brain

Genes Determine Whether Sugar Pills Work

admin — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:15:14 -0600

It is a well-known fact in drug trials that individuals can respond just as well to placebos, sugar pills, as to the active drug. On the other hand, it is difficult to explain why only certain people get better from placebos. Researchers have now found gene variants that can impact the placebo effect and a mechanism in the brain that characterizes those who respond to placebos.

Bound by attention: Bringing rats and humans together

admin — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:00:00 -0600

(Association for Psychological Science) When picking through a basket of fruit, it doesn't seem very difficult to recognize a green pear from a green apple. This is easy, thanks to "feature binding" -- a process by which our brain combines all of the specific features of an object and gives us a complete and unified picture of it.

Forgotten but not gone -- how the brain takes care of things

admin — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 23:00:00 -0600

(Max-Planck-Gesellschaft) Connections between nerve cells remain intact even when temporarily put out of service.

Seeing color in 'blindsight'

admin — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500

(Cell Press) By manipulating the brain non-invasively in a new way with magnetic stimulation, researchers have shown that they can restore some experience of color where before there was no visual awareness whatsoever. They report their findings in the Oct. 28 issue of Current Biology, a Cell Press publication.

How to Speed Read

admin — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 18:00:00 -0500

Most humans can't visually process more than 300 words per minute. But the pros can whip through 1,200 words in 60 seconds like a hot knife through a best-seller.

Methamphetamine Enters Brain Quickly And Lingers

admin — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 03:15:08 -0500

Using positron emission tomography to track tracer doses of methamphetamine in humans' brains, scientists find that the addictive and long-lasting effects of this increasingly prevalent drug can be explained in part by its pharmacokinetics -- the rate at which it enters and clears the brain, and its distribution.

Science in the News - Thursday 16 October 2008

admin — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:00:00 -0500

Neuroscientists have shown for the first time that an electronic connection between brain and muscles can restore movement to paralysed limbs.

Brain-nourishing Molecule May Predict Schizophrenia Relapse

admin — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:15:07 -0500

A factor that helps optimize brain formation and function may also provide clues about whether patients suffering with schizophrenia are headed toward relapse, researchers say.

Brain-nourishing molecule may predict schizophrenia relapse

admin — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500

(Medical College of Georgia) A factor that helps optimize brain formation and function may also provide clues about whether patients suffering with schizophrenia are headed toward relapse, researchers say.

Stabilizing force for good communication between neurons and mus...

admin — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500

(Medical College of Georgia) Stabilizing force for good communication between neurons and muscle cells foundYou can't raise a finger without your brain directing muscle cells, and scientists have figured out another reason that usually works so well.