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 'concentration'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:02:07 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181804&cid=t_116275_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthree-common-ailments-that-can-be-treated-with-regular-exercise%2F2011.08.31 It’s Wednesday, so I would like to tell you about some cool things I learned this past week about the science of how exercise can be used as a treatment for three common ailments. First, some background about exercise: The great thing about exercising every day that you eat is that this magic potion is not a shot or a pill. It does not involve a doctor burning or squishing anything in your body. There are no HIPAA forms, no insurance pre-certifications, and not even a co-pay. It’s as we say, easy and free. And drum roll please…exercise is active—not passive. Here’s the Mandrola take on how exercise might treat three specific medical conditions: (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Dr John M* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181804 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:00:42 +0100 5181804 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118640&cid=t_116275_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrlindagalloway.files.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fbreastfeeding.jpg Could breastfeeding kill a newborn?  That is the question a California district attorney will ask a jury at the trial of a breastfeeding mother. Most women do not intend to harm their children but substance abuse and addiction comes with a heavy price. Such was the case of Maggie Jean Wortman, who has been charged with second degree murder after medical tests revealed that her newborn son died from methamphetamine intoxication obtained through her breast milk. Wortman’s 19-month-old daughter also tested positive for methamphetamine and was placed in protective custody. How could this happen? The transfer of drugs from the mother’s blood to human milk depends on the chemical composition of the drug. Antibiotics such as penicillin will remain in the mother’s blood for long periods of ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118640 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 21:00:00 +0100 5118640 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050459&cid=t_116275_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fblood-money-at-border-red-cross-and.html Writing in our local Providence Journal, Felice Freyer reported on a story that becomes less bewildering when viewed in the context of how nominally not-for-profit health care organizations are now run.  The Border DisputeIt seems that two such non-profits are having a border dispute:Two local charities are fighting for your blood.The Rhode Island Blood Center, long the sole blood-collection agency in the state, is objecting to incursions by the American Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts, which recently started holding blood drives here.A war of words has resulted, with the blood center accusing the Red Cross of a 'campaign of misinformation,' and the Red Cross calling the blood center 'hypocritical.' The Hospital Association of Rhode Island entered the fray with a letter to blood do... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050459 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 17:58:00 +0100 5050459 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992630&cid=t_116275_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Frestless-shade-of-aherf-and-return-of.html Starting in the 1990s, as US health care became more commercialized, a wave of mergers lead to super-sized hospital systems, insurance companies, and pharmaceutical companies.  Not all those mergers, especially involving hospitals, prospered.  Although the mergers were justified as drivers of increased efficiency, health care has become decreasingly accessible, increasingly expensive, and of no better quality.  However, now a whole new wave of mergers seems to be upon us.  The Proposed Highmark Blue Cross/ West Penn Allegheny Health System MergerThe latest example to get national attention is the proposed combination of already large non-profit health insurer Highmark Inc, a Blue Cross Blue Shield plan, and non-profit hospital system Allegheny Health System.  ... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992630 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:27:00 +0100 4992630 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4945314&cid=t_116275_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2Ftfr3hvzm1kk%2F It can be hard to stay focused and productive at the best of times. But when you’re feeling low – whether that’s physically or emotionally – then it can seem almost impossible to concentrate. Maybe you have a daunting number of things to get done … but you can’t seem to summon up the energy to tackle any of them. You might end up doing something totally counter-productive: procrastinating, or tackling the easy, unimportant tasks, or even driving yourself to tears. Here’s how to keep yourself on track: #1: Make a List of Tasks This is a classic time-management technique … because it really works. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, sit down and write a clear list of tasks. What do you need to do today? What could you put off for a few days if necessary? The act of writi... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4945314 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 06:00:28 +0100 4945314 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4693526&cid=t_116275_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FAC5lZZCH9Xw%2F Have you ever found yourself daydreaming or just not into your work? Do you feel like it’s a struggle sometimes to concentrate or to get anything done? And at other times, are you able to do your work effortlessly, getting everything done quickly and efficiently? What’s going on here? It might not be you. It might not be your work. It might be your location. Previously, I discussed time-shifting, which is engaging in activities at optimum times based on first knowing and then capitalizing on your circadian rhythm. By taking advantage of your natural daily energy cycles, when you work can have a tremendous impact on your performance. This knowledge alone can radically transform your productivity and results, but there is another important factor — where you work. Does it r... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4693526 Sat, 09 Apr 2011 07:51:18 +0100 4693526 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4684430&cid=t_116275_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F06%2Fis-your-job-making-you-depressed%2F The other day I wrote a post for Blisstree.com on how to stay productive when you are clinically depressed. I mentioned that, at my rock bottom, I had to take a break altogether from writing, as every time I sat down in front of my computer, all I could do was cry. Moreover, because my concentration was totally so shot, composing a sentence — much less an article — wasn’t going to happen. I took a year off. To heal. Because Eric was gainfully employed at that time, I was able to swing it. Eventually I tip-toed back to the working world. Very slowly. Very carefully. Very deliberately. Because a sudden plunge might have rendered me disabled for another year or so. And I didn’t start with writing, ironically. My therapist advised me to do something in which I interacted with people, a... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4684430 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:35:39 +0100 4684430 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4658348&cid=t_116275_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fhow-large-health-care-organizations-set.html In conclusion, I strongly support Supri and Malone's final sentiments:The sum of the 'rules of the game' devised by these organizations has resulted in a fragmented, haphazard and broken system of health care. Reform is long overdue, and demands root and branch transformation of the 'rules of the game' governing the US institution of medicine. This requires us to understand these rules, who is setting them, and how these rules are being used to exploit the system of medicine. Only then can we begin to heal our ailing health care system.Well said!But now almost 8 years since the publication of "A Cautionary Tale," we still have a long way to go.References1.  Poses RM. A cautionary tale: the dysfunction of American health care.  Eur J Inte Med 2003; 14: 123-130.  Link here.2.&... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4658348 Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:13:00 +0100 4658348 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4552049&cid=t_116275_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F03%2Frise-of-corporate-physician-end-of.html In discussing how concentration and abuse of power threatens health care professionals' values and professionalism, we have discussed how ostensibly academic institutions value faculty more for their earning power than their academic abilities.  We have discussed how financial relationships between physicians and drug, biotechnology, device and other companies risk abuse of entrusted power.  But up to now, I have been comforted by the hope that physicians in small independent practices who do not have such conflicts of interest are trying to uphold their professional values, even as they were buffeted by the perverse incentives imposed by managed care organizations/ health insurance companies and government insurance (e.g., US Medicare whose payments are controlled by the RUC).Ho... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4552049 Sat, 05 Mar 2011 16:48:00 +0100 4552049 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4532166&cid=t_116275_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F02%2Fmore-hospitals-settle-but-not-for-much.html In late February, there have been several notable legal settlements made by more or less prominent hospitals, discussed in rough order of size.United Regional Health Care SystemPer the Cypress Times,The Department of Justice announced today that it has reached a settlement with United Regional Health Care System of Wichita Falls, Texas, that prohibits it from entering into contracts that improperly inhibit commercial health insurers from contracting with United Regional’s competitors. The department said that United Regional unlawfully used these contracts to maintain its monopoly for hospital services in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Act, causing consumers to pay higher prices for health care services.Note that this appears to be the first settlement involving the Sherman Anti-T... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4532166 Mon, 28 Feb 2011 21:36:00 +0100 4532166 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4399618&cid=t_116275_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F25%2Fintroducing-adventures-in-positive-psychology%2F I’m pleased to introduce our newest blog, Adventures in Positive Psychology with Joe Wilner, MA, focused on the topic of positive psychology. You’ve probably heard a thing or two about positive psychology in the past decade, because of its focus on helping people to better understand themselves and their lives to increase happiness. Sure, life can be challenging sometimes and many face a mental health concern. But that’s no reason you shouldn’t be seeking personal growth all of your life too, and find ways to increase your happiness and well-being. Joe Wilner has a Masters Degree in Psychology and a Masters in Liberal Arts, with a concentration in Management and Leadership. Joe is a certified meditation instructor through the American Institute of Health Care Professionals (AIH... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4399618 Tue, 25 Jan 2011 20:55:40 +0100 4399618 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4082035&cid=t_116275_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F10%2Fmore-on-hospital-market-dominance.html This week two more articles appeared describing how large hospital systems use market dominance to charge more.  Naturally, both were in news publications, not scholarly health services research journals.San FranciscoKaiser Health News (via the Contra Costa [CA] Times) discussed hospital market dominance in the San Francisco area.  The article documented how particular systems can command higher prices. Consider the example of John Muir Health vs San Ramon Medical Center:Often, a hospital's dominance in an area helps determine how much it can charge, experts say. Consider John Muir Health, a two-hospital nonprofit system in the East Bay. With campuses in Concord and Walnut Creek, John Muir has the biggest footprint in the local hospital market, accounting for 54 percent of all th... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4082035 Tue, 19 Oct 2010 02:38:00 +0100 4082035 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4045096&cid=t_116275_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fnurses-and-doctors-need-coffee-the-most%2F2010.10.08 Nurses and doctors depend on coffee to perform their jobs the most of any profession, reports a survey. Nurses ranked first and doctors second when asked if they needed coffee to get through their day. The rest of the coffee-fueled careers were a mixed bag of white collar and blue collar positions. Among other findings: – 48 percent of those in the Northeast said they were less productive without coffee, compared to 34 percent of Midwesterners. – 40 percent of those aged 18 to 24 said they can’t concentrate as well without coffee. – 37 percent said they drink two or more cups a day. NOTE: The study was funded by CareerBuilder and Dunkin’ Donuts. *This blog post was originally published at ACP Internist* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4045096 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 12:00:00 +0100 4045096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3913116&cid=t_116275_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fmore-examples-of-us-hospital-market.html Two recent stories from two different parts of the US continue the theme of ever increasing concentration of power in our health care system.ConnecticutThe Hartford Business Journal reported on growing interest in mergers among small Connecticut hospitals.Rising costs and reductions in government reimbursements related to health care reform could lead to consolidation among the state’s 29 acute care hospitals in the coming months and years, industry experts said.Indeed signs of consolidation in Connecticut are already taking shape. Danbury and New Milford hospitals, for example, recently signed an affiliation agreement that will put both organizations under the control of a single corporate parent.Meanwhile, the Central Connecticut Health Alliance, which is the parent company of the Hosp... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3913116 Sun, 29 Aug 2010 03:48:00 +0100 3913116 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3889048&cid=t_116275_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fhow-oligopolists-rationalize-their.html Advocates of laissez faire commercialized health care often trumpet the advantages of competitive markets as a rationale for deregulation.  While there are theoretic, and possibly empiric reasons to think that competitive markets are the optimal way to distribute goods and services, we recently discussed aspects of health care that make it extremely hard for health care markets to be ideally competitive.  Meanwhile, two news articles gave some case-based evidence about how current health care markets are hardly competitive.   Sutter HealthA Bloomberg article focused on Sutter Health in northern and central California. Sutter Health commands a substantial part of a very large market:Sutter Health Co., the nonprofit that owns Sutter Davis, has market power that commands p... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3889048 Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:17:00 +0100 3889048 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3862102&cid=t_116275_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FE76ruBRg4FI%2F Brain fitness programs may help weak elderly walk faster (press release) A study led by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University has found preliminary evidence that brain fitness programs may help frail elderly walk faster, potentially preventing disability and improving quality of life. For walking while talking — which requires considerably more concentration than normal walking — the seniors who took computer training notably improved compared with their initial speeds. By contrast, no improvement in walking speed was observed for the control group. (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3862102 Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:53:03 +0100 3862102 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3695519&cid=t_116275_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fslouching-or-moving-towards-oligopoly.html A report by Bloomberg on a prediction that the US attempt at health care reform will lead to more concentration of power among health insurance companies.U.S. health insurers are 'moving towards an oligopoly,' a process that this year’s health-care overhaul will accelerate, the investor-relations chief at WellPoint Inc. said today.New regulations on administrative spending and premium increases will push some independent insurers out of business or into deals with bigger rivals, said Michael Kleinman, vice president for investor relations, at a Wells Fargo & Co. conference in Boston.In addition,The insurance market is becoming an oligopoly, a market where supply and pricing are dominated by a few companies, 'and health-care reform is going to move us in that direction more quickly,' ... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3695519 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 21:56:00 +0100 3695519 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3568092&cid=t_116275_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F79%2Fskin-md-natural-the-top-ingredients%2F Skin MD Natural is a brand of dry skin lotion that you might see advertised in magazines and on TV.  The question is this.  How natural is it?  It takes a little digging to get a complete list of ingredients, but here’s what you will learn if you find one. Ingredients in lotions and other cosmetics are listed according to concentration.  In other words, the first ingredient is the primary component of the product. The first ingredient is water as it is in most skincare products.  It is used for mixing dehydrated ingredients and plant extracts. The second ingredient is Aloe Vera.  Aloe Vera is a common ingredient in skincare products and many people find it to be soothing.  Some studies indicate that it promotes healing. The third ingredient is cyclopentasiloxane.  Although it mig... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3568092 Sat, 15 May 2010 19:09:20 +0100 3568092 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3511814&cid=t_116275_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FHrsfN_g4IwA%2F Ever find yourself struggling to focus? Yep, me too. In a constantly-connected world, we always seem to have distractions at our fingertips. Sitting down and concentrating, whether it’s on a report for work or an essay for school, can be really tough. And, all too often, we make it harder on ourselves. Here are four simple ways to boost your chances of concentrating. 1.  Write Down What You’re Working On This might sound like a silly tip, but it can be incredibly effective. When you start working on something, write down what you’re doing. For instance: “Finish report on widgets” or “Respond to all new emails”. Whenever you get tempted to do something else, or when something “urgent” comes up, look down at your bit of paper and remind ... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3511814 Wed, 28 Apr 2010 05:27:18 +0100 3511814 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3441097&cid=t_116275_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FpGMPg-bSLTw%2F The objective is to express your hopes, fears, and questions. If you can describe your concerns you can understand them better and determine what’s important and what isn’t. 7. Ask for help from an expert There are times when you need to go to the next level to resolve the problems. If your thoughts are resulting in serious anxiety and you can’t function normally, you may need to talk to a medical professional to help you deal with your problems. Or perhaps you have business problems that require the help of a consultant or specialist. At some point, you have to make the determination whether you can handle the situation yourself or whether or not you need help. That’s perfectly OK: we all encounter problems where it makes more sense to get help than to try to do it by ourselve... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3441097 Mon, 05 Apr 2010 16:49:51 +0100 3441097 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3350335&cid=t_116275_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F09%2Fliving-with-adhd%2F With the addition of our two new ADHD blogs in recent weeks, now’s a good time to revisit some of the basics about attention deficit disorder, because a lot of misconceptions prevail. At one time, it was thought that attention deficit disorder (with or without hyperactivity, it’s often nowadays abbreviated the same way as ADHD) only affected children. However, in the past two decades, we’ve learned that attention deficit disorder can also affect adults. ADHD doesn’t have to be viewed merely as a “disability” either, as many famous people live with ADHD and use it as the foundation for their imagination and creativity. In fact, as Tom Wootton and his colleagues blog about regularly over at Bipolar Advantage, what are commonly labeled as “mental diso... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3350335 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:59:56 +0100 3350335 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3311967&cid=t_116275_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F02%2F26%2Firon-supplementation-found-to-improve-brain-function%2F Iron is an essential nutrient for the making of haemoglobin – the component in red blood cells that carries oxygen and delivers it to the tissues. If iron is deficient in the body, haemoglobin levels can fall and eventually cause anaemia (pathologically low haemoglobin). Symptoms of this can include mental and physical fatigue and low [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3311967 Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:14:43 +0100 3311967 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3302294&cid=t_116275_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FOpNcCgqYISM%2F By Jim HarperThe state of Nevada is one of few that is tripping over itself to comply with the REAL ID Act, the U.S. national ID law. It’s worth taking a look at the sample license displayed in this news report, especially the gold star used on the license to indicate that it is federally approved. The reasons for “improving” drivers’ licenses this way are complex. The nominal reason for REAL ID was to secure the country against terrorism. The presence of a gold star signals that this the card bears a correct identity and that watch-list checking has ensured the person is not a threat. Don’t be too thrilled, though. The weakness of watch-listing was demonstrated again by the Christmas-day attempt on a Northwest airlines flight. The underpants bomber wasn&#8... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3302294 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:43:25 +0100 3302294 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3298648&cid=t_116275_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FY0NdonvZKJU%2F Image courtesy of ThreadingWater Silencing incessant mental chatter (or ‘mind chatter’ in short) is similar to the way we make darkness disappear in a dark room. We can dispel the darkness with light. Likewise, we can silence mental chatter with mindfulness and concentration. When we turn on the light, the darkness disappears. Similarly, when we turn on mindfulness (means being mindful) and concentrate our mind on a chosen object (for example, mental or physical experiences or an activity we wish to focus our attention on such as eating, walking, solving a problem), mental chatter loses its force and becomes silenced. In order to achieve that, our mindfulness should be sensitive enough to immediately notice when the mental chatter occurs (or is about to occur) and our concentra... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3298648 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:20:09 +0100 3298648 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3205153&cid=t_116275_180_f&fid=38610&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.productivity501.com%2Fconcentrating-with-ambient-sounds%2F6667%2F Do you ever have a hard time concentrating because of noisy distractions?   Wouldn’t it be ideal if you could break out the walls in your office and place your desk 25 or 30 feet away from that noisy employee, grinding printer, or chirping phone? Most of the time, you can’t do anything about your physical space and your proximity to noisy distractions. But you can give yourself some sonic space.  Just think, if you could take the sound of your co-workers’ chitchatting 5 feet away and make it sound like they are 30 feet away.  Wouldn’t that accomplish pretty much the same thing as physically moving your desk away from them? Unfortunately workers don’t come with volume controls, so you can’t turn them down and it is generally considered impolite to ph... Productivity501 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3205153 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:00:59 +0100 3205153 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3063368&cid=t_116275_122_f&fid=34755&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneuropsychological.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F12%2Fattention-and-distractibility-placing.html A feature article in today's New York Times:Promoting the Car Phone, Despite RisksBy MATT RICHTELThe New York TimesPublished: December 7, 2009"Industry pioneers have long been aware of the risks of multitasking behind the wheel, but still marketed cellphones to drivers."Read the article (Source: BrainBlog) BrainBlog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3063368 Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:57:00 +0100 3063368 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2943738&cid=t_116275_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fdo-you-drink-too-much-alcohol%2F It seems like a simple question. Do you drink too much alcohol? But one person’s social drinking may be someone else’s too much. So how can you tell if you’re drinking too much and what exactly is drinking too much? First, we need to decide on what is a drink – what drinks are equivalent to each other. Generally, in North America, a standard drink is one that has about 0.6 fluid ounces of pure alcohol. But how much that is in your drink depends on what it is you are drinking. Generally, standard drinks are: •   12 oz beer •    5 oz wine •    3-4 oz of fortified wine (such as port) •    2-3 oz liqueur or aperatif •    1.5 oz brandy or hard liquor Does any of that surprise you? If you drink mixed drinks and would like to figure out how much al... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2943738 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:47:30 +0100 2943738 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2862625&cid=t_116275_122_f&fid=34755&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneuropsychological.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fmultitasking-cons.html If you only do one thing this week … avoid multitaskingOften considered the pinnacle of efficiency, multitasking can actually be a negative practice, according to latest research. So stop what else you're doing and concentrate, says Giles MorrisGiles Morrisguardian.co.ukMonday 5 October 2009 11.33 BSTRead the full article (Source: BrainBlog) BrainBlog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2862625 Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:41:00 +0100 2862625 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2862771&cid=t_116275_180_f&fid=38610&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.productivity501.com%2Fthe-right-space-for-the-job%2F152%2F My work area has a comfortable chair, a nice desk, a computer, a large monitor, a phone, etc.  It is easy for me to get stuck at my desk and not want to go to other parts of the house because everything I need is right there. However, when I just stay in my office, I miss out on some of advantages of the other parts of the house. In fact, sometimes the tools that make me feel so productive actually get in the way of what I’m trying to do because they are distractions. Trying to sit and think while I’m sitting right next to my computer is kind of like the teenager trying to do Algebra in front of the T.V.  My email is right there along with all of my other online tools. Reading is the same way.  I’ll get more out of a book reading it on the couch, recliner or somewhere... Productivity501 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2862771 Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:00:00 +0100 2862771 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2828348&cid=t_116275_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FCjhNwYEwB7Q%2F Excellent Scientific American cover story: Turbocharging the Brain--Pills to Make You Smarter? "Will a pill at breakfast improve concentration and memory—and will it do so without long-term detriment to your health?" Their answer, in short: not really, not anytime soon. I couldn't agree more. Let's pay real attention to non-invasive options to augment cognition, from exercise to cognitive training and meditation. For more context, you may enjoy my recent article Preparing Society for the Cognitive Age, published in Frontiers in Neuroscience. augment cognition, cognitive, cognitive enhancement, Cognitive Training, exercise, improve concentration, improve memory, invasive, meditation., pills (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2828348 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:35:43 +0100 2828348 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2709197&cid=t_116275_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F17%2Fexercising-your-brain-as-you-age%2F According to a news article we published today, simple everyday activities are all we need to keep our minds sharp as we age, mixed in with a healthy dose of daily physical exercise. The study measured over 4,000 participants’ brain and cognitive functioning over a 6 year period to arrive at these results. Boiled down to the basics, the researchers found the following activities help our brains remain sharp as we age: Mental activities, like reading or doing a crossword puzzle Physical exercise, generally the more the better (but even some, such as simply walking for 30 minutes per day, is better than nothing) Remaining socially engage with your friends or family Maintaining a positive attitude throughout life Learning new activities, hobbies or anything that requires concentrat... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2709197 Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:33:43 +0100 2709197 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2682024&cid=t_116275_122_f&fid=34755&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneuropsychological.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fattention-and-concentration.html Dr. Ed Vogel of the University of Oregon on Distraction and The Brain, a short YouTube video: (Source: BrainBlog) BrainBlog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2682024 Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:35:00 +0100 2682024 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2674539&cid=t_116275_180_f&fid=38610&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.productivity501.com%2Fcontrolling-your-mind%2F4447%2F “Stop! You aren’t thinking about what you are doing. You can’t do this unless you give it 100% of your focus.” My piano teacher went on to tell me about how her mentor had stopped her in the middle of playing a piece because she got distracted by a bird on the outside of the window. Taci King was a very kind woman, but she made it clear that I wasn’t going to get any better unless I learned to control my mind and concentrate on the task at hand and at that moment, the task at hand was playing a particular piece of music. This lesson has stuck in my mind more than any other from the two years I studied with her in high-school.  I remember it every time I’m trying to do something and seem to be hitting a brick wall.  I stop and ask myself, “Am I r... Productivity501 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2674539 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:00:54 +0100 2674539 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2093187&cid=t_116275_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F504623626%2F NeuroActive Bike: America’s First and Only Mind-Body Fitness Equipment Launched at Lady of America Fitness Centers (press release) - "The patent-pending bike, engineered by Dr. Bergeron and BCA (Brain Center America)’s international team of brain specialists, makes its U.S. debut this month at Lady of America (LOA) fitness centers." - "Users of the NeuroActive Bike may select from 22 brain-stimulating exercises that train different parts of the brain, including: memory of names and faces, 3D visuo-spatial skills, concentration, word naming and arithmetic. As they pedal, they manipulate a wireless mouse to interact with the computer and complete the NeuroActive Program" In our 2008 market report we offered Top 10 Brain Training Future Trends, inc... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2093187 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:45:53 +0100 2093187 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2034653&cid=t_116275_88_f&fid=38203&url=http%3A%2F%2Fprecordialthump.medbrains.net%2F2008%2F12%2F12%2Fa-picture-worth-a-thousand-words-i%2F From: Johnston JJ, McGovern SJ. Alcohol related falls: an interesting pattern of injuries. Emerg Med J. 2004 Mar;21(2):185-8. My interpretation: At a BAC of about 2.5 g/L most people are too drunk to put their arms out to break their fall -  and as a result will fall flat on their faces… (Source: AEQUANIMITAS) AEQUANIMITAS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2034653 Sat, 13 Dec 2008 04:21:23 +0100 2034653 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1918437&cid=t_116275_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F436389196%2F In this study, 72% of the students had a My Space account, 76% had a cell phone, and 68% had an IM address. Those who had a MySpace account had significantly lower grades than those without an account. The same was true for those that used IM, compared with those who did not. Cell phone use was also associated with lower grades and the effect was magnified if text messaging was used on cell phones. Not surprisingly, if these devices were used during homework, the grades were even lower than for students who used these technologies outside of homework. Almost half reported text messaging during class time, and their grades were lower than the students who only used IM outside of class. These are correlational data and do not prove that using these devices causes lower grades. But it is a go... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1918437 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:33:50 +0100 1918437 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1833697&cid=t_116275_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F403024865%2F Computer game boosts maths scores (BBC): - "It also found improvements in pupils' concentration and behaviour." - "The study involved more than 600 pupils in 32 schools across Scotland using the Brain Training from Dr Kawashima game on the Nintendo DS every day." - "Researchers found that while all groups had improved their scores, the group using the game had improved by a further 50%." - "Less able children were found to be more likely to improve than the highest attainers and almost all pupils had an increased perception of their own ability." Comment:  fascinating results supporting the potential role for "Serious Games" in education. Now, please take the results with a grain of salt, since the study doesn't seem to have been published... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1833697 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:20:46 +0100 1833697 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1723968&cid=t_116275_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F370395137%2F In this study (Gazzaley, A.  et al.  2005) the investigators went beyond behavioral assessment of the responses, because that kind of thing had been done before.  What they wanted to know was what was happening in the brain during this suppression of irrelevant task. They used functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) imaging over a region of brain that was responsive to the visual images.  What was being measured was the amount of brain activity under conditions when the instructions were to remember a type of image or ignore it.  What they found was that brain activity in all of the young subjects increased when they were viewing scenes they were asked to remember and decreased when presented with an image that they were supposed to have ignored. That is, the brain suppressed its respons... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1723968 Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:35:42 +0100 1723968 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1488159&cid=t_116275_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2008%2F06%2F02%2Ffabulous-news-shopping-sharpens-your-grey-matter%2F Guess what shoppers? Your habits are making both your brain and bod happy! Image details: Couple carrying shopping bags served by picapp.com If you think shopping belongs in the Summer Olympics (or Winter, for that matter), do we have the news for you! Seems that browsing and buying gives more than your credit card a workout - it’s good for the human body and mind, too! How so, you ask? We’re happy to share: * Conversing, haggling and all-around interacting with other folks forces you to think and act quickly * Comparison shopping strengthens the brain’s math and reasoning capacities * Positive visual stimulation keeps the brain engaged and feelings of happiness present * Walking from store to store, bending and stretching for items, and carrying all those packed-to-the-g... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1488159 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:56:44 +0100 1488159 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1353967&cid=t_116275_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F04%2F06%2Fbig-bellies-linked-to-the-development-of-dementia%2F We’ve long heard that being overweight can put you at risk for a multitude of physical ailments such as heart disease and diabetes, however, a recent article in the NY Times reports that being overweight, especially in the midsection, puts a person at a greater risk for dementia. The study, conducted by the research division of Kaiser Permanente, looked at 6,583 men and women in their 40’s, measuring their abdominal diameter in order to determine whether each had a concentration of body far around their midsection. The researchers then looked at medical records for these same individuals an average of 36 years later, finding that 1, 049 now had dementia. The researchers concluded that the twenty percent of individuals in the study with the greatest concentration of fat in the midsect... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1353967 Mon, 07 Apr 2008 01:35:48 +0100 1353967 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1280718&cid=t_116275_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F03%2F05%2Fhack-your-brain-sure%2F Although brain hacking has been going on for nearly two decades, the folks over at Network World magazine thinks it’s some kind of “new” phenomenon. Describing experiments done on monkeys and the manipulation of video games, the reporter apparently is unaware of a little something called EEG neurofeedback. Neurofeedback has been used to treat psychiatric disorders since the early 1990s (I know first-hand, because I was involved in neurofeedback training as a grad student). Neurofeedback is a researched and proven technique for allowing people to “train their brains” to reduce common symptoms of many psychiatric disorders. Most of the research and heavy lifting with this technique has been done with ADHD, but it’s also been researched and shown to work w... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1280718 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:33:52 +0100 1280718 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1030104&cid=t_116275_122_f&fid=34755&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneuropsychological.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F11%2Fneuropsychology-abstract-of-day_15.html This study aimed at answering three questions, to better define sustained attention. First, is endogenous attention more vulnerable to time-on-task than exogenous attention? Second, do measures of autonomic arousal provide evidence to support the underload vs overload hypothesis? And third, do these measures show a different effect for endogenous and exogenous attention? We applied a cued (valid vs invalid) conjunction search task, and ECG and respiration recordings were used to compute sympathetic (normalized low frequency power) and parasympathetic tone (respiratory sinus arrhythmia, RSA). Behavioural results showed a dual effect of time-on-task: the usually described vigilance decrement, expressed as increased reaction times (RTs) after 30 min for both conditions; and a higher cost in R... BrainBlog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1030104 Thu, 15 Nov 2007 17:23:00 +0100 1030104 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=836838&cid=t_116275_122_f&fid=34755&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneuropsychological.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F09%2Fchemotherapy-and-neuropsychological.html From yesterday's Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:Lost in cancer's fog 'Chemobrain' impairs thinking, memory after chemotherapy; anecdotal brain effects are just starting to get serious studyBy JOHN FAUBER01 September 2007Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel[snip]In two small groups of testicular and breast cancer patients, between 60% and 70% of the patients experienced some cognitive decline that was tied to the onset of their chemotherapy, said Christina Meyers, a professor and chief of neuropsychology at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston."It's subtle," she said. "We are not talking about dementia or anything grossly obvious."Within one year, about half of the patients were back to their pretreatment levels of cognitive ability, Meyers said.[snip][ ... Read the full article ... ] (Source: Brai... BrainBlog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=836838 Sun, 02 Sep 2007 16:14:00 +0100 836838 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=583195&cid=t_116275_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F05%2F01%2Fthought-for-the-day-bingeing-and-breast-cancer%2F Filed under: Breast Cancer, Prevention, Research, Daily news, Thought for the DayIt only takes two bottles of wine consumed over the course of one weekend to more than double the risk of breast cancer, according to a Danish study of 17,647 women which breaks down like this: women who drank 22-27 drinks per week had twice the risk for the disease compared to those who drank only one to three drinks.Think about this:More than a quarter of participants, age 44 and older, drank more than the recommended 14 drinks per week. One in 10 were binge drinkers -- they had more than four drinks per day. Thirteen percent were weekend bingers -- they had more than 10 drinks between Friday and Sunday. A drink is considered one bottle of beer, wine, or spirit. In Denmark, each unit translate into 12g of al... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=583195 Tue, 01 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 583195