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 'enhancement'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:51:28 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130749&cid=t_101624_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fnew-york-times-piece-about-plastic-surgery-gets-people-talking%2F2011.08.14 Monday’s New York Times tweeted a headline – “Never Too Old for Plastic Surgery” – about this story. While I’m very happy for the 83-year old woman in the piece for her happiness over her “new” $8,000 breasts, the piece was framed like an expensive billboard for plastic surgeons – only it didn’t cost them anything. The Times gave away the advertising space. The story states: “There are as many reasons for getting plastic surgery as there are older patients, experts say”…and…”some are simply sick of slackened jowls, jiggly underarms and saggy eyelids.” There are a few other perspectives in the middle of the piece: “Some critics question whether the benefits are worth the risks, which may be... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130749 Sun, 14 Aug 2011 21:00:43 +0100 5130749 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118716&cid=t_101624_109_f&fid=34761&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedblitz.com%2F%7E%2F26686253%2F0%2Fneuromarketing%7EStudy-Brain-Games-Give-Cognitive-Boost.htm At last, there is scientific proof that it’s possible to boost generalized cognitive performance with specific training, in this case web-based brain games. For years, we’ve heard first that we should keep sharp by doing crossword puzzles or similar brain-challenging activities, only to find later that research has been unable to prove their effectiveness in [...] CommentsPosit counts Dr. Michael Merzenich, a key figure in ... by Roger DooleyI'm a big fan of Lumosity. Can definitely see improvement in my ... by Ben MillerPlus 6 more...Related StoriesBrain Fitness: Skip the Sudoku, Be a VolunteerA Better Brain in Four DaysUse Your Cell Phone, Save Your Brain (Source: Neuromarketing) Neuromarketing blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118716 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:38:24 +0100 5118716 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008138&cid=t_101624_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FB2KdU9Tg7-o%2F By Daniel IkensonIn hailing this week’s ruling by a World Trade Organization dispute settlement panel that certain Chinese government restrictions on raw material exports violate China’s WTO commitments, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk made the point that such restrictions hurt U.S. manufacturers who rely on those imported raw materials. Today’s panel report represents a significant victory for manufacturers and workers in the United States and the rest of the world. The panel’s findings are also an important confirmation of fundamental principles underlying the global trading system. All WTO Members – whether developed or developing – need non-discriminatory access to raw material supplies in order to grow and thrive. And, simultaneously, by artificially increasing domestic... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008138 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 17:18:28 +0100 5008138 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883559&cid=t_101624_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FQKoKs62b_gE%2F By Daniel IkensonThe Cato Institute today published its 13th policy paper on the topic of antidumping. “Economic Self-Flagellation: How U.S. Antidumping Policy Subverts the National Export Initiative” describes with compelling anecdotes and data how the outdated assumptions of a 90-year-old law—one purported to “level the playing field” and protect U.S. companies from “unfair” foreign competition—conspire with its overzealous application to erode the competitiveness of U.S. firms. During the decade from January 2000 through December 2009, the U.S. government imposed 164 antidumping measures on a variety of products from dozens of countries. A total of 130 of those 164 measures restricted (and in most cases, still restrict) imports of intermediate goo... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883559 Tue, 31 May 2011 15:29:28 +0100 4883559 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4709176&cid=t_101624_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F008025.html Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging can help you train your brain to introspect more intensely. As humans face increasing distractions in their personal and professional lives, University of British Columbia researchers have discovered that people can gain greater control over their thoughts with real-time brain feedback. The study is the world's first investigation of how real-time functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) feedback from the brain region responsible for higher-order thoughts, including introspection, affects our ability to control these thoughts. The researchers find that real-time brain feedback significantly improves people's ability to control their thoughts and effectively 'train their brains.' This result would be a lot more interesting if MR scanners did not cos... FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4709176 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4709176 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4704567&cid=t_101624_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2011%2F04%2Ffake-plastic-surgeons-arrested-murder-patient-elena-caro-dies%2F Columbian nationals Ruben Dario Matallana-Galvas and his wife Carmen Olfidia Torres-Sanchez were arrested at the Las Vegas airport shortly before they were to board a flight to Columbia. The pair, masquerading as plastic surgeons, allegedly performed a butt enhancement on Elena Caro shortly before she died. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4704567 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:11:58 +0100 4704567 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4419090&cid=t_101624_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F007858.html Would you stimulate your brain with a magnetic wave pattern to enhance memory stimulation? What sounds like science fiction is actually possible: thanks to magnetic stimulation, the activity of certain brain nerve cells can be deliberately influenced. What happens in the brain in this context has been unclear up to now. Medical experts from Bochum under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Klaus Funke (Department of Neurophysiology) have now shown that various stimulus patterns changed the activity of distinct neuronal cell types. In addition, certain stimulus patterns led to rats learning more easily. The knowledge obtained could contribute to cerebral stimulation being used more purposefully in future to treat functional disorders of the brain. The researchers have published their studies in... (... FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4419090 Sun, 30 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4419090 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4309543&cid=t_101624_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2011%2F01%2Fradiographic-diagnosis-liver-hemangioma%2F Hemangiomas are the most common liver tumor and are often found incidentally during radiographic screening for other conditions. Hemangiomas are benign collections of disorganized vascular channels and if asymptomatic do not require follow-up. Characteristic radiographic computed tomography findings are peripheral nodular enhancement with delayed centripetal enhancement. Hemangiomas with atypical features or that are symptomatic require further work-up and consideration for treatment. The bleeding risk of large hemangioms is unknown. However, some experienced liver surgeons may elect to treat large lesions secondary to size and position in the liver parenchyma. Hemangiomas are the most common liver tumor and are often found incidentally during radiographic screening for other conditions. ... Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4309543 Tue, 04 Jan 2011 06:04:01 +0100 4309543 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4172043&cid=t_101624_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FaSxpZRJqyno%2F By Daniel GriswoldRepublican leaders in Congress announced Monday that they are all on board to ban spending “earmarks” when the newly elected Congress convenes in January. That is all to the good. While not a large share of the federal budget, the designation of tax dollars to fund specific pet projects in member districts has come to symbolize out-of-control spending in Washington. Those same leaders should clarify that the earmark ban applies only to spending projects—not to the kind of tariff suspensions including in a recent miscellaneous tariff bill. The U.S. Manufacturing Enhancement Act approved by Congress in July suspended tariffs on hundreds of imported items of special interest to U.S. manufacturers. House Republican leaders made the mistake earlier this year of including... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4172043 Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:47:21 +0100 4172043 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060919&cid=t_101624_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2010%2F10%2F12%2Fonline.html The new issue of Cybertherapy and Rehabilitation magazine (3/2) is now online and available for full-text download. Topics covered by this issue include brain-computer interface, cognitive enhancement and trainers and the use of massive multiplayer online games in rehabilitation and therapy.           (Source: Positive Technology Journal) Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060919 Tue, 12 Oct 2010 06:54:00 +0100 4060919 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4018289&cid=t_101624_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F5gc1INDGsDw%2F You may find that too much media coverage on how to take good care of our brains is confusing, if not potentially misleading. In The True Story — is mental exercise good, bad, or irrelevant, Dr. Pascale Michelon dissects for you a recent large study which was largely reported as bad news when in fact it brings good news (no miracles, but good news).  We hope you enjoy her insightful analysis — and all the excellent articles that follow in the September edition of our monthly eNewsletter covering cognitive health and brain fitness topics. Please remember that you can use the box in the right column to subscribe and receive this newsletter via email. Do you Mind Dear sapiens sapiens, do you mind: Dr. Joshua Steinerman encourages you to ask yourself the tough ques­tions: Do you mind ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4018289 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 11:06:29 +0100 4018289 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4018290&cid=t_101624_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F3o5RXvNCqe0%2F We have received many good questions about the new SharpBrains Council for Brain Fitness Innovation — below you have some answers. Question: We are based in Asia/ Australia/ Europe. Will time differences prevent us from participating in monthly briefings and benefiting from the Council? Answer: We will do our best to facilitate a truly global community and exchange. Please consider that… we will schedule monthly briefings at 2 separate times, one at 9am US Pacific Time, the other at 4pm US Pacific Time, both covering the same topic (but perhaps with different guest speakers). And briefings will be recorded. most activities and resources are asynchronous anyway. Our market intelligence reports and other materials are available via this members-only online community 24/7, same as onlin... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4018290 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 09:41:40 +0100 4018290 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3987122&cid=t_101624_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2010%2F09%2F20%2Fxwave-control-your-iphone-with-your-brain.html The XWave is a new technology that uses a single electrode placed on the wearer’s forehead to measure electroencephalography (EEG) data, and converts these analog signals into digital so they can be used to control an external device. The XWave comes bundled with a software that includes a number of brain-training exercises. These include levitating a ball on the iDevice’s screen, changing a color based on the relaxation level of your brain and training your brain to maximize its attention span.   In the company’s own words: XWave, powered by NeuroSky eSense patented technologies, senses the faintest electrical impulses transmitted through your skull to the surface of your forehead and converts these analogue signals into digital. With XWave, you will be able to detect attenti... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3987122 Mon, 20 Sep 2010 14:05:00 +0100 3987122 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3976474&cid=t_101624_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F007496.html Will college students (or maybe tennis players training to track balls) start taking their senile grandparents to multiple doctors to get multiple copies of the same Alzheimer's drug prescription? Berkeley — Research on a drug commonly prescribed to Alzheimer's disease patients is helping neuroscientists at the University of California, Berkeley, better understand perceptual learning in healthy adults. In a new study, to be published online Thursday, Sept. 16, in the journal Current Biology, researchers from UC Berkeley's Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute and School of Optometry found that study participants showed significantly greater benefits from practice on a task that involved discriminating directions of motion after they took donepezil, sold under the brand name Aricept, compared... FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3976474 Thu, 16 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3976474 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3790750&cid=t_101624_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F07%2F26%2Flying-on-the-couch%2F What happens when a psychologist writes a memoir? To tell the truth I have to lie. To write a memoir these days you had better be telling the truth. When I met with the publisher about Confessions of a Former Child: A Therapist’s Memoir, she specifically asked me if what I wrote was true. I hesitated, and a worried look crossed her face. Finally, I insisted it was all true, except for the parts I made up. She told me I needed to explain. I told her that in essence, as a psychologist and a memoirist I serve at the discretion of both disciplines — the first devoted to understanding the human condition, the second to the condition of being human. Both employ methods of nonfiction writing to achieve their goal, but with a major difference: A psychologist must follow strict guidelines p... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3790750 Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:35:52 +0100 3790750 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3577509&cid=t_101624_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F0fUDUBWsUes%2F Now that we are preparing our 2010 market report we are analyzing in depth a number of important recent developments. A major one, whose implications haven’t yet been properly digested, was the publication in the UK of a fantastic series of policy, scientific and technology reports by the Foresight Project on Mental Capital and Wellbeing. If you want to have a stimulating and substantial read, you can download the Executive Summary (and most other reports) for free. I was thinking about their main recommendation (the need to focus more attention, as a society and as individuals, on building mental capital and wellbeing trajectories along the lifecourse), as I came across these apparently completely separate news. Doesn’t the lifelong mental capital framework add new light on t... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3577509 Wed, 19 May 2010 04:56:22 +0100 3577509 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3569912&cid=t_101624_109_f&fid=34761&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedblitz.com%2F%7E%2F11638462%2F1e6cz4%2Fneuromarketing%7EA-Better-Brain-in-Four-Days.htm We’d all like to think better, but few of us have the time or desire to, say, spend years in a Tibetan monastery learning to meditate. Past studies have shown that such extended training can indeed improve cognitive functioning. Remarkable new research shows that just four days of meditating for 20 minutes per day produced [...] (Source: Neuromarketing) Neuromarketing blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3569912 Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:27:48 +0100 3569912 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3501605&cid=t_101624_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2Fr6dYq8H8fv8%2Fethics-of-enhancing-mood.html Mood/Personality Enhancement Neuroethical issues with taking psychiatric medication for mood or personality enhancement (as opposed to treating a disorder). (Source: Channel N) Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3501605 Sat, 24 Apr 2010 03:39:35 +0100 3501605 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3524319&cid=t_101624_109_f&fid=34761&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedblitz.com%2F%7E%2F10341790%2F1cfov8%2Fneuromarketing%7EUse-Your-Cell-Phone-Save-Your-Brain.htm Neuromarketing readers know I sometimes venture into the non-marketing area of brain fitness, and I couldn’t resist passing along this bit of research on cell phone use. For years, we’ve been hearing alarming claims that cell phone use causes brain cancer, though no reputable study has established such a link. Now, a study [...] CommentsWhat a bunch of phooey!! Cell phones are harmful and we need to ... by CellPhoneSafetySince this was a mouse study, Mike, I'd think twice before ... by Roger DooleyWow I never thought I'd hear that phone radiation is good for ... by Mike (Source: Neuromarketing) Neuromarketing blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3524319 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:43:53 +0100 3524319 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3437931&cid=t_101624_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation%2FwAgT%2F%7E3%2FshbplyUaF-E%2F (MET) is a systematic intervention approach for evoking change in problem drinkers. It is based on principles of motivational psychology and is designed to produce rapid, internally motivated change. This treatment employs motivational strategies to mobilize the client’s own change resources. MET consists of four carefully planned and individualized treatment sessions. The first two focus on structured feedback from the initial assessment, future plans, and motivation for change, The final two sessions at the midpoint and end of treatment provide opportunities for the therapist to reinforce progress, encourage reassessment, and provide an objective perspective on the process of change. The counselor seeks to develop a discrepancy in the client’s perceptions between current b... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3437931 Sun, 04 Apr 2010 02:43:54 +0100 3437931 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3403842&cid=t_101624_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FWomensBioethicsBlog%2F%7E3%2FPNH93Wnileo%2Fwomen-and-posthumanity-future-looks.html The body has a lot of change to go through on the path to post-humanity. There is a lot of room for improvement and enhancement. Even with all of these cool improvements and enhancements though, my cynical side emerges. While these would be great, are we giving ourselves too much credit that the choices we will make on the route to post-humanity will be practical? Isn’t society a little more vain that that? Seriously? The desire for youth and beauty is by no means a new phenomenon. However, I was caught off guard, just a bit when I was forwarded a video of an interview with Tom Ford, the fashion designer and director of the filmA Single Man.  In the video  Tom talks about women being posthuman and makes some good points in the interview all of which tied in to a paper... Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3403842 Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:53:00 +0100 3403842 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3342628&cid=t_101624_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F006993.html Ritalin isn't just for improving concentration. Ritalin tweaks a receptor in the amygala in a way that boosts learning. Doctors treat millions of children with Ritalin every year to improve their ability to focus on tasks, but scientists now report that Ritalin also directly enhances the speed of learning. In animal research, the scientists showed for the first time that Ritalin boosts both of these cognitive abilities by increasing the activity of the neurotransmitter dopamine deep inside the brain. Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers neurons use to communicate with each other. They release the molecule, which then docks onto receptors of other neurons. The research demonstrated that one type of dopamine receptor aids the ability to focus, and another type... (Source: FuturePund... FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3342628 Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3342628 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3322455&cid=t_101624_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2010%2F03%2F01%2Flevelhead-v1-0.html Via: Lorenzo Romeo LevelHead, an augmented-reality spatial-memory game by Julian Oliver. (Source: Positive Technology Journal) Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3322455 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:09:00 +0100 3322455 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3283608&cid=t_101624_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F02%2F17%2Fthe-buzzkill-of-google-buzz%2F Google Buzz is a new social networking tool that Google unleashed upon its unsuspecting Gmail users last week. I say “unsuspecting” because suddenly, without warning or notice, this new “feature” appears to Gmail users as a part of their email program. This was an unprecedented way to launch a product — in disguise right in the middle of another product. Google, despite generating billions of dollars in revenue every year and employing the supposedly brightest minds in the industry, didn’t foresee the backlash that would occur. Apparently, despite its ridiculous hiring process and wading through oceans of money, Google can’t hire people who understand privacy. But this isn’t the first time Google has had a lack of empathy or understanding abo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3283608 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:33:06 +0100 3283608 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3262551&cid=t_101624_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F02%2Fplastic-surgeon-dr-craig-hobar-readies-foundation-long-term-haiti-commitment%2F Dallas plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Craig Hobar has committed his foundation Life Enhancement Association for People to a year long effort in Haiti to perform the tens of thousands of needed reconstructive operations in the coming months. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3262551 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 01:33:11 +0100 3262551 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3084857&cid=t_101624_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2009%2F12%2F13%2Faugmented-cognition.html This short movie, entitled The Future of Augmented Cognition, depicts DARPA’s vision of how augmented cognition will in the future be used to integrate multiple sources of information. The film is set in the year 2030, and takes place in a command centre which monitors cyberspace activity for threats to the global economy. The movie  was commissioned by DARPA and directed by Alexander Singer. (Source: Positive Technology Journal) Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3084857 Sun, 13 Dec 2009 22:51:00 +0100 3084857 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3071264&cid=t_101624_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2009%2F12%2F08%2Flaser-enhanced-concentration.html Now that neuroscientists have identified the brain's synchronizing mechanism, they've started work on therapies to strengthen attention. Ultimately, it may be possible to improve your attention by using pulses of light to directly synchronize your neurons, a form of direct therapy that could help people with schizophrenia and attention-deficit problems, said Dr. Desimone, the director of the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT. In the nearer future, neuroscientists might also help you focus by observing your brain activity and providing biofeedback as you practice strengthening your concentration. Researchers have already observed higher levels of synchrony in the brains of people who regularly meditate. (Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/05/science/05tier.html) (Source: Posi... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3071264 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:47:03 +0100 3071264 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3036982&cid=t_101624_109_f&fid=34761&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedblitz.com%2F%7E%2F2133634%2Fva0jh%2Fneuromarketing%7ESugar-as-Brain-Food.htm This isn’t great news for dieters, but sometimes sugar can be a good thing. Roy Baumeister, a psychologist at Florida State University, had subjects perform a mentally taxing task – watching a video while being careful to ignore random words scrolling across the bottom of the screen. (Apparently, it takes quite a bit [...] CommentsBy: stephanie by stephanieBy: Roger Dooley by Roger DooleyPlus 5 more... (Source: Neuromarketing) Neuromarketing blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3036982 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:22:24 +0100 3036982 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2930933&cid=t_101624_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fbotox-for-breast-lifts%2F If you thought Botox (Clostridium botulinum toxin type A) was going away, you were wrong. Doctors are trying to find new ways to use this “wonder” product and some plastic surgeons think they’ve got the new best thing: breast enhancement via Botox. According to news reports out of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) annual meeting, injecting Botox into the pectoralis minor muscle in the chest, causes the back muscles to lift the breast, giving the appearance of a breast lift. It only works, however, on small-small breasts (A or B cups). The technique also helps fight against slouching, say doctors and patients. The women say that it’s more difficult to slouch after they’ve had the injection. On the other hand, some doctors say that improving your p... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2930933 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:07:49 +0100 2930933 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2908889&cid=t_101624_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F2grQIyMYetk%2F Why else? Well, there are other reasons to consider. Health benefits, for instance. Maybe a new indication. Or in this day and age of health reform, perhaps cost effectiveness. But that wasn’t the alleged case as revealed in testimony given during recent litigation involving birth defects associated with GlaxoSmithKline’s Paxil antidepressant (the drugmaker was ordered to pay $2.5 million). The interesting exchange below - in which David Healy, a controversial psychiatrist and consistent critic of antidepressant clinical trial data, was questioned - yielded this nugget: one of five reasons offered by Glaxo to investigators to conduct a study of Paxil was ‘image enhancement.’ You know, make the drug appear more desirable in the eyes of health care providers, primaril... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2908889 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:30:02 +0100 2908889 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2901708&cid=t_101624_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2009%2F10%2F15%2Fmanaging-emr-software-enhancement-requests%2F One of the huge challenges that an EMR software vendor has is the long lists of enhancement requests that they receive from end users. Managing these requests has got to be one of the most challenging jobs of any EMR vendor’s development and support teams. An EMR vendor has so many often conflicting motivations related to which enhancement requests they add to their product. I won’t go into all the details of their job here, but let’s just say they’re walking a very small tight rope. On one side, they want to be able to create enhancements that will sale more product. On another they want to keep their current users satisfied. On the other, they don’t want to make their product to specific to one area, region, specialty (unless it’s specialty specific), ... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2901708 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:03:41 +0100 2901708 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2828348&cid=t_101624_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=2814511&cid=t_101624_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2009%2F09%2F21%2Fthe-sensitivity-of-a-virtual-reality-task-to-planning-and-pr.html Authors: Sweeney S, Kersel D, Morris RG, Manly T, Evans JJ Executive functions have been argued to be the most vulnerable to brain injury. In providing an analogue of everyday situations amenable to control and management virtual reality (VR) may offer better insights into planning deficits consequent upon brain injury. Here 17 participants with a non-progressive brain injury and reported executive difficulties in everyday life were asked to perform a VR task (working in a furniture storage unit) that emphasised planning, rule following and prospective memory tasks. When compared with an age and IQ-matched control group, the patients were significantly poorer in terms of their strategy, their time-based prospective memory, the overall time required and their propensity to break rules. An e... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2814511 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:57:17 +0100 2814511 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2670852&cid=t_101624_106_f&fid=34805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAwfulPlasticSurgery%2F%7E3%2F44f9CeE0P-o%2F Ashlee Simpson and her sister... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit MyWebsite.com for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Awful Plastic Surgery) Awful Plastic Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2670852 Thu, 30 Jul 2009 23:12:33 +0100 2670852 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2657646&cid=t_101624_106_f&fid=34805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAwfulPlasticSurgery%2F%7E3%2F44f9CeE0P-o%2F Ashlee Simpson and her sister... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit MyWebsite.com for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Awful Plastic Surgery) Awful Plastic Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2657646 Thu, 30 Jul 2009 23:12:33 +0100 2657646 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2570406&cid=t_101624_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FWomensBioethicsBlog%2F%7E3%2FSz2XiLx1j34%2Fbookclub-selection-normal-at-any-cost.html The Women's Bioethics Project's July 2009 non-fiction bookclub selection is: Normal at Any Cost: Tall Girls, Short Boys, and the Medical Industry's Quest to Manipulate Height by Susan Cohen and Christine Cosgrove.  From the Library Journal:Two science journalists examine the fascinating history of medical science's flawed attempts to manipulate height and the ethics involved. In the first section, set primarily in the 1950s and 1960s, they discuss middle-class families who were urged to try to reduce their daughters' height before it was too late for them to be "successful adults." The tall girls were given estrogens to send them prematurely into puberty and force their growth plates to close.  In the second half, the authors focus on the use of human-growth hormone to increase the heigh... Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2570406 Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:00:08 +0100 2570406 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2510322&cid=t_101624_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FWomensBioethicsBlog%2F%7E3%2FcBeO46f-K58%2Fsome-articles-and-announcements-on-our.html Autonomy and Authenticity of Enhanced Personality TraitsAbstract: There is concern that the use of neuroenhancements to alter character traits undermines consumer's authenticity. But the meaning, scope and value of authenticity remain vague. However, the majority of contemporary autonomy accounts ground individual autonomy on a notion of authenticity. So if neuroenhancements diminish an agent's authenticity, they may undermine his autonomy. This paper clarifies the relation between autonomy, authenticity and possible threats by neuroenhancements.Tech-assisted reproduction growing worldwide:Worldwide report shows increase in assisted reproduction: 250,000 babies (approximately) born in 1 year.Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is responsible for an estimated 219,000 to 246,000 babies bo... Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2510322 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:13:10 +0100 2510322 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2389888&cid=t_101624_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F05%2F06%2Fholier-than-thou%2F Benedict Carey had a great piece in the New York Times this week, “Stumbling Blocks on the Path of Righteousness.”  Here are some excerpts. * * * Most people are adamant: They would never do it. Ever. Never deliberately inflict pain on another person, just to obtain information. Ever artificially inflate the value of some financial product, just to take advantage of others’ ignorance. Certainly never, ever become a deadbeat and accept a government bailout. They speak only for themselves, of course. As for others, well, turn on the news: shady bankers, savage interrogators and deadbeats are everywhere. * * * “Well, they gave me this award — the administration did — and I’d sworn I would never take anything from them. But of course there I was, up on stage accepting it... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2389888 Wed, 06 May 2009 04:01:16 +0100 2389888 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2382298&cid=t_101624_87_f&fid=34825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wesleyjsmith.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F05%2Fcoup-de-culture-alert-wanting-to-be.html From time to time I have pointed out the sad yearning so many seem to feel that their lives would not seem so lacking if only they could somehow be extraordinary--without having to actually work to achieve anything special. This desire is often the basis of movies and television shows (wonderfully explored in the provocative television program The 4400, which I reviewed here). It is the reason for the popularity for on line computer games like Second Life, and is the core dogma of religious transhumanism, where a gene modification here, or a cyber implant there, will make one immortal, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, you get the drift.Even as millions of children still die in destitution from diseases like malaria and measles, malnutrition, dirty water, etc., we in the decad... Secondhand Smoke blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2382298 Sat, 02 May 2009 16:14:00 +0100 2382298 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2380959&cid=t_101624_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FzzLOqwG8cs4%2F Round-up of April articles and news on neuroscience, brain development and cognitive health: Games for Health Conferences to host new Cognitive Health Track: For the first time, a new Cognitive Health track -Powered by SharpBrains- will cover eleven brain fitness and cognitive health topics during the 5th Annual Games for Health Conference. The current price is $379, with a 15% discount if you use code "sharp09" (without quotation) when you register Here. Details: June 11-12th at the Hyatt Harborside Hotel in Boston, MA. Bilingual Babies Get Head Start --- Before They Can Talk: - "Unlike the monolingual group, the bilingual group was able to successfully learn a new sound type and use it to predict where each character would pop up...The bilingual babies' skill applies to mo... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2380959 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:59:32 +0100 2380959 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2376434&cid=t_101624_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FEavTuUVhM1A%2F Several recent articles and news: Brain Gain: the underground world of “neuroenhancing” drugs‎ (The New Yorker) - "Alex remains enthusiastic about Adderall, but he also has a slightly jaundiced critique of it. “It only works as a cognitive enhancer insofar as you are dedicated to accomplishing the task at hand,” he said. “The number of times I’ve taken Adderall late at night and decided that, rather than starting my paper, hey, I’ll organize my entire music library! I’ve seen people obsessively cleaning their rooms on it.” Alex thought that generally the drug helped him to bear down on his work, but it also tended to produce writing with a characteristic flaw. “Often, I’ve looked back at papers I’ve written on Adderall, and they’re verbose. They’re belabo... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2376434 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:59:05 +0100 2376434 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2320431&cid=t_101624_122_f&fid=37835&url=http%3A%2F%2Fintelligencetesting.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fbrain-rhythm-do-you-have-it-how-can-we.html Does your brain have good rhythm? [Made this post at IQ Brain Clock sister blog...but thought IQs Corner readers might find interesting]Very interesting research (Thut & Miniussi, 2009; Trends in Cognitive Sciences) being reported on the synchronization of brain oscillation behavior (brain rhythms) and neurotechnology to stimulate brain rhythm to enhance cognitive and motor performance. The whole concept of neurological or brain rhythm has permeated a number of strands of research related to the internal mind or brain clock (mental interval timing). Also, if you've viewed my two on-line PPT presentations on (a) mental timing (IQ Brain Clock) and (b) trying to explain the positive effects of Interactive Metronome on a variety of cognitive and motor outcomes, you will see mention of hypo... Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2320431 Thu, 09 Apr 2009 17:19:00 +0100 2320431 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2320435&cid=t_101624_122_f&fid=37835&url=http%3A%2F%2Fintelligencetesting.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fbrain-investment-return-rate-of-early.html Fascinating post re: research on the rate-of-return for investing in brain development via early education.  Check it out at the Frontal Cortex.Technorati Tags: psychology, brain fitness, plasticity, early education, IQ, IQ enhancement, intelligence, cognition, school psychology, education, educational psychology, neuropsychology (Source: Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner)) Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2320435 Wed, 08 Apr 2009 20:49:00 +0100 2320435 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2320459&cid=t_101624_122_f&fid=37835&url=http%3A%2F%2Fintelligencetesting.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fnytimes-book-review-get-smart.html From The New York Times:Get SmartBy JIM HOLTA prominent cognitive psychologist stresses the nonhereditary factorsin determining I.Q....http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/books/review/Holt-t.htmlGet The New York Times on your iPhone for free by visiting http://nytimes.com/iphoneinstallerKevin McGrew PhDEducational/School Psych.IAP (www.iapsych.com)Sent from KMcGrew iPhone (IQMobile). (If message includes an image-double click on it to make larger-if hard to see) (Source: Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner)) Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2320459 Sun, 29 Mar 2009 17:47:00 +0100 2320459 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2306965&cid=t_101624_87_f&fid=34825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wesleyjsmith.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F03%2Fand-now-for-important-stem-cell-work.html Well, it was bound to happen. Adult fat stem cells are going to be used to increase breast size. From the story:A stem cell therapy offering "natural" breast enlargement is to be made available to British women for the first time.The treatment could boost cup size while reducing stomach fat. It involves extracting stem cells from spare fat on the stomach or thighs and growing them in a woman's breasts. An increase of one cup size is likely, with the potential for larger gains as the technique improves.A trial has already started in Britain to use stem cells to repair the breasts of women who have had cancerous lumps removed. A separate project is understood to be the first in Britain to use the new technique on healthy women seeking breast enlargement.It beats silicone, but really. And it ... Secondhand Smoke blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2306965 Sun, 29 Mar 2009 01:00:00 +0100 2306965 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2232803&cid=t_101624_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FWomensBioethicsBlog%2F%7E3%2Fx1QNi64isAQ%2Fhuman-enhancement-nanotechnology.html March 28-29, 2009Western Michigan University, Fetzer Center, Room 2020Kalamazoo, MI USAThe Human Enhancement & Nanotechnology Conference focuses on the ethical, social, and related issues that arise in the application of nanotechnology to human enhancement. While nanotechnology is not the only technology that can be applied to human enhancement, it is and will be a core one; without it many current and future enhancements would not be possible. These technological possibilities will derive from manysources, especially nanoelectronics and nanomaterials.As an example of an ethical issue, bionic limbs (e.g., for greater strength or vision) and neural chips implanted into one's head (e.g., for on-demand access to the Internet and software applications) may give the individual significant a... Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2232803 Thu, 26 Feb 2009 02:10:34 +0100 2232803 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2173829&cid=t_101624_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F536195658%2F Welcome to the 8th edition of Hourglass, the blog carnival devoted to biogerontology. Enjoy! --- Use It or Lose It Existence is Wonderful, by Anne C. Neither A Transhumanist Nor a "Pessimist", And That's Okay "I can't survive cognitively in environments that force everything into false dichotomies, and nobody should feel hurt, slighted, or bitter because of my doing what I need to do for the sake of being able to actually use my brain." "Just because I think superlativity tends to distort dialogue and make it difficult to focus on what can actually be done in the real world does not mean I disparage the power of human imagination or our capacity to change things for the better." --- Cognitive Enhancement, Health and Assessments Ouroboros, by Chris Pa... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2173829 Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:00:32 +0100 2173829 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2116515&cid=t_101624_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F517237108%2F How do you know when something is fast moving towards a Gladwellian tipping point? When health insurance companies and public policy makers launch significant initiatives. For example, the government of Ontario recently announced a $10 million investment with Baycrest Research Centre who will partner with MaRS Venture Group to develop and commercialise brain fitness technologies. The investment was matched by an additional $10 million from private sources. Another important development was the $18 million agreement between the Australian-based Brain Resource Company (ASX:BRC) and OptumHealth in the US. This will allow for the provision of web-based cognitive assessments as part of a clinician’s decision support systems. These are some initiatives covered in a webinar Top Ten Cognitive Fi... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2116515 Tue, 20 Jan 2009 03:32:32 +0100 2116515 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2053747&cid=t_101624_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F489099510%2F "USA Hockey Inc., is the national governing body for the sport of ice hockey in the United States. As such, its mission is to promote the growth of hockey and provide the best possible experience for all participants by encouraging, developing, advancing and administering the sport." Why do we talk about ice hockey in a  brain fitness blog? Well, we recently announced this very innovative initiative, and now can offer more context: USA Hockey and Intelligym: - "USA Hockey, with partners ACE (Applied Cognitive Engineering) and the BIRD (Binational Industrial Research and Development) Foundation, have announced plans to develop a revolutionary product that will, for the first time ever, provide players a training tool to develop “hockey sense.” - "To be called Hockey... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2053747 Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:43:31 +0100 2053747 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1837915&cid=t_101624_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F405734124%2F A round-up of interested news during the month: 1) Training Young Brains to Behave (New York Times) 2) Head Games (OpEd in New York Times) 3) Will Gerontology recognize the Brain? (American Society on Aging event) 4) Brain function gets a boost from walking (Los Angeles Times) 5) An idea whose time has (finally) come (McKnight's Long Term Care News) 6) Train your brain (Financial Times Germany) 7) Toman auge ejercicios que adiestran la mente (Milenio, Mexico) 8) Trois nouvelles études IDATE : Serious Games (Publi-News, France) Links and commentary below.  --- 1) Training Young Brains to Behave (New York Times) - "But just as biology shapes behavior, so behavior can accelerate biology. And a small group of educational and cognitive scientists now say that mental exercises of a certai... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1837915 Sun, 28 Sep 2008 23:21:41 +0100 1837915 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1817340&cid=t_101624_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F09%2F23%2Fself-management-helping-a-person-become-their-own-healthcare-expert%2F and how we can help Health care in many places hasn’t moved an awful lot from a ‘patch ‘em up and send ‘em out’ mentality.  This is a great approach if you’re basically healthy, have acute appendicitis, and a quick recovery.  It’s not so good if you have chronic pain, are having to learn to live with it, and find your general coping is compromised. Most of our health care training, however, is designed to follow the medical model (despite arguments that occupational therapists, for example, are trained in a biopsychosocial model - just watch what happens when a referral for therapy is received without a diagnosis!).  There is nothing fundamentally wrong with the medical model when it’s being used in the right place - it’s simply inad... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1817340 Tue, 23 Sep 2008 05:54:28 +0100 1817340 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1730683&cid=t_101624_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F005486.html When drugs, gene therapies, and cell therapies become available that will allow you to change your personality will you opt to do so? Most people in a recent study indicated... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1730683 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1730683 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1676918&cid=t_101624_87_f&fid=34825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wesleyjsmith.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F08%2Fculture-of-expediency-economist.html The Economist has a dopey editorial about "gene doping" in this week's magazine. It is along the lines seen so often in our debates about culture and biotechnology, paraphrased as "we are already on the slippery slope, so we might as well enjoy the ride," or "the genie's out of the bottle so there is nothing to be done," that sort of defeatism.The issue under discussion is not hugely important in the overall scheme of things, but I think the underlying shoulder shrug is a matter worth pondering. The narrow issue discussed concerns using gene therapy--known as "gene doping"--to enhance athletic performance. The editorialist states the only real concern should be safety because, it is claimed, we already permit "unnatural" forms of athletic training. Here's the meat of the matter from the ed... Secondhand Smoke blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1676918 Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:16:00 +0100 1676918 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1664183&cid=t_101624_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2008%2F07%2F29%2Fauditory-and-spatial-navigation-imagery-in-brain-computer-in.html Authors: Cabrera AF, Dremstrup K Features extracted with optimized wavelets were compared with standard methods for a Brain-Computer Interface driven by non-motor imagery tasks. Two non-motor imagery tasks were used, Auditory Imagery of a familiar tune and Spatial Navigation Imagery through a familiar environment. The aims of this study were to evaluate which method extracts features that could be best differentiated and determine which channels are best suited for classification. EEG activity from 18 electrodes over the temporal and parietal lobes of nineteen healthy subjects was recorded. The features used were autoregressive and reflection coefficients extracted using autoregressive modeling with several model orders and marginals of the wavelet spaces generated by the Discrete Wavelet ... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1664183 Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:17:47 +0100 1664183 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1630984&cid=t_101624_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2008%2F07%2F16%2Feinstein-s-brain-game.html Via MobileGames  The Walt Disney Internet Group has released the "Einstein's Brain Game". The game proposes 20 brain training exercises covering Einstein’s theories of relativity and ideas about the solar system. It features 4 categories - maths, memory, logic and visual coordination, as well as a bonus Sudoku puzzle game, to give the brain a thorough work-out.   (Source: Positive Technology Journal) Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1630984 Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:36:04 +0100 1630984 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1554436&cid=t_101624_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F005324.html Some people are tempted to use Ritalin (Methylphenidate) in order to boost their cognitive performance. But will it burn out your brain the way methamphetamine can? Ritalin does not appear... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1554436 Sun, 29 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1554436 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1518666&cid=t_101624_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2008%2F06%2F14%2Fsexbolt-saturday-please-sir-step-away-from-the-toad%2F Image details: Frog served by picapp.com Okay, this is one of those stories that sounds funny at first, but when you dig into the meat of it, it is soooo not funny. At all. If you’re in the New York City area and you’re feeling a little frisky, please do not try your hand at ingesting toad venom - a supposed aphrodisiac. This kind of sexual adventure actually killed a 35-year-old man recently, and as I see it, death is not at all worth a few moments in the sack. Agreed? This toad venom, sold illegally under the names Piedra, Love Stone, Jamaican Stone, Black Stone and Chinese Rock is being sold at sex shops and neighborhood stores. And oh, by the way, it is totally banned by the Food and Drug Administration. Good plan. True, the fella mentioned above ingested the venom, rather ... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1518666 Sat, 14 Jun 2008 11:30:06 +0100 1518666 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1478081&cid=t_101624_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation.com%2Fmotivational-enhancement-therapy%2F (MET) is a systematic intervention approach for evoking change in problem drinkers. It is based on principles of motivational psychology and is designed to produce rapid, internally motivated change. This treatment employs motivational strategies to mobilize the client’s own change resources. MET consists of four carefully planned and individualized treatment sessions. The first two focus on structured feedback from the initial assessment, future plans, and motivation for change, The final two sessions at the midpoint and end of treatment provide opportunities for the therapist to reinforce progress, encourage reassessment, and provide an objective perspective on the process of change. The counselor seeks to develop a discrepancy in the client’s perceptions between current b... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1478081 Fri, 30 May 2008 13:16:02 +0100 1478081 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1461019&cid=t_101624_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FWomensBioethicsBlog%2F%7E5%2F295844062%2FD8nOKJTL6Tg%26hl%3Den It seems athletes are the theme of week -- Starting May 30, a movie about the chronic use of steroids in the United States, asks this question, among others: "If you had to take a drug with side... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Women's Bioethics Blog) Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1461019 Thu, 22 May 2008 13:52:22 +0100 1461019 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1368774&cid=t_101624_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F005132.html The science journal Nature asked its readers to take an online survey of cognitive enhancing drug use. 1400 responded and 20% reported using drugs for brain enhancement with methylphenidate (Ritalin)... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1368774 Sat, 12 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1368774 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1363753&cid=t_101624_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FWomensBioethicsBlog%2F%7E3%2F267831938%2Fnature-reports-use-of-brain-boosting.html According to a new report in Nature, one in five people surveyed have used drugs to boost their mental cognition - and while we know that most people using brain boosting drugs... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Women's Bioethics Blog) Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1363753 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:01:13 +0100 1363753 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1363862&cid=t_101624_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F267704516%2F Who’d have thunk it? Yet 27 percent admit to using prescription meds for non-medical reasons, according to a survey of 1,427 people who work at scientific institutions in more than 60 countries that was conducted by Nature. Which meds? Ritalin, the Provigil narcolepsy treatment, or beta blockers, which are used for cardia arrhythmia, but also have an anti-anxiety effect. The survey was triggered by a recent essay by a pair of behavioral neuroscientists who surveyed their colleagues on the use of drugs that purportedly enhance focus and attention. The survey found that one in five take the drugs to improve concentration, improving focus for a specific task and counteracting jet lag, behind ‘other.’ What as listed as other? partying, housecleaning and “to actually see if ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1363862 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 13:16:57 +0100 1363862 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1306115&cid=t_101624_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F252551054%2F This report defines the emerging brain fitness software market and analyzes the size and trends of its four customer segments. For top 10 highlights and to purchase the report at a 10% discount (before March 20th) click here: Report: The State of the Brain Fitness Software Market 2008 Brain Fitness News and Events NEWS FEATURE-Brain fitness seen as hot industry of the future (Reuters 03/12): The most comprehensive article we have seen so far covering this emerging field, based on our market report and with original reporting. Highly recommended read. Brain, Education and Health events: two great upcoming events. Learning & The Brain (April 26-29, 2008. Cambridge, MA) and Brain Health Accross the Lifespan (May 15th, 2008. San Francisco, CA). Hack your brain (NetworkWorld 03/05): ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1306115 Sun, 16 Mar 2008 17:58:25 +0100 1306115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1289347&cid=t_101624_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F248421555%2F If you are interested in education reform, social entrepreneurship and venture philantropy, grab a nice cap of tea or coffee and enjoy today's spectacular edition of the New York Times Magazine. Must read: insightful expert discussion on How Many Billionaires Does It Take to Fix a School System? Also: excellent pieces titled Self-Made Philanthropists, on how ProPublica was conveived and launched, and For Good, Measure, on the importance and challenges of measuring the return on social investments. Bonus: the newspaper's Week in Review section brings a throught-provoking article on Brain Enhancement Is Wrong, Right?, on the use of drugs for boosting brain performance. Am happy to report that no one in the Education articles suggested giving these drugs to millions of kids... brain enhan... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1289347 Sun, 09 Mar 2008 17:13:44 +0100 1289347 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1219930&cid=t_101624_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FWomensBioethicsBlog%2F%7E5%2F232275575%2Fcaplayer.swf If you've ever wondered what makes it your mom's chicken soup so special, this study, brought to you by the Institute of Noetic Sciences, suggests that it is the intentional love that goes into... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Women's Bioethics Blog) Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1219930 Sat, 09 Feb 2008 18:32:14 +0100 1219930 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1109995&cid=t_101624_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F203805359%2F A quick note to alert you of two very interesting, growing, and somehow linked debates: 1) Very insightful article on The Aging of the Baby Boomers: What Does It Mean for the Legal Profession (thank you, Stephanie!). Some quotes: - "As I pen this article, it seems as though I’m writing about someone else—the older worker. Age and aging, it seems, are in the eye of the one looking back at you in the mirror. I have this theory, especially as it pertains to men, that when we look in the mirror, we still see that 20 year-old stud who can leap tall buildings. But I know that my vertical leap is not what it used to be. The reality of aging in the legal profession is upon me and those of our generation." - "Also, the perception of how old is old varies depending on the job o... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1109995 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 06:25:41 +0100 1109995 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1075384&cid=t_101624_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F196312481%2F Very interesting collection of recent news...let's connect some dots 1) Great article titled Boom time for retirees writeDate( 1196878752000, 'Grey', '18:12', 9999999999999); (Financial Times) - "By 2015, boomers will have a net worth of some $26,000bn (£12,750bn, €17,670bn) – equivalent to a year’s gross domestic product for the US and eurozone combined. They will control a larger proportion of wealth, income and consumption than any other generation in the country – the first time that consumers over 50 have held such sway over the world’s largest economy." - "But as the boomers aged – by 2015 they will all be outside the fabled under-49 cohort – corporate America failed to grow old with them. Marketing experts argue that the continued focus of large compan... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1075384 Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:26:32 +0100 1075384 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1048969&cid=t_101624_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2007%2F11%2F25%2Fcognitive-enhancement-on-bma.html Via Mind Hacks                                  The British Medical Association has just released a report on the ethical implications of using medical technology to enhance cognitive function and optimise the brain (Source: Positive Technology Journal) Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1048969 Sun, 25 Nov 2007 22:35:00 +0100 1048969 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853430&cid=t_101624_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2007%2F09%2F09%2Fmindfit.html Via SharpBrains  MindFit is a software-based assessment and training program for 14 cognitive skills important for healthy aging. The software is recommended for people over 50 who want a novel and varied mental workout. The program has 21 exercises that train 14 cognitive skills. MindFit was recently launched by Susan Greenfield, one of Britain's best-known neuroscientists Link to BBC report (Source: Positive Technology Journal) Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853430 Sun, 09 Sep 2007 19:46:25 +0100 853430 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=720419&cid=t_101624_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F004378.html Yawning is not contagious for those with cooler brains. Fifty per cent of people told to breathe normally or through their mouths yawned while watching other people yawn, while none... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=720419 Sun, 08 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 720419 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=481433&cid=t_101624_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2007%2F03%2F19%2Fmindfit-clinical-trial-results-announced.html Via Future-Making Serious Games   NEW YORK and YOQNEAM, Israel, March 16 /PRNewswire/   For the first time, a double-blind clinical trial has shown that computer-based training improves the cognitive functions of the 50-plus crowd. Against conventional wisdom, the computer training in MindFit(tm) cognitive skill assessment and training software, created by CogniFit, Ltd. http://www.cognifit.com), was found to improve short-term memory, spatial relations and attention focus--all skills used in driving and other daily activities that maintain our independence as we age. The trial was conducted at the Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center of Tel-Aviv University in Israel, where researchers are taking a leading role in the study of age-related disorders. During the two-year clinical trial... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=481433 Sun, 18 Mar 2007 23:22:33 +0100 481433 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=478722&cid=t_101624_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F03%2F16%2Fstill-unknown-but-not-so-significant%2F Filed under: Breast Cancer, Prevention, Cancer SurvivorsThe doctor who read my mammogram and ultrasound results today is the same doctor who detected in my recent MRI something of unknown significance. Today, the unknown remains. But the significance is not so significant.This doctor saw an unusual pattern of tissue in my right breast when she viewed my Friday MRI results, some sort of enhancement she didn't see in the left breast or on the MRI I had a year ago. But today's mammogram looked good and today's ultrasound did too. So I guess if three different imaging tests don't turn up anything truly suspicious and there doesn't appear to be anything to biopsy, then all is well. For now.All that must be determined now is when I will report back for more screening to chart the state of the de... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=478722 Fri, 16 Mar 2007 04:00:00 +0100 478722 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=463570&cid=t_101624_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2007%2F02%2F25%2Ftango-the-next-generation-of-assitive-communication-devices.html   Via Medgadget    A company called Blink Twice is developing a speech-generating device that promises to improve the way differently-abled children communicate with their world:   The tango! is an amazing communication aid that accomplishes all the amazing things you've seen in the emulation. It contains phrases, words, and spelling, all in easier-to-understand, digitally enhanced or synthesized voices. In a snap, it lets you create photo albums, do voice-morphing, and change icons using photos. The tango! is the first speech-generating device to bring the power of mass communications and consumer electronics to the world of AAC. It combines a broad array of communication methods, such as an intuitive language hierarchy, ingenious new icons, and easy-to-access pop-ups,... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=463570 Sun, 25 Feb 2007 11:35:00 +0100 463570