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 'dopamine'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:52:05 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952988&cid=t_102628_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F20%2Fbetter-by-mistake-an-interview-with-alina-tugend%2F Afraid to make a mistake? Don’t be. According to author Alina Tugend, the best way to become an expert in your field is by making mistakes, lots of them, but to cooperate with the brain on learning from them. In her new book, Better By Mistake: The Unexpected Benefits of Being Wrong, explains the science of making mistakes and why learning from them is vital in a culture of perfectionism. Tugend has been a journalist for nearly 30 years and for the past six has written the ShortCuts column for the New York Times business section. She has written about education, environmentalism, and consumer culture for numerous publications, including the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, The Atlantic, and Parents and is a Huffington Post contributor. I have the honor of conducting an exclusive in... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952988 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:06:34 +0100 4952988 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4829163&cid=t_102628_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FbU2cz9zqJhM%2F Semir Zeki, Professor of Neuroesthetics at University College London has recently unveiled research that demonstrates how significant art is to our collective happiness and well-being. In fact, he posits that when we look at art, the effect on our brain is analogous to being in love, as art stimulates the pleasure centers of our brains. If that’s the case, then for years I’ve been having an illicit affair with Banksy, and he doesn’t even know it. Zeki says, “We’ve recently found that when we look at things that we consider beautiful, the activity in the pleasure and reward centers of the brain goes up. There’s a lot of dopamine, which is also known as a feel-good neuro-transmitter, in these areas, so it essentially, the feel-good centers are being stimul... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4829163 Wed, 11 May 2011 17:53:46 +0100 4829163 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4813542&cid=t_102628_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FbU2cz9zqJhM%2F Semir Zeki, Professor of Neuroesthetics at University College London has recently unveiled research that demonstrates how significant art is to our collective happiness and well-being. In fact, he posits that when we look at art, the effect on our brain is analogous to being in love, as art stimulates the pleasure centers of our brains. If that’s the case, then for years I’ve been having an illicit affair with Banksy, and he doesn’t even know it. Zeki says, “We’ve recently found that when we look at things that we consider beautiful, the activity in the pleasure and reward centers of the brain goes up. There’s a lot of dopamine, which is also known as a feel-good neuro-transmitter, in these areas, so it essentially, the feel-good centers are being stimul... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4813542 Wed, 11 May 2011 17:53:46 +0100 4813542 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803532&cid=t_102628_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation%2FwAgT%2F%7E3%2F5QZVMeMfsRM%2F Image via WikipediaWhy Are Men More Susceptible to Alcoholism?18 October 2010 ElsevierAlcohol is one of the most commonly abused substances, and men are up to twice as likely to develop alcoholism as women. Until now, the underlying biology contributing to this difference in vulnerability has remained unclear.A new study published in Biological Psychiatry reveals that dopamine may be an important factor.Researchers from Columbia and Yale studied male and female college-age social drinkers in a laboratory test of alcohol consumption. After consuming an alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink, each participant underwent a specialized positron emission tomography (PET) scan, an imaging technique that can measure the amount of alcohol-induced dopamine release.Dopamine has multiple functions in the br... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803532 Thu, 05 May 2011 21:45:28 +0100 4803532 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4723944&cid=t_102628_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F17%2Fa-general-theory-of-love-part-2-the-science-of-attraction%2F “When love is not madness, it is not love.” ~Pedro Calderon de la Barca “Love must be as much a light, as it is a flame.” ~Henry David Thoreau “Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place.” ~Zora Neale Hurston To be loved means being free to be yourself in the presence of another person.  It is the mutuality of this experience that we each crave.  Somehow we know when it is near, and ache when it is lost. We have all had it: the look, the feeling, and the sense of awe in the presence of the person we are attracted to.  But is it more than just the infusion of the catecholamine neurotransmitter, dopamine, or the mammalian hormone oxytocin? Yes. You most likely know that the limbic system is the seat of emotions and it regulates the type, degre... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4723944 Sun, 17 Apr 2011 15:50:10 +0100 4723944 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4464541&cid=t_102628_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F11%2Fthe-science-of-romance-the-love-drug%2F On the comment box of my post “The Emotional Affair,” Beyond Blue reader Michael wrote: I’m totally confused and caught up in this person. Some years go by without us speaking, but we always come back to each other. Convenience, you say, or possibly hoping for the best. I don’t now. The problem is that I’m hopelessly in love with this person and willing to give up all in every way there needs. But relationships are severely limited. You can justify anything in this world, especially the things you want most. The feeling of love is exceedingly strong and seductive, as is the feeling to be needed and to be loved. So I search spiritually, mentally … If you read all the comments on the affair post and others like “12 Ways to End Addictive Relationships... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4464541 Fri, 11 Feb 2011 18:40:09 +0100 4464541 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4360976&cid=t_102628_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhy-a-song-can-get-you-high%2F2011.01.18 According to a new study in Nature Neuroscience, there are songs that can arouse feelings of euphoria and craving by endogenous dopamine release in the striatum: If music-induced emotional states can lead to dopamine release, as our findings indicate, it may begin to explain why musical experiences are so valued. These results further speak to why music can be effectively used in rituals, marketing or film to manipulate hedonic states. Our findings provide neurochemical evidence that intense emotional responses to music involve ancient reward circuitry and serve as a starting point for more detailed investigations of the biological substrates that underlie abstract forms of pleasure. According to study author Robert Zatorre, one of those songs is “Adagio For Strings” by DJ Tie... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4360976 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 22:00:55 +0100 4360976 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4309675&cid=t_102628_109_f&fid=38950&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shockmd.com%2F2011%2F01%2F04%2Fthe-neurobiology-of-anhedonia%2F In simple terms anhedonia is an important symptom of depression. The DSM IV states that individuals having this anhedonia “may report feeling less interest in hobbies, ‘not caring anymore,’ or not feeling any enjoyment in activities that were previously considered pleasurable”. For the diagnosis of depression either this symptom or low mood is required together with four other features of the disease. Anhedonia is a decrease in motivation as well as reduction in experienced pleasure. Anhedonia has a motivational as well as hedonic aspect. This makes it difficult to translate findings from animal models or other neuroscience research to patient characteristics or treatment. In other words a simple translation from reward or pleasure by the dopamine system and a reduction of dopamine... Dr Shock MD PhD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4309675 Tue, 04 Jan 2011 06:50:17 +0100 4309675 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4105765&cid=t_102628_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F10%2F25%2Flove-in-the-brain%2F Ahh, what researchers won’t study. Is nothing sacred, even the most spiritual of matters of the heart, such as love? Now research out of Syracuse University by Stephanie Ortigue (that’s her, pictured), suggests that there are measurable brain changes when a person falls in love. She gathers this idea from a review of the research literature of neuroimaging studies (studies that primarily used something called functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI) that have examined people in love. She found that all of the fMRI studies of love point to “subcortical dopaminergic reward-related brain systems (involving dopamine and oxytocin receptors).” These are similar to the rewards a person feels when taking cocaine. The study’s new findings are that there are 12 s... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4105765 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:28:42 +0100 4105765 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4077601&cid=t_102628_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation.com%2Fdopamine-may-promote-male-drinking%2F Image via Wikipedia Why Are Men More Susceptible to Alcoholism? 18 October 2010 Elsevier Alcohol is one of the most commonly abused substances, and men are up to twice as likely to develop alcoholism as women. Until now, the underlying biology contributing to this difference in vulnerability has remained unclear. A new study published in Biological Psychiatry reveals that dopamine may be an important factor. Researchers from Columbia and Yale studied male and female college-age social drinkers in a laboratory test of alcohol consumption. After consuming an alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink, each participant underwent a specialized positron emission tomography (PET) scan, an imaging technique that can measure the amount of alcohol-induced dopamine release. Dopamine has multiple functi... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4077601 Mon, 18 Oct 2010 15:51:46 +0100 4077601 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3833424&cid=t_102628_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fsocial-drinking-is-it-in-your-genes%2F2010.08.07 Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, published a very interesting paper focusing on the genetic background of social drinking. Specific gene variants might increase the risk for extensive alcohol use or abuse when spending time with heavy-drinking peers. An excerpt from Medical News Today: Drinking alcohol increases levels of dopamine –- a brain chemical that causes pleasure and makes us feel good. The dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4) has been shown to be involved in motivation of seeking out rewards. Research has suggested that carrying a specific form (or variant) of this gene –- one that includes seven or more repeats of a certain section of the gene –- may be associated with craving caused by alcohol-related cues. Psychological scientist ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3833424 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 18:00:34 +0100 3833424 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3808650&cid=t_102628_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fimpulse-buyers-beware-dopamine-is-the-culprit%2F Her dopamine levels are off the charts — you can see it in her eyes. (photo: Thinkstock) If you’ve got a closet full of unworn clothes and a credit card bill through the roof, chances are you’re an impulse shopper. You see something; you want it; you buy it. This could be because your brain has more dopamine in it than your more cautious friends. High levels of dopamine cause people to act rashly, which would explain that pair of hot pink pleather pants in the back of your closet. I only impulse buy when I’m stressed — I wonder what that says about my dopamine levels. How many of you have a really embarrassing impulse buy tale? Please, share — we all love a good shopping horror story. via NPR Post from: BlissTree Impulse Buyers Beware: Dopamine Is the Culprit (Sourc... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3808650 Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:45:37 +0100 3808650 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3743575&cid=t_102628_109_f&fid=38950&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shockmd.com%2F2010%2F07%2F12%2Fparkinsons-disease-and-depression%2F This study was a 12 week randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial. Pramipexole was given in a dose of 0.125-1.0 mg three times per day and compared to placebo in patients with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease. Patients from 76 centres in 12 European countries and South Africa were included if they were on stable antiparkinsonian therapy without motor fluctuations and had depressive symptoms. The main outcome criterion was the decrease of the Beck Depression Inventory, a self rating severity scale for depression. BDI scores in the pramipexole group decreased from a mean of 18·7 at baseline to 13·1 at 12 weeks, compared with a decrease from 19·2 to 15·0 in the placebo group. . When adjusted for confounding variables the difference between the two conditions were only... Dr Shock MD PhD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3743575 Mon, 12 Jul 2010 06:14:43 +0100 3743575 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3248586&cid=t_102628_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F02%2F07%2Fcupids-situation%2F One week before Valentine’s Day, Jessica Pauline Ogilvie published an interesting article, titled “Scientists Try To Measure Love,” for the Los Angeles Times.  Here are some excerpts. * * * Whatever its reason, there can be little doubt — even from a scientific standpoint — about the potent feelings that being in love elicits. Arthur Aron, a social psychologist at Stony Brook University in New York, has done brain scans on people newly in love and found that after that first magical meeting or perfect first date, a complex system in the brain is activated that is essentially “the same thing that happens when a person takes cocaine.” In one such study, published in 2005, Aron recruited 10 women and seven men who had fallen in love within the last ... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3248586 Sun, 07 Feb 2010 04:01:41 +0100 3248586 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3227859&cid=t_102628_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F02%2F01%2Fthe-unyielding-power-of-dopamine-nora-volkow-big-think%2F From Big Think: Drug addiction researcher Nora Volkow walks us through the singular chemical that drives substance abuse. * * * To review a sample of related Situationist posts, see “Are Video Games Addictive?,” “The Situation of Gambling,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and “The Science of Addiction, The Myth of Choice.” To watch a related ABC News video, titled “New Science Offers Hope to Addicts,” click here. (Source: The Situationist) The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3227859 Mon, 01 Feb 2010 04:01:53 +0100 3227859 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3189224&cid=t_102628_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FzJykYiQ_4Hw%2F One of the hallmarks of Parkinson’s disease is the slow and stiff gait that people have when they walk. It’s called gait hypokinesia and it can seriously affect the quality of life as people with Parkinson’s limit going out and doing various activities. Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder, meaning that it affects the nerves. In this case, the disorder affects the part of the brain that controls muscle movement. Dopamine is a chemical that helps your body coordinate movements, but in Parkinson’s, the neurons that make the dopamine die, making it difficult, if not impossible, to control movement. Researchers have been looking into using exercise to help people with Parkinson’s maintain their ability to move well, in addition to taking medication... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3189224 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:57:27 +0100 3189224 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3089370&cid=t_102628_109_f&fid=38950&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shockmd.com%2F2009%2F12%2F15%2Fthe-neurobiology-of-love%2F Previously we discussed the neurobiology of falling in love. But this is only the beginning, the process of attraction followed by the attachment process. This process can develop and last for a while or in some cases for ever. Biologically is falling in love the first step in pair formation. Falling in love is more accompanied by arousal and more pronounced behavior, “the madness of falling in love” as it is sometimes called. This should be distinguished but not completely from later stages of love or long lasting relationships. Moreover, falling in love is accompanied by stress reactions such as activation of stress system in the central nervous system with activation of cortisol metabolism. In contrast to the phase of falling in love is motherly love, mother’s love for... Dr Shock MD PhD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3089370 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 07:06:02 +0100 3089370 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3075584&cid=t_102628_109_f&fid=34761&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedblitz.com%2F%7E%2F3022188%2Fwg1od%2Fneuromarketing%7EReward-Success-Dont-Punish-Failure.htm It’s a management maxim that bosses should dole out praise liberally when deserved, although many business environments seem more focused on punishing failure. It turns out there’s solid neuroscience behind the idea of recognizing success, according to research led by neuroscientist Earl Miller of MIT and published in Neuron. [Miller and his team] [...] CommentsI like this idea a lot. Failures should be admonished, but not ... by Promotional ProductsWe tend to focus on what goes wrong first and forget to ... by cbrancheauPlus 2 more... (Source: Neuromarketing) Neuromarketing blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3075584 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:01:41 +0100 3075584 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2916247&cid=t_102628_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2FGK2kll18QPE%2Fart-and-pride.html Watch Mad But Glad [Part 1] Watch Mad But Glad [Part 2] Mad But Glad Very good UK documentary following Nick van Bloss, a pianist who has Tourette’s syndrome and thrives by using the instrument to channel creative energy and manage his condition. Delves into classic questions about the link between creativity and madness (and dopamine), with animated brain scans and comparisons to some creative correlates of autism, mania, and Parkinson’s. Part 1, and part 2. (Source: Channel N) Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2916247 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:30:39 +0100 2916247 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2899003&cid=t_102628_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F15%2Ftreating-depression-and-folate-deficiency-with-medical-foods%2F Midweek Mental Greening First and foremost, I should offer a disclaimer for this post: The scientific media briefing I watched this morning, “Feeding the Brain to Help Manage Depression: The Role of Medical Foods,” was presented by Rakesh Jain, M.D., M.P.H., the Director of Psychiatric Drug Research at R/D Clinical Research Center in Lake Jackson, TX and Teodoro Bottiglieri, Ph.D. of the Baylor Institute of Metabolic Disease, and sponsored by Pamlab, a pharmaceutical company specializing in prescription medical foods. Neither PsychCentral.com nor myself is affiliated with Pamlab or Deplin, the new medical food discussed during the briefing. Now that that’s out of the way, on to the more interesting stuff. “Can we feed the brain to regulate mood disorders?” If you had no exper... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2899003 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:25:21 +0100 2899003 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2939370&cid=t_102628_109_f&fid=34761&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedblitz.com%2F%7E%2F1593584%2Frvuh5%2Fneuromarketing%7EHow-We-Decide.htm Book Review: How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer Jonah Lehrer has been translating neuroscience into prose comprehensible by the lay reader for years, and How We Decide helps readers understand and even apply current research in the process of human decision-making. Lehrer begins with a look at expert decision-making, and how individuals with the right training and [...] CommentsBy: Roger Dooley by Roger DooleyBy: marybeth by marybethPlus 4 more... (Source: Neuromarketing) Neuromarketing blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2939370 Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:52:08 +0100 2939370 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405707&cid=t_102628_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FhzIdjodeiHw%2F Welcome to the 70th edition of Encephalon, the blog carnival that offers some of the best neuroscience and psychology blog posts every other week. --- Mysteries of Brain and Mind Cognitive  Daily, by Dave Munger Guys on dates want to know: Is it really impossible to ignore an attractive face? Recent research seems to demonstrate that, indeed, attractive faces can distract us from a variety of tasks.  Dating Tip of the Week: what about impressing your date with a homecooked dinner next time and avoid potential misunderstandings? Neuroanthropology, by Greg Downey BIG NEWS: First Neuroanthropology Conference! The first Neuroanthropology Conference will be held 8 October 2009 at the University of Notre Dame. Great theme, great speakers. Will it offer a cross-cultural analysis of the... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405707 Mon, 11 May 2009 15:52:47 +0100 2405707 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2287196&cid=t_102628_109_f&fid=35044&url=http%3A%2F%2Fadultaddstrengths.com%2F2009%2F03%2F23%2Fpete-quoted-in-cnn-article%2F Post from: Adult ADD Strengths Pete Quoted in CNN Article on Using Music at Work to Help You Focus I was quoted today on CNN’s website on an interesting article called “Listening to music at work — dos and don’ts”by Anthony Balderrama Listening to music at work can be more than just fun for some people. According to Peter Quily, adult Attention Deficit Disorder coach, music can have a physiological effect on his patients who suffer from adult ADD. According to Quily, listening to music boosts the levels of neurotransmitter dopamine, a brain chemical that can help people focus. Some of Quily’s clients listen to music when they can’t focus or when they’re performing a task they find boring. People who have ADHD often have dopamine levels that a... Adult ADD Strengths blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2287196 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:50:41 +0100 2287196 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2207025&cid=t_102628_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F545523544%2F I wanted to alert you to a very interesting finding published in a recent issue of Science, one of the world's leading scientific journals. The study was led by Dr. Torkel Klingberg and his colleagues from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. The goal was to learn whether Working Memory Training is associated with changes in brain biochemistry, thus suggesting a mechanism by which training may lead to enhanced working memory capacity and a reduction in attention problems. Thus, although Working Memory Training has previously shown promising results as a treatment for working memory and attention difficulties, this was a basic science study rather than a treatment study. The major finding was that increased working memory capacity following training was associated with changes in brain bioch... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2207025 Mon, 23 Feb 2009 01:50:52 +0100 2207025 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1901796&cid=t_102628_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F430022116%2Fdopamine-and-obesity.html Overeating, drug abuse, and the D2 receptor.A genetic variation in the dopamine D2 receptor predisposes women toward obesity, according to a small but potentially significant study published in the October 17 issue of Science.While numerous twins studies demonstrate the likelihood of biological factors in obesity, there are few rigorous studies that back up the contention. Now researchers from Yale University and the University of Texas have used brain scans to show that a dopamine-rich structure called the dorsal striatum exhibits “reduced D2 receptor density and compromised signaling” in obese individuals.Why would this matter? The dorsal striatum releases dopamine in response to the consumption of tasty food. Going right to the sugary heart of the tasty food cornucopia, the research... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1901796 Thu, 23 Oct 2008 19:29:00 +0100 1901796 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1888108&cid=t_102628_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F10%2F18%2Fsweet-science-squirting-milkshakes%2F In this study, researchers needed to get the participants to drink a milkshake. You know, that delicious frozen concoction you slurp slowly through a big straw. Like most eating or drinking, it’s a behavior that involves multiple senses — not simply the act of digesting some tasty liquid into one’s stomach. But that’s what neuroscientists boil it down to for their research. In the study, the researchers squirted the milkshake into participants’ mouths to simulate the effect of a milkshake. Really? I’m sorry, but I don’t see how you can squirt a milkshake anywhere (at least a properly made one). And how we can engage in research like this and pretend it approaches anything close to normal human behavior. I can’t wait until scientists &#8212... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1888108 Sun, 19 Oct 2008 03:30:59 +0100 1888108 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1750240&cid=t_102628_122_f&fid=35072&url=http%3A%2F%2Fforebrain.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F09%2Fsynaptic-plasticity-differs-for-d1-and.html Neurons in the same region are not created equal. The exact cell type matters, and matters a lot.Dichotomous Dopaminergic Control of Striatal Synaptic PlasticityWeixing Shen,1 Marc Flajolet,2 Paul Greengard,2 D. James Surmeier1*At synapses between cortical pyramidal neurons and principal striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs), postsynaptic D1 and D2 dopamine (DA) receptors are postulated to be necessary for the induction of long-term potentiation and depression, respectively—forms of plasticity thought to underlie associative learning. Because these receptors are restricted to two distinct MSN populations, this postulate demands that synaptic plasticity be unidirectional in each cell type. Using brain slices from DA receptor transgenic mice, we show that this is not the case. Rather, DA pl... SCLin's neuroscience blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1750240 Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:48:00 +0100 1750240 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1696417&cid=t_102628_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fbrain_circuit_abnormalities_persist_even_when_depression_rem.htm Using brain imaging, NIMH researchers have produced direct evidence that people prone to depression — even when they're feeling well — have abnormal mood-regulating brain circuitry. This makes them vulnerable to relapse when levels of certain key brain neurotransmitters plummet. Wayne Drevets, MD, of the NIMH Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, Gregor Hasler, MD, now at University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland, and colleagues reported on their positron emission tomography (PET) scan study in a recent issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry. Indirect evidence had suggested that people with histories of depression have such a "trait abnormality" in brain systems that communicate using the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine (noradrenaline). Decreased dopamine activity... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1696417 Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:19:00 +0100 1696417 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1664608&cid=t_102628_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fnew_insight_into_how_brains_process_antidepressants_and_add.htm Discoveries may lead to new therapies for mental illnesses, addiction In a first, scientists from Weill Cornell Medical College and Columbia University Medical Center have described the how brain cells process antidepressant drugs, cocaine and amphetamines. These novel findings may prove useful in the development of more targeted medications for a host of psychiatric diseases, most notably in the area of addiction. Their breakthrough research, reported in a recent issue of Molecular Cell, describes the precise molecular and biochemical structure of drug targets known as neurotransmitter-sodium symporters (NSSs), and how cells use them to enable neural signaling in the brain. A second study, published in the latest issue of Nature Neuroscience, pinpoints where the drug molecules bind in the... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1664608 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:39:00 +0100 1664608 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1603388&cid=t_102628_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fhairsbreadth_separates_pleasurable_reward_from_feaful_drea.htm This study changes our thinking about what dopamine does," said Howard Fields, MD, PhD, of the University of California, San Francisco, an expert unaffiliated with the study. "There is a huge body of evidence out there to support the idea that dopamine mediates positive effects, like reward, happiness, and pleasure. This study says, it does do that, but it can also promote negative behaviors through actions in an adjacent brain area," Fields said. Kent Berridge, PhD, and his colleagues at the University of Michigan, identified dopamine's dual effect on the nucleus accumbens, a brain region that motivates people and animals to seek out pleasurable rewards like food, sex, or drugs, but is also involved in fear. They found that inhibiting dopamine's normal function prevented the nucleus accum... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1603388 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:53:00 +0100 1603388 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1583001&cid=t_102628_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F328368635%2Fif-genes-fit.html U.K psychiatrists agree addiction is "genetically determined."Although the verdict is very little in doubt these days, the heritability of addictions was reaffirmed by the U.K.'s Royal College of Psychiatrists in London on July 4th.In a presentation at the group's annual meeting, held at Imperial College, Professor Wim van den Brink of the University of Amsterdam's Academic Medical Center pinned the blame for addiction squarely on the absence of a sufficient number of dopamine receptors in the brain. "Addicts find it difficult to receive pleasure," he said. "They are not likely to enjoy most of the ordinary things most of us enjoy... they are looking for more stimulus." Professor van den Brink also made clear the importance of environmental interactions for gene expression: "You might star... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1583001 Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:46:00 +0100 1583001 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1480833&cid=t_102628_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F301426970%2Fepigenetics-and-addiction.html Turning off the genes for substance abuse.If psychiatric disorders, including depression and addiction, are rooted in nature, but modified by nurture, some better way of viewing the interaction between genes and the environment is desperately needed.Enter "epigenetics," defined as the study of how gene expression can be modified without making direct changes to the DNA. Writing in Science News, Tina Hesman Saey explains that "epigenetic mechanisms alter how cells use genes but don't change the DNA code in the genes themselves.... The ultimate effect is to finely tune to what degree a gene is turned on or off. Often the fine tuning is long-lasting, setting the level of a gene's activity for the lifetime of the cell."A common form of epigenetic modification involves adding molecules to the D... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1480833 Fri, 30 May 2008 18:13:00 +0100 1480833 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1454668&cid=t_102628_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F293650390%2Fchemistry-of-cocaine-addiction.html Crack, free-base, and powderThe cocaine high is a marvel of biochemical efficiency. Cocaine works primarily by blocking the reuptake of dopamine molecules in the synaptic gap between nerve cells. Dopamine remains stalled in the gap, stimulating the receptors, resulting in higher dopamine concentrations and greater sensitivity to dopamine in general.Since dopamine is involved in moods and activities such as pleasure, alertness and movement, the primary results of using cocaine--euphoria, a sense of well being, physical alertness, and increased energy—are easily understood. Even a layperson can tell when lab rats have been on a cocaine binge. The rapid movements, sniffing, and sudden rearing at minor stimuli are not that much different in principle from the outward signs of cocaine intoxic... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1454668 Mon, 19 May 2008 17:40:00 +0100 1454668 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1446326&cid=t_102628_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F291327527%2Fneuroaddiction-and-reward-pathway.html How addictive drugs fool Mother Nature"The addicted brain is distinctly different from the nonaddicted brain,” writes Alan Leshner, the former director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA). “Changes in brain structure and function is what makes it, fundamentally, a brain disease. A metaphorical switch in the brain seems to be thrown as a result of prolonged drug use.”Addiction is both a cause and a consequence of these fundamental alterations in brain function. If physical abnormalities in the brain are at the root of the problem, then any treatment program worth its weight ought to be dealing—directly or indirectly--with these differences in brain state. Writing in Lancet, researcher Charles O’Brien has suggested a similar orientation: “Addiction must be approached m... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1446326 Fri, 16 May 2008 01:22:00 +0100 1446326 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1336896&cid=t_102628_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F260513567%2Famphetamine-blues.html How meth addiction happensIf alcohol’s impact on brain cells is wide-ranging and diffuse, and marijuana’s impact is selective and subtle, the impact of cocaine and amphetamine is much more straightforward. “There is certainly lots of evidence for common neurological mechanisms of reward across a wide variety of drugs,” said Dr. Robert Post, chief of the biological psychiatry branch at NIMH.Animals will readily administer cocaine and amphetamine, Dr. Post once explained to me, but when researchers surgically block out areas of the brain that are dense with dopamine receptors, the picture changes dramatically. “The evidence definitely incriminates dopamine in particular,” said Dr. Post. “In animal models, if you make selective lesions in the dopamine-rich areas of the brain, pa... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1336896 Sun, 30 Mar 2008 02:46:00 +0100 1336896 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1292348&cid=t_102628_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F249291938%2Finside_the_brains_at_npr.html  Recall that extra jolt of adrenaline to the brain … when you jump into compelling discussions … and leave with novel discoveries that brighten your day.Should war be used as a tactic for change? Is health care fair? Will a new government support small business? What topics do you discuss with genuine questions in mind? Even controversial topics can extend your thinking and improve your workplace ... under certain conditions. A neuroscientist would explain it through raised levels of serotonin or dopamine … and other brain chemicals that fuel curiosity and help you to roll out wider viewpoints. It’s rarely easy to find answers to tough questions that impact business in measurable ways. Especially when the media tends to tout one view and ignore fac... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1292348 Tue, 11 Mar 2008 05:43:52 +0100 1292348 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1265269&cid=t_102628_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F242833255%2Fbrain_chemicals_newly_spotted.html New images of the brainstem show chemical pools that drive winning or losing reactions you’ll bring to work today. It's often the difference between packing a punch at work ... or getting punched out of a winner's circle. Been there? News is out about pools of natural chemicals ... that lead you toward self-control or addiction. What’s new about this discovery? Scientists for some time now … assure us that work tends to go well … when chemicals fuel your mental energy for adventure. In contrast, the brain’s flame can get doused by floods of chemicals that work against well being. Yet chemical storage areas appeared obscured in former imaging techniques. It’s a new look deep into the brain’s treasury. How so? Researchers at Princeton ... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1265269 Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:27:50 +0100 1265269 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1237806&cid=t_102628_122_f&fid=36506&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainSciencePodcastBlog%2F%7E3%2F236457035%2F Nancy Yanes-Hoffman sent me this review of an article just published in the Journal of Neuroscience: That was good!” “Do it again.” This is what the brain says when people use tobacco, as well as ‘hard drugs’ such as heroin. New research published in the February 13 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience indicates that the effects of nicotine and opiates on the brain’s reward system are equally strong in a key pleasure-sensing areas of the brain – the nucleus accumbens. “Testing rat brain tissue, we found remarkable overlap between the effects of nicotine and opiates on dopamine signaling within the brain’s reward centers,” says Daniel McGehee, Associate Professor in Anesthesia & Critical Care at the University of Chicago Medical Center. McGehe... the Brain Science Podcast and Blog with Dr. Ginger Campbell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1237806 Sun, 17 Feb 2008 12:00:43 +0100 1237806 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1131974&cid=t_102628_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F211857726%2Fgene_for_stubbornness_discover.html  A recent research study at Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig reported that bull-headedness could well be in your genes. Does that surprise you? Some call it the …  never-say-die gene.  Others term it mulish. Whatever you call it ... an estimated one-third of the world’s population apparently has genes for stubbornness. Who are they? You’ll often recognize willfulness in those who tend to hang in or run on … much like that ever ready battery … slugging along long after others give up. Any at your organization? It seems that …  about 30 per cent of the population have the mutation, called the A1 mutation … researcher Dr Markus Ullsperger, said.  Interestingly... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1131974 Sun, 06 Jan 2008 01:47:41 +0100 1131974 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1076619&cid=t_102628_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F196602111%2Fdrug-foods-and-addiction.html Amino acid restoration therapyAddicts frequently resort to sugar foods and other high-carbohydrates snacks as a substitute drug addiction, therapists frequently report. Since diet has a direct effect on neurotransmission in the brain, food of this type may play a role in keeping drug cravings alive.Dr. Candace Pert, one of the founders of modern neuroscience, believes that the pain of drug withdrawal and the stress of associated cravings could be drastically lessened through attention to nutritional needs. “Recovery programs,” she writes in her book Molecules of Emotion: Why You Feel the Way You Feel, “need to take into account this multi-system reality by emphasizing nutritional support and exercise. Eating fresh, unprocessed foods, preferably organic vegetables, and engaging in mil... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1076619 Fri, 07 Dec 2007 11:40:00 +0100 1076619 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=958936&cid=t_102628_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F171248315%2Fmarijuana-withdrawal.html For Some Users, Cannabis Can Be Fiercely AddictiveFor a minority of marijuana users, commonly estimated at 10 per cent, the use of pot can become uncontrollable, as with any other addictive drug. Addiction to marijuana had been submerged in the welter of polyaddictions common to active addicts. The withdrawal rigors of, say, alcohol or heroin tend to drown out the subtler, more psychological manifestations of marijuana withdrawal.What has emerged in the past ten years is a profile of marijuana withdrawal, where none existed before. The syndrome is marked by irritability, restlessness, generalized anxiety, hostility, depression, difficulty sleeping, excessive sweating, loose stools, loss of appetite, and a general “blah” feeling. Many patients complain of feeling like they have a low-gr... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=958936 Wed, 17 Oct 2007 17:18:00 +0100 958936 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=934022&cid=t_102628_122_f&fid=35055&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsarasotaneurology.com%2F2007%2F10%2F08%2Fnew-findings-in-restless-legs-syndrome%2F One of the most frustrating neurological conditions is restless legs syndrome (RLS.) It is characterized by an intense overwhelming need to move your legs at night or when sitting or resting. This can be so severe that affected individuals have difficulty sitting through a movie or driving in a car for any distance. Occasionally RLS can be associated with abnormal sensation, particularly in the feet and lower legs. The abnormal sensory symptoms are a form of peripheral neuropathy that is associated with RLS. Symptoms can be so severe as to be an impairment to sleep and feeling of well being. RLS is consider to be a form of sleep disorder, even though individuals can have symptoms during the day, while awake. New research findings that were reported in the New England Journal of Medicine in... Sarasota Neurology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=934022 Mon, 08 Oct 2007 11:13:34 +0100 934022 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=908757&cid=t_102628_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F162025932%2Fbrains_under_pressure.html A fine colleague of mine just resigned from several boards ... and cut back on work hours. His doctor warned that stress has spiked his blood pressure to life threatening levels. Have you seen it happen? Long boring meetings … dysfunctional supervisors … demanding workloads … poor pay … workplace bullies ... too few staff … or workplace politics. Some people keep their cool as if candid cameras followed them around the workplace … while mental pressure cookers steam inside for others. What determines your panicked or  peaceful reactions?Or, why do you counter problems with wit and wisdom one day, but respond with fire and brimstone the next? Interestingly … your brain’s fueled by chemicals that influence how you cope with &he... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=908757 Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:03:36 +0100 908757 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=894215&cid=t_102628_122_f&fid=35055&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsarasotaneurology.com%2F2007%2F09%2F24%2Ffda-approves-new-alzheimers-medication-patch%2F The FDA has recently approved the dementia fighting drug Exelon in a patch form. The new formulation, Transdermal Exelon, offers patients a new and unique way to get medication which can help with improving cognitive function and slow down memory loss in patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The new patch is also FDA approved for patients with Parkinson associated dementia. This is the second patch approved for use in treatment of Parkinson disease. The other is Neupro, a transdermal patch containing the dopamine agonist rotigotine. Transdermal Exelon joins the group of other medications used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, such as Aricept, Razadyne and Namenda. The patch for of Exelon offers the advantage of not having to take a pill twice daily, continuous medication adm... Sarasota Neurology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=894215 Mon, 24 Sep 2007 11:04:16 +0100 894215 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=891710&cid=t_102628_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Faddiction-dirkh.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F09%2Fserotonin-and-dopamine-primer.html The Molecules of Reward Serotonin and dopamine are part of a group of compounds called biogenic amines. In addition to serotonin and dopamine, the amines include noradrenaline, acetylcholine, and histamine. This class of chemical messengers is produced, in turn, from basic amino acids like tyrosine, tryptophan, and choline. The amines are of great interest, because both mood-altering drugs and addictive drugs show a very straightforward affinity for receptors sites designed for endogenous amines.Addictive drugs have molecules that are the right shape for the amine receptors. Drugs like LSD and Ecstasy target serotonin systems. Serotonin systems control feeding and sleeping behaviors in living creatures from slugs to chimps. Serotonin, also known as 5-HT, occurs in nuts, fruit, and snake ve... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=891710 Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:45:00 +0100 891710 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=811307&cid=t_102628_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F146140277%2Fwhy_you_crave_what_others_avoi.html When the chocolates or fat dripping donuts get passed at work … dopamine increases most in people who overindulge … and this chemical acts as alert signal that links food to pleasure. How so? I was interested in Kristin Leutwyler Ozelli’s description of what’s going on in the brain during cravings at ScientificAmerican.Com.Look into the brain of a person who exercises and maintains a steady weight using brain imaging technologies, and you’ll see less dopamine. Why is this? While we know that human brains are highly sensitive to food stimuli … researchers are still trying to figure out … why some produce more dopamine when they see favorite foods.Without question though, the dopamine increase is linked to foods to which they’ve been condit... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=811307 Mon, 20 Aug 2007 15:46:03 +0100 811307 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=808940&cid=t_102628_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F145905281%2Fwhy_smart_workers_make_dumb_de.html  When people are faced with choices that involve risk,  the human brain leaps into conflicts that only reflective thinkers can sort out well. How so?  Believe it or not, smart neurons actually tend to make dumb choices at times — all because of complex chemical processes. Take a person who weighs the risk factors for a big promotion. That person’s front brain might tell him this position would be sheer misery. It highlights the facts … such as … the new CEO’s arrogance … or workers’ well known apathy in the new department. That’s only one side though, and while it may make sense to the front brain the middle brain refuses to listen. Instead that area of the brain shows only sheer delights from a big raise in salary, new resp... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=808940 Sun, 19 Aug 2007 22:52:23 +0100 808940 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=802263&cid=t_102628_122_f&fid=35055&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsarasotaneurology.com%2F2007%2F08%2F16%2Fnew-treatment-options-for-parkinsons-disease%2F The FDA has approved a new medication therapy for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. The new drug is rotigotine, which is in the family of dopamine agonists. Dopamine agonists mimic the effects of levodopa (Sinemet) without having to go through chemical transformation. Other dopamine agonists include Mirapex and Requip. Rotigotine (Neupro) is different in that it comes in the form of a patch. This has the advantage that the medication is delivered continuously through the skin, while you are wearing the patch. Theoretically, this would provide a more even blood concentration of medication throughout the day. Patients using Neupro should not be taking one of the other dopamine agonists. This patch can be used alone or in combination with other Parkinson medications, to help improve... Sarasota Neurology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=802263 Thu, 16 Aug 2007 11:06:03 +0100 802263 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=764466&cid=t_102628_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F138288875%2Fchemicals_to_refuel_when_work.html You’ve been there. "I love my job and cannot believe I can paid for what I’d do anyway." Then – out of the blue – you wake up bored with people and projects all around you.On a good day you may feel a bit lucky to still work where you do, but for the most part you arrive later and leave earlier. That zip’s gone. The flame’s been doused with reality and the thrill of getting a job done well vanishedShould you quit? Adopt a career change?Not necessarily. Whether your work flame fizzles or reignites depends more on your ability to ratchet up neurochemicals of more adventure in what you do.Researchers can now  scan the human brain to observe unique systems within our ability to handle realities at work and to add better fuels for improved... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=764466 Sat, 28 Jul 2007 16:29:23 +0100 764466 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=747266&cid=t_102628_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Faddiction-dirkh.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Ffood-addiction.html Carbohydrates on the BrainEarlier this month, Yale University hosted the first-ever conference on Food and Addiction. Dr. Nora Volkow of the National Institute on Drug Abuse told the collection of experts on nutrition, obesity and drug addiction that “commonalities in the brain’s reward mechanisms” linked compulsive eating with addictive drug use. “Impaired function of the brain dopamine system could make some people more vulnerable to compulsive eating,” Volkow said.Moreover, animal studies and brain imaging research in humans strongly support the notion of food addiction. In particular, research has pointed toward a form of food addiction known as “carbohydrate-craving obesity.” Dr. Mark Gold, chief of addiction studies at the McKnight Institute at the University of Florida... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=747266 Fri, 20 Jul 2007 19:26:00 +0100 747266 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060755&cid=t_102628_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2007%2F07%2Fexplaining_everything_with_science.php Here is an excerpt from Deric Bownds' MindBlog titled "A New Description of Our Inner Lives." "Paul and Pat, realizing that the revolutionary neuroscience they dream of is still in its infancy, are nonetheless already preparing themselves for this future, making the appropriate adjustments in their everyday conversation. One afternoon recently, Paul says, he was home making dinner when Pat burst in the door, having come straight from a frustrating faculty meeting. "She said, 'Paul, don't speak to me, my serotonin levels have hit bottom, my brain is awash in glucocortocoids, my blood vessels are full of adrenaline, and if it weren't for my endogenous opiates I'd have driven the car into a tree on the way home. My dopamine levels need lifting. Pour me a Chardonnay, and I'll be down in a mi... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060755 Mon, 16 Jul 2007 00:58:18 +0100 4060755 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=694240&cid=t_102628_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesplinteredmind.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F06%2Fadhd-six-ways-to-stop-boredom.html Is it possible to halt a dopamine deprived brain from bouncing out of its skull the moment boredom sets in? I believe it is and I'll be covering six ways I've found that work for me all this week. Contrary to popular belief, as evidenced by some of my more vitriolic commenters, I have AD/HD, and until recent years it made my life a living hell. That's not to say that I suddenly found a cure. No, instead I grew tired of being beat up by consequences and decided to make some changes in my life. Ever heard of consequences? You know, show up late to work and get fired. Forget to lock up the store after you leave and get fired. Paste a newspaper article upside down and get fired... Those kind of consequences? (I still maintain that I didn't paste that newspaper article upside down, but instead... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=694240 Mon, 25 Jun 2007 08:31:00 +0100 694240