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F008203.html Some Caltech researchers found that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) in the brain exerts self control to make people make healthier decisions and it is possible to make the dlPFC more active to improve your food choices. When you decide what to eat, not only does your brain need to figure out how it feels about a food's taste versus its health benefits versus its size or even its packaging, but it needs to decide the importance of each of those attributes relative to the others. And it needs to do all of this more-or-less instantaneously. Antonio Rangel, professor of economics and neuroscience at Caltech, has been studying this value-deriving and decision-making process for years now. Along with Todd Hare—a... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069413 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5069413 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069532&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F26%2Four-expectation-affects-food-likes-and-dislikes%2F How we taste can be dramatically affected by suggestions and expectations. Does pouring plain old tap water into fancy bottles make it taste better?  Yes.  At least in it did in a Penn & Teller episode on bottled water (please watch this video- very entertaining).  Penn & Teller went inside a southern California restaurant that featured a water sommelier that dispensed extravagant water menus to the patrons. The patrons had no idea that all of the fancy bottles of water were filled with the same water from a water hose in the back of the restaurant. Patrons were willing to pay $7.00 a bottle for L’eau Du Robinet (French for faucet water), Agua de Culo (Spanish for ass water), and Amazone (filtered through the Brazilian rainforest’s natural filtration system). How do cues pri... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069532 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:32:06 +0100 5069532 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069452&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1470       Since its inception in December, the Harlem Hospital has collected 20 units of cord blood, well above their expectations and a desperately needed boost in the African-American and Latino communities where donations of bone marrow and cord blood lag severely behind that of whites. Umbilical cord blood has unique characteristics that make it desirable for transplants. Of the 9 million potential bone marrow donors on the national registry, only 650,000  — or 7 percent — are African American. Caucasians make up almost 80 percent of the national donor registry . It’s a disparity that leaves African Americans, Latinos, Asians and Native Americans at risk of dying from diseases that might be treated, said Dr. Edgar Mandeville, director of Obstetrics and Gynecolo... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069452 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 16:45:06 +0100 5069452 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069533&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F26%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-july-26-2011%2F I call one of my relatives a “bad news bear.” Although he has good intentions, his spewing out the world’s greatest tragedies every few minutes does not help me. In fact, all that worrying and anxiety could hurt. After calling him out on it, he said his main intention was concern. I get that. I think parents today are like him. They just want to protect their children from the onslaught of offenders who are posted up all over the news 24/7. If you love someone, however, how do you best protect them? I think there is a balance between caring and being overprotective. And everyone deals with this in their own way. Some loved ones may minimize your pain because they hurt seeing you upset. That’s why they say things like, “I’m sure you’ll feel better s... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069533 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 11:02:25 +0100 5069533 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069647&cid=t_99541_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FLn-_yPbE_50%2F (Editor’s Note: this timely new report illustrates the need for innovative brain fitness interventions focused on maintaining if not enhancing targeted cognitive functionality, such as driving safety or financial decision-making, leveraging lifelong neuroplasticity and cognitive reserve. What the report presents as inexorable, somewhat genetically pre-programmed decline, it is not.) BMO Retirement Institute Report: Boomers’ Ability to Make Financial Decisions Often Declines With Age (Market Watch): - “The BMO Retirement Institute released a report today which raises awareness of the potential impact on aging Canadians of declining cognitive abilities — often caused by Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia — and describes how this decline can affect their ability to ma... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069647 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 09:33:51 +0100 5069647 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062241&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthrombolytics-to-give-or-not-to-give%2F2011.07.25 For years now, we’ve all heard the drum-beat.  Bill-boards in cities have proclaimed it.  Various medical associations have touted it’s importance.  Stroke symptoms have to be treated immediately!  Give clot-busting drugs, also known as ‘thrombolytics!’ Until, of course, those in favor of giving the drugs (namely neurologists)  realized that a)  Not everyone with a stroke, aka ‘brain attack’ has insurance and b) people have a very inconsiderate habit of having said strokes at the most inconvenient of hours.  For instance, after 5PM, on the weekend, on holidays.  The nerve! So across the country, physicians in emergency departments like mine are finding themselves expected by the court of public opinion to give a potentially dangerous drug (albeit a sometimes useful drug... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062241 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:00:57 +0100 5062241 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062363&cid=t_99541_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2F1Mn8zmxQWT0%2F Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation 2008 Lecture Ian Hickie presents research on mental health issues in the Australian legal profession. He discusses help-seeking behaviours, productivity, disability, economic burden of illness, suicide and prevention efforts, substance use, neurobiology, treatments, gender and age differences, stigma and discrimination, and more. Extremely well-researched presentation with many statistics and perspectives. The 40 minute lecture is followed by a panel discussion, a Q&A session with the audience, and a brief talk by organization co-founder George Jepson. The Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation works to “raise awareness, improve education and build effective models of support which focus on mental health wellbeing” in the legal profession, and... Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062363 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 11:30:04 +0100 5062363 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062294&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F24%2Fmental-illness-is-not-simply-a-brain-disease%2F Last month, Andrew Brown writing for the UK’s Guardian, noted when Professor David Nutt kept referring to depression as a “brain disease” on a popular UK television program. We commend Andrew Brown for his calling out Professor Nutt in trying to dumb down the portrayal of mental disorders to simply “brain diseases.” Mental disorders remain complex disorders that involve all aspect of a person’s functioning and life — their brain and biology, their psychological makeup and personality, and their social interactions and relationships with others. The cause isn’t just one of these things in the vast majority of people who have a mental illness — the cause is all of these things, in differing proportions. I’ve written about this in th... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062294 Sun, 24 Jul 2011 16:36:25 +0100 5062294 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5057762&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F23%2Fthe-critical-thinking-coach-interview-with-stephen-haggerty%2F Stephen Haggerty is a 2011 recipient of Eastern Kentucky University’s Critical Thinking Teacher of the year award.  The award is given to recognize “outstanding faculty members who have had an effect on developing their students’ critical/creative thinking skills.” (Read more about the award at Think EKU.) In this two-part interview I discuss critical thinking with Stephen Haggerty. What is the primary goal of critical thinking? If I am a critical thinker, I am thinking things through before making choices.  In other words, a fundamental goal of critical thinking is to be able to consider multiple perspectives before deciding to act upon information, a person’s request, or even something like buying car or a house. A critical thinker in school will be more success... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5057762 Sat, 23 Jul 2011 16:44:52 +0100 5057762 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5051328&cid=t_99541_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FsYHByKGxr88%2F The brain determines consciousness, and a long list of attributes which affect one’s quality of life. Without exception, everything starts with the brain; it is central for everything that we do. Productivity; starts with the mind, the brain must be nurtured with, stimulation, positive affirmations and active challenges. The Human Brain – A Remarkable Organic Computer Volumes of data exist around the subject physical fitness and well-being. Fitness is conducive with mental ability and brain efficiency; both are relative to productivity. The brain is a complex organic muscle which needs constant stimulation to preserve the minds peak performance. Knowledge about the mysteries of the human brain continues to grow, it is immensely complex and still largely not understood, it is the most c... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5051328 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 06:04:28 +0100 5051328 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050541&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1462     Examiner.com/Grand Rapids MI has just posted a comprehensive article explaining cord blood banking, its uses and what to look for if you are choosing to  bank your baby’s cord blood privately as well as publicly.    The author,  Nancy Zielinski, is an expert in the fields of public and sexual health. You can read more here. (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050541 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 19:11:57 +0100 5050541 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050542&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1459       Have you seen the summer forecast across the country???? The heat wave started in the West and is gradually moving towards the East Coast. Here  are a few suggestions on how to have fun, safely, in the sweltering summer heat…. If you go to the beach, earlier in the morning and later in the afternoon after 4:00 are the best times to keep you and your family from sunburn.  Remember, you still need sunscreen  but the sun is at its hottest mid-day. Wearing a hat and a lightweight cover-up are 2 excellent ways to prevent sunburn as well. Wearing a hat can prevent sunstroke, when your body cannot manage its temperature. Re-apply, re-apply, re-apply…..we’re talking sunscreen….. an SPF above 30 or 40 is generally considered adequate. If you go to th... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050542 Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:53:09 +0100 5050542 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050716&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F20%2Fthe-psychology-of-a-heat-wave%2F As the U.S. and Canada enter into a heat wave, I get a lot of questions about how heat impacts human behavior and our moods. So three years ago, I wrote a blog entry that reviews the research about weather affects our moods and behavior. It’s still a good overview of the research in this area and worth the read. But it’s nice to highlight a few points from that article, as well as other research, that demonstrates how the weather — and especially hot weather, in this case — can impact our mood. Does a heat wave lead to more violence? Do we have more or less energy during high humidity? What about depression and anxiety? Read on for the answers. Heat waves come and go nearly every year in some part of the world. What makes them especially difficult for indigenous po... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050716 Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:32:10 +0100 5050716 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050752&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=38953&url=http%3A%2F%2Frileyjennifer.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Ffear-stem-cells-and-emotional-memory.html This summary is from Science Daily which also has the link to the actual article.Fear Boosts Activation of Immature Brain Cells: Adult Neural Stem Cells Play Role in Creating Emotional Context of MemoryScientists have long known that fear and other highly emotional experiences lead to incredibly strong memories. In a study appearing online in advance of publication in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, UC Berkeley's Daniela Kaufer and colleagues report a new way for emotions to affect memory: The brain's emotional center, the amygdala, induces the hippocampus, a relay hub for memory, to generate new neurons.In a fearful situation, these newborn neurons get activated by the amygdala and may provide a "blank slate" to strongly imprint the new fearful memory, she said. In evolutionary terms, i... Psych Scamp blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050752 Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:17:00 +0100 5050752 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050543&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1441   An umbilical cord blood transplant is a procedure used to treat various forms of blood disease, such as leukemia, certain types of anemia, and other forms of cancer. The umbilical cord contains stem cells, which can develop into healthy blood cells. Cord blood for an umbilical cord blood transplant can be used from the patient’s own umbilical cord, if it was banked, or from a donor’s cord blood. Banking your baby’s umbilical cord blood is very important in case your child ever needs it. There are many diseases it can help such as cerebral palsy, leukemias, myeloldysplastic syndromes (pre-leukemia) lymphomas, Erythrocyte, and other bone cancers. Read here for  more extensive information on wisegeek.com If you  go to this non commercial site and check out the comp... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050543 Tue, 19 Jul 2011 18:52:53 +0100 5050543 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050718&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F19%2Fdepression-and-empathy-in-couples%2F Discussions focused on eliciting support, with one partner playing the role of help seeker and the other playing the role of help giver. The couples were given an alarm that beeped after 6 min, at which point they switched roles and continued the conversation for an additional 6 min.” In the second part, each individual reviewed their recordings separately and after watching the discussion in 30-second segments, paused the recording and wrote down the thoughts and feelings they experienced at that time during the interaction. They were also asked to infer and write down their partners’ thoughts and feelings. In the third part of the study, five coders independently judged “the degree of similarity between perceivers’ and targets’ statements by examining the taped discussi... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050718 Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:15:54 +0100 5050718 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050472&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F008188.html A pair of collections of cells known as the suprachiasmatic nucleus at the base of the brain in the hypothalamus regulate the body's circadian rhythm as the sun goes up and down. As we age those cells do a poorer job of putting out a wave signal that orchestrates the complex mechanisms that make us wake up and go to sleep. A new study of the brain's master circadian clock — known as the suprachiasmatic nucleus, or SCN — reveals that a key pattern of rhythmic neural activity begins to decline by middle age. The study, whose senior author is UCLA Chancellor Gene Block, may have implications for the large number of older people who have difficulty sleeping and adjusting... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050472 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5050472 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050585&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=39261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvactruth.com%2F2011%2F07%2F18%2Fwhat-is-it-you-dont-get-about-vaccines%2F With more parents questioning vaccines, we are starting to see Mainstream Media 'turning up the heat' on the rhetoric. Monday, July 18, 2011, the Los Angeles Times ran the following op-ed article by David Ropeik: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-ropeik-vaccines-20110718,0,4240440.story  Public health: Not vaccinated? Not acceptable Wow! I thought. Is that draconian, fascist, or even Hitlerian-like in principle? So, I considered what a one-sentence rebuttal could be to such apparent outrageousness on the part of someone who, perhaps, does not know the ‘toxic ingredients’ in vaccines nor has studied the thousands upon thousands of VAERS reports at CDC on adverse vaccine reactions. This is what I finally came up with: No vaccine safety studies; No vaccinat... vactruth.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050585 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 19:40:47 +0100 5050585 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050721&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F18%2Fbed-sharing-seems-okay-for-toddlers%2F While not particularly popular here in the U.S., bed sharing arrangements are a little more common in many other countries, especially when sleeping quarters may be scarce. A new study just published suggests that such bed sharing between parents and their toddlers and young children probably don’t result in any kind of long-term psychological or social problems. The study followed a sample of 944 low-income families who were enrolled in the Early Head Start program, and followed the toddlers and parents over the course of five years. Once other factors were accounted for — such as the family’s socioeconomic status, the mom’s educational level, ethnicity and parenting style — the negative outcomes associated with bed sharing went away. This suggests that bed s... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050721 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 17:06:36 +0100 5050721 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050730&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34761&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedblitz.com%2F%7E%2F26446763%2F0%2Fneuromarketing%7ECool-Brain-Art.htm Last month was the conclusion of Brain-Art Competition 2011, and some of the entries are really intriguing. There were four categories of entry: Best 3-Dimensional Brain Rendering Best Representation of the Human Connectome Best Abstract Brain Illustration Best Humorous Brain Illustration The winner in the 3-D category was Rebrain by Robert Toro (above). More brain [...] CommentsCommentsRelated StoriesFurry Cat Ears Show Your MoodBetter Packaging via NeuromarketingApologies Really DO Work (Source: Neuromarketing) Neuromarketing blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050730 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:24:19 +0100 5050730 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050908&cid=t_99541_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2FJLbNA_qy-k0%2F Creating a Healthier Future through Prevention of Child Maltreatment Excellent panel presentation on effects of and strategies to prevent child maltreatment. Experts describe harms including a long list of psychological, cognitive and physical health issues, brain development and epigenetic consequences, fatalities, legal, government and social costs of abuse and neglect. The lifetime economic burden in the US is estimated between a conservative figure of $121 billion (2008) and an estimated half a trillion dollars, per year. They discuss what can be done for prevention with public health and policy approaches, including eliminating risk factors, and resource allocation from cost-benefit analyses. Evidence-based prevention programs include home visitations by nurses, maternity ward educati... Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050908 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 11:12:36 +0100 5050908 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5051130&cid=t_99541_136_f&fid=39213&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbeingcancer.net%2F2011%2F07%2F18%2Fbrain-cancer-questions-guest-post%2F Duck Pond - Boston What great email I get!  One is from a Lynette Warner.  Her husband was diagnosed in the summer of 2008 with stage IV liver cancer.  Miraculously he is celebrating his third year of survivorship.  Their blog is called The Walkers .  They are just the fourth liver cancer blog on our list. Also in my inbox is an announcement from Stephanie Lancaster who writes at Just My Current Perspective.  “My 67 year-old father, a lifelong competitive athlete and a commodities broker working full-time, was diagnosed with an aggressive type of brain cancer, in October of 2010. He underwent surgery and chemotherapy but died only ten weeks after the initial diagnosis. I am writing this blog to help organize my rambling thoughts as I try to wade through the grief.” Questi... Being Cancer Network blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5051130 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 04:09:33 +0100 5051130 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5036625&cid=t_99541_180_f&fid=38619&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FALifeCoachsBlog%2F%7E3%2FM7tgHWn1syE%2F After the controversy of my last post ‘This Was An Interview With Robin Sharma‘, it’s time to get things back on track round here today with some serious Life Coach type stuff. I’m pretty sure you get strong gut feelings or intuitions from time to time. A sense from deep within that a decision you’re about to make is either right or wrong. I’m equally sure that you override that feeling at least occasionally, Continue reading... (Source: Life Coach Blog: The Discomfort Zone :) Life Coach Blog: The Discomfort Zone : blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5036625 Sun, 17 Jul 2011 21:56:44 +0100 5036625 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5036275&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F17%2F3-handy-ways-to-help-your-child-overcome-negative-thinking%2F Negative thinking isn’t something that just plagues adults. It also plagues kids. In the book Freeing Your Child From Negative Thinking: Powerful Practical Strategies to Build a Lifetime of Resilience, Flexibility and Happiness, child psychologist Tamar E. Chansky, Ph.D, writes that for kids with a “negative thinking bias,” negative thoughts become “the default, the first, last and final word.” Kids simply don’t realize that they have a choice in whether they internalize these thoughts. Instead, they start to see these inaccurate beliefs as absolute truths. Fortunately, Chansky says that parents can help! Whether your child expresses negative thoughts occasionally or on a regular basis, you can help them overcome these harmful patterns of thinking. Below are three activities to... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5036275 Sun, 17 Jul 2011 10:17:59 +0100 5036275 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5036278&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F16%2Fexpectation-affects-our-food-likes-and-dislikes%2F What is expectation assimilation? It’s the notion that our taste perceptions are biased by our imagination, and if you expect a food to taste good it will.  However, expectation assimilation also works in the opposite direction.  If you expect a food to taste unpleasant it will (Wansink, 2006). At a cafeteria in Urbana, Illinois, 175 people were given a free brownie dusted with powdered sugar (Wansink, 2006).  They were told the brownie was a new dessert that may be added to the menu.  They were asked how they liked the flavor and how much they would pay for it.   All of the brownies were the same size and had the same ingredients.  However, the brownies were served on a china plate, on a paper plate or on a paper napkin. Those who received the brownie on a china plate said t... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5036278 Sat, 16 Jul 2011 10:28:53 +0100 5036278 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5036222&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1451         Sometimes, people just say the wrong thing, other times they say nothing at all.  Giving advice to a pregnant woman is never, ever, a good idea, even if you have the best of intentions.  People mean well, but there are times during pregnancy that we just want to make the  important decisions that are right for us.  Topics from having pain medications during labor and delivery, to breast feeding are very personal indeed.   Read here for one woman’s take on getting advice from other new moms, and people who think their advice is the last word.. {Click here for a free information packet and special coupon for MAZE Cord Blood Laboratories! } (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5036222 Fri, 15 Jul 2011 18:29:33 +0100 5036222 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5036279&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F15%2Fsport-psychology-and-its-history%2F My boyfriend, an avid golfer, always says that golf is mainly a game of the brain. That is, your mental state has a lot to do with your success on the course. And, not surprisingly, it’s like that with other sports. Psychology can give players an edge. As Ludy Benjamin and David Baker write in From Séance to Science: A History of the Profession of Psychology in America, “Indeed, in so many instances when physical talents seem evenly matched, it is the mental factors that will make the difference in winning or losing.” That’s where sport psychology — also sometimes referred to as sports psychology — comes in. So how did sport psychology start and evolve? Early Experiments In America, sport psychology’s roots date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries when se... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5036279 Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:35:35 +0100 5036279 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028850&cid=t_99541_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FsEGxDyb8wJY%2F Remember all those times you tried to meditate? Sitting cross-legged on the floor with one eye on the clock, trying unsuccessfully to stop your mind from repeating that song you heard on the way home (“Don’t hate me ‘cuz I’m beautiful…”). Even a few minutes of this can feel like sheer torture. People who meditate regularly swear by its tranquil effects, but if you’re not one of them, the latest research tidbit may reignite your interest in trying: Orgasm and meditation create the same effect in our brains. No, that doesn’t mean you’re going to get all hot and bothered during meditation, and inappropriate, naked meditation is not going to become the new fad, but it’s interesting to know that these two acts have similar mind-alterin... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028850 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:00:35 +0100 5028850 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028699&cid=t_99541_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2Fq5cq4L949_0%2F The Internet Can Save Lives Dan Savage in an interview about the highly successful It Gets Better suicide prevention campaign, explaining why the campaign is so effective and innovative in the media ecology. Traditionally LGBT youth have been misinformed by stigma campaigns that focus solely on school bullying, but Dan points out that often bullying comes from parents and churches as well. Because of homophobic fears about gay adults recruiting youth, advocates had been unable to mentor directly by speaking in schools, etc. But with the advent of YouTube and the spark of a viral video by Dan and his husband about their life, It Gets Better reaches youth in their homes and libraries with over 20,000 videos by LGBT adults (and a book) about how they survived bigotry and bullying and grew up ... Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028699 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:26:28 +0100 5028699 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028453&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F13%2Fwhy-sugar-is-dangerous-to-depression%2F You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to appreciate the link between sugar and depression. Anyone who doubts the relationship need only to spend a night in our house and see what type of behavior happens when two kids consume 12-ounce cans of Coke or Sprite — and the demonic demonstrations that happen after a 7-11 slurpee, especially if it’s red or blue, or God forbid, a mix. People who suffer from depression are especially vulnerable to sugar’s evil power. I am so sensitive to white-flour, processed foods that I can practically set an alarm to for three hours after consumption, at which time I will be cursing myself for inhaling the large piece of birthday cake at the party because I am feeling so miserable. That doesn’t stop me from eating dessert at the next gathering, of c... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028453 Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:34:30 +0100 5028453 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028750&cid=t_99541_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fjuly-check-in-hows-your-ms-today%2F Time once again for our monthly open blog where we ask the question, “How’s your MS today?” After catching up (or trying) on all of your comments while I was away on holidays I’d venture to say that this may be a busy month for comments on this topic. I wrote some of those posts in advance and some during my trip. I didn’t have time to check in very often so I was surprised to see so many comments on many of the posts. As to how my MS is; I can’t really tell… I’m recovering from a sinus infection and we all know how that can muck with MS. In fact, I now remember that my diagnosing MRI showed a big, ol’ nasty sinus infection. The radiologist who read the films even mentioned it in his report: “major sinus infection in three cavities, multiple plaque lesions on brain and ... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028750 Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:16:47 +0100 5028750 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028455&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F13%2Fwishy-washy-help-in-making-good-decisions%2F Anyone who knows me well will tell you that I’m a tad indecisive, not about everything, but most things. Here’s a typical experience: I’m at a restaurant, perusing (i.e., studying) the menu and pondering. I ask what everyone else is having, and ponder some more. Then I chat with the server. If I’m wavering between two dishes, I ask what’s the better option. If I just have one meal in mind, I focus my questions on that dish. After I get the answer, sometimes, I think some more. Aside from being a super fun dinner date (fortunately, my boyfriend and friends just laugh it off now…most of the time), I clearly have decision issues. So what’s my problem — and yours if making simple daily decisions feels like you’re gearing up for the choice of a lifetime? An articl... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028455 Wed, 13 Jul 2011 10:15:03 +0100 5028455 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028163&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1428 The quiet, the calm, the massage, the alone time…… When you are pregnant, your body can ache, you may get headaches from hormones or exhaustion. You might feel nauseous  and over all malaise.  If you have the time try to get a prenatal massage. During pregnancy, women suffer from all sorts of discomforts.  Unfortunately, traditional medicine offers few ways of alleviating these problems. By learning how to soothe aches and pains with safe, therapeutic massage techniques, moms-to-be can learn to better cope with the changes of pregnancy.   Learning how to take charge of her own pregnancy can help an expecting mom feel healthier, more energetic, and more in-control physically and mentally. You can read more here to learn how to de-stress and take care of YOU!   {Click... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028163 Tue, 12 Jul 2011 19:08:13 +0100 5028163 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028457&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F12%2Fmatthew-israel-founder-of-judge-rotenberg-steps-down-in-disgrace%2F We missed reporting this at the end of May when it happened, but I like to close the loop on stories we’ve discussed in the past, so I thought it relevant to mention here. We’ve previously detailed how the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center in Canton, Mass. has a “treatment” for out-of-control children where electric shocks are given in order to curb their behavior (ala BF Skinner). We’ve also noted the horror of the incident where a former patient was able to make a single phone call and cause the staff to shock two children in its care over 100 times. Now, finally, the founder of the school, Matthew Israel, has agreed to step down from the Center in order to avoid prison time. In an agreement reached with the state’s Attorney General, he will be on pro... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028457 Tue, 12 Jul 2011 15:50:56 +0100 5028457 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028459&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F11%2Fi-am-so-not-sorry-an-exercise-in-exposure-therapy%2F One form of cognitive behavioral therapy is exposure therapy, where your brain is supposed to form new connections and rewrite the language of your amygdala (fear center), so that it doesn’t associate every dog with the pit bull who took a bite out of your thigh in the fourth grade. By doing the exact thing that you most fear, you are, essentially, telling the old neurons in your brain to take a hike so that new ones, who don’t know anything about the pit bull, can now live inside your brain and tell you that everything is peachy. Yeah, well, that’s the theory. So you jump into a pit bull fight and say, “Here, doggie, doggie, you want a treat?” If he doesn’t take your leg off, you are good to go! If he does take your leg off, you have much more exposure therapy ahead of you&#82... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028459 Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:35:27 +0100 5028459 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028700&cid=t_99541_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2Foc0WLJr5AZU%2F Dave deBronkart: Meet e-Patient Dave Participatory medicine and patients’ access to their own health data are subjects in a powerful talk by a pioneering e-patient (empowered and engaged patient). Features an interactive transcript. Subtitles available in English, Spanish, French, Romanian, Italian and Dutch. e-Patient Dave describes his experience with cancer and how learning about his condition online and networking with peers saved his life. Although his focus is cancer, mental health also has e-patients including here at PsychCentral, a member organization in the Society for Participatory Medicine. Personally, I’ve been an e-patient and peer advocate for over a decade, online and off. It’s encouraging to watch the movement grow, both informally and in organizations, b... Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028700 Mon, 11 Jul 2011 12:30:59 +0100 5028700 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008304&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F08%2Fhow-to-calm-down-after-a-fight%2F You’re on the couch and he’s in the bed, but neither of you is sleeping. After the heated argument over your summer vacation destination, he stomped angrily upstairs and you sit sobbing on the couch. He wants to go to camping with tents and backpacks and you want to stay at a resort by the ocean. Arguments are part of every relationship, but how we respond to them is crucial. Our reaction to conflict or any stressful event is based on our life experiences and genetics. We all have those friends who are so laid back that nothing affects them and we also have friends who become frazzled over the smallest situations. But to successfully manage conflict, we need to manage our stress first. If you cannot quickly calm yourself down, you will not be able to hear what your partner is real... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008304 Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:54:48 +0100 5008304 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008448&cid=t_99541_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=5008449&cid=t_99541_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fq6v6sBUFKL4%2F Thinking globally to improve mental health: NIH announces international research initiative (press release): - “The Grand Challenges in Global Mental Health Initiative, led by the National Institutes of Health and the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases, has identified the top 40 barriers to better mental health around the world. Similar to past grand challenges, which focused on infectious diseases and chronic, noncommunicable diseases, this initiative seeks to build a community of funders dedicated to supporting research that will significantly improve the lives of people living with MNS disorders within the next 10 years.“ – “Participating in global mental health research is an enormous opportunity, a means to accelerate advances in mental health care for the diverse U.S. popul... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008449 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 17:53:39 +0100 5008449 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008157&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1420       Below is an excerpt from an article in the Orlando Sentinel about cord blood, its uses, and how people can go about understanding its benefits and even why they should bank it in the first place. “On a lawn beneath Florida Hospital’s Walt Disney Pavilion, NASCAR drivers and their cars were on hand Thursday morning to promote a new program that banks umbilical-cord blood. Beyond the cars, cameras and festival atmosphere is a new partnership between the hospital and a group that collects and stores cord blood from new mothers for procedures that can cure as many as 70 diseases. The program at Florida Hospital will allow pregnant women to donate their cord blood after they deliver their babies. That blood is rich in stem cells, the versatile cells that ca... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008157 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 16:59:25 +0100 5008157 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008307&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F07%2Fthe-psychology-of-the-casey-anthony-trial%2F So Casey Anthony was found not guilty of murder, meaning we can go back to our everyday, regular lives. On July 5, the jury found Casey Anthony not guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter, and aggravated child abuse (but found her guilty of four lesser, misdemeanor offenses related to her interrogations). What? You mean you “want answers” as to why she wasn’t found guilty? We all want answers in our lives. We yearn for answers. People spend years in therapy looking for answers. But life isn’t always so neat, nor does it always provide easy-to-understand answers to such a tragic series of events that led to the death of Casey Anthony’s toddler, Caylee. So the short answer is — there are no answers. You’re looking for justice in a worl... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008307 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 10:13:09 +0100 5008307 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008308&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F06%2Fever-had-such-an-intense-interest-in-a-subject-that-learning-was-easy%2F As I’ve noted here before, I’ve recently become obsessed with the sense of smell — which has been an interesting experience, for several reasons. One reason: this obsession has reminded me about the nature of learning. I’ve been struck by how much I’ve learned in the last few weeks. I went from knowing almost nothing about the scent of smell to knowing… well, quite a bit more. And without any effort, any drilling, any assignments on my part. Quite the contrary. I’m gulping down books, jumping around websites, eager to learn more, more, more. The same thing happened when I was working on my Churchill biography. In college, I’d taken classes that covered World War II, and I had to force myself to do the reading, and I struggled to memorize the facts. But through the l... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008308 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 17:45:37 +0100 5008308 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008159&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1408     July is Cord Blood awareness month. What exactly is cord blood? Umbilical cord blood is the blood collected from the umbilical cord immediately following the birth of a child. This blood provided nourishment for the baby during pregnancy, but once the baby is delivered, umbilical cord blood is no longer necessary. Umbilical cord blood is rich in multipotent hematopoietic “stem cells” (or blood stem cells). These cord blood stem cells produce the cellular ingredients necessary for the blood and the immune system. When the umbilical cord blood cells are transplanted into patients, they can help restore the immune and blood systems to help fight diseases and replace diseased blood. Collecting your child’s umbilical cord blood and saving it in a cord blood ban... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008159 Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:45:35 +0100 5008159 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008280&cid=t_99541_107_f&fid=36672&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencebase.com%2Fscience-blog%2Fbrain-tumours-and-mobile-phones.html UPDATE: 8 July 2011 This update isn’t anything new, but something I should’ve pointed out and that is always ignored/overlookd in popular and sensationalist discussions about the health risks of electromagnetic radiation is that everything beyond the violet end of the spectrum – UV, X-rays, gamma rays – are high-energy and “ionising” forms of radiation. Everything below the red end of the spectrum – infrared, microwaves, radio waves – are much lower in energy and do not ionise molecules or atoms. They can heat things up (infra-red makes molecules vibrate, which heats them up, microwaves make polar molecules spin, the energy of which is transferred to other molecules as vibrations (heat). The WHO’s verdict is one based on the precautiona... Sciencebase Science Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008280 Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:08:12 +0100 5008280 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008312&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F05%2Fapproaches-to-knowledge-interview-with-nathaniel-b-jones%2F Dr. Brian Jones has a PhD in exercise science and is a full-time professor at the University of Louisville where he teaches both graduate and undergraduate courses. He approaches all his courses with a scientific mindset, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking. Recently, Dr. Jones sent me a file containing one of his lectures on critical thinking. The lecture was for college students, but after reading the file I thought the subject matter would be great for everyone to know, not just those who are attending college. In the following interview, we discuss important points on critical thinking and approaches to knowledge. I think most people know that the media is not the best source for reliable information.  Yet, many seem to almost exclusively turn to the media for knowledge. ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008312 Tue, 05 Jul 2011 10:22:38 +0100 5008312 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4997631&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=38950&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shockmd.com%2F2011%2F07%2F04%2Flong-term-efficacy-of-deep-brain-stimulation%2F Buffer New long term data on efficacy of deep brain stimulation for treatment resistant depression are available. The first follow up data up to 1 year were already promising. Published research about deep brain stimulation for treatment resistant depression showed that six months after surgery, 60% of patients were responders and 35% met criteria for remission, benefits that were largely maintained at 12 months. The average response rate to DBS after two and three years were 46,2% and 75%. More than one-third of patients were in remission at year 3. But what’s more convincing functional impairment in the areas of physical health and social functioning progressively improved up to the last follow-up visit. The Mayberg group published a follow up for 6 patients after 6 months and they... Dr Shock MD PhD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4997631 Mon, 04 Jul 2011 05:01:50 +0100 4997631 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992755&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F02%2Fhow-the-dsm-developed-what-you-might-not-know%2F The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is widely known as the bible of psychiatry and psychology. But not many people know how this powerful and influential book came to be. Here’s a brief look at the DSM’s evolution and where we are today. The Need for Classification The origins of the DSM date back to 1840 — when the government wanted to collect data on mental illness. The term “idiocy/insanity” appeared in that year’s census. Forty years later, the census expanded to feature these seven categories: “mania, melancholia, monomania, paresis, dementia, dipsomania and epilepsy.” But there was still a need to gather uniform stats across mental hospitals. In 1917, the Bureau of the Census embraced a publication called the Statistical Manual for ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992755 Sat, 02 Jul 2011 10:43:12 +0100 4992755 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992756&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F01%2Fis-anyone-normal-today%2F Take a minute and answer this question: Is anyone really normal today? I mean, even those who claim they are normal may, in fact, be the most neurotic among us, swimming with a nice pair of scuba fins down the river of Denial. Having my psychiatric file published online and in print for public viewing, I get to hear my share of dirty secrets—weird obsessions, family dysfunction, or disguised addiction—that are kept concealed from everyone but a self-professed neurotic and maybe a shrink. “Why are there so many disorders today?” Those seven words, or a variation of them, surface a few times a week. And my take on this query is so complex that, to avoid sounding like my grad school professors making an erudite case that fails to communicate anything to average folks like me, I often ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992756 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:03:11 +0100 4992756 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992815&cid=t_99541_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FgROm1dTTA8I%2F Let’s explore some  high-quality new resources, announcements and studies in this June edi­tion of the monthly Sharp­Brains eNewslet­ter. The field is clearly on the move! Portraits of the Mind: Several sharp brains (Rick, Karen, John, thanks!) strongly rec­om­mend the recent book  “Por­traits of the Mind: Visu­al­iz­ing the Brain from Antiq­uity to the 21st Cen­tury” (which includes the image on the left) as great read­ing and as a beau­ti­ful cof­fee table book. Promoting Healthy, Meaningful Aging Through Social Involvement: The cur­rent issue of Cere­brum includes the excel­lent in-depth arti­cle on the value of volunteering program Experience Corps to promote healthy and meaningful aging through social involvement. Working memory training can improve fluid i... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992815 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 18:04:45 +0100 4992815 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992666&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1403       So our SO’s are feeling a little neglected so they came up with a great way to bond and share beer. What could be better? Dad-to-be parties — also called “dadchelor,” or “forefather” parties — have become more popular in the past few years. For the most part, these aren’t sleazy retreads of “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” bachelor bashes. Instead, participants say, this new male-bonding ritual is all about welcoming a major milestone that, for today’s hands-on dads, is even more life-changing than marriage. Read the rest of the article here. These days men are just as excited to become Dads and they have just as many apprehensions as we do. Perhaps given a place to hang as an informal gathering, they can get informati... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992666 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 18:03:56 +0100 4992666 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992168&cid=t_99541_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fcooling-cap-could-provide-insomnia.html (Source: Sleep Education) Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992168 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:52:00 +0100 4992168 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984731&cid=t_99541_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FVWUYzDz3gtM%2F I have spent many years working on my health and my happiness. I learned early on how my thoughts and my mind can affect every experience I have. Therefore I began researching and learning about the health of my mind and how I could use my mind to benefit my life and my overall happiness. I figured there are enough obstacles to deal with out there in the big world and I didn’t want to be sabotaging myself from within. There are several different factors that affect health and happiness including nutrition, lifestyle, exercise, stress, family and career. However the one big factor that in my experience often gets overlooked is the health of the mind. It seemed to me that in order to create and maintain a healthy and happy life the work must begin with the mind. Your thoughts are extremely... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984731 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 04:57:09 +0100 4984731 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984736&cid=t_99541_180_f&fid=38619&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FALifeCoachsBlog%2F%7E3%2Fy1UI9JgG6sU%2F You probably think it’s a bit odd me throwing my best self development and Life Coaching books of 2011 at you with half the year to go, right? I guess it is, but I thought as it’s holiday time and people are heading off on vacations it would be cool to share with you 4 brilliant must read books that you’ll want to pack along with your Bermuda shorts, sombrero and stuffed donkey when Continue reading... (Source: Life Coach Blog: The Discomfort Zone :) Life Coach Blog: The Discomfort Zone : blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984736 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:38:57 +0100 4984736 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984498&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F29%2Fthe-illusion-of-confidence%2F We often overestimate our abilities, and overestimate the abilities of others who exude confidence.  Are we correct in thinking the athlete who radiates confidence must be competent in her/his sport?  The salesman who speaks with extensive knowledge and confidence must know what they are talking about, right? These scenarios are often manifestations of the illusion of confidence. Confidence is often considered a “true” signal of the extent of one’s memory, knowledge, skill, and ability.  However, confidence is often misleading and not congruent with ability.  This type of unwarranted confidence leads to “epistemic irrationality,” or more commonly known as simply delusion and self-deception. The illusion of confidence has two distinct but related aspects.  Fi... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984498 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:12:36 +0100 4984498 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984428&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1400         As any pregnant woman knows, once you’re with child, it seems like everyone’s got something to say. And while it’s often with the best intentions, some people don’t seem to realize that they’re talking to a very hormonal, uncomfortable, and extremely hungry woman-on-the-verge, whose emotions are so whacked out that she’ll either burst into tears or cut you. Right now, it’s not a good time! You can read here for a list of what NOT to say.. {Click here for a free information packet and special coupon for MAZE Cord Blood Laboratories! }   (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984428 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:59:54 +0100 4984428 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4976036&cid=t_99541_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Ffuv1BBULwMs%2F The current issue of Cerebrum –a great publication of the Dana Foundation– includes the excellent in-depth article Promoting Healthy, Meaningful Aging Through Social Involvement: Building an Experience Corps, written by researcher Michelle Carlson: “Over the last decade, scientists made two key discoveries that reframed our understanding of the adult brain’s potential to benefit from lifelong environmental enrichment. First, they learned that the adult brain remains plastic; it can generate new neurons in response to physical activity and new experiences. Second, they confirmed the importance of social connectedness to late-life cognitive, psychological, and physical health. The integration of these findings with our understanding of individuals’ developmental needs throughout li... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4976036 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 18:01:23 +0100 4976036 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975941&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F28%2Fmarsha-linehan-what-is-dialectical-behavioral-therapy-dbt%2F Last week the New York Times ran a fascinating piece on Marsha Linehan, Professor of Psychology at the University of Washington and the original developer of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), a modification of standard cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), but including elements of acceptance and mindfulness. Her work has been designed specifically for people who harm themselves, for those diagnosed with borderline personality (BPT), and those who suffer from pervasive suicidal thoughts and/or attempts. For the first time in her life, the mental health expert disclosed her own story (that we also discussed on the blog yesterday), which involved hospitalization at the age of 17 that lasted longer than two years. Benedict Carey, author of the interview with Linehan, writes: No one knows h... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975941 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:45:03 +0100 4975941 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4976035&cid=t_99541_122_f&fid=35070&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneurobot.bio.auth.gr%2F2011%2Fenhancing-bcis-through-electrocorticography-ecog%2F Electrocorticography (ECoG) records the “high-gamma” (>60 Hz) frequency profile of the cortex, featuring a temporal resolution of the order of milliseconds [1]. Coupled with a software interface, the use of ECoG was explored in a Brain Computer Interface study when participants were asked to either think or say different vowel sounds [2]. While the recorded [...] (Source: Neurobot) Neurobot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4976035 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 07:50:50 +0100 4976035 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4976113&cid=t_99541_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FZWk3_Zj5pRw%2F So you’re living in NYC, and you just can’t understand why your friends visiting from rural Ohio seem so overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of the place. Or maybe you’re living the good life in small town, U.S.A., and you wish your city friends who came to visit could just chill out and relax for 97 seconds. Are these sort of differences between city and country temperaments all in your head? Well, yes — but that doesn’t mean you’re making them up: It turns out urban brains really do behave differently from rural ones. The Economist reports on a study just published in Nature by German researcher Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg which used MRI scans to look at the effect of stress on the brains of city- and country-dwellers. Lindenberg and colleagues found the amy... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4976113 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:41:49 +0100 4976113 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968694&cid=t_99541_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=4968597&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=38953&url=http%3A%2F%2Frileyjennifer.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fwarm-temperatures-improve-feelings-of.html See also Heat Therapy.A 2008 study demonstrated that “Experiencing Physical Warmth Promotes Interpersonal Warmth.” The idea is based on the fact that both physical and psychological 'warmth' (friendliness, helpfulness, trustworthiness, empathy, ) can be visualised in the insula. In the first part of the study in which participants were asked to hold a hot or cold beverage and then rate personality traits as either warm or cold. While the findings of this experiment were significant they were not great and the experiment wasn't double-blind. The authors also reported significant findings for the second part of the study (which was double-blind). However, in this experiment participants, after holding a hot or cold pack, were asked to choose between a fruit drink or a gift certificate fo... Psych Scamp blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968597 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 22:09:00 +0100 4968597 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968472&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1391     A new study reported by Reuters from the  European Heart Journal describes the effects on children whose mothers smoked while they are pregnant.  The study indicates that smoking in pregnancy can lead to lower levels of  HDL or ‘good’ cholesterol thus making them more prone to heart disease later in life. “Our results suggest that maternal smoking ‘imprints’ an unhealthy set of characteristics on children while they are developing in the womb, which may well predispose them to later heart attack and stroke,” said David Celermajer, a professor of cardiology at the University of Sydney. Read here for more information {Click here for a free information packet and special coupon for MAZE Cord Blood Laboratories! } (Source: Cord Blood Ne... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968472 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 20:30:16 +0100 4968472 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968579&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F24%2F9-myths-misconceptions-and-stereotypes-about-adhd%2F Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects about four percent of U.S. adults (Kessler, Chiu, Demler & Walters, 2005). Still, many myths, stereotypes and downright fallacies abound — everything from questioning the very existence of ADHD to downplaying its seriousness. Below, we spoke with two experts who treat individuals with ADHD to set the record straight. 1. Myth: ADHD isn’t a real disorder. Fact: ADHD is a mental disorder with a strong biological component (like most mental disorders). This includes an inherited biological component, notes Stephanie Sarkis, Ph.D, a national certified counselor and licensed mental health counselor and author of four books on adult ADD, including Adult ADD: A Guide for the Newly Diagnosed. For instance, studies have identified sever... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968579 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 18:17:58 +0100 4968579 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968693&cid=t_99541_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2FoNEfDBc2IhU%2F Shelby Harris Interview with sleep psychologist Shelby Harris. Topics include adjusting circadian rhythms, sleep hygiene, dreams, nightmares and sleep paralysis, narcolepsy, and her professional view of the movie Inception. (Source: Channel N) Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968693 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:30:56 +0100 4968693 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960202&cid=t_99541_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=4960119&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F22%2Fare-low-carb-diets-bad-for-the-brain%2F Are low carbohydrate diets bad for the brain? Ketogenic diets (low carbohydrate diets) promote the increased use of ketone bodies–soluble compounds produced by the body when fatty acids are broken down–by the brain. But, is this safe? When examining epileptic children who spend years in ketosis, or the accumulation of higher than normal ketone bodies, there seems to be no negative effect on cognitive function, except fatigue in the beginning stages of the diet (Hale, 2010). In addition, ketogenic diets are used as treatment for some diseases.  Klepper and colleagues (2003) reported that ketogenic diets have been used for decades to treat intractable childhood epileptics, but they can also be used for treating other conditions such as glut 1 deficiency syndrome and pyruvatedehy... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960119 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 21:58:36 +0100 4960119 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960049&cid=t_99541_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1385     It  never hurts to add one more benefit to  breastfeeding. According to WhattoExpect.com here  is yet another good reason to breastfeed your baby. Researchers found that infants who are even briefly breastfed are 60% less likely to be affected by sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) than babies who aren’t breastfed at all. And that percentage grows the longer the baby is breastfed. You can read more here..   {Click here for a free information packet and special coupon for MAZE Cord Blood Laboratories! }   (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960049 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:53:17 +0100 4960049 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960121&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F22%2Fcultivating-self-compassion%2F When something has gone wrong, when there’s been a mistake made, no matter how small, many people are all too quick to point the finger — at themselves. They flog themselves for any failure, letting their self-esteem bend and bow at the face of disappointments and triumphs. For many, self-esteem is shaky at best. But there’s something you can build that’s more substantial than self-esteem. Something that doesn’t waver and can actually boost your well-being — and your performance isn’t a factor. According to psychologist Kristin Neff, Ph.D, in her book Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind, that something is self-compassion. Being self-compassionate means that whether you win or lose, surpass your sky-high expectations or fall short, you sti... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960121 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:12:04 +0100 4960121 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952984&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F21%2Ftiki-barber-football-retirement-and-depression%2F As a reminder that depression strikes anyone, at any time, for any reason or no reason whatsoever, I give you Tiki Barber. For those of you unfamiliar with Mr. Barber, he was a professional (American) football player who decided to retire four years ago at age 32. A good time to retire as a football player, as your body starts to show its age against the physicality of the game. He took jobs as a sports commentator at NBC, both in their sports division and for “The Today Show.” But Mr. Barber’s depression appears to be directly related to a number of events that occurred in his life after his retirement. And now he says he wants to get back into the game, at age 36. His real problems appear to have started when it was revealed he was having an affair with a 23-year-old N... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952984 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 15:37:49 +0100 4952984 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952987&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F20%2F4-ways-to-manage-oppositional-defiant-disorder-in-children%2F Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is a childhood disorder that affects anywhere from 6 to 10 percent of children. It is characterized by a negative set of behaviors in a child directed toward the adults in their life, and can sometimes be mistaken for disorders that share some characteristics, such as conduct disorder and even attention deficit disorder. The diagnosis of Oppositional Defiant Disorder is given by mental health professionals to describe a set of behaviors a child is exhibiting that include: Often loses temper Argues with adults and authority figures Refuses to comply with adult requests Blames others for his mistakes Deliberately annoys people Is easily annoyed by others Is angry/resentful and spiteful/vindictive. Sound like a child you may know? If a child exhibits fou... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952987 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:12:36 +0100 4952987 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953128&cid=t_99541_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2FfreA6H9VKDo%2F Photo: Lorriane DiSabato The Affective, Cognitive, and Social Benefits of Meditation Symposium from the Association for Psychological Science 2011 conference on the effects of various (mostly Buddhist) meditation techniques on cognition, affect, and more. Mindfulness, perception, attention, neurocorrelations, etc., empirically studied. (Source: Channel N) Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953128 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 12:30:54 +0100 4953128 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952988&cid=t_99541_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F20%2Fbetter-by-mistake-an-interview-with-alina-tugend%2F Afraid to make a mistake? Don’t be. According to author Alina Tugend, the best way to become an expert in your field is by making mistakes, lots of them, but to cooperate with the brain on learning from them. In her new book, Better By Mistake: The Unexpected Benefits of Being Wrong, explains the science of making mistakes and why learning from them is vital in a culture of perfectionism. Tugend has been a journalist for nearly 30 years and for the past six has written the ShortCuts column for the New York Times business section. She has written about education, environmentalism, and consumer culture for numerous publications, including the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, The Atlantic, and Parents and is a Huffington Post contributor. I have the honor of conducting an exclusive in... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952988 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:06:34 +0100 4952988