Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Feb 9, 2012, 8:00 am
Human intelligence is highly variable among people, but only somewhat variable across a person’s lifespan. New research points to genes as the keys to maintaining intelligence as we age. The study, published in Nature, analyzed the genes of nearly 2000 people to assess their intelligence in child...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Feb 6, 2012, 7:00 am
Normally, a nicotine patch on someone’s arm is evidence that they are trying to quit smoking. But, soon, nicotine patches may be appearing on arms of the cognitively impaired. A study published in the journal Neurology reported that transdermal nicotine administration improved the symptoms of cog...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Feb 3, 2012, 7:00 am
Astrocytes, the star-shaped glial cells in the brain, were long believed to play only supportive roles to the electrically active neurons involved in information processing in the brain. The past few decades, however, have seen an explosion of interest in and research on these cells. Scientists have...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Jan 31, 2012, 10:57 am
Diabetes is one of the world’s most widespread diseases, affecting some 250 million people worldwide and about 60 million new cases diagnosed each year. The know effects and complications of diabetes include changes in large and small blood vessels, which in turn can lead to peripheral neuropathy,...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Jan 27, 2012, 7:00 am
A few short decades ago, the most violent scenes we were exposed to in the media involved Wile E. Coyote and an anvil. The nightly news did not display graphic evidence of riots or murders or even war. Movies did not market themselves based on the amount of gunfire packed into two hours. Video games...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Jan 24, 2012, 7:00 am
Is intelligence fluid or crystalline? Is it a function of nature or nurture? Are you born smart, or is the power of your brain under no one’s control but your own? You might have cruised through classes at school, or you might have struggled and wondered how your peers managed to pass their class...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Jan 21, 2012, 7:00 am
Young children can be physically aggressive, owing to a combination of instinct, temperament, cultural and social influences, and (sometimes) not getting what they want. But, by the time most kids reach preschool age, they have learned to control their aggression with coping skills and relational te...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Jan 18, 2012, 7:00 am
The blood brain barrier (BBB) forms a tight security gateway between blood vessels and brain tissue. Blood flow throughout the brain is crucial to deliver the oxygen and nutrients required for the brain to function properly. Even though the brain comprises only about 2% of body mass, it is responsib...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Jan 15, 2012, 7:00 am
Anyone who has taken high school biology has probably heard one of the corniest biology jokes around: How do you tell a girl chromosome from a boy chromosome? Pull down its genes. While this has been a useful (if not really funny) mnemonic for teaching students about life science, now individuals ar...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Jan 12, 2012, 7:00 am
It’s no wonder many of us make New Year’s resolutions having to do with exercise. After all, starting around Halloween time (one can’t let the leftover candy go to waste, right?), blurring through Thanksgiving, and continuing on through Hanukkah/Christmas/Kwanza and New Year’s Day, most Amer...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Jan 9, 2012, 7:00 am
Salvia divinorum is a member of the mint family with known hallucinogenic properties which have been known for centuries. Historically it has been used in shaman rituals in the Oaxaca Mexico region. The psychoactive substance within salvia divinorum has been isolated and is called salvinorin A (salv...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Jan 6, 2012, 7:00 am
Microglia, the immune cells of the brain, were long thought to be rather boring cells that existed in only two states — resting and activated. It was long believed that in the healthy brain microglia lay waiting doing nothing until serious damage was detected. If the brain was infected or damaged,...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Jan 3, 2012, 7:00 am
Family caregivers are individuals who provide short-term, or long-term, unpaid care for family members with illnesses and/or impairments. Caring for a family member allows us to express love and concern for someone who cared for us. Yet caregiving for a family member can be strenuous, and not withou...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Dec 31, 2011, 7:00 am
In today’s economy, workers across all sectors are seeking steady, gainful employment. Likewise, employers are seeking productive, consistent workers. For individuals with mental illness, this may be an impossible job description to fill. A recent report published by the Organization for Economic ...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Dec 28, 2011, 7:00 am
If both the past and the external world exist only in the mind, and if the mind is controllable – what then? — George Orwell, in 1984 The concept of brainwashing was first used to describe certain obscure procedures carried out in early Communist China, but the idea of “cleansing the mind”...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Dec 25, 2011, 7:54 am
Gift-giving isn’t easy — particularly during the holidays, when there are so many different people for whom to buy. It’s overwhelming and stressful, and people cope with the burden in different ways. Some, like myself, begin lists in September, all the while picking up hints from others and ta...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Dec 24, 2011, 7:00 am
Major depression is a very common and debilitating. It is characterized by low mood, changes in sleeping patterns, changes in appetite, lack of energy and a very substantial loss of quality of life. Depression may not improve for long periods of time, often years, and that someone who has experience...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Nov 1, 2011, 8:00 am
First there was mystery. Why do women want to cuddle and men want to hit the road (after sex), then there was brain scanning and evolutionary psychology, and the mystery was no more. According to a groundbreaking study from the Journal of Sex Research, it would seem that when it comes to post-coital...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Oct 29, 2011, 8:00 am
Researchers recently reported that optimism may not be as rosy as once thought. In fact, optimism may actually be due to a brain malfunction. How is that for a glass-half-empty view of the world? Scientists at the Wellcome Trust Center for Neuroimaging at University College London enrolled 14 volun...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Oct 26, 2011, 8:00 am
There is an estimated shortage of 45,000 psychiatrists in the United States. A new survey highlights the factors that contribute to career dissatisfaction among these specialists, and notes that, owing to these issues, the shortage may not be filled any time soon. The study published in Psychiatric...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Oct 23, 2011, 8:00 am
Remove your opinion about that which appears to give you pain and you stand painless. — Marcus Aurelius Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. — Dalai Lama The insight of Marcus Aurelius and the Dalai Lama about the nature of pain alludes to the practical knowledge that physical pain can...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Oct 20, 2011, 8:00 am
The smell of coffee can rouse you out of bed; the taste of coffee can warm your soul. And, the caffeine in coffee can lower the risk of depression. In fact, a new study reports that the more coffee one drinks, the lower the risk. The study, conducted by Harvard University nutritionists and epidemio...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Oct 17, 2011, 8:00 am
Although procrastination is conceived as a problem by the scientific community, there is not much consensus regarding the nature of this issue. Scholars have been arguing for decades whether procrastination is a rather uncontrollable phenomenon that happens merely on a whim or if it can be classifie...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Oct 14, 2011, 8:00 am
Pet ownership confers a sense of belonging and acceptance. Many studies have hypothesized that owning and caring for a pet has qualitative psychological and physical benefits, but recent studies are quantifying these advantages. Pet owners have long reported better overall well-being compared to pee...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Oct 11, 2011, 8:00 am
It was only last month that we learned how shared negative opinions and attitudes can result in the formation of speedy and genuine relationships between people. Now there’s research to show that a pessimistic outlook might be better for mental health overall. Before you take this as your cue to w...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Oct 8, 2011, 10:31 am
Testosterone is the primary human male reproductive hormone; it promotes the development of reproductive tissues and confers secondary sexual characteristics, such as increased muscle and bone mass and increased body hair. New research suggests that testosterone levels are also correlated to fatherh...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Oct 4, 2011, 8:00 am
The Internet has become a place to do almost everything — work, play, organize, and communicate. In recent years, the Internet has also become a place where people can obtain cognitive behavioral therapy for a variety of mental health conditions. According to new research, motivation is essential ...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Oct 1, 2011, 8:00 am
Physical activity and a healthy lifestyle are vital to physical performance, maintaining a healthy body and preventing a host of chronic conditions. Now, the same can be said for the brain. New research shows that brain exercises and a brain-healthy diet can improve cognitive performance. The study...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Sep 28, 2011, 8:00 am
When you meet someone for the first time, it’s only natural to assume that you’d like to put your best foot forward and leave a positive first impression. You might choose to do this by touching upon topics like your favorite music and movies. You might, if this goes well, move on to more profou...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Sep 25, 2011, 8:23 am
Omega-3 fatty acids have long been associated with improved cardiovascular health. More recently, these polyunsaturated fatty acids, including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have been identified as essential to mental health as well. Specifically, a new study of military personnel published by the Jour...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Sep 21, 2011, 8:46 pm
... emotional dependence, loss of self-control and other potentially dangerous behavior patterns. ... cocaine addiction; andthe insular cortex and the anterior cingulate, both associated ... song. References Aron A., Aron E. Love and sexuality. In: Sexuality ... ; Mashek D (2010). Reward, ...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Sep 17, 2011, 10:25 am
The history of medical students using human cadavers for dissection is a long and choppy one (no pun intended). Before Christianity, mutilation and use of human corpses was widespread. It is common knowledge that ancient Egyptians mummified their dead, dissecting and preserving specific organs. Afte...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Sep 11, 2011, 7:50 pm
Music is the language of the soul. Where words end, music begins. Now, a review article suggests that where modern medicine ends, music begins. The review evaluated 30 trials that included almost 2,000 cancer patients who received music therapy in concert with traditional treatment. Overall, music ...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Sep 8, 2011, 3:50 am
Social neuroscience is a rapidly growing discipline that examines the relationship between the brain and social behavior. The “social brain hypothesis” posits that, over evolutionary time, living in large, social groups favored the physical growth of brain regions important for social behavior. ...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Sep 3, 2011, 8:00 am
Antidepressant medications are among the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States – one of the top three, depending on who is counting — owing to a dramatic rise in antidepressant use in the last 10 to 15 years. A new health policy report finds, however, that this increase in antidepr...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Aug 31, 2011, 8:00 am
Mom’s meatloaf. Grandma’s apple pie. Macaroni and cheese. Chocolate chip cookies. What do these foods have in common? Comfort. Beyond the nostalgia that comes with eating some of America’s favorite foods, they are enjoyable to eat and they make us feel better. Sadly, they are also full of fat....
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Aug 28, 2011, 8:00 am
While Toni Collette may have pulled off making dissociative identity disorder (DID) look glamorous and sexy in the recently cancelled Showtime series United States of Tara, the reality of this disorder is much more complex. As fun as it is to watch an actress play five different parts in one show, f...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Aug 25, 2011, 8:00 am
As developed nations around the world have attempted to deinstitutionalize mental health care, the number of beds available for inpatient treatment has declined. A recent survey of mental health care reported that the decrease in bed space leads to more involuntary admissions for mental health care....
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Aug 22, 2011, 8:00 am
If there is anything I know a lot about, it’s persuasion. I don’t mean to say that I am a genius sales person or politician, but I had a big lesson about psychotherapy some years ago. I edited a book about persuasion and did a lot of literature research in the process. I realized just how many p...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Aug 20, 2011, 8:00 am
Humans have been cutting open cadavers and dissecting corpses almost since the beginning of recorded human history. Ancient Egyptians went to great lengths to mummify their dead, including cutting open bodies, dissecting out organs, and preserving remains. Following closely in their footsteps, ancie...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Aug 18, 2011, 7:00 am
Recently, two studies reported that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a common class of antidepressant medication, increase the risk for congenital malformations and developmental disorders among children when taken by mothers during pregnancy. The first study, published in Obstetric...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Aug 13, 2011, 8:00 am
According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO) published in Lancet, mental health disorders account for nearly half of the disease burden in the world’s adolescents and young adults. Young people aged 10 to 24 years equal 27% of the world’s population. This age group is important in ...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Aug 10, 2011, 8:00 am
Being a parent of a child with a developmental disorder has to be one of the most stressful and challenging of all human experiences. Looking after someone afflicted with such a disorder is difficult not only because of the direct symptoms of the disorder but also because of the indirect effects tha...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Aug 7, 2011, 8:00 am
A positive affect — the hallmark of overall well-being — is associated with improved health and success in many areas of life. Now, it may also predict survival. Positive affect is a psychological state of experiencing joy, happiness, excitement, enthusiasm, and contentment. In contrast, a nega...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Aug 4, 2011, 8:00 am
When most people think of torture, the first thing that comes to mind is unimaginable, unendurable pain. Physical pain is, however, the one thing that tends to remain in the torture chamber, the hidden cells of illegal prisons after the victim has left. As terrible as the physical after effects of t...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Aug 1, 2011, 8:00 am
Language can reveal, or conceal, the soul. Words express thoughts, share emotions, and foretell actions. Now, speech can predict victory in boxing matches. It is probably fair to say that few boxers are considered masters of the spoken word. But, researchers in Arkansas recently presented results o...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Jul 29, 2011, 8:00 am
You watch the world bang door after door in your face, numbly, bitterly. You have forgotten the secret you knew, once, ah, once, of being joyous, of laughing, of opening doors. — Sylvia Plath Depression is generally associated with a poor intellectual and physical performance. The assumption tha...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Jul 26, 2011, 8:00 am
Painful emotional memories may not be permanent, according to researchers from the University of Montreal. Manipulating hormone levels can decrease the recall and reconsolidation of negative memories. Memories are continuously retrieved and reactivated, which keeps the memories alive. Researchers h...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Jul 23, 2011, 8:00 am
We are all familiar with the fuzzy feelings that accompany falling in love. You and your partner become emotionally connected, supported, and complete. Although human love is a complicated and long journey, scientists consistently find that the release of a specific neuropetide—oxytocin—may kick...
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Shaheen L. posted an article on Brain Blogger - Jul 20, 2011, 8:00 am
Stigmatization of mental health disorders leads to a decreased quality of life, missed opportunities, and lost independence for the affected individual. A new study reports that stigmatization also determines if and when people will seek mental health care for themselves. A large population-based s...
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