Sunday, October 30, 2011

Drugs and the Disorganized Mind


How cannabis causes 'cognitive chaos' in the brain

ScienceDaily (2011-10-25) -- Cannabis use is associated with disturbances in concentration and memory. New research by neuroscientists in the UK has found that brain activity becomes uncoordinated and inaccurate during these altered states of mind, leading to neurophysiological and behavioral impairments reminiscent of those seen in schizophrenia. ... > read full article

The Brain Thinks Dreams Are Real


Scientists measure dream content for the first time: Dreams activate the brain in a similar way to real actions

ScienceDaily (2011-10-28) -- The ability to dream is a fascinating aspect of the human mind. However, how the images and emotions that we experience so intensively when we dream form in our heads remains a mystery. Up to now it has not been possible to measure dream content. Scientists in Germany have now succeeded, for the first time, in analyzing the activity of the brain during dreaming. ... > read full article

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Slower Growth of Connections in the Brain for Autistic Kids


Autistic brains develop more slowly than healthy brains, researchers say

ScienceDaily (2011-10-20) -- Researchers have found a possible explanation for why autistic children act and think differently than their peers -- for the first time, they show that the connections between regions of the brain that are important for language and social skills grow much more slowly in boys with autism, when compared to healthy children. ... > read full article

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Teen IQ Instability: Developmental Changes in the Brain Impact IQ


Brain scans support findings that IQ can rise or fall significantly during adolescence

ScienceDaily (2011-10-20) -- IQ, the standard measure of intelligence, can increase or fall significantly during our teenage years, according to new research, and these changes are associated with changes to the structure of our brains. The findings may have implications for testing and streaming of children during their school years. ... > read full article

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Ever Heard of Drunkorexia? Another Twist on Addictive Consumption


Drunkorexia: A recipe for disaster

ScienceDaily (2011-10-17) -- It is well-known that eating disorders are common among teens and college students. Heavy alcohol consumption is another well-known unhealthy habit of this age group. A new study shows that when college students combine these two unhealthy habits, their long-term health may be affected. "Drunkorexia" is a new term coined by the media to describe the combination of disordered eating and heavy alcohol consumption... read full article

Friday, October 14, 2011

Do Schizophrenics Really Hear Voices...Maybe?


Schizophrenia genetics linked to disruption in how brain processes sound

ScienceDaily (2011-10-14) -- What links genetic differences to changes in altered brain activity in schizophrenia is not clear. Now, three labs have come together using electrophysiological, anatomical, and immunohistochemical approaches -- along with a unique high-speed imaging technique -- to understand how schizophrenia works at the cellular level, especially in identifying how changes in the interaction between different types of nerve cells leads to symptoms of the disease. ... > read full article