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 'cognitive neuroscience'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:27:51 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182065&cid=t_100809_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=5182066&cid=t_100809_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=5159439&cid=t_100809_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=5140020&cid=t_100809_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=5118804&cid=t_100809_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=5086356&cid=t_100809_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=5069646&cid=t_100809_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=5050914&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FO712DJOvAhQ%2F Very interesting new data reinforcing two main themes we have been analyzing for a while: 1) We better start paying serious attention (and R&D dollars) to lifestyle-based and non-invasive cognitive and emotional health interventions, which are mostly ignored in favor of invasive, drug-based options 2) Interventions will need to be personalized. The study below analyzes data at the country level, but the same logic applies to the individual level Many fear Alzheimer’s, want to be tested: survey (Reuters): - “The telephone survey of 2,678 adults aged 18 and older in the United States, France, Germany, Spain and Poland was conducted by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and Alzheimer Europe, with funding by Bayer AG” - “When asked to identify the most feared disea... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050914 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:26:15 +0100 5050914 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050915&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FbcsIvOBs0_c%2F Although ADHD used to be considered a disorder of childhood, follow-up studies indicate that between 30% and 60% of children with ADHD continue to experience symptoms and impairment in adulthood. And, even when ADHD symptoms decline over time, many individuals continue to experience significant impairment in important areas of functioning. For example, children with ADHD have poorer academic achievement as adolescents compared to their peers and this trend continues into adulthood. Research pertaining to occupational functioning is limited but available data clearly points to poorer employment histories in adults with ADHD. Predictors of occupational outcomes in individuals with ADHD have not been carefully investigated, however. A recent study conducted in Norway with a large sample of ad... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050915 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 09:36:52 +0100 5050915 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028705&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FjKO-tpp3LHo%2F Issues with aging can be costly for retirees’ money (Associated Press). Quotes: – “With age comes wisdom about money — up to a point.” - “Years of handling your own finances and investments sharpen the ability to make sound decisions. But failing to prepare for the day when growing older hampers your judgment can be costly at an age when more is at stake. Seniors older than 65 hold about $18 trillion in assets, according to government data, or about a third of all U.S. net worth.” - “Sometimes the senior’s worst enemy is himself or herself,” says Andrew Stoltmann, a Chicago attorney and investment adviser. “Poor financial decisions and cognitive impairment go hand in hand.” To learn more: click on full article. (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028705 Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:50:02 +0100 5028705 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008449&cid=t_100809_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=5008450&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fim1unD-albg%2F Great article in the Wall Street Journal today: Unlocking Dyslexia in Japanese. Quotes: - “Experiences like that of the Lundays are providing scientists and educators with clues about how people with dyslexia learn and how best to teach them. Researchers have long observed that some dyslexics have an easier time with languages like Japanese and Chinese, in which characters represent complete words or ideas, than they do with languages like English, which use separate letters and sounds to form words.“ – “Learning experts don’t suggest that studying Chinese or Japanese will help dyslexics learn to read English; there’s no getting around the fact that reading English well requires being able to identify and blend sounds. But improved understanding of the way dyslexics absorb char... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008450 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 15:56:17 +0100 5008450 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992815&cid=t_100809_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=4976036&cid=t_100809_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=4953133&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F8oBp7RDNqzM%2F A couple of SharpBrains friends strongly recommend the recent book  “Por­traits of the Mind: Visu­al­iz­ing the Brain from Antiq­uity to the 21st Cen­tury”, by Carl Schoonover, both as great reading and as a beautiful coffee table book.  The book is available now with a significant discount via Amazon.com. You can see more pho­tos here, and read a good New York Times article here. Enjoy! (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953133 Sun, 19 Jun 2011 15:55:32 +0100 4953133 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934549&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Furd0ifGFTWU%2F Very interesting new study on computerized cognitive training (or brain training), well summarized in LA Times article Memory training improves intelligence in some children, report says. Quote: The training program used by Jaeggi and co-workers focused on ramping up working memory: the ability to hold in mind a handful of information bits briefly, and to update them as needed. Cognitive scientists consider working memory a key component of intelligence. But they have long debated whether strengthening short-term memory capacity will boost a person’s overall intellectual function, and will do so even after the brain-training sessions are over. It can, and it does, according to this new research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The full study, Short-term... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934549 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 11:55:54 +0100 4934549 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883743&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FHmvYXZVd7PY%2F The use of a variety of brain training interventions is growing in the area of mental health. Emerging evidence suggests that in the near future targeted brain training may even be used to prevent substance abuse. For example, training working memory may reduce sub­stance abusers’ discounting of long-term rewards and punishments — such discounting is one of the reasons why people susceptible to addictions do not benefit from traditional informational/ educational approaches to drug prevention. Let’s explore some expanding applications of brain training, and much more, in this latest edition of the monthly Sharp­Brains eNewslet­ter. Brain Training and Mental Health ADHD: Brain Training, Neurofeedback, Diet, and More: What can be done to fight ADHD and improve the lives of peo­pl... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883743 Tue, 31 May 2011 11:04:42 +0100 4883743 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872261&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FC6MsRAtQj1A%2F Here are the top 30 Sharpbrains articles based on our readers’ ranking since 2006 and since 2010. Brain science news, brain fitness trends, brain health and maintenance tips, read on to expand your mind! . Top 50 Brain Teasers, by Sharp­Brains Team The Ten Habits of Highly Effec­tive Brains, by Alvaro Fernandez How can I improve my short term mem­ory?, by Pascale Michelon Brain Plas­tic­ity: How learn­ing changes your brain, by Pas­cale Michelon Brain Fitness Program and Neuroplasticity @ PBS, by Alvaro Ferandez What are Cognitive Abilities?, by Pascale Michelon How can I improve my short term mem­ory?, by Car­o­line Latham Your Brain on Trading, by Janice Dorn Stress Man­age­ment Work­shop for Inter­na­tional Women’s Day, by Alvaro Fernandez Video Games Pros and Co... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872261 Fri, 27 May 2011 16:18:53 +0100 4872261 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872262&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FJBtYpGEKoSg%2F Substance abuse can have dramatic consequences on the brain and behavior. The traditional way of preventing drug abuse is often education. Awareness programs do work with people who can picture long-term repercussions of abusing drugs. Other people, most often those vulnerable to addictions, do not benefit from such programs. It seems that they tend to devalue both rewards and punishments that will happen in the future, a behavior known as delay discounting. This leads them to opt for immediate rewards, such as those provided by drugs, and ignore future consequences. Would it be possible then to train the brain of these people so that they show less delay discounting? Would that help them stay away from addictive substances? Delay discounting is a brain function that involves the frontal l... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872262 Thu, 26 May 2011 16:14:50 +0100 4872262 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862729&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fr2TpIHXFofg%2F If you practice biceps curls at the gym, you will get bigger muscles that are also stronger. So far, the same seemed true for the brain. Thanks to neuroplasticity, practice triggers neuronal and synaptic growth (i.e., brain volume growth), which correlates with better performance. In this fascinating Scientific American article we learn that as the brain masters a new skill, some brain areas do get bigger but eventually shrink back to normal! The performance gain acquired through practice stays present, in spite of the shrinkage. Studying the auditory cortex of rats, they found that the expansion of a ‘skill-specific’ brain area with training is only short lived, even when changes in ability are long lasting. So what does change? Although newly learned perceptual skills don’t show up... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862729 Tue, 24 May 2011 18:49:56 +0100 4862729 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4848048&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FE5U30HPur8M%2F ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, affects millions of children and adults (up to 5% of children in the US).  More and more evidence suggests that brain training may be key to help these individuals. With this in mind, we put together our most recent articles on the topic to  a) help you better understand what is going in the brain of a person with ADHD, and b) provide you with up-to-date information on what can be done to fight the disorder and improve the lives of people suffering from it. We particularly thank Dr. Rabiner from Duke Uni­ver­sity for writing many of these articles. What is ADHD? What kind of attention is involved in ADHD? ADHD may be considered as a problem in the willful control of attention as opposed to a pure deficit in the ability to pay attent... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4848048 Fri, 20 May 2011 20:02:10 +0100 4848048 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841735&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FJXoGd4HSVHM%2F What is brain fitness really? What will happen in terms of brain fitness innovation in the next decade? What’s the biggest challenge? Who could answer these questions better than the expert SharpBrains 2011 Summit speakers? Discover below the answers of 7 of them. .1. How would you define “brain fit­ness” vs. “phys­i­cal fit­ness”? Alvaro Pascual-Leone, Har­vard Med­ical School: Phys­i­cal fit­ness can refer to an over­all or gen­eral state of health and well-being. How­ever, it is also often used more specif­i­cally to refer to the abil­ity to per­form a given activ­ity, occu­pa­tion, or sport. Sim­i­larly brain fit­ness might be used to refer to a gen­eral state of healthy, opti­mized brain func­tion, or a more spe­cific brain-based abil­ity to proce... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841735 Thu, 19 May 2011 18:55:56 +0100 4841735 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841736&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F5QrUzR8vQNE%2F Laughing feels good. Laughing is indeed good in most cases. A good belly laugh amounts to an aerobic exercise as your blood pressure and heart rate increase, your breathing changes and your diaphragm contracts. Laughing has also been shown to boost the immune system and reduce stress. Laughing is thus good for your brain! Here are two fun ways to take a further look at laughter and the brain : Listen to these laughs and decide whether it is a human or a computer laughing. Try this to find out how much you are stressed. You may be surprised… Enjoy! (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841736 Tue, 17 May 2011 18:59:52 +0100 4841736 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4829084&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F4nxLYTlQzms%2F Conclusions Aerobic exercise seems to benefit overweight children not only physically but also mentally. These findings mirror the ones observed in the aging population. Aerobic exercise influences cognition through the increase of growth factors such as brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which leads to increased capillary blood supply to the brain and growth of both new neurons and synapses. With childhood obesity on the rise, these are very timely findings. In addition, exercise is a simple solution to increase physical health and mental performance. Something to tell to your school board, over and over! Related posts: Fitter bodies = fitter brains. True at all ages? Exercise as a Treatment for ADHD (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4829084 Mon, 16 May 2011 17:59:30 +0100 4829084 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4820997&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FAiWHQHdtHoM%2F This article explores another relationship between music and dementia: playing a musical instrument, even as an amateur, may protect the brain later on against dementia-related damages. Researchers had 70 people ages 60 to 83 perform a variety of tests to measure visuospatial memory, ability to name objects, the brain’s ability to adapt to new information […] those who had engaged in musical activity for 10 years or longer scored substantially better than those with no musical activity in their past. the longer people play instruments, the more benefits they may derive. All were amateurs who had started playing when they were 10 years old. the relationship between cognitive skills and years of musical activity held up whether the musicians were currently involved in making music or not... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4820997 Fri, 13 May 2011 14:43:15 +0100 4820997 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4820998&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FwWKmkNNTOac%2F This article originally appeared on her Psychology Today blog. More on her work can be found at sianbeilock.com (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4820998 Thu, 12 May 2011 16:34:21 +0100 4820998 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4813479&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FugfBQbWpR8I%2F Music can soothe and trigger memories. It is as such that music is most often used with Alzheimer’s patients. A new study suggests that music may also be used as a booster for learning new things, an ability very impaired in those with Alzheimer’s. Individuals with Alzheimer’s and matched controls were presented with unfamiliar songs lyrics: half of the lyrics were sung and half were merely spoken. Participants were then presented with the lyrics they had heard as well as with new ones, and asked whether they recognized any lyrics. Alzheimer’s patients’ memory was much better for sung lyrics than for spoken ones. There was no difference between the two types of lyrics for the healthy older adults. Why do people with Alzheimer’s seem to benefit from musical stimuli? The authors ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4813479 Tue, 10 May 2011 20:53:14 +0100 4813479 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803320&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F75FcWMqfLxc%2F Individuals suffering from schizophrenia show social cognitive deficits, that is difficulties in perceiving and understanding the social world. Research shows that schizophrenia is accompanied by social cognition problems such as problems identifying facial expressions, understanding and responding to social cues (e.g., body language), understanding that others have different mental states and thoughts than oneself (also called Theory of mind). These deficits are usually persistent over time and resist pharmacological treatment. Interestingly, social cognition may be trainable. This recent article reviews the research and shows that social cognitive training programs : produce a moderate to large improvement in the recognition of facial emotions produce a smaller improvement in Theory of ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803320 Mon, 09 May 2011 18:23:19 +0100 4803320 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4794947&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FN2E6PwNshHU%2F What’s going on in the brain while we sleep? A lot! Specifically, processes supporting the consolidation of memories. This Dana Foundation article reviews fascinating studies in which memories are reactivated during sleep thanks to either an odor or an auditory cue. Results suggest that such reactivation leads to better memory: reactivation during slow-wave sleep supports the transfer of the memory representation from the hippocampus to long-term storage in the neocortex, and also strengthens it one possible application of such findings could be to overwrite unwanted traumatic memories another application would be to use the deep-sleep reactivation to enhance memories in students, or in elderly people with declining memory skills. More evidence then that a good night sleep should be part... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4794947 Fri, 06 May 2011 15:32:12 +0100 4794947 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4789447&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FYaFAHUra1Jg%2F Chemo brain or chemo fog refers to the cognitive changes that can occur during and after chemotherapy. These changes may translate into memory lapses, motor problems, difficulty finding words and problems managing multiple tasks and learning new things. Although the causes of the phenomenon are still under debate, it is nonetheless a real problem, affecting 20% to 30% of breast cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy. This New York Time article reports that chemo brain effects may be longer lasting than originally thought. “Chemo brain,” the foggy thinking and forgetfulness that cancer patients often complain about after treatment, may last for five years or more for a sizable percentage of patients, new research shows. The study, published in The Journal of Clinical Oncology, is a vi... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4789447 Thu, 05 May 2011 15:38:14 +0100 4789447 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4780387&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FgN8ti3FGolg%2F The new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5) is scheduled to be released in May 2013. This recent Dana Foundation article points out the need of a fundamentally different approach based on the new ways researchers use to study and understand mental illness. The problem with the DSM-IV, our current shared diagnostic language, is that a large and growing body of evidence demonstrates that it does a poor job of capturing either clinical and biological realities. In the clinic, the limitations of the current DSM-IV approach can be illustrated in three salient areas: (1) the problem of comorbidity, (2) the widespread need for “not otherwise specific (NOS)” diagnoses, and (3) the arbitrariness of diagnostic thresholds. Whatever the ultimate approach to the DSM-5, ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4780387 Tue, 03 May 2011 18:18:02 +0100 4780387 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4775488&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F-Sex1u-XPZI%2F The brains of children with neurological disorders seems to exhibit signs of neuroplastic changes, suggesting compensatory mechanisms for the disorder. This result opens up the possibility that brain training may be useful to help these patients control their symptoms. The disorder studied was Tourette syndrome (TS), which usually become evident in early childhood or adolescence before the age of 18 years.  The symptoms are involuntary movements (tics) as well as verbal tics or vocalizations.  These tics are frequent, repetitive and rapid.  Most cases of TS are mild and people lead productive lives. Participants in the study (average age of 14) performed a motor task with high levels of manual conflict (they had to obey instructions such as press a left key in response to an arrow point... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4775488 Mon, 02 May 2011 19:14:14 +0100 4775488 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4768119&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FB-OzoNkj7bM%2F This article by Greater Good Magazine discusses how med­i­tat­ing can increase the den­sity of gray mat­ter in brain regions asso­ci­ated with mem­ory, stress, and empa­thy.  The Benefits of a One-Time Cognitive Training Program: They last but wane over time as shown in the 3-month follow-up results of the IMPACT study. Can Direct Brain Stimulation Boost Performance? The answer seems to be yes, according to three studies using different types of electrical/magnetic brain stimulation. How the Brain of a Blind Person Rewires Itself: The brain areas devoted to vision in peo­ple with eye sight turn out to be respond­ing to speech in blind people. How are Young Brains Affected by Stress? An interesting article from the Dana Foundation on the consequences of early l... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4768119 Fri, 29 Apr 2011 08:00:18 +0100 4768119 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4762849&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F8izzhHbkdFE%2F Darold Treffert, M.D. is considered one of the foremost experts on savantism in the world. Dr. Treffert has published two books on savant syndrome: “Extraordinary People: Understanding Savant Syndrome” in 2006 and “Islands of Genius: The Bountiful Mind of the Autistic, Acquired and Sudden Savant” in 2010. […] In his efforts to raise public understanding about autism and savant syndrome he has regularly appeared on programs such as 60 Minutes, Oprah, Today, CBS Evening News and many others. Dr. Treffert was a technical consultant to the award-winning movie Rain Man that made “autistic savant” household terms and he maintains a very popular website at www.savantsyndrome.com hosted by the Wisconsin Medical Society. Dr. Treffert was gracious enough to have a wide-ranging conve... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4762849 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 17:06:39 +0100 4762849 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4762850&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FJJpc_cY72x4%2F Discussion moved from cognitive fitness to neuroplasticity, across regulatory and policy trends, and new product launches by new and established players  What did we take home from the SharpBrains Summit? Was it novel consumer insights arising from a new retail landscape? What of policy initiatives from innovation clusters around the globe? Do you see a future populated by neuroscience toolkits, driven by the inexorable demographic changes set to occur in the coming decades? Or was it a look “under the hood” of technology platforms developed by category leaders that sharpened our insight? Here are 10 emerging themes: The Need for Standardization of methodologies A profusion of cognitive and emotional health tests, batteries and new technologies are crowding the research environment... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4762850 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:41:34 +0100 4762850 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4753830&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FJJpc_cY72x4%2F Discussion moved from cognitive fitness to neuroplasticity, across regulatory and policy trends, and new product launches by new and established players  What did we take home from the SharpBrains Summit? Was it novel consumer insights arising from a new retail landscape? What of policy initiatives from innovation clusters around the globe? Do you see a future populated by neuroscience toolkits, driven by the inexorable demographic changes set to occur in the coming decades? Or was it a look “under the hood” of technology platforms developed by category leaders that sharpened our insight? Here are 10 likely themes to emerge. The Need for Standardization of methodologies A profusion of cognitive and emotional health tests, batteries and new technologies are crowding the research env... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4753830 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:41:34 +0100 4753830 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4742535&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F0vszrfUIDvw%2F A new study suggests that virtual reality and other video games involving motion can enhance motor improvement after a stroke. The improvement seems to be greater than the one observed with traditional therapy. This result is quite promising since 55 to 75% of stroke survivors experience motor problem in their arms. The study was a meta-analysis that looked at 12 previously published studies, for a total of 195 patients. Most were observational studies in which the patients used a variety of virtual (e.g., Wii) and non-virtual  (e.g., Glasstron) games during therapy. In the 5 randomized studies, a group of patients was assigned to standard therapy and another to virtual reality therapy. Patients in virtual reality therapy had 4.89 times higher chance of improvement in motor strength... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4742535 Fri, 22 Apr 2011 17:20:41 +0100 4742535 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4742536&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FWMn1-gocfY8%2F SharpBrains served a highly thought-provoking and informative 2011 Virtual Summit on Retooling Brain Health for the 21st Century over 3 days, March 30th — April 1st. Here is a brief distillation of the large number (40+) of presentations. 1.The range and variety of presentations left no room for doubt that the digital brain health market is concerned with much more than improving cognitive performance and preventing/treating disease. There is a need for many tools in each of the following categories: computerized assessment for myriad cognitive, psychological and neurological concerns; data analysis and recommendation systems; interventions for manifold clinical and non-clinical problems; measurement of the effectiveness of interventions; dynamic feedback and intervention adjustment. Sig... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4742536 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 21:40:06 +0100 4742536 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4724050&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FZkidvf57iq0%2F In the past few days you may have come across headlines claiming that weight loss can improve memory. If so, you may be wondering what to make of this. Let’s take a brief look at the study at the origin of these articles. Participants were 109 bariatric surgery patients and 41 obese people (controls) who had not undergone surgery. Bariatric surgery refers mostly to gastric bypass surgery, which creates a smaller stomach and bypasses part of the small intestine. The bariatric patients were enrolled in the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery project conducted, among others, by researchers at Kent State university and Columbia University. The memory of the 150 participants was assessed before the surgery as well as 12 weeks after. Results showed that the memory of the surgery patie... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4724050 Mon, 18 Apr 2011 18:02:03 +0100 4724050 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4664346&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FZZnoOyvpZ3k%2F Stress management is among the pillars of brain health maintenance. High and sustained levels of stress can indeed damage neurons, especially in areas of the brain responsible for learning and memory. What about the effect of stress on the developing brains of infants and children? What are the cognitive consequences? How can these be prevented? This interesting article reports findings from both animal and human research answering these questions: Brain development goes through sensitive periods during which stressors and nurturing experiences can have lasting effects Chaos in the home and inconsistent parenting impairs development of self regulatory behaviors, which can lead to substance abuse, earlier onset of sexual activity, bad decision making and poor mood control. … consistency a... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4664346 Thu, 31 Mar 2011 19:10:08 +0100 4664346 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4653457&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FzShGnBkdl60%2F Please note Summit Registration will remain open until Wednesday, March 30th, 4am US Pacific Time/ 7am US Eastern Time, just a few hours before Summit starts. To the 257 professionals, innovators and researchers who have registered so far: Welcome! You should have received an email with detailed log-in instructions a few hours ago, please contact us by sending a quick message if you haven’t, including your order number. To Learn More: 2011 SharpBrains Summit (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4653457 Wed, 30 Mar 2011 01:27:27 +0100 4653457 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4642777&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FyyME_JEo_sk%2F Registration to participate in 2011 SharpBrains Virtual Summit closes tomorrow Tuesday, March 29th, at 1pm US Pacific Time/ 4pm US Eastern Time. If you are planning to attend, please Register Now. — We are hon­ored to announce that Dr. Brenda Dann-Messier, US Depart­ment of Education’s Assis­tant Sec­re­tary for Voca­tional and Adult Edu­ca­tion, will open 2011 Sharp­Brains Virtual Summit on Wednesday, March 30th, shar­ing her Wel­come Remarks with 220+ registered participants. Brenda Dann-Messier was nom­i­nated by Pres­i­dent Obama as assis­tant sec­re­tary for voca­tional and adult edu­ca­tion on July 14, 2009. On Oct. 5, 2009 she was con­firmed by the U.S. Sen­ate and began her offi­cial duties on Oct. 13, 2009. More information on Dr. Dann-Messier’s bi... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4642777 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:05:10 +0100 4642777 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4642778&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FzMup-MmCrO0%2F We are honored to announce that Dr. Brenda Dann-Messier, US Department of Education’s Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education, will open 2011 SharpBrains Virtual Summit next Wednesday, March 30th, sharing Welcome Remarks with all participants. Brenda Dann-Messier was nominated by President Obama as assistant secretary for vocational and adult education on July 14, 2009. On Oct. 5, 2009 she was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and began her official duties on Oct. 13, 2009. As the first assistant secretary for the Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) who is also an adult educator, Dann-Messier leads the Department’s efforts in adult education and career and technical education, as well as efforts supporting community colleges and correctional education. She o... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4642778 Sat, 26 Mar 2011 14:27:05 +0100 4642778 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4636556&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fuf-Uf8VZ06k%2F This article reports the work of German researchers who looked at blind people’s brains to try to answer these questions. They found out that indeed, blind people can understand speech even if sped up beyond the maximum rate that sighted people can understand. This seemed possible because the brain areas devoted to vision in people with eye sight turned out to be responding to speech in blind people. 10 syllables per second [is] the absolute limit of comprehension for sighted people. Blind people, however, can comprehend speech sped up to 25 syllables per second. brain scanner revealed that in blind people the part of the cerebral cortex that normally responds to vision was responding to speech.…somehow an unsighted person’s brain rewires itself to connect auditory regions of the bra... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4636556 Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:45:35 +0100 4636556 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4631562&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FFOBERNYpykU%2F As announced by the NIMH a few months ago, schizophrenia can now be considered as a brain disorder. Research is focusing on the cognitive deficits as the main problem of the disorder, probably preceding and perhaps leading to the symptoms of hallucinations and delusions. A recent article in the Psychiatric Times reviews the different cognitive remediation techniques used with people suffering from schizophrenia. This is of interest to anybody working on mental health. Indeed, as Sophia Vino­gradov, Interim Vice Chair Psy­chi­a­try at UCSF will discuss during the SharpBrains Summit (next week!) schizophrenia is leading the way in understanding how to identify and address brain-based cognitive deficits associated with the disorder. …most [Cognitive Remediation (CR) programs] are now c... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4631562 Thu, 24 Mar 2011 16:48:44 +0100 4631562 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4622371&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FlWy_pki3qbY%2F We are pleased to make eleven important announcements about the upcoming 2011 SharpBrains Virtual Summit…eleven additional reasons to consider registering and joining our event and community next week. Intel Corporation, the “Sponsors of Tomorrow™”, and Lumos Labs have become Summit Gold Sponsors. SharpBrains will issue a Certificate of Attendance to participants (20 hours of continuing education). Jamie Wilson shares 20 reasons why virtual conferences are the future. NIH/ NIA Program Chief Molly Wagster will discuss the new NIH Tool­box for Assess­ment of Neu­ro­log­i­cal and Behav­ioral Func­tion. Yaakov Stern (Columbia), David Darby (CogState), Keith Wesnes (United BioSource) and Jef­frey Kaye (Orcatech) will explore The Role of Cog­ni­tive Health Mon­i­tor­ing S... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4622371 Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:37:03 +0100 4622371 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4615262&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FI6O2P1izyjA%2F Fetuses and newborns react preferentially to their mother’s voice. A recent study looked for the first time at what is going on in a newborn brain when hearing his mother’s voice and a stranger’s voice. Results showed that not only newborns process their mother’s voice more actively than that of a stranger but they also process it differently. Researchers looked at the brain activity in response to voices (mother and female stranger) in 16 newborn babies (mean age: 21 hours), by applying electrodes to their heads while they were sleeping. Both the mother and a female nurse (who had visited the mother several times before the birth) were asked to make the short ‘A’ vowel sound. The mother’s voice processing initially activated the left posterior temporal lobe, an area particul... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4615262 Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:36:55 +0100 4615262 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4605930&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FmomsnzcNFt4%2F Neurons in the brain transmit information by exchanging electrical and chemical signals. What would happen if these electrical signals were transformed by applying an external current? Could this help boost brain functions? In this article, Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is reported to help people solve brain-teasers. In the study weak currents altered the activity of neurons in the anterior temporal lobes through electrodes on the scalp. Read more In this other article another technique was used: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). TMS works by generating a magnetic field that passes the scalp and the skull. In the study an exploratory use of TMS combined with cognitive training was tested for a few months on 8 Alzheimer’s patients. The results were promising. Read ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4605930 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:39:52 +0100 4605930 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592532&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FCc5NbTKqPmo%2F Do you remember the IMPACT study published in 2009? It was a randomized clinical trial with healthy older adults that compared a computer-based cognitive program that trains audi­tory pro­cess­ing (Brain Fitness Program, Posit Science) with educational video programs (control group). People who used the program improved in the trained tasks, which was not that surprising, but there was also a clear ben­e­fit in audi­tory mem­ory, which wasn’t directly trained. A 2011 paper reports the 3-month follow-up results of the IMPACT study. The 487 participants in the original study were 65 and older. Training was 1 hour a day, 4 to 5 days a week, for a total of 40 hours in 8 to 10 weeks. There was no contact with the researchers between the initial training study and the follow-up study. T... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592532 Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:26:01 +0100 4592532 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592533&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F6rcGkHQY08o%2F Got a Brain? If so, please join us in celebrating Brain Awareness Week (March 14-20th), the annual global campaign organized by the Dana Foundation to increase public awareness about the progress and benefits of brain research. Want to learn about activities in your area? Please visit BAW’s International Calendar of events. Want to discuss professional implications from this research, cross-sector partnerships and industry opportunities? Consider registering for our very own BAW Partner event, the 2011 SharpBrains Summit (March 30th — April 1st). (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592533 Mon, 14 Mar 2011 23:10:25 +0100 4592533 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4560440&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FQXbljhNuPqU%2F Editor’s Note: We are pleased to bring you this arti­cle by Jason Marsh, thanks to our col­lab­o­ra­tion with the Greater Good Mag­a­zine. ——————- I consider myself something of a prospective meditator—meaning that a serious meditation practice is always something I’m about to start… next week. So for years, I’ve been making a mental note of new studies showing that meditation can literally change our brain structure in ways that might boost concentration, memory, and positive emotions. The results seem enticing enough to make anyone drop into the full lotus position—until you read the fine print: Much of this research involves people who have meditated for thousands of hours over many years; some of it zeroes in on Olympic-level meditators who have clocked 1... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4560440 Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:27:50 +0100 4560440 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4560441&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FYiBAxUUfUnY%2F The same way a brain fitness software program can help increase driving safety for older adults, simple cognitive tests may help determine whether a person can drive safely after a stroke. A recent study analyzed 30 previous studies in which the participants’ driving skills after a stroke were tested in an on-road evaluation. 1,728 individuals with an average age of 61 were involved. On average, 9 months had passed between the stroke and the driving evaluation. Note that 54 percent of the participants passed the on-road evaluation. The authors of the analysis looked for tests scores that could predict the actual driving evaluation outcome. They identified 3 simple cognitive tests that did quite well: a Road Sign Recognition test (assessing traffic knowledge and visual comprehension) a C... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4560441 Mon, 07 Mar 2011 17:59:02 +0100 4560441 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4549823&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F5UgK_ABDmck%2F We have received a very thoughtful complaint about yesterday’s message, so let me take a few minutes to address it and to answer other frequently asked questions on the 2011 SharpBrains Summit. Complaint: “Why do people who procrastinate and sign up late warrant a special “perk” (referring to the “Integrative Neuroscience and Personalized Medicine” reference book we offered yesterday)? If that is the kind of business ethic you promote it almost makes me want to cancel my earlier registration.” That is an excellent point, which we did take into account but did not communicate properly. The reason we felt it was fine to offer such a “perk” was because discounted early-bird rates had just expired. Assuming 20–30 people register to the Summit by end of today, this gives th... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4549823 Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:42:22 +0100 4549823 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4545073&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F2auDQU_j8WI%2F CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Accelerating the Future of Personalized Medicine, Evian Gordon, MD, PhD and Stephen H. Koslow, PhD -> Learn More and Register to Participate in the Summit Here, and get a chance at getting a complimentary copy of the book Integrative Neuroscience and Personalized Medicine! (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4545073 Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:40:11 +0100 4545073 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4532378&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FVk4B07Z6vV8%2F Most parents want the best for their children and hope they will be healthy, happy and smart individuals. And most parents wonder what they should do to make sure this happens. In Brain Rules for Baby, John Medina (author of Brain Rules), provides a good summary of cognitive science findings that shed light on how a baby’s brain grows from 0 to 5.  In this book you learn as much about factors inherent to a child that parents cannot control (the seeds) and factors that parents can control (the soil). What follows is an excerpt from the “Smart Baby: Seeds” chapter in which John Medina describes the many “ingredients that make up the human intelligence stew”.  2. Self Control A healthy, well­-adjusted preschooler sits down at a table in front of two giant, freshly baked chocolate... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4532378 Tue, 01 Mar 2011 13:43:09 +0100 4532378 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4532379&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FsdlqkXmDu3M%2F This study supports that patients with vit­a­min D defi­ciency show an increased risk of cog­ni­tive decline. Baby Sleeps and Brain Development: How much sleep a 12 month old baby gets can influ­ence the devel­op­ment of his/her exec­u­tive func­tions. PTSD: Can we Disrupt the Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories? A discussion of the dif­fer­ent tech­niques used/ under research that can help PTSD patients. ; Books and Summit Updates Visual Illusions in Art and Science: These surprising classic illusions illustrate how art and magic can help science in undertansing how we perceive the world around us. 2011 SharpBrains Summit Agenda: You can now view the latest Agenda for the whole Summit and a 3-minute clip to learn how the SharpBrains Virtual Sum­mit: Retooling Brai... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4532379 Mon, 28 Feb 2011 22:07:18 +0100 4532379 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4522189&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FEu6bR1jN2O4%2F Here is a fun and interactive version of the famous Stroop test. This test is used in neu­ropsy­cho­log­i­cal eval­u­a­tions to mea­sure men­tal speed and flex­i­bil­ity, the hallmarks of executive functions. Performing well on the test requires strong atten­tion and self-regulation. Your job is to name the colors of the words. Do NOT read the words but the color of the ink used to write the words. For example, if the word “GREEN” is printed in a red color, you should say “RED” (and refrain from saying “GREEN”!) Speed matters so try to say the colors as fast as you can. A nice feature here: You will be able to record your reaction times. Ready to have fun? GO (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4522189 Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:16:23 +0100 4522189 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4532380&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FJcpGWkYHsIk%2F The 2011 SharpBrains Summit: Retooling Brain Health for the 21st Century (March 30 — April 1st) is just 5 weeks away. You can Learn More and Register Today HERE. Don’t miss the opportunity to join an incredible line-up of 36+ confirmed Speakers, 7 Sponsors/ Exhibitors, 13 Partners, and 150+ Participants as of today, all available to you without any travel involved. Sponsors Sponsorship Opportunities Want to announce or promote your service or product at the 2011 SharpBrains Summit? Maximize your marketing and business development reach & make a big splash in front of our prestigious audience! Only two Sponsorship spots are still available and going fast! Click here for information about the various ways to get involved. Summit Partners Remember… Learn More and Register Today HE... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4532380 Thu, 24 Feb 2011 16:06:23 +0100 4532380 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4517252&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FJcpGWkYHsIk%2F The 2011 SharpBrains Summit: Retooling Brain Health for the 21st Century (March 30 — April 1st) is just 5 weeks away. Rates go up THIS FRIDAY at 5PM EST, so please Learn More and Register Today HERE. Don’t miss the opportunity to join an incredible line-up of 36+ confirmed Speakers, 7 Sponsors/ Exhibitors, 13 Partners, and 150+ Participants as of today, all available to you without any travel involved. Sponsors Sponsorship Opportunities Want to announce or promote your service or product at the 2011 SharpBrains Summit? Maximize your marketing and business development reach & make a big splash in front of our prestigious audience! Only two Sponsorship spots are still available and going fast! Click here for information about the various ways to get involved. Summit Partners Rates ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4517252 Thu, 24 Feb 2011 16:06:23 +0100 4517252 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4507427&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F3ESQXRW2Tms%2F Cognitive performance can be improved but people vary in their ability to do so. It is not clear yet how to assess who will benefit the most from training and the cognitive tests used in the past were not very good at predicting this.   Dr. Kramer and his colleagues recently showed that the brain activity in a specific part of the brain (the dorsal striatum) at the start of training in a complex video-game could accurately predict how well people will benefit from the training.  Thirty-four young adults with little experience in playing video games were trained to play a complex video game called Space Fortress. After initial instruction, they played the game while their brains were being scanned using fMRI. For the next three to eight weeks (38 days on average) they completed ten two-... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4507427 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:33:25 +0100 4507427 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4501689&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FfdPGYPyz51Y%2F The following is an excerpt from “Sleights of Minds: What the Neuroscience of Magic Reveals about Our Everyday Deceptions.” by Stephen L. Macknik and Susana Martinez-Conde with Sandra Blakeslee, published by Henry Holt and Co., LLC (© 2010 by  Stephen L. Macknik and Susana Martinez-Conde). Visual illusions are fascinating. They have both been used by artists and studied by scientists. Read on to learn how art can help science understand the secrets of how we perceive the world around use. Chapter 3. The Brother who Faked a Dome Visual Illusions in Art and Science Vision scientists like us seek to understand how we see, from both a psychological and a biological perspective, and our discipline has a long tradition of studying visual artists such as painters and sculptors. Scientists d... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4501689 Mon, 21 Feb 2011 15:37:23 +0100 4501689 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4495323&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FGBUbT_mlCGg%2F Some sports such as foot­ball are par­tic­u­larly vio­lent and many play­ers suf­fer con­cus­sions. Con­cus­sions can cause a vari­ety of phys­i­cal, cog­ni­tive, and emo­tional symp­toms. Although symp­toms usu­ally go away within a few weeks with­out treat­ment, they may per­sist, or com­pli­ca­tions (such as demen­tia) may occur. Recent evidence shows that even hits to the head that do not lead to a concussion can impair visual memory. Detecting concussions is thus becoming critical in high-contact sports. A new test that can be performed at the sideline of sporting events seems to accurately detect concussions by looking at different types of eye movements that are usually abnormal after a concussion: The test, called the King-Devick test, captures impairment... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4495323 Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:57:40 +0100 4495323 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4489816&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FobcTqPEVmCU%2F We are pleased to announce two new resources for all professionals, researchers, developers, innovators and decision-makers in the field of brain health and cognitive fitness who are interested in better tracking and shaping the future that is already here. First of all, we have opened up a “Friends of SharpBrains.com” professional networking group on LinkedIn. If you are already a LinkedIn member, you can join the 377 existing members by clicking Here. Second, registered participants for the upcoming 2011 SharpBrains Summit (March 30 — April 1st) can now connect with each other and with speakers, as well as access 10 exclusive Innovation Case Studies prepared by the Win­ners and Final­ists of the 2010 Brain Fitness Innovation Awards. Ordered by approximate age group of the target ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4489816 Thu, 17 Feb 2011 16:43:32 +0100 4489816 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4477919&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F8T-GC7lWqb4%2F What better way to celebrate Valentines’ day than to accompany Marian Diamond on her search for love and wisdom in the brain? Dr. Diamond is Pro­fes­sor of Neu­ro­science and Anatomy at UC-Berkeley  and one of the world’s fore­most researchers on neu­ro­plas­tic­ity and enrich­ment. In the 60s, her  pioneer work demonstrated the impact of physical and intellectual stimulation on brain functions. In this article she tells us why it matters to love our brains as well as where to look for love in the brain: … if everyone understood what we know today about his or her body and worked to keep it fit, and everyone practiced the golden rule, how much we could all enjoy, study, and maintain our beautiful earth to its fullest extent. But for all of this ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4477919 Mon, 14 Feb 2011 18:34:11 +0100 4477919 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4464596&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FwejuIjZ-Z6Y%2F Both children and adults need a good night sleep to function at their best. A recent study, summarized here, suggests that this is true for babies too: How much sleep a 12 month old baby gets can influence the development of his/her executive functions. Executive functions, supported by the frontal lobes of the brain, are often considered as indicators of children’s likelihood of succeeding in school. They involve decision-making, problem-solving, plan­ning, inhibit­ing, as well as other high-level func­tions (social behav­ior, emo­tional con­trol, work­ing mem­ory, etc.). Researchers asked parents to complete three-day sleep journals when their infants were 12 and 18 months.[…] three variables were identified: total hours of sleep, percentage of total sleep occurring between 7... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4464596 Fri, 11 Feb 2011 20:16:50 +0100 4464596 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4460053&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F2HoNJkXp0Bo%2F CONCLUSION In terms of the first hour or so of play, users in this age group will be most motivated to engage with mobile brain training game technology when it’s perceived as providing a good challenge, of some practical benefit and is in some way familiar. Users will see usability issues, poor communication from the game and games that are inappropriately timed, i.e. too fast, as barriers to engagement. You can help us further understand what constitutes an enjoyable puzzle game experience for seniors by downloading the free iPhone app and participating in the next study. – Donal O’Brien is a PhD candidate at the Sonic Arts Research Centre in Queen’s University Belfast. His work is concerned with mobile digital game design and evaluation for seniors. His main interests are ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4460053 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 20:23:12 +0100 4460053 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4455363&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FR9zgtX2BwpU%2F This article from the Dana Foundation asks a very interesting question: Can we disrupt the reconsolidation of traumatic memories that contribute to PTSD and bring relief to patients suffering from this disorder? This complete and stimulating read tells us how memories are formed and consolidated. The authors discuss the different techniques used or under research that can help PTSD patients. Since available therapies have success rates of only 60%, this is a pressing topic these days. The ethical question of whether it is okay to look for solutions to erase memories is also raised. Related article: Can Brain Fitness Innovation Enhance Cognitive Rehab? (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4455363 Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:04:49 +0100 4455363 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4450390&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FDyXSG_WBfSQ%2F What may be the most time and cost-efficient way to attend a conference, learn from world-class speakers and meet old and new colleagues? Answer: A virtual conference, such as the upcoming 2011 SharpBrains Summit: Retooling Brain Health for the 21st Century (March 30th — April 1st). Please watch this 3-minute clip to learn how the SharpBrains Summit works, and why you should consider joining the good company of over 35 leading Speakers drawn from industry, research and the front lines. Confirmed Speakers include: === To Learn More About Summit Faculty & Agenda, click HERE We’d be delighted to count on your participation in this innovative endeavor, - The SharpBrains Team PS: Early-bird registration rates end on February 18th, with substantial savings available both for companies a... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4450390 Tue, 08 Feb 2011 17:25:38 +0100 4450390 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4436845&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FhhTb65BWQDQ%2F In conclusion our research has shown that cryptic crosswords can help improve cognitive functioning in later life, which might not be the case for general knowledge crosswords. Overall the take-home message is continue doing the cryptic crosswords, even if they are a struggle! —  Nicholas Almond has been based at the University of Leeds, UK, for almost twelve years. Nick has just completed his PhD in cognitive neuropsychology, which investigated the relationship between cognitive activity and cognitive decline in healthy aging. . References 1. Hambrick, D. Z., Salthouse, T. A. & Meinz, E. J. (1999). Predictors of Crossword Puzzle Proficiency and Moderators of Age-Cognition Relations. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 12(2), 131–164. 2. Dunlosky, J., Kubat-Silman, A. K. & Her... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4436845 Fri, 04 Feb 2011 15:13:30 +0100 4436845 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4429111&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FPoc2NhHrs-8%2F What do you think is the best way to learn: Studying the material repeatedly, drawing detailed diagrams of what you are learning, or taking a test in which you recall what you have read? A recent study published in Science and summarized in this New York Times article found out that taking a test was the best method! students who read a passage, then took a test asking them to recall what they had read, retained about 50 percent more of the information a week later than students who used [the] two other methods. … learning is all about retrieving, all about reconstructing our knowledge,” said the lead author So do we need to have more testing in schools? Maybe not: “Some tests are just not learning opportunities. We need a different kind of testing than we currently have.” A good r... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4429111 Wed, 02 Feb 2011 16:21:14 +0100 4429111 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4424323&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FplYxkWhlBTE%2F This study followed 858 adults 65 years and older over 6-years. Results showed an increased risk of cognitive decline in patients with vitamin D deficiency. Comments: An association between two things (here vitamin D levels and cognitive decline) does not necessarily means that one causes the other. Potential confounding factors may explain the association. For instance vitamin D deficiency has also been associated with cardiovascular disease, which is known to be a risk factor for dementia. However this recent study addressed such confounding factors and found that the relation between vitamin D deficiency and cognitive decline was maintained. One question left to answer is whether vitamin D deficiency is part of the early manifestations of cognitive decline or whether it is risk factor t... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4424323 Tue, 01 Feb 2011 16:12:54 +0100 4424323 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4419284&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FlPZS9ZfA6Hc%2F Discussion focused on Brain Fitness, to take place on Monday March 14th in honor of Brain Awareness Week 2011 (March 14-20th). Let’s discuss burning issues together: Why care about neuroplasticity and the possibilities it offers to enrich our quality of life? What does cognitive reserve research mean to the way we learn, work, play, live? What is Brain Training — and what is not? All the conversation be virtual, via social media tools. You can learn more here. This edition of SharpBrains monthly eNewslet­ter brings many articles on those topics. Enjoy! Research Bites The value of neuroimaging: Researcher Joaquin Anguera from UCSF shares with us what a par­tic­i­pant goes through when vol­un­teering for a neu­ro­science exper­i­ment these days. How to boost self-control: Dav... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4419284 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 20:47:10 +0100 4419284 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4419285&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F7jpbqknnQWQ%2F Discussion on Brain Fitness? There’s a revolution going on given growing evidence of lifelong neurogenesis and brain plasticity: that the brain can change and be shaped by our experiences opens many possibilities to improve our quality of life and cognitive performance, no matter how young or old we are, as long as we make informed decisions. In case you wonder, why do I care about this? Well, that’s what we want to discuss. Why care about this? What does it mean for the way we learn, work, play, live? What does “use it or lose it” mean, and doesn’t mean? Are there safe ways to enhance our cognitive resources and emotional resilience? How can we make informed decisions, as proud brain owners, caregivers, professionals? . Which Book Will Be Discussed? The discussion will be center... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4419285 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 18:07:14 +0100 4419285 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4414580&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fg8dy8I7Q0iI%2F Memory is more complex that we usually think. Cognitive sciences have identified different memory systems, each supported by different brain regions. One major difference is between long-term and short-term memory (also called working memory). Long-term memory is an unlimited storage of memories dating as far back as you can remember to a few minutes ago. For instance, when you remember your first day in high-school or what you said to your colleague two minutes ago, you are using your long-term memory system. This system depends mostly on parts of the temporal (in blue here) and frontal (in green) regions of the brain. Short-term or working memory is a limited storage used to briefly keep the information needed for the task at hand. For instance, when you keep in mind a phone number while... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4414580 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 19:59:52 +0100 4414580 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4411617&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fg8dy8I7Q0iI%2F Memory is more complex that we usually think. Cognitive sciences have identified different memory systems, each supported by different brain regions. One major difference is between long-term and short-term memory (also called working memory). Long-term memory is an unlimited storage of memories dating as far back as you can remember to a few minutes ago. For instance, when you remember your first day in high-school or what you said to your colleague two minutes ago, you are using your long-term memory system. This system depends mostly on parts of the temporal (in blue here) and frontal (in green) regions of the brain. Short-term or working memory is a limited storage used to briefly keep the information needed for the task at hand. For instance, when you keep in mind a phone number while... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4411617 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 19:59:52 +0100 4411617 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4405887&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FJ4iZRHT3UoQ%2F More and more research suggests that our brains have difficulty differentiating between observing an action and actually participating in it. Empathy, for example, seems to hinge in part on our ability to “take on” another’s emotions through vicarious experience. I always think of this when watching a comedian fall flat. I can feel the embarrassment as if I’m standing there on stage looking at a room full of blank stares. A study in the journal Psychological Science investigated this dynamic, but from a different angle: researchers wanted to know if observing someone else exert self-control boosts or reduces one’s own self-control. Participants were asked to either take on the perspective of someone exerting self-control, or merely read about someone exerting self-control. They w... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4405887 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:54:11 +0100 4405887 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4399676&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FjGQ-IKZdZ0U%2F We are honored to announce the following Sponsors and Partners of the upcoming 2011 SharpBrains Summit: Retooling Brain Health for the 21st Century (March 30th — April 1st, 2011). And we are looking for more, so please contact us if interested! — Sponsors (want to become one?) The Arrowsmith Program,  avail­able in pub­lic and pri­vate schools in  the U.S. and Canada, is a com­pre­hen­sive suite of cog­ni­tive pro­grams for stu­dents with learn­ing dis­abil­i­ties that tar­gets 19 areas of the brain that are most com­monly involved in learn­ing. The Arrow­smith Pro­gram iden­ti­fies and strength­ens the weak cog­ni­tive areas that affect learn­ing and each stu­dent works on cog­ni­tive pro­grams that are indi­vid­u­ally designed for his or her are... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4399676 Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:15:36 +0100 4399676 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4399677&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fk7HhdSXLx0w%2F This article from the Washington Post explains how neuroplasticity will help Rep. Gabrielle Giffords recover from her brain injury: brain reorganization after injury is far more common and extensive than previously thought … neuroplasticity depends to a great degree on experience — which is to say, what the brain is forced to do in the critical weeks and months after it is injured. When an area with a specific function is destroyed, the brain first attempts to recruit nearby cells, which are often doing similar tasks, to change and perform the function of the destroyed cells. . 2. In this study, Dr. Yaffe and her colleagues measured risks of Alzheimer’s by measuring beta amyloid (the protein fragment that makes up Alzheimer’s plaque) levels in the blood. They found that the less ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4399677 Tue, 25 Jan 2011 17:07:27 +0100 4399677 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4382865&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FSIuCVbZ_E-A%2F Following are two great illustrations excerpted from the children’s book: Your Fantastic, Elastic Brain: Stretch It, Shape It. This new book written by JoAnn Deak, PhD and illustrated by Sarah Ackerley explains to children how the brain changes with experiences and how they have some control over their brain power and health.  It is a great introduction to neuroplasticity and brain fitness. A fun read for all brain owners, young and old, out there! . To Learn More and Order the Book: click on Your Fantastic, Elastic Brain: Stretch It, Shape It (Little Pickle Press, $17.95). Looking for more resources about children’s brain? Check out this related post: Top 10 Q&A about Child’s Brain Development (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4382865 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 16:50:11 +0100 4382865 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4377669&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FfHS8WuIZZpw%2F I am writing to share some information about our third annual “Neuroscience Boot Camp,” which I think the readers of the SharpBrains blog will find interesting. The University of Pennsylvania announces their 3rd annual Neuroscience Boot Camp, July 31-August 10, 2011! Why Neuroscience Boot Camp? Neuroscience is increasingly relevant to a number of professions and academic disciplines beyond its traditional medical applications. Lawyers, educators, economists and businesspeople, as well as scholars of philosophy, sociology, applied ethics and policy, are incorporating the concepts and methods of neuroscience into their work. Indeed, for any field in which it is important to understand, predict or influence human behavior, neuroscience will play an increasing role. The Pe... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4377669 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:57:25 +0100 4377669 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4372134&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FJqPzs3W43zg%2F Today we share must-read insights from  Katherine Sullivan, Director of the Brain Fitness Center at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and Peter Kissinger, President of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Both of them will discuss their ongoing work and lessons learned at the upcom­ing 2011 Sharp­Brains Sum­mit (March 30th — April 1st, 2011). The interviews below were conducted via email. — Katherine Sullivan is the Director of the Brain Fitness Center at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. 1. Katherine, how would you define “brain fit­ness” vs. “phys­i­cal fit­ness”? In our context (helping active duty service members and veterans recover from cognitive dysfunction most associated with traumatic brain injury), I’d say brain fitness is the outcome we work towards:... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4372134 Wed, 19 Jan 2011 15:00:56 +0100 4372134 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4361141&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FZ-URJT5BSII%2F The media regularly reports on findings based on neuroimaging studies, but rarely do they explain exactly what these techniques are, their benefits or what it’s like to actually participate in these types of studies. Today I’ll describe what a participant goes through when they volunteer for a cognitive neuroscience experiment using a neuroimaging technique called electroencephalography (EEG). Unfortunately, it is exceedingly common for participants to not understand how these techniques benefit previous behavioral findings. Simply stated, if I were a participant, I’d like to know why I needed to wear a weird swim cap and how it benefits the research being done. EEG is a tool regularly used to view and record the changes in brain activity involved in the various types of cognitive fu... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4361141 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 19:08:40 +0100 4361141 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4349576&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FmMnjFqx8cMU%2F A fascinating New York Time article on solving puzzles: Why you do it, how you do it, and what’s going on in your brain while you do it. The appeal of puzzles goes far deeper than the dopamine-reward rush of finding a solution. The very idea of doing a crossword or a Sudoku puzzle typically shifts the brain into an open, playful state. There are different ways to solve a puzzle: an analytical way of trial and errors and an “insight” or creative way.  Recent neuroimaging studies looked at what happens in the brain of people preparing to solve a puzzle. Results suggest that a particular signature of preparatory activity, one that is strongly correlated with positive moods, can be observed in people’s brains who are more likely to solve puzzles with sudden insight than with trial and... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4349576 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 19:57:31 +0100 4349576 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4343238&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F_DBZ4mqy5-Y%2F This article describes a recent social psychology study that sheds some light on what good you can get from such relationships. A great post by Matthew Brim that we are pleased to bring you thanks to our col­lab­o­ra­tion with The Greater Good Mag­a­zine. (Photo: Tatiana Gladskikh) . .Why Other People’s Good News Could Be Good for You How often does this happen to you: You come home ecstatic about some great news—a job promotion, a victorious tennis match, or maybe just the latest Ben and Jerry’s ice cream flavor—and you immediately relate the experience to your romantic partner, roommate, or anyone within earshot. But instead of sharing your enthusiasm, they greet your news with indifference. Does this quell your excitement, or even make you enjoy the event less? A recent st... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4343238 Thu, 13 Jan 2011 15:42:22 +0100 4343238 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4338110&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Flt_1SrI1T_Y%2F This study shows that this may be true only for specific, high-level functions.  Indeed, here training probabilistic inference benefited several perceptual and sensory tasks. So, it may be that the more basic the function trained, the more tasks the function will be involved in and thus the more tasks will benefit from the training. Something to keep in mind when choosing which mental activity may be the right one for you. Who may benefit from the sensory improvement provided by playing action video games? Many people for whom it is important to make quick decisions based on visual or auditory information (if you are a surgeon or in the middle of a battle field). Focusing on vision, Daphne Bave­lier, one of the authors of the study, suggested that “inter­ven­tions that include action... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4338110 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:30:27 +0100 4338110 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4331116&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FtVPk1z9NXRg%2F Every Monday during the next 10 weeks we’ll discuss here what leading industry, science and policy experts –all of whom will speak at the upcoming 2011 SharpBrains Summit (March 30th — April 1st, 2011)– have to say about emerging opportunities and challenges to address, over the next 10 years, the growing brain-related societal demands. Without further ado, here you have what four Summit Speakers say… — Alvaro Pascual-Leone is the Direc­tor of the Berenson-Allen Cen­ter for Non-Invasive Brain Stim­u­la­tion at Har­vard Med­ical School. 1. How would you define “brain fitness” vs. “physical fitness”? Physical fitness can refer to an overall or general state of health and well-being. However, it is also often used more specifically to refer to the ability to perfor... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4331116 Mon, 10 Jan 2011 20:57:18 +0100 4331116 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4314120&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F39r_WN7Xmeg%2F It is well known that physical fitness training can improve cognitive abilities. A small study surprisingly suggests that it may work both ways: Cognitive training may improve walking speed in seniors. How is this possible? Twenty seniors, aged 70 or older, who exercised once a week or less and walked slowly, participated in the study. Ten of the seniors participated in the Mindfit brain fitness program three times weekly (45–60 min. each time) for eight weeks. The other 10 seniors constituted the control group. Compared with their speed at the start of the study the 10 seniors in the brain training group: Improved their normal walking speed (this gain was however very small and not statistically significant). Improved their walking-while-talking speed significantly. No improvement i... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4314120 Wed, 05 Jan 2011 20:45:59 +0100 4314120 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4304984&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FMS2qn5Ph1As%2F Here is a news digest on brain training to start your stimulating New Year: Brain training games: Do they work? This piece explores the world of computerized brain training software: Who uses them? Are they worth the expense? You can also check out Sharpbrains Program Evaluation checklist to learn about the 10 ques­tions to ask when choosing a brain fit­ness pro­gram. Protect your brain: The new issue for athletes. Learn more about ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing), the computerized clinical report which is quickly becoming the norm for high schools and colleges in determining an athlete’s cognitive brain function. For basic information on concussions and concussion-types sport-related damages, click here. Brain training: What’s the “true” pic... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4304984 Mon, 03 Jan 2011 17:49:57 +0100 4304984 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4304985&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FJbWvY_pJnhI%2F Think we all have dif­fer­ent tastes where beauty is con­cerned? Well, cog­ni­tive psy­chol­ogy shows us that an aver­age face (made from sev­eral other faces) is almost always judged as more attrac­tive than its con­stituent faces… Why? It may be for the sim­ple rea­son that an aver­age face is closer to the men­tal idea we have of a pro­to­typ­i­cal face and thus eas­ier for the brain to process. Want to expe­ri­ence it? Fol­low this link to the the Face Research Lab and cre­ate your own aver­age faces. Enjoy. Happy stim­u­lat­ing New Year to you! (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4304985 Thu, 30 Dec 2010 16:43:45 +0100 4304985 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4294827&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F-uEjqrPKAcM%2F This study shows once again how physical fitness is directly related to mental fitness. At all age, exercising the body benefits the brain. Interestingly, aerobic training is usually related to better cognitive performance. This new study shows that resistance training can be added to our list of exercise to do. Related posts: Physical exercise: why aerobic exercise enhances neurogenesis and neuroplasticity Walking increases brain volume and reduces risks of decline (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4294827 Tue, 28 Dec 2010 16:13:34 +0100 4294827 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4294828&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FF_-YgpOQQ2c%2F As part of the research behind the book The SharpBrains Guide for Brain Fitness we interviewed dozens of leading cognitive health and fitness scientists and experts worldwide to learn about their research and thoughts, and have a number of take-aways to report. What can we clearly say today that we couldn’t have said only 10 years ago? That what neuroscience pioneer Santiago Ramon y Cajal claimed in the XX century, “Every man can, if he so desires, become the sculptor his own brain”, may well become reality in the XXI. And transform Education, Health, Training, and Gaming in the process, since we have only scratched the surface of what science-based structured mental exercise can do for lifelong brain health and productivity. We are now witnessing the birth of a new field that cross... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4294828 Tue, 28 Dec 2010 00:56:49 +0100 4294828 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4287502&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FzYaMfnKw5AM%2F Reaction time is the time it takes to react to something. It can be considered as an index of your speed of processing: It shows how fast you can execute the mental operations needed by the task at hand. Reaction Time is a basic measure used in many psychology studies. Participant are most often asked to push a button when done with the task, which can be as varied as detecting an object, memorizing a word, or identifying an emotion. As brain processing is quite fast, reaction times are usually measured in milliseconds (a thousandth (1/1000) of a second). What is your average Reaction Time? Ready to try? Click here to start. Fun twist: Try before and after your Christmas dinner! Merry Christmas from the SharpBrains Team (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4287502 Fri, 24 Dec 2010 16:34:47 +0100 4287502 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4277884&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FwoCX9w2aUm0%2F Ado­les­cence can be a chal­lenging time for both the ado­les­cents and the sig­nif­i­cant adults (parents, teachers) in their lives. Teenagers themselves do not always understand why they behave the way they do. Why is it difficult being a teenager or interacting with one? Why do teenagers have these typical behaviors: Risk-taking, strange sleeping habits, addiction, impulsivity, etc.? As looking at what is happening in a teenage brain can provide answers to these questions, we selected the Top 10 Resources to help you better understand the teenage brain. The major thread to navigate these resources is the concept of a brain still maturing. Indeed, an adolescent brain is not yet an adult brain. Major changes are still happening, principally in the frontal lobes (more specifically... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4277884 Tue, 21 Dec 2010 15:11:20 +0100 4277884 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4275425&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FJFc0J6E891o%2F Numerous studies show benefits of cognitive training in older adults, but a recent study questions their validity. The debate on the effects of specific cognitive interventions is not settled. A finding that researchers do seem to agree on is that aging is accompanied by brain and cognitive decline. These reductions seem to be modifiable through cognitive and physical exercise. In this vein, our lab recently demonstrated that older adults involved in an 8-week memory training program show less brain atrophy. This gives some hope for older adults wondering whether their training efforts are really worth while. A major research interest in our lab is how brain structure and memory change across the human life-span. We have recently been able to measure regional changes in the brain within th... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4275425 Mon, 20 Dec 2010 17:37:38 +0100 4275425 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4266009&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FXmynFlO5_uU%2F David DiSalvo, a science and technology writer whose posts we share with you regularly, has just published his selection of the 2010 psychology studies really worth knowing about. A great tour of the brain and psychology that leads us from how many of our waking hours are dedicated to day dreaming, how the impression we are trying to give when meeting someone influences how we evaluate the other person, to how a confident posture gives a biochemical advantage that increases feelings of power and tolerance of risk. Enjoy! (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4266009 Fri, 17 Dec 2010 16:45:35 +0100 4266009 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4266011&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FPM-vZAgjs0M%2F Having a sense of control over one’s life may be one of the most crucial markers of successful aging. Aging individuals who feel in control seem to know more about their health, be more likely to take actions to protect it and thus enjoy healthier and longer lives. Studies have shown that people feel less in control as they get older. Could cognitive or brain training boost such feeling and reverse or at least counteract that trend? A recent study says the answer is yes.Do you remember the ACTIVE study? This was a large randomized controlled trial with thousands of adults over 65 that included 3 types of cognitive training: memory, reasoning, and speed of processing. The participants were evaluated over several years. Results published in 2006 showed that people got better at the trained... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4266011 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 21:06:51 +0100 4266011 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4259032&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FXzPIfCIS5Y8%2F Yesterday I had the chance to chat with Yaakov Stern, leading Cognitive Reserve researcher at Columbia University, and then with a group of 25 lifelong learners in Arizona who attended a brain fitness class (hello, Robert and friends!) based on our consumer guide The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness. On reflection, I found both conversations to be very stimulating for the same reason: they were forward-looking, focused not so much on status quo but on how emerging research, technology and trends may impact our society and lives in years to come. Let’s continue the conversation. Let me share the 10 main trends that we analyzed/ forecasted in our book, and then ask you, sharp readers, to add your own 2 cents to the discussion. 1. We predict an increased emphasis on brain maintenance in ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4259032 Tue, 14 Dec 2010 19:51:03 +0100 4259032 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4241836&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FCbgT4ZmtPK0%2F Did you read The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science, the great book on neuroplasticity by Norman Doidge? If  so, you will have heard about the Arrowsmith School/ Program, which was also one of the Top Ten Finalists in 2010 Brain Fitness Innovation Awards.  The following is an excerpt from Brain School: Stories of children with learning disabilities and attention disorders who changed their lives by improving their cognitive functioning (November 2010; $22), a new book from Eaton Arrowsmith School’s (EAS) founder and director, Howard Eaton. It tells the story of how children with learning disabilities (dyslexia, ADHD, etc.) can overcome educational obstacles by reorganizing their brains. An inspiring book about how cognitive progra... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4241836 Wed, 08 Dec 2010 12:17:20 +0100 4241836 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4238012&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FtJ3OAq5ZZ_0%2F It is not easy to take care of someone suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. Quality of life for both patients and caregivers usually deteriorate as the disease progresses. This issue also has an economic side: the care provided by family members is valued at nearly $144 billion. What would happen if caregivers could not carry on anymore? As this article from the Huffington post reminds us, there is no pill to help families stay together longer, and have happier lives. However there are a growing number of non-pharmacologic interventions that could achieve this. Improving quality of life for individuals with dementia and their families is a fundamental treatment goal, but consistently receives far less attention and funding than drug research. There are a growing number of such non-pharmac... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4238012 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 16:55:14 +0100 4238012 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4233297&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FpcMYWzMw2AY%2F Given many of us are starting to prepare New Year Resolutions, let’s revisit one of SharpBrains’ most popular-ever articles that can help us all refine our Brain Fitness Resolutions… The Ten Habits of Highly Effective Brains Learn what is the “It” in “Use It or Lose It”. A basic understanding will serve you well to appreciate your brain’s beauty as a living and constantly-developing dense forest with billions of neurons and synapses. Take care of your nutrition. Did you know that the brain only weighs 2% of body mass but consumes over 20% of the oxygen and nutrients we intake? As a general rule, you don’t need expensive ultra-sophisticated nutritional supplements, just make sure you don’t stuff yourself with the “bad stuff”. Remember that the brain is part of the... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4233297 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 19:21:08 +0100 4233297 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4233298&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F4u41YtwRWMY%2F A new edi­tion of Sci­en­tia Pro Pub­lica, the biweekly blog car­ni­val that “show­cases the finest sci­ence, med­ical and envi­ron­ment writ­ing pub­lished in the blo­gos­phere”, is avail­able now, hosted by Providentia, To enjoy, click Here. (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4233298 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 14:56:18 +0100 4233298 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4214312&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fb9JuzFV0A6s%2F These fantastic pictures by Carl Schoonover in “Portraits of the Mind: Visualizing the Brain from Antiquity to the 21st Century” will have 2 effects on your brain: 1) stimulate the neurons in your occipital lobes (as you know, the part at the back of your  brain that is devoted to vision) and 2) activate your reasoning skills as you reflect on what the mind is… See more photos here. (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4214312 Tue, 30 Nov 2010 17:34:16 +0100 4214312 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4214314&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FDez2pHrB7PU%2F Everyone these days is talking about education and testing reform, but why is relevant brain research often ignored? Which organ if not the brain does the learning and teaching part? Renowned educator and brain expert Dr. Robert Sylwester shares his recommended Top Brain Books for Educators and Learners to help inform the conversation. A must read! Save the Date: the 2011 SharpBrains Summit, the second edition of our annual industry and research conference, will take place virtually from March 28th to March 31st 2010. Details will follow soon. Without further ado…please enjoy the November edition of our monthly eNewsletter: Research Bites Football and brain damage: In high-contact sports such as football, even hits not lead­ing to con­cus­sions can affect the brain. How to take o... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4214314 Mon, 29 Nov 2010 15:33:36 +0100 4214314 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4203223&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FrfLGus2764w%2F Musicians’ brains are often used as models of neuroplasticity. Indeed, numerous studies to date have shown that musical training can change the brain. Musicians have larger brain volume in areas that are important for playing an instrument: motor, auditory and visuo-spatial regions. A recent Nature Review Neuroscience article shows that music training can benefit the brain beyond music-related abilities. Specifically, musicians may have an advantage for processing speech in challenging listening environments compared with non-musicians This effect of music training suggests that, akin to physical exercise and its impact on body fitness, music is a resource that tones the brain for auditory fitness. Therefore, the role of music in shaping individual development deserves consideration. To ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4203223 Fri, 26 Nov 2010 15:57:33 +0100 4203223 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4200632&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F5mmtPdWD4bg%2F If you’ve spent any time on YouTube over the last few years (and you know you have), you’ve likely seen the video of the invisible gorilla experiment (if you’ve somehow missed it, catch yourself up here). The researchers who conducted that study, Dan Simons and Chris Chabris, didn’t realize that they were about to create an instant classic—a psychology study mentioned alongside the greats, and known well outside the slim confines of psych wonks. Milgram taught us about our sheepish obedience to authority; Mischel used marshmallows to teach us about delayed gratification; and Simons and Chabris used a faux gorilla to teach us that we are not the masters of attention we think we are. The duo’s new book, The Invisible Gorilla, and Other Ways Our Intuitions Deceive Us, is every... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4200632 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 21:13:26 +0100 4200632 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4197211&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FmwLJROCT-s0%2F A child’s brain is a perfect example of neuroplasticity: As the child learns basic and complex skills, his or her brain changes, connections between neurons are strengthened or eliminated. Here are 10 top questions and answers to explore the developing brain and get a better window on young minds. Following the Q&A find related relevant resources (links, documentaries, and books) to go further. . 10 questions and answers about a child’s brain development Q: Does brain development depend only on genes? A: No, brain development is the result of a complex interaction between both genes and environment. Brain development begins in utero. Billions of neurons are generated. They migrate from their birthplace in the embryo to their final positions. Axons and dendrites grow and c... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4197211 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:56:31 +0100 4197211 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4190318&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FCR0HgxZGalA%2F The powerful National Association for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) has now issued a report that encourages pre-service and graduate teacher education programs to incorporate cognitive neuroscience discoveries about child and adolescent development into their curricula.  This link to a Washington Post article on this development will also get you to the NCATE report. The next obvious step would turn encouragement into curricular/accreditation requirements. That incorporation of Educational Neuroscience discoveries into educational policy and practice will shape 21st century teacher education and K-12 education in ways that are analogous to what folks such as John Dewey, B.F. Skinner, and Jean Piaget did to shape 20th century education. I would argue that this current ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4190318 Mon, 22 Nov 2010 19:18:40 +0100 4190318 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4179403&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FbIK4cuhZ8z0%2F Discussions (Members-only links below. To Learn More and Join Council, click Here) Now let’s take a look at the great things going on with the SharpBrains Council. Council Membership 60 Council Members are already active in the Council members-only platform, bringing an excellent cross-sector participation and featuring innovative research, products, services and practices. The Member List available in the Library section includes interests and 2011 priorities, to facilitate connections. We are featuring: 7 most active Council Members: Philip Toman, Jamie Wilson, Luc Beaudoin, Joshua Steinerman, Pascale Michelon, Adam Gazzaley and Sherrie All. 7 Council Members doing great work outside the US: Peter Reiner, Veronika Litinski and David Tal in Canada; Jenny Brockis and Steve Zanon in A... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4179403 Thu, 18 Nov 2010 17:05:02 +0100 4179403 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4172190&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FQ-06a2iBcN0%2F You have probably noticed the increasing amount of research and media coverage focused on “working memory”. What is working memory? Why do we care? How can we best enhance it? Working memory is the ability to keep information current in mind for a short period, while using this information for the task at hand. Working memory is supported by regions of the frontal lobes (in blue here) and parietal lobes (in yellow). Let’s take a few concrete examples to understand in which situations working memory is used. Situation 1: You are just back from your coffee break and your colleague, who is running in the hallway to catch up with the boss, tells you that Mr. Brown just called and can see you either on the 18th at 2:30pm or on the 20th at 9am. Your brain holds on to that information long... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4172190 Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:11:45 +0100 4172190 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4168081&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FdfcQS1SUj6s%2F CONCLUSIONS Just as the idea of hospice care revolutionized death and dying in America, the idea of bundling many aspects of Alzheimer’s care under one roof in a cognitive shop could change the way we approach this dire disease—one that has no cure and leaves no survivors. Certainly, the scope of the problem poses medical and economic risks for the country. These risks, and potential steps for a solution, were charted by the bipartisan Alzheimer Study Group in the spring of 2009. The report, issued by the Alzheimer Study Group co-chaired by former congressman Newt Gingrich and former senator Bob Kerrey, minces few words. It likens the failure to address the impact of Alzheimer’s to the failure to strengthen the levies of New Orleans against an overwhelming hurricane. “Alzheimer’... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4168081 Mon, 15 Nov 2010 16:25:55 +0100 4168081 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4159341&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FTd7cU2b36vA%2F This article shows once again the gap between what we know about the brain and brain health and the application of this knowledge, especially in education. To learn more about how brain sci­ence fits into national class­room cur­ric­ula read The brain in science education: What should everyone learn. And stay tuned: We will publish next week the Top Brain Book Collection for Educators and Learners! . (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4159341 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 15:26:08 +0100 4159341 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4159342&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FUtytOJSwRZg%2F An excellent article by the Dana Foundation clarifies what the “Real Deficit in Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder” is. Thank you to John from our Sharp­Brains’ group in LinkedIn for pointing it out. Among other things, this article shows you that attention is more complex that you probably thought: Scientists have identified at least three major components of attention that are served by discrete but integrally connected neural networks. The “alerting network” .… The “orienting network”.…executive attention.…. And that there is more than one explanation offered for the deficits observed in children with ADHD: Various other hypotheses have emerged recently in the ADHD literature .… Each of these theories offers tantalizing clues about what might be going wrong ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4159342 Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:33:54 +0100 4159342 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4152012&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F5PVEXty3FV4%2F A study just published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society has been much publicized recently (see for instance, this L.A. Times article). The study showed that a computer-based brain training program succeeded in reducing at-fault car crashes for older drivers. The effects of the training lasted over 6 years. This result made the news as one of the rare transfers of brain training benefits to everyday life.  Why was this training successful and not others? Probably because brain training needs to be specific and not general. If you practice playing baseball you do not expect to get better at playing basketball, right? The same is true of brain functions: If you train your language skills, do not expect to get better at memorizing numbers. Driving is quite automatic for most o... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4152012 Wed, 10 Nov 2010 15:32:16 +0100 4152012 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4152013&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FxT8_KCqYxVw%2F An interesting and very well-documented article in the Los Angeles Times reviews studies looking at Vitamin B and its role in improving memory. The vitamins — including folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12 — are often touted as a way to improve memory and stave off cognitive decline. The claims are based on the finding that levels of the vitamin are low in people with various forms of cognitive impairment, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. But experts say it’s still unclear whether taking high doses of the vitamins will keep such conditions at bay. […] Haan says the existing body of studies may be inconclusive because the causes of cognitive decline — which are incompletely understood — are probably too complex to be halted with a single vitamin supplement. Comments: ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4152013 Tue, 09 Nov 2010 17:04:05 +0100 4152013 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4152014&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FN3OunENy05o%2F This study clearly demonstrates that there is only little support for a specific Mozart effect in published as well as in unpublished work. Although results indicate a positive, significant effect of exposure to the Mozart sonata (KV 448) compared to no stimulus at all on spatial task performance, observed effects were only small in size. Moreover, exposure to other musical stimuli compared to exposure to no stimulus at all yielded a significant overall effect of about the same size…On the whole, there is little left that would support the notion of a specific enhancement of spatial task performance through exposure to the Mozart sonata KV 448.” I think the jury is in on this one: The Mozart effect is weak, at best. Maybe the question can finally be put to rest. Does this mean that m... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4152014 Mon, 08 Nov 2010 17:49:09 +0100 4152014 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4139350&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Feoae9ySUpJw%2F Peo­ple of all ages read SharpBrains.com, so we are prepar­ing a series of arti­cles on Brain Health across the Lifes­pan. The series will include 4 parts: The Child Brain, pub­lished in Novem­ber 2010 The Ado­les­cent Brain, in Decem­ber 2010 The Adult Brain, in Jan­u­ary 2011 The Aging Brain, in Feb­ru­ary 2011 Each part will : Include sur­pris­ing facts on how the brain works Debunk com­mons myths about cog­ni­tion and brain health Link to resources such as books and doc­u­men­taries. If you want to read these arti­cles as we pub­lish them via SharpBrains.com, you can either fol­low us in Face­book and Twit­ter or, if you have not done so already, subscribe to our monthly update (eNewsletter). Tell your friends and col­leagues about the series! (... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4139350 Fri, 05 Nov 2010 14:43:09 +0100 4139350 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4133995&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FgzrsphtRgQo%2F (Editor’s Note: What follows is an excerpt from Dr. Robert Sylwester’s new book, A Child’s Brain. The Need for Nurture (2010) Corwin. In this excerpt, Robert Sylwester synthesizes the first 20 years of development and shows how it can be viewed as a “rhythmic four-six-four-six-year developmental sequence”) . Chapter 4: Development and Growth. The First 20 years. To simplify a complex phenomenon, we can divide our 20-year developmental trajectory into two periods of approximately 10 years each. The developmental period from birth to about age 10 focuses on learning how to be a human being – learning to move, to communicate, and to master basic social skills. The developmental period from about 11 to 20 focuses on learning how to be a productive reproductive human being – plan... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4133995 Thu, 04 Nov 2010 11:27:16 +0100 4133995 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4133996&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FkpHZTmkOT-E%2F This study suggests that taking DHA supplements after Alzheimer’s diagnosis is not helpful. Prior evidence shows that omega-3 consumption (especially DHA) long before the onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms reduces the risk of developing the disease. Indeed, several studies have shown that eating fish (the primary source in our diet of omega-3 fatty acids) is associated with a reduced risk of cognitive decline or dementia. The authors of the JAMA study also speculate that DHA supplements could be used as a treatment for people who have not yet been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s but are already developing dementia pathology in their brain: “Individuals intermediate between healthy aging and dementia, such as those with mild cognitive impairment, might derive benefit from DHA supplementation,... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4133996 Tue, 02 Nov 2010 19:00:19 +0100 4133996 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4125130&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FVatlCX5Q93U%2F Conclusions The new Purdue findings suggest that even hits not leading to concussions can affect the brain. Although the results come from a very small number of players and will have to be replicated, they are quite concerning. The study involved young high-school players whose brain is not mature yet. Their brain is thus still very plastic and seem to recover quickly, after a few month without football. But what about older players’ brains that may have less ability to compensate for blows? Previous studies have linked repeated concussion to Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and dementia. For instance, Guskiewicz et al (2005) have found that retired professional players (average age of 53.8 years and an average football career of 6.6 years) with three or more reported concussions have a ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4125130 Mon, 01 Nov 2010 19:33:10 +0100 4125130 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4119371&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fz4IpAJ-3lzg%2F You have heard that physical exercise is good for the brain. How much exercise are we talking about? Can the benefits be seen both for children and adults? In Fitter bodies = fitter brains. True at all ages? Dr. Pascale Michelon answers these questions for you, based on latest scientific studies. We need fun ways to get out the couch more and exercise both physically and cognitively. What about setting up community-based adult playgrounds, such as this one in Beijing? . New Brain Health Series People of all ages read SharpBrains.com and this monthly update, so we are preparing a series of articles on Brain Health across the Lifespan. The series will include 4 parts: The Child Brain, published in November 2010 The Adolescent Brain, in December 2010 The Adult Brain, in January 2011... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4119371 Thu, 28 Oct 2010 19:03:36 +0100 4119371 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4105840&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FzhPYbx7FCjA%2F Malpractice Methodology (New York Times OpEd by Peter Orszag) Right now, health care is more evidence-free than you might think. And even where evidence-based clinical guidelines exist, research suggests that doctors follow them only about half of the time. One estimate suggests that it takes 17 years on average to incorporate new research findings into widespread practice. As a result, any clinical guidelines that exist often have limited impact. How might we encourage doctors to adopt new evidence more quickly? If this is the case with health care overall, despite much progress over the last 30–40 years, imagine how worse it may be when we talk about brain health, when neuroscience and cognitive neuroscience are relatively more recent disciplines. This is a key insight to keep in m... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4105840 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 09:09:04 +0100 4105840 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4098204&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FzkWOaIN5aHY%2F The positive effects of exercise on brain health have been demonstrated in many studies now. The next step may be to develop low-cost programs in the community that provide appropriate support and structure for adults (especially older adults) to encourage physical activity. A great example of such program is The Adult Playground in Beijing, China (Dhand et al., 2010): Half a football field large, this space consisted of all-weather stretching and strengthening equipment such as elliptical machines, flat benches, modified leg press machines, railings at different heights, monkey bars, and arm and leg rotatory devices. The area was teeming with adults, most older than 60 years, who were not only exercising but also playing games such as Chinese hacky sack (a Chinese game from the 5th centu... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4098204 Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:28:55 +0100 4098204 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4098205&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FykiB0TYNRuI%2F If you have already read The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness: 18 Interviews with Scientists, Practical Advice, and Product Reviews, to Keep your Brain Sharp, by Alvaro Fernandez and Dr. Elkhonon Goldberg, please take a few minutes to answer six questions folowing link below. Your feedback will ensure that future book editions are even more relevant and valuable to you. Thank you very much in advance! Take this survey If you have not read it yet, may we kindly encourage you to do so, and to let us know what you think? The book is now easily available in the USA, Canada and the UK via Amazon.com stores. To order in the USA: Print ($19.95): click Here Kindle ($9.99): click Here — To order in Canada: Print (CDN$20.5): click Here — To order in the UK: Print (GBP 12): click Here Ki... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4098205 Thu, 21 Oct 2010 10:53:13 +0100 4098205 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4086391&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FFhw0Xv-nlrw%2F An interesting article in Nature Reviews last month reviewed several studies showing that cognitive intervention can be beneficial even for individuals already diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease (Buschert et al., 2010). The article shows that patients with mild-to-moderate dementia can benefit from a range of cognitive interventions: from training of partially spared cognitive functions to training on activities of daily living. Results suggest that such interventions can improve global cognition, abilities of daily living and quality of life in these patients. Patients with moderate-to-severe dementia seem to benefit from general engagement in activities that enhance cognitive and social functioning in a non-specific manner. In general, for patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease,... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4086391 Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:40:46 +0100 4086391 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4082205&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FIN2bpCMHT1c%2F Anyone who knows me knows that my favorite pastime is napping. In College, I would come back to my dorm room, and like clockwork, would take a nap. My best friend in England, who got quite a kick out of my passion for napping, once tried to persuade me to drink a cup of tea after lunch instead of taking my customary nap. I really tried, but I soon gave in to my nap cravings. Sometimes I feel like I really need to re-charge my brain batteries. Well, now science is on my side. I just love this new study, which was presented by Matthew Walker, assistant professor at UC Berkeley, at the annual meeting of the American Association of the Advancement of Science (AAAS) conference in San Diego this past Sunday (Feb. 2010). Walker and his colleagues Bryce A. Mander and Sangeetha Santhanam split up a... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4082205 Mon, 18 Oct 2010 20:04:14 +0100 4082205 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4074240&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FakNcK_Url9M%2F In the latest issue of Neurology a study by Erickson et al. (2010) suggests that walking regularly can increase brain volume and reduce the risks of developing cognitive impairment. The researchers stared with 2 mains facts: Gray matter volume shrinks with age, often leading to cognitive decline. Physical exercise seems to be neuro-protector (see our previous post: Fitter bodies = fitter brains. True at all ages?) They asked 2 questions: Can physical activity assessed earlier predict gray matter volume 9 years later? Is greater gray matter volume associated with reduced risks of developing cognitive impairment? The study: 299 participants, mean age: 78, 182 female. Physical activity was assessed in 1988–1989 (baseline) = total number of blocks walked over 1 week. Cognitive function... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4074240 Fri, 15 Oct 2010 19:20:44 +0100 4074240 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4074241&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FoYe8RXaOKMM%2F The New-York Times reports on the study published a few days ago in the Journal of Economic Perspectives, “Mental retirement”: … Data from the United States, England and 11 other European countries suggest that the earlier people retire, the more quickly their memories decline. … what aspect of work is doing that, Dr. Suzman said. “Is it the social engagement and interaction or the cognitive component of work, or is it the aerobic component of work?” he asked. “Or is it the absence of what happens when you retire, which could be increased TV watching?” Comments: This new study is another piece of evidence accumulating with more and more others suggesting that a brain healthy life-style requires constant cognitive challenge to help maintain high-level cognitive functions. Wh... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4074241 Thu, 14 Oct 2010 18:58:36 +0100 4074241 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060951&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FIL5VZhBPfec%2F An article in the Wall Street Journal today, Building a More Resilient Brain, reviews the work of Dr. Bialystok and her colleagues on the benefits that bilingualism brings to the brain. Another great example of neuroplasticity. … over time, regularly speaking more than one language appears to strengthen skills that boost the brain’s so-called cognitive reserve, a capacity to work even when stressed or damaged. This build-up of cognitive reserve appears to help bilingual people as they age. … the process of speaking two or more languages appears to enable people to develop skills to better cope with the early symptoms of memory-robbing diseases, including Alzheimer’s. […] the advantages of bilingualism are thought to be related to a brain function known as inhibitory or cognitive ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060951 Tue, 12 Oct 2010 18:22:46 +0100 4060951 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4055827&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F9mHY5I3qG84%2F Brain training does not necessarily mean computerized games. For instance, mediation may be a great tool to train your brain. Different parts of the brain support different functions. One function, central to many of our actions, is “attention”. Attention can be defined as the ability to sustain concentration on a particular object, action, or thought. It can also be defined as the ability to manage competing demands in our environment.connections between neurons, die. In the brain it is supported mainly by neuronal networks in the parietal (yellow in the figure) and frontal (blue in the figure) lobes. What can be done to maintain and boost such a fundamental ability? Dr. Andrew Newberg (Associate Professor in the Department of Radiology and Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvani... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4055827 Mon, 11 Oct 2010 19:05:03 +0100 4055827 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4045224&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FTSN3bNlCxTY%2F Have you read the cover story of the New Scientist this week: Mental muscle: six ways to boost your brain? The article, which includes good information on brain food, the value of meditation, etc., starts by saying that: “Brain training doesn’t work, but there are lots of other ways to give your grey matter a quick boost.” Further in the article you can read “… brain training software has now been consigned to the shelf of technologies that failed to live up to expectations.” Such claims are based on the one study widely publicized earlier this year: the BBC “brain training” experiment, published by Owen et al. (2010) in Nature. What happened to the scientific rigor associated with the New Scientist? As expressed in one of our previous posts: “Once more, claims seem to go... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4045224 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:42:52 +0100 4045224 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4040665&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fg4XAb75O0g8%2F (Editor’s Note: we are pleased to bring you this arti­cle thanks to our col­lab­o­ra­tion with Greater Good Mag­a­zine). The Neuroscience of Happiness Best-selling author Rick Hanson explains how we can rewire our brains for lasting happiness By Michael Bergeisen We’ve all been there: obsessing over a faux pas we committed at a party, infuriated by an unkind word from a colleague, ruminating over a tough break-up with a spouse or friend. We suffer some misfortune—big or small, real or imagined—and the pain or humiliation sticks with us for hours, days, or even years afterward. “The mind is like Velcro for negative experiences,” psychologist Rick Hanson is fond of saying, “and Teflon for positive ones.” But it doesn’t have to be this way. Drawing on some of the l... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4040665 Thu, 07 Oct 2010 17:23:42 +0100 4040665 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4031370&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fl6wxN32Q4nc%2F The results of recently published studies suggest that fitter children also have fitter brains. It looks like exer­cis­ing your body pro­motes brain health. Is this true at all ages? How does it work? How much exercise should we do? Physical activity and brain health in children An emerging literature suggests that physical activity and high levels of aerobic fitness during childhood  may enhance cognition. In the 2 most recent studies by Kramer and colleagues (2010), the cognitive performance and the brains of higher-fit and lower-fit 9– and 10-year-old children were examined. In one study, fitter children did better than less fit children in a task requiring to ignore irrelevant information and attend to relevant cues. Fitter children also had larger basal ganglia (more specificall... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4031370 Mon, 04 Oct 2010 16:24:04 +0100 4031370 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4023033&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FbHoojoc7mTc%2F Read this recent Scientific American article showing clearly how the brain can change based on our daily experiences and actions: … a new study in the journal Brain Research demonstrates that […] birth control pills have structural effects on regions of the brain that govern higher-order cognitive activities … Whereas the subtle structural effects of naturally-occurring steroid hormones and sex differences in the brain have been extensively studied, few studies have examined the role of synthetic hormones on changes in the human brain.  What happens, then, when the female brain gets a significant and artificial dose of steroid hormone, either progesterone, estrogen or both? […] It appears that the brain, that sensitive organ replete with steroid receptors, reacts to its hormonal m... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4023033 Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:59:16 +0100 4023033 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4018289&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F5gc1INDGsDw%2F You may find that too much media coverage on how to take good care of our brains is confusing, if not potentially misleading. In The True Story — is mental exercise good, bad, or irrelevant, Dr. Pascale Michelon dissects for you a recent large study which was largely reported as bad news when in fact it brings good news (no miracles, but good news).  We hope you enjoy her insightful analysis — and all the excellent articles that follow in the September edition of our monthly eNewsletter covering cognitive health and brain fitness topics. Please remember that you can use the box in the right column to subscribe and receive this newsletter via email. Do you Mind Dear sapiens sapiens, do you mind: Dr. Joshua Steinerman encourages you to ask yourself the tough ques­tions: Do you mind ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4018289 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 11:06:29 +0100 4018289 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4003336&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FNKbWYNHx4yA%2F Welcome to the XL edi­tion of Sci­en­tia Pro Pub­lica (or, since we are trying to speak English, the 40th edition of “Science for the People”), the rotating blog car­ni­val that show­cases the finest sci­ence, med­ical and envi­ron­ment writ­ing pub­lished in the blogosphere. Quick now — ask a question, any question, that comes to mind. Chances are someone in this excellent roster of science bloggers has anticipated it and provided an answer below. Enjoy! About ourselves Why do I feel better after I exercise (pic: brainblogger) Can thoughtful blogging and reading build brain reserve and delay dementia What’s the borderline between high and low functioning — autism research examples Can we learn to multi-task more effectively Should you mind your brain About our bo... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4003336 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 11:53:43 +0100 4003336 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3999041&cid=t_100809_109_f&fid=34743&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDevelopingIntelligence%2F%7E3%2FcHsoN58jfs8%2Fwhy_the_n2_indexes_conflict_mo.php Sometimes, ground-breaking studies don't get the attention they deserve - even from experts in the field. One great example of this is an elegant study by Nieuwenhuis et al. from CABN in 2003; in it, they conclusively demonstrate why a particular event-related potential - the negative-going frontocentral deflection at around 200ms following stimulus onset, aka the "N2" - reflects the detection of response conflict, and not the demand to inhibit a response. Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Developing Intelligence) Developing Intelligence blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3999041 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 19:35:20 +0100 3999041 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3999122&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FuLupDq044fc%2F We are pleased to announce the beta launch of the SharpBrains Council for Brain Fitness Innovation, the first global cross-sector community and platform designed to support innovators committed to the cognitive health and brain fitness of their constituents/ clients/ patients/ employees. Members of this invitation-only Council will be able to learn, share, collaborate and innovate leveraging a new members-only online platform. Keep reading here. (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3999122 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:04:21 +0100 3999122 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3999123&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FnOfXftJe7Tc%2F I recently reported on an intriguing study examining the impact of an herbal treatment for youth with ADHD. Results from this randomized-controlled trial were quite promising and consistent with the idea that some individuals with ADHD have deficiencies in essential nutrients that compromise healthy brain development and result in ADHD symptoms. This idea has sparked the long-standing debate about whether dietary factors play an important role in the development of ADHD, at least for some children, and led to many studies of this issue. Although results of these studies elude any simple conclusions, dietary factors do appear to contribute to ADHD symptoms in some individuals. Some have argued that research on the relationship between diet and ADHD is more important than ever because the di... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3999123 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 14:11:04 +0100 3999123 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3987142&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FfidZ9tUwotE%2F For an excellent review of the most recent findings on learning habits, check out The New York Times recent article: Forget What You Know About Good Study Habits. Tons of unexpected and fascinating results! The findings can help anyone, from a fourth grader doing long division to a retiree taking on a new language. But they directly contradict much of the common wisdom about good study habits, and they have not caught on. For instance, instead of sticking to one study location, simply alternating the room where a person studies improves retention. Take the notion that children have specific learning styles, that some are “visual learners” and others are auditory; some are “left-brain” students, others “right-brain.” In a recent review of the relevant research, published in the ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3987142 Mon, 20 Sep 2010 19:52:45 +0100 3987142 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3980913&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F4lcTn0h0gTo%2F This study is different from the previous ones showing that healthy people who are cognitively active have lower risks of developing dementia for one major reason: It assessed the fate of cognitively active individuals who have been diagnosed with dementia. This stresses an important point: cognitive activity helps delay the emergence of dementia but doesn’t prevent it completely. The results of the study confirmed that cognitive activity prior to dementia onset is protective: the annual rate of global cognitive decline for people who had no cognitive impairment was reduced by 52% for each additional point on the cognitive activity scale. This means that individuals who had high cognitive activity scores showed delayed decline. Overall these individuals declined more slowly than individu... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3980913 Thu, 16 Sep 2010 18:30:48 +0100 3980913 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3976591&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FHd6O6y9ycUw%2F Inter­est­ing arti­cle on The Dana Foundation website on how to monitor cognitive decline in the brain in the very early stages of Alzheimer’s: Functional MRI May Be Useful for Monitoring Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (Dana Foundation) Alzheimer’s researchers have long wanted to find better ways not only to diagnose the disease but also to monitor its progression from the earliest stages. A new study suggests that functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), a technique currently used mainly for neuroscience research or to guide brain surgery, could be useful in this clinical role. […] an elegant and thought-provoking study. (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3976591 Thu, 16 Sep 2010 18:24:36 +0100 3976591 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3972949&cid=t_100809_109_f&fid=34743&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDevelopingIntelligence%2F%7E3%2F_adtTUMMW28%2Fmachines_learn_how_humans_lear.php In last week's Science, Dosenbach et al describe a set of sophisticated machine learning techniques they've used to predict age from the way that hemodynamics correlate both within and across various functional networks in the brain. As described over at the BungeLab Blog, and at Neuroskeptic, the classification is amazingly accurate, generalizes easily to two independent data sets with different acquisition parameters, and has some real potential for future use in the diagnosis of developmental disorders - made all the easier since the underlying resting-state functional connectivity data takes only about 5 minutes to acquire from a given subject. Somehow, their statistical techniques learned the characteristic features of functional change between the ages of 7 and 30 years. How exactl... Developing Intelligence blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3972949 Wed, 15 Sep 2010 14:20:16 +0100 3972949 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3969049&cid=t_100809_109_f&fid=34743&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDevelopingIntelligence%2F%7E3%2FSeQ8gzO1wjw%2Fwith_our_crash_course_on.php With our introduction to paired pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (ppTMS) out of the way, we now turn to a 2010 PNAS paper by Neubert, Mars, Buch, Olivier & Rushworth in which conditioning TMS is applied to the right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG) as well as the pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA) between 3 and 18ms prior to TMS over the contralateral primary motor cortex (M1). Note that all of these areas are known to interact in exceedingly complex ways based on the task subjects are performing, the intensity of the magnetic stimulation, the relative intensities of the paired pulses, and the subjects' proximity to the initiation of movement at the time of conditioning TMS (all described yesterday). Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Develo... Developing Intelligence blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3969049 Tue, 14 Sep 2010 18:00:05 +0100 3969049 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3969050&cid=t_100809_109_f&fid=34743&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDevelopingIntelligence%2F%7E3%2FAnxv2e26rJA%2Ftms_virtual_lesion_or_virtual.php Yesterday's introduction to paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation elicited an insightful comment from reader "Kix": As you mention, TMS can be used in order to disrupt or to read out some areas of the brain. I don't see why these functions should be mutually exclusive. For instance, delivering single pulse TMS over the primary motor cortex during movement preparation allows one to guess the direction of the future movement from the size of the motor evoked potential. However, the fact of reading out the prepared response might also disrupt it (Michelet et al. 2010). I think we agree here. If TMS is disrupting the function of an area and also "reading out" its functioning, then we don't know whether the "read out" is a reflection of the area's intrinsic functioning or the dysf... Developing Intelligence blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3969050 Tue, 14 Sep 2010 17:29:38 +0100 3969050 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3969091&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FoaZtfgwCsU4%2F A new edition of Scientia Pro Publica, the biweekly blog carnival that “showcases the finest science, medical and environment writing published in the blogosphere”, is available now, hosted at The Guardian’s new science blog network. To enjoy, click Here. If you write a blog about science, medicine or the environment and would like to share your writing or photography with a large and appreciative audience, you are invited to use this automated submission form. We will be hosting the next edition, on September 27th, here at SharpBrains.com. (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3969091 Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:57:57 +0100 3969091 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3965497&cid=t_100809_109_f&fid=34743&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDevelopingIntelligence%2F%7E3%2FJZvD1s7C2Ek%2Fpaired-pulse_transcranial_magn.php There's a ton of super-interesting transcranial magnetic stimulation work coming out these days (e.g., here, here, here, here, here, and here) and much of it pertains to a very particular "paired-pulse" form of TMS (ppTMS). Before diving into the new work, I wanted a basic crash course on what we know (and what we don't) about how and why ppTMS works. If you're not familiar with the basic behavioral effects of TMS, check out this video. Unfortunately, the crash course I was looking for doesn't exist. So I've made one. Except where noted, the crash course below is largely derived from a fantastic 2008 review by Reis et al in the Journal of Neurophysiology. We'll get into what ppTMS is, how it seems to work, and the numerous complex and interacting phenomena that have been documented in ... Developing Intelligence blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3965497 Mon, 13 Sep 2010 15:01:28 +0100 3965497 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3965548&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FvODGErZEFTs%2F (Editor’s Note: you may have read all the confusing –if not outright misleading– recent media coverage on the effect of mental stimulation on cognitive health and Alzheimer’s Disease. To help clarify matters, please find below part of the ongoing discussion at SharpBrains’ group in LinkedIn, and keep tuned since in a few days we’ll be publishing an analysis of the scientific study that, while bringing largely Good News, has been largely reported as Terrible News.) — Stuart • I just came across this article in Medical News…Mental Stimulation Delays The Decline In Thinking Skills, But May Accelerate Dementia Later On.… It’s the first time I have seen an article talking about the potential down side of mental stimulation in later life…I would be interested in the vie... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3965548 Mon, 13 Sep 2010 13:40:44 +0100 3965548 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3954355&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FoO4YsaYLrhQ%2F Since 2006, as part of the research supporting The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness and SharpBrains’ market reports, we have interviewed dozens of leading-edge scientists and experts. Below are some of our favorite quotes and interviews — you can read the full interview notes by clicking on the links: Conversations in 2010 “…putting good evidence to work in practice requires more than publishing good research. I’d say that scientific evidence is directly relevant to perhaps 15% of clinical decisions…we require technologies that translate emergent knowledge into prac­tice.” - Dr. John Docherty, Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at Weill Medical College, and former Branch Chief at NIMH. Full Interview Notes. “We should be thinking about the brain through its w... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3954355 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 10:34:57 +0100 3954355 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3938420&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fl09if-uJcmc%2F If you happen to be in Barcelona, Spain, on September 14th, make sure to attend Alvaro Fernandez talk there titled “How and Why Digital Technology Will Transform Education, Training and Brain Health”. Date: 14/09/2010 Time: 19:00 Place: ESADEFORUM. Av. Pedralbes 60–62. Description: You have a brain. Make it reflect on this provocative vision of how the convergence of demographic and political trends with the discoveries of neuroscience and digital technology can give rise to a global market capable of transforming the way in which we develop and maintain our brains, in order to attain the highest possible level of brain health and performance throughout our lives. The neuroscientist Ramón y Cajal once said: “Every man can, if he so desires, become the sculptor of his own brai... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3938420 Tue, 07 Sep 2010 07:24:11 +0100 3938420 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3920957&cid=t_100809_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F80LA7jt6c3E%2F What is working memory, and why it matters? Can we multi-task as good as we seem to assume? What should we all know about how our brains work, and why? We hope you enjoy this August eNewsletter, featuring six distinguished contributors who answer those questions, and more. Please remember that you can subscribe to receive this free Brain Fitness eNewsletter by email, using the box in the right column. Know Thyself Why working memory matters in the knowledge age: As Dr. Tracy Alloway points out, one way to visualize working memory is as the brain’s “Post-it Notes” — we make mental scribbles of bits of information we need to remember and work with. Without enough working memory we cannot function as a society or as individuals. Learn more by participating in this study launched by D... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3920957 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:23:05 +0100 3920957