The New York Times has an excellent article about Giulio Tononi, one of the few neuroscientists trying to understand consciousness in a way that may have a direct practical application – to create a medical device that can tell whether you are conscious or not. To be honest, I’ve been a bit bored with consciousness, [...]
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September 21, 2010
Dreams of a consciousness measuring device
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September 20, 2010
Premenstrual Syndrome Can Be Prevented With Low-dose Prozac (Fluoxetine)
Taking low-dose Prozac (fluoxetine) for a few days during the premenstrual period shows promise in preventing the negative and emotional symptoms associated with PMS (premenstrual syndrome), neuroscientists at the University of Birmingham, England have revealed. PMS affects millions of women globally. The researchers say they have identified an organic cause for PMS. Dr...
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9 Vote(s)
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August 25, 2010
August 3, 2010
When memory-related region of brain is damaged, other areas compensate, study finds
Many neuroscientists believe the loss of the brain region known as the amygdala would result in the brain's inability to form new memories with emotional content. New research indicates this is not so, and suggests that when one brain region is damaged, other brain regions can compensate.
11 Vote(s)
11 Vote(s)
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June 12, 2010
Alzheimer’s brain protein may provide target for treating mental retardation
From the perspective of neuroscientists, Alzheimer's disease and Down syndrome have at least one thing in common: patients with both diseases have an accumulation of ²-amyloid protein in their brains. Scientists now provide evidence that drugs which help reduce the level of ²-amyloid in the brains of Alzheimer's patients may also work to treat mental retardation in Down syndrome.
9 Vote(s)
9 Vote(s)
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February 17, 2010
Human brain electrodes capture the twilight zone
Sleep is a nightmare for neuroscientists but a new study using electrodes implanted deep within the brains of people going about their daily lives has revealed that the brain falls asleep from the inside out, contrary to what was expected.Most neuropsychology studies require people to complete tasks while the brain is being monitored and the technologies that allow passive recording either only m
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9 Vote(s)
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January 13, 2010
Identifying thoughts through brain codes leads to deciphering the brain’s dictionary
Two hundred years ago, archaeologists used the Rosetta Stone to understand the ancient Egyptian scrolls. Now, a team of scientists has discovered the beginnings of a neural Rosetta Stone. By combining brain imaging and machine learning techniques, neuroscientists and computer scientists determined how the brain arranges noun representations. Understanding how the brain codes nouns is important fo
7 Vote(s)
7 Vote(s)
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December 28, 2009
Neuroscientists store information in isolated brain tissue; possible basis of short-term memory
For the first time, neuroscientists have created stimulus-specific sustained activity patterns in brain circuits maintained in vitro.
16 Vote(s)
16 Vote(s)
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December 3, 2009
Music and speech based on human biology, new evidence shows
A pair of studies by neuroscientists shows powerful new evidence of a deep biological link between human music and speech.
5 Vote(s)
5 Vote(s)
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November 6, 2009
The Politics of Psychopharmacology
It's always nice when a local boy makes good in the big wide world. Many British neuroscientists and psychiatrists have been feeling rather proud this week following the enormous amount of attention given to Professor David Nutt, formerly the British government's chief adviser on illegal drugs.Formerly being the key word. Nutt was sacked (...write your own "nutsack" pun if you must) last Friday,
14 Vote(s)
14 Vote(s)
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