Monday, November 12, 2007

The Frontal Cortex : The Subjectivity of Wine

The Frontal Cortex : The Subjectivity of Wine

I saw something similar to this some time ago, and here it is repeated with a great summary of some very intriguing research that debunks the idea of wine tasting.

All this really reinforces is that our senses are not a reflection of reality - they are tied to our brains and therefore subject to the interpretations of our brains (everything from past experience to expectations). Our interpretation of the world as determined by our sensory input simply cannot be 100% accurate as a basis of "reality" - our brains just don't allow for it.

Although, I did see a very limited experiment with a vodka expert where he accurately ranked the quality of vodka under blind tasting conditions (it was actually very impressive, 12 different vodkas all ranked perfectly in the order of quality). However, seeing as I don't drink alcohol, I have no frame of reference to determine if the two drinks (wine and vodka) have distinct enough properties where the tasting of them could yield such strangely different results. Also, the vodka experiment was one time with one individual, so there is no way to tell if that was just a random occurrence.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Does God answer prayer? ASU research says 'yes'

Does God answer prayer? ASU research says 'yes'

Not necessarily directly related to brain research, but it does fit loosely with some of the interests I have regarding brain research and spirituality.

Keep in mind that this isn't original research, this is a statistical analysis of prior research.

Entity vs. Incremental theory

The Mouse Trap: Theories of Intelligence : Entity Vs Incremental theory

Yet another fantastic educational post from The Mouse Trap - this will come in very handy when I'm teaching about Motivation this semester.

Practical psychology

PsyBlog: 10 Practical Uses For Psychological Research in Everyday Life

Another fantastic article. Students always ask "how does this apply in my life?" - well, here are 10 answers.

Mmmmm.....Online Brain maps......[drool]

Brain maps online

You have to love how geeky it is that I get excited about this.

10 Unsolved Mysteries Of The Brain | Mind & Brain | DISCOVER Magazine

10 Unsolved Mysteries Of The Brain | Mind & Brain | DISCOVER Magazine

Absolutely incredible article. I've printed it up into PDF and use it as an article for my students to read. It does a fantastic job of conveying exactly how mysterious the brain really is to modern science.

Quantum consciousness?

Neurophilosophy : A real physicist discusses the new quantum consciousness mode

I don't know nearly as much as I'd like to about this - but my immediate thought is that the mystery of consciousness is merely shifting from not being able to understand how the interaction of neurons to not being able to understand the spooky behavior (as coined by Einstein) of quantum mechanics.

Simply allocating it to quantum interactions really doesn't solve the problem of consciousness.

Of course, I'm guessing before I read the article or try and understand the field completely (not that I ever could) - but still. It reeks of the similar model for the start of life on Earth. Did it evolve organically sourced from the Earth itself, or was it seeded from outer space? Neither response solves the argument of how life started, it just changes the location.

Missing the point of Neurolaw

PsyBlog: "Neurolaw" is Dubious at Best

I think Jeremy Dean at PsyBlog is missing the point o "Neurolaw" - we study neuroscience and try to draw a vector to practical application in many different domains: education, social science, medicine, etc. - so why not law?

Drawing conclusions on one aspect of law (criminal prosecution) seems a bit narrow in scope. What about contract law, or copyright or divorce or hundreds of different other domains. Neuroscience has a lot of potential to address human interaction and development in any domain that required cognition (or doesn't require cognition for that matter). The fact that Jerome Bruner is interested in the field says quite a bit about its viability as well.

Philosophy of mind

Conscious Entities » Philosophy and Neuroscience

Fantastic commentary and links to other resource that discuss the link between Philosophy and Neuroscience. The point made is a good one - philosophy and neuroscience are inextricably intertwined. The mind is a nearly inscrutable object. Oh, we can see things in PET scans and similar tools, and we can test to discovery certain cognitive mechanisms, but the key points of what makes a mind a mind and not just another machine have so far eluded scientists. What is a thought, what is creativity, what is consciousness? These and a thousand other variations confound the ability of our current state of scientific inquiry.

So we rely on philosophy to answer those questions.

It's not the best answer, but it's the only one we have to work with in the scientific community at this time.

Brain Asymmetry

The comment I'm most interested in is talk about looking at brain asymmetry in relation to gender differences. I've seen a number of studies that show distinct differences in the areas of the brain used for different tasks between genders, it would be very interesting to be able to do a cross-cultural study on those differences to see if they appear to be genetic or environmental in nature.

The Mouse Trap: The right brain/ left brain asymmetry debate

What's the brain got to do with education?

Everything - that's what. However, there is some debate over whether or not understanding the mechanisms by which the brain functions can lead to a better understanding of how education works. This article addresses that issue to a limited extent.

What's the brain got to do with education?

It is a growing area of interest - how does all of the prolific brain research translate into actual practice in the classroom?

Hopefully that interest will translate into more research and more useful and effective educational practices.

Trouble deciding?

Lots of research in recent years on making choices - mostly configured around consumer choices, but the results of the research can be applied across multiple domains.

Trouble deciding?

Kind of a fun read.

Juvinile Academia

Okay, this has nothing whatsoever to do with brain science, but it's darned funny (juvenile, but funny):

The Chronicle: 7/20/2007: The Language of Farting

Free education

Looks like an effort underway in the land of the Brits to create a complete and completely free Open Online University is well on its way to becoming a reality:

BPS RESEARCH DIGEST: The even more Open University

Media Distortion

Jeremy Dean over at PsyBlog has written an extremely good post about the different ways that the media has distorted reporting on psychological studies over the years:

PsyBlog: Revealed: Eight Ways The Media Distorts Psychology

The comments are also worth reading as well.

My only question is, if the media does this for Psychology, how often and how similar is the media distortion for any other subject matter? Is it perhaps a psychological phenomenon that could be studied? Do they distort the elements of the story willfully with supposedly altruistic motives (make it more palatable or understandable to non-experts) or with more seedy motives (to create excitement and sensation to sell copy, or to force a story to fit a pre-determined paradigm)?

I'd be very curious to know if this is a phenomenon that has been studied to see what the reasons are from the media perspective.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

The Intersection: Science, Sex, and Success

The Intersection: Science, Sex, and Success

5 Tips to Maximize Your Ability to Concentrate | zen habits

5 Tips to Maximize Your Ability to Concentrate zen habits

FuturePundit: Sleep Deficiency Causes Emotional Overreaction

FuturePundit: Sleep Deficiency Causes Emotional Overreaction

Video game shown to cut cortisol

Video game shown to cut cortisol

Social stress + darkness = increased anxiety

Social stress + darkness = increased anxiety

Study provides first evidence of neural link between sleep loss and psychiatric disorders

Study provides first evidence of neural link between sleep loss and psychiatric disorders

Stress: Brain yields clues about why some succumb while others prevail

Stress: Brain yields clues about why some succumb while others prevail

FuturePundit: Twin Brain Scan Studies Find Genetic Influences On Intelligence

FuturePundit: Twin Brain Scan Studies Find Genetic Influences On Intelligence

Attention! How your brain manages its need to heed: Sciam Observations

Attention! How your brain manages its need to heed: Sciam Observations

Humans perceive others' fear faster than other emotions

Humans perceive others' fear faster than other emotions

God is in your mind: Sciam Observations

God is in your mind: Sciam Observations

Cognitive Daily: Children learn and retain math better using manipulatives

Cognitive Daily: Children learn and retain math better using manipulatives

PsyBlog: Avoid Email Miscommunication

PsyBlog: Avoid Email Miscommunication

What emotional memories are made of

What emotional memories are made of

Searching for God in the Brain: Scientific American

Searching for God in the Brain: Scientific American

Neurophilosophy : Pinky & the Brain's neuroanatomy song lyrics

Neurophilosophy : Pinky & the Brain's neuroanatomy song lyrics

Negativity is contagious, study finds

Negativity is contagious, study finds

How emotionally charged events leave their mark on memory

How emotionally charged events leave their mark on memory

Are women being scared away from math, science, and engineering fields?

Are women being scared away from math, science, and engineering fields?

Evolutionary Maths

Evolutionary Maths

Childhood TV viewing a risk for behavior problems

Childhood TV viewing a risk for behavior problems

PsyBlog: Men and Women Are Psychologically Very Similar

PsyBlog: Men and Women Are Psychologically Very Similar

PsyBlog: Men Happier Than Women? Another Bogus Sex Difference

PsyBlog: Men Happier Than Women? Another Bogus Sex Difference

Babies raised in bilingual homes learn new words differently than infants learning one language

Babies raised in bilingual homes learn new words differently than infants learning one language

The Intersection: Readers Saw Through My Framing Game

The Intersection: Readers Saw Through My Framing Game

Affective Teaching » Blog Archive » Harnessing Emotion to Boost Learning

Affective Teaching » Blog Archive » Harnessing Emotion to Boost Learning

BPS RESEARCH DIGEST: Why is learning slow?

BPS RESEARCH DIGEST: Why is learning slow?

The Frontal Cortex : Religion and Morality

The Frontal Cortex : Religion and Morality

Music training linked to enhanced verbal skills

Music training linked to enhanced verbal skills

The Cognitive Neuroscience of Human Communication

The Cognitive Neuroscience of Human Communication

New study discovers why few people are devoid of racial bias

New study discovers why few people are devoid of racial bias

Discovery Channel :: News - Human :: Head Size and IQ: Is There a Link?

Discovery Channel :: News - Human :: Head Size and IQ: Is There a Link?

School, family and community involvement are all needed to increase the activity levels of adolescen

School, family and community involvement are all needed to increase the activity levels of adolescen

Cognitive Daily: The curse of knowledge: Mistaking your beliefs for those of others

Cognitive Daily: The curse of knowledge: Mistaking your beliefs for those of others

Discovery Channel :: News - Human :: Intelligence: Do We Get It?

Discovery Channel :: News - Human :: Intelligence: Do We Get It?

MindMods CogSciTech Biofeedback & Neurofeedback Blog

MindMods CogSciTech Biofeedback & Neurofeedback Blog

A Blog Around The Clock : Yes, delay the school starting times

A Blog Around The Clock : Yes, delay the school starting times

To change a company practice, argue in language of target group

To change a company practice, argue in language of target group

Omni Brain : 'Political Brain' Author Responds

Omni Brain : 'Political Brain' Author Responds

MindMods CogSciTech Biofeedback & Neurofeedback Blog

MindMods CogSciTech Biofeedback & Neurofeedback Blog

Science To Life : To do or not to do?-the neuroscience of decision-making

Science To Life : To do or not to do?-the neuroscience of decision-making

The Frontal Cortex : The Surprises of Neuroscience

The Frontal Cortex : The Surprises of Neuroscience

PsyBlog: 10 Grateful Steps to Happiness

PsyBlog: 10 Grateful Steps to Happiness

Very young children can step into the minds of storybook characters

Very young children can step into the minds of storybook characters

Can consumers be confused into buying? Yes--and more easily than you think

Can consumers be confused into buying? Yes--and more easily than you think

The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature

The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature

Cognitive Daily: What's the best way to praise a child? Be specific.

Cognitive Daily: What's the best way to praise a child? Be specific.

collision detection: Study: "Cramming" hurts your ability to remember stuff in the long term

collision detection: Study: "Cramming" hurts your ability to remember stuff in the long term

The Frontal Cortex : The Political Brain

The Frontal Cortex : The Political Brain

Cognitive Daily: The claim: Politically liberal brains are better at handling change

Cognitive Daily: The claim: Politically liberal brains are better at handling change

BPS RESEARCH DIGEST: Investigating the role of genes in boys' and girls' science ability

BPS RESEARCH DIGEST: Investigating the role of genes in boys' and girls' science ability

Gray Matters: Persistence of Untruths and Inflexibility

Gray Matters: Persistence of Untruths and Inflexibility

PsyBlog: Practicing Gratitude Can Increase Happiness by 25%

PsyBlog: Practicing Gratitude Can Increase Happiness by 25%

Brain network related to intelligence identified

Brain network related to intelligence identified

Are We Predisposed to Political Beliefs?: Scientific American

Are We Predisposed to Political Beliefs?: Scientific American

The Frontal Cortex : The Gendered Brain

The Frontal Cortex : The Gendered Brain

Neurophilosophy : Differences in brain activity of conservatives & liberals

Neurophilosophy : Differences in brain activity of conservatives & liberals

Gray Matters: Religious Indoctrination and Child Abuse

Gray Matters: Religious Indoctrination and Child Abuse

Cognitive Daily: A new statistic begins to appear in journals: What the heck is a p-rep?

Cognitive Daily: A new statistic begins to appear in journals: What the heck is a p-rep?

Gray Matters: Emotion and Religiosity

Gray Matters: Emotion and Religiosity

Is “being mentally active” sufficient, for sustaining brain health? | On the Brain by Dr. Michael Merzenich, Ph.D.

Is “being mentally active” sufficient, for sustaining brain health? On the Brain by Dr. Michael Merzenich, Ph.D.

“What you do matters” ALSO applies (of course) if you’re a young’un! | On the Brain by Dr. Michael Merzenich, Ph.D.

“What you do matters” ALSO applies (of course) if you’re a young’un! On the Brain by Dr. Michael Merzenich, Ph.D.

Adult brain can change, study confirms

Adult brain can change, study confirms

Cognitive Daily: Insight into how children learn cultural values

Cognitive Daily: Insight into how children learn cultural values

PsyBlog: What is Courage?

PsyBlog: What is Courage?

Cognitive Daily: What's the best way to study for a test?

Cognitive Daily: What's the best way to study for a test?

Neurophilosophy : How the brain limits our ability to multitask

Neurophilosophy : How the brain limits our ability to multitask

Daytime sleep condenses the time course of motor memory consolidation - Nature Neuroscience

Daytime sleep condenses the time course of motor memory consolidation - Nature Neuroscience

Struggling male readers respond better to female teachers

Struggling male readers respond better to female teachers

Researchers pinpoint techniques for better learning

Researchers pinpoint techniques for better learning

Free will takes flight: how our brains respond to an approaching menace

Free will takes flight: how our brains respond to an approaching menace

Milestone in the regeneration of brain cells: Supportive cells generate new nerve cells

Milestone in the regeneration of brain cells: Supportive cells generate new nerve cells

Baby talk is universal

Baby talk is universal

Brain cells work differently than previously thought

Brain cells work differently than previously thought

Brain imaging reveals breakdown of normal emotional processing

Brain imaging reveals breakdown of normal emotional processing

The Frontal Cortex : Emotional Music

The Frontal Cortex : Emotional Music

BPS RESEARCH DIGEST: The even more Open University

BPS RESEARCH DIGEST: The even more Open University

The Frontal Cortex : Don't Read the Business Page

The Frontal Cortex : Don't Read the Business Page

Mixing Memory : Qualitative Physics and Qualitative Politics(?)

Mixing Memory : Qualitative Physics and Qualitative Politics(?)

Human knowledge is based upon directed connectivity between brain areas

Human knowledge is based upon directed connectivity between brain areas

Cognitive Daily: Even the musically untrained respond differently to new symphonic movements

Cognitive Daily: Even the musically untrained respond differently to new symphonic movements

Music moves brain to pay attention, Stanford study finds

Music moves brain to pay attention, Stanford study finds

Omni Brain : The Real Mozart Effect and why we should support music education

Omni Brain : The Real Mozart Effect and why we should support music education

Monday, October 22, 2007

Music hath charms to probe the brain's auditory circuitry

Music hath charms to probe the brain's auditory circuitry

BPS RESEARCH DIGEST: Teenagers' delinquency is associated with their attitudes to authority, not their moral development

BPS RESEARCH DIGEST: Teenagers' delinquency is associated with their attitudes to authority, not their moral development

PsyBlog: What is Guilt For?

PsyBlog: What is Guilt For?

Learning a second language -- Is it all in your head?

Learning a second language -- Is it all in your head?

Hand gestures dramatically improve learning

Hand gestures dramatically improve learning

Cognitive Daily: Multitasking and stress: What happens when we mix them together?

Cognitive Daily: Multitasking and stress: What happens when we mix them together?

My bad! Why we feel guilt in the first place

My bad! Why we feel guilt in the first place

Great expectations -- study looks at why placebo effect varies from person to person

Great expectations -- study looks at why placebo effect varies from person to person

Affective Teaching » Blog Archive » Motivating Students

Affective Teaching » Blog Archive » Motivating Students

A Blog Around The Clock : Sleep Schedules in Adolescents

A Blog Around The Clock : Sleep Schedules in Adolescents

PsyBlog: Loudest Voice = Majority Opinion

PsyBlog: Loudest Voice = Majority Opinion

Curriculum focused on cognitive skills may improve child behavior

Curriculum focused on cognitive skills may improve child behavior

Curriculum focused on cognitive skills may improve child behavior

Curriculum focused on cognitive skills may improve child behavior

Why Smart People Do Dumb Things

Why Smart People Do Dumb Things

Frequent brain stimulation in old age reduces risk of Alzheimer's disease

Frequent brain stimulation in old age reduces risk of Alzheimer's disease

Mixing Memory : When Do Children Think Wishes Can Come True?

Mixing Memory : When Do Children Think Wishes Can Come True?

Pharyngula: Brains are plastic, not hardwired

Pharyngula: Brains are plastic, not hardwired

Developing Intelligence : Quantifying the Unconscious: New Methods in fMRI Pattern Classification

Developing Intelligence : Quantifying the Unconscious: New Methods in fMRI Pattern Classification

Putting feelings into words produces therapeutic effects in the brain

Putting feelings into words produces therapeutic effects in the brain

The Frontal Cortex : Sex Education (Why It Doesn't Work)

The Frontal Cortex : Sex Education (Why It Doesn't Work)

Cognitive Daily: Learning: Is reinforcement required?

Cognitive Daily: Learning: Is reinforcement required?

Zeroing in on the brain's speech 'receiver'

Zeroing in on the brain's speech 'receiver'

The Frontal Cortex : The Paradox of Choice (Internet Version)

The Frontal Cortex : The Paradox of Choice (Internet Version)

Learning a sense of community online

Learning a sense of community online

Cognitive Daily: This is your brain ... on violent video games

Cognitive Daily: This is your brain ... on violent video games

Mixing Memory : Motivated Cognition in Relationships, or How Motivated Cognition Can Save Your Marriage

Mixing Memory : Motivated Cognition in Relationships, or How Motivated Cognition Can Save Your Marriage

BPS RESEARCH DIGEST: Sitting upright is psychologically good for men, but is it good for women?

BPS RESEARCH DIGEST: Sitting upright is psychologically good for men, but is it good for women?

The Mouse Trap: The faculty of Imagination: Neural substrates and mechanisms

The Mouse Trap: The faculty of Imagination: Neural substrates and mechanisms

Neuroscience and education « Neurophilosophy

Neuroscience and education « Neurophilosophy

The roots of grammar: New study shows children innately prepared to learn language

The roots of grammar: New study shows children innately prepared to learn language

Psychologist explains teens' risky decision-making behavior

Psychologist explains teens' risky decision-making behavior

Developing Intelligence : The Neuroscience of Imagination

Developing Intelligence : The Neuroscience of Imagination

Brain activity reflects differences in types of anxiety

Brain activity reflects differences in types of anxiety

The link between acoustics and 'emotion' may be hardwired

The link between acoustics and 'emotion' may be hardwired

Why Good Things Happen to Good People

Why Good Things Happen to Good People

A first -- Hebrew University scientist observes brain cell development in 'real time'

A first -- Hebrew University scientist observes brain cell development in 'real time'

The Frontal Cortex : Investing in Preschool

The Frontal Cortex : Investing in Preschool

BPS RESEARCH DIGEST: Meditation helps us make the most of our limited brain resources

BPS RESEARCH DIGEST: Meditation helps us make the most of our limited brain resources

Stereotype-induced math anxiety undermines girls' ability to perform in other academic areas

Stereotype-induced math anxiety undermines girls' ability to perform in other academic areas

Adult brain cells rediscover their inner child

Adult brain cells rediscover their inner child

New adult brain cells may be central to lifelong learning

New adult brain cells may be central to lifelong learning

Psychological bullying hits just as hard

Psychological bullying hits just as hard

Personality more important than job satisfaction in determining job performance success

Personality more important than job satisfaction in determining job performance success

BPS RESEARCH DIGEST: How to praise children

BPS RESEARCH DIGEST: How to praise children

PsyBlog: Achieving Rapport: Expressivity, Coordination and Flow

PsyBlog: Achieving Rapport: Expressivity, Coordination and Flow

The Mouse Trap: Moral Reasoning: two competing processes for intention and outcome identified

The Mouse Trap: Moral Reasoning: two competing processes for intention and outcome identified

Cognitive Daily: How to make your personal opinion seem "popular"

Cognitive Daily: How to make your personal opinion seem "popular"

Start school later in the morning, say sleepy teens

Start school later in the morning, say sleepy teens

Cognitive Ability Mostly Developed Before Adolescence, NIH Study Says: Scientific American

Cognitive Ability Mostly Developed Before Adolescence, NIH Study Says: Scientific American

Discovery Channel :: News - Health :: Brain Reaches Adult Levels by Age 12

Discovery Channel :: News - Health :: Brain Reaches Adult Levels by Age 12

Researchers reveal first images of brain changes associated with memory

Researchers reveal first images of brain changes associated with memory

A first glimpse at healthy brain and behavioral development

A first glimpse at healthy brain and behavioral development

A Blog Around The Clock : The Fly Buzz Continues

A Blog Around The Clock : The Fly Buzz Continues

Good Math, Bad Math : Free Will and Fruit Fly Behavior

Good Math, Bad Math : Free Will and Fruit Fly Behavior

Do fruit flies have free will?

Do fruit flies have free will?

Pioneering study maps attention, memory and language links in the human brain

Pioneering study maps attention, memory and language links in the human brain

'Might have been' key in evaluating behavior

'Might have been' key in evaluating behavior

BPS RESEARCH DIGEST: Mixing your teams up is key to group creativity

BPS RESEARCH DIGEST: Mixing your teams up is key to group creativity

Mixing Memory : Does Ceiling Height Affect the Way You Think?

Mixing Memory : Does Ceiling Height Affect the Way You Think?

Brains reflect sex differences

Brains reflect sex differences

Survey reveals brain differences between the sexes

Survey reveals brain differences between the sexes

PsyBlog: Busting The Myth 93% of Communication is Nonverbal

PsyBlog: Busting The Myth 93% of Communication is Nonverbal

Cognitive Daily: Cognitive psychologists taking emotions more seriously

Cognitive Daily: Cognitive psychologists taking emotions more seriously

Enhanced environment restores memory in mice with neurodegeneration

Enhanced environment restores memory in mice with neurodegeneration

Teens with migraine at greater risk of suicide

Teens with migraine at greater risk of suicide

Study shows children less prone to false memories, implications for eyewitness testimony

Study shows children less prone to false memories, implications for eyewitness testimony

Drama can help educate and motivate, research shows

Drama can help educate and motivate, research shows

Chronic fatigue syndrome impairs a person's slow wave activity during sleep

Chronic fatigue syndrome impairs a person's slow wave activity during sleep

Sleep deprivation can threaten competent decision-making

Sleep deprivation can threaten competent decision-making

The Frontal Cortex : Thinking During Sleep

The Frontal Cortex : Thinking During Sleep

Developing Intelligence : Lacking More Than Foresight: Do Children Even Comprehend Time?

Developing Intelligence : Lacking More Than Foresight: Do Children Even Comprehend Time?

Sleep enforces the temporal sequence in memory

Sleep enforces the temporal sequence in memory

Free will, law & the brain « Neurophilosophy

Free will, law & the brain « Neurophilosophy

Good behavior, religiousness may be genetic

Good behavior, religiousness may be genetic

Omni Brain : Fodor vs. Dennett - Against Darwinism

Omni Brain : Fodor vs. Dennett - Against Darwinism

Dr. Joan Bushwell's Chimpanzee Refuge : The ultimate mind-control site

Dr. Joan Bushwell's Chimpanzee Refuge : The ultimate mind-control site

Power naps enhance memory consolidation « Neurophilosophy

Power naps enhance memory consolidation « Neurophilosophy

Cognitive Daily: Body position affects memory for events

Cognitive Daily: Body position affects memory for events

Page 3.14 : Annoyed? Maybe You're Tired

Page 3.14 : Annoyed? Maybe You're Tired

Discovery Channel :: News - Health :: Child Care Linked to Bad Behavior

Discovery Channel :: News - Health :: Child Care Linked to Bad Behavior

NYT: New data on the problems of "multitasking" | 43 Folders

NYT: New data on the problems of "multitasking" 43 Folders

Experts: You Suck at Multi-Tasking, Hardcore

Experts: You Suck at Multi-Tasking, Hardcore

Early child care linked to increases in vocabulary, some problem behaviors in 5th and 6th grades

Early child care linked to increases in vocabulary, some problem behaviors in 5th and 6th grades

Brain fends off distractions

Brain fends off distractions

Self-regulation abilities, beyond intelligence, play major role in early achievement

Self-regulation abilities, beyond intelligence, play major role in early achievement

School achievement, perceptions of ability and interest change as children age

School achievement, perceptions of ability and interest change as children age

Autistic children can interpret mental states when facial expressions are animated

Autistic children can interpret mental states when facial expressions are animated

Infants learn from observing others' emotional behavior

Infants learn from observing others' emotional behavior

Reading problems are emotionally difficult for disadvantaged children

Reading problems are emotionally difficult for disadvantaged children

Preschool teacher education alone unlikely to improve classroom quality or learning

Preschool teacher education alone unlikely to improve classroom quality or learning

FuturePundit: Brain Limits Ability To Multitask Interruptions

FuturePundit: Brain Limits Ability To Multitask Interruptions

Cognitive Daily: Modeling a real brain

Cognitive Daily: Modeling a real brain

Mixing Memory : Seeing Red

Mixing Memory : Seeing Red

Omni Brain : Why low IQ kids are screwed.

Omni Brain : Why low IQ kids are screwed.

PsyBlog: Communicating Persuasively: Email or Face-to-Face?

PsyBlog: Communicating Persuasively: Email or Face-to-Face?

BPS RESEARCH DIGEST: Improve your memory: wiggle your eyes back and forth

BPS RESEARCH DIGEST: Improve your memory: wiggle your eyes back and forth

Is bigger better? Breast surgery linked to boost in self-esteem and sexuality

Is bigger better? Breast surgery linked to boost in self-esteem and sexuality

Educational video increases knowledge but not behavior

Educational video increases knowledge but not behavior

The Frontal Cortex : Can Exercise Make You Smarter?

The Frontal Cortex : Can Exercise Make You Smarter?

Does God answer prayer? ASU research says 'yes'

Does God answer prayer? ASU research says 'yes'

Associative memory -- learning at all levels

Associative memory -- learning at all levels

Using brain scans, researchers find evidence for a 2-stage model of human perceptual learning

Using brain scans, researchers find evidence for a 2-stage model of human perceptual learning

Omni Brain : Why IQ matters - a graph.

Omni Brain : Why IQ matters - a graph.

On the peculiarities of the Negro brain « Neurophilosophy

On the peculiarities of the Negro brain « Neurophilosophy

Research finds music training 'tunes' human auditory system

Research finds music training 'tunes' human auditory system

Omni Brain : Grunting, breathing hard and sweating makes you smarter

Omni Brain : Grunting, breathing hard and sweating makes you smarter

When your brain talks, your muscles don't always listen

When your brain talks, your muscles don't always listen

Subliminal advertising leaves its mark on the brain

Subliminal advertising leaves its mark on the brain

Psychologists find pursuit of happiness not a straight path

Psychologists find pursuit of happiness not a straight path

Omega-3s boost grey matter, findings may explain why omega-3s seem to improve mood

Omega-3s boost grey matter, findings may explain why omega-3s seem to improve mood

PsyBlog: Revealed: Eight Ways The Media Distorts Psychology

PsyBlog: Revealed: Eight Ways The Media Distorts Psychology

The Mouse Trap: Science and Religion revisited: a case for a universal spiritual grammar?

The Mouse Trap: Science and Religion revisited: a case for a universal spiritual grammar?

In obesity, brain becomes 'unaware' of fat

In obesity, brain becomes 'unaware' of fat

Neuroscientist records surprising brain 'dialogue' during sleep

Neuroscientist records surprising brain 'dialogue' during sleep

Scientists trying to read your mind - Science - MSNBC.com

Scientists trying to read your mind - Science - MSNBC.com

Brown scientists explain inception of perception in the brain

Brown scientists explain inception of perception in the brain

Toddler tests speak for themselves

Toddler tests speak for themselves

Journal Sleep: Sleep deprivation affects moral judgment

Journal Sleep: Sleep deprivation affects moral judgment

Cognitive Daily: Brain Maps: Free pictures of many, many brains!

Cognitive Daily: Brain Maps: Free pictures of many, many brains!

Revealing the machinery underlying the 'plastic' juvenile brain

Revealing the machinery underlying the 'plastic' juvenile brain

Brain maps online

Brain maps online

Genes and genius: Researchers confirm association between gene and intelligence

Genes and genius: Researchers confirm association between gene and intelligence

Brain works more chaotically than previously thought

Brain works more chaotically than previously thought

Studying Tactics for Happiness

NeuroInterests » Blog Archive » Studying Tactics for Happiness

Motivated Seeing? Motivation Affects Visual Perception

Mixing Memory : Motivated Seeing? Motivation Affects Visual Perception

LINK DUMP!!!!

Okay, I've been hoarding links for WAAAAYYYYYY too long. It's time to clean out the "Stared Items" list from Google Reader. My RSS feed list has continued to grow as I discover more and more great neuroscience/neuropsychology/brain related blogs and other sites.

So - once again we make the resolution: write more in response to the actual links I find.

I'm just lazy some days. I do enough with work and trying to get my PhD in place, so it's hard to devote the resources I'd like to this blog. Unfortunately it just isn't high enough on my priority list to merit that it stays active.

C'est la vie.

Let the Link Dump Commence! (around 300 links coming up!)

I'm so ashamed.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

The impact of words on visual attention and memory

Cognitive Daily: The impact of words on visual attention and memory

I've been fascinated by illusions for some time now, both visual and auditory, and the post linked above speaks pretty plainly about a link between audio and visual attention and how they can work together to direct our perception.

Monday, February 26, 2007

Link dump: completed

Okay - the link dump that was sitting around waiting for Blogger to get out of beta testing and finally muscle up the ability to have a working posting widget is finally over. I've caught up as much as I'm going to, so now, hopefully, I can get to doing some real posting on this site.

Promises, promises....

Your personality written in your eyes

BPS RESEARCH DIGEST: Your personality written in your eyes

Fixed versus growth intelligence mindsets: It’s all in your head, Dweck says

Fixed versus growth intelligence mindsets: It’s all in your head, Dweck says

Highly accomplished people more prone to failure than others when under stress

Highly accomplished people more prone to failure than others when under stress

Scientific literacy happens -- when students think for themselves

Scientific literacy happens -- when students think for themselves

Discovery Channel :: News - Human :: Genes and Fortune Determine Happiness

Discovery Channel :: News - Human :: Genes and Fortune Determine Happiness

Boosting brain power -- with chocolate

Boosting brain power -- with chocolate

Videogames Improve Vision by Rewiring Your Brain: BLOG: SciAm Observations

Videogames Improve Vision by Rewiring Your Brain: BLOG: SciAm Observations

ScienceToLife : The value of a nap

ScienceToLife : The value of a nap

Pure Pedantry : Unreal Tournament speeds visual processing, Tetris does not (is boring)

Pure Pedantry : Unreal Tournament speeds visual processing, Tetris does not (is boring)

Mind-set matters -- Why thinking you got a work out may actually make you healthier

Mind-set matters -- Why thinking you got a work out may actually make you healthier

Students who believe intelligence can be developed perform better

Students who believe intelligence can be developed perform better

Children's sleep problems can lead to school problems

Children's sleep problems can lead to school problems

Decision-making -- Demonstration of a link between cognition and execution

Decision-making -- Demonstration of a link between cognition and execution

Being around friends can impair your memory

Being around friends can impair your memory

Students: it's time to ditch the pre-exam all-nighter

BPS RESEARCH DIGEST: Students: it's time to ditch the pre-exam all-nighter

Decision making isn't always as rational as you think (or hope)

Decision making isn't always as rational as you think (or hope)

Cognitive Daily: A fifteen-minute exercise may help overcome a lifetime of racial stereotyping

Cognitive Daily: A fifteen-minute exercise may help overcome a lifetime of racial stereotyping

Page 3.14 : The Trouble With Teacher's Pet

Page 3.14 : The Trouble With Teacher's Pet

Stanford Prison Experiment Videos on YouTube: BLOG: SciAm Observations

Stanford Prison Experiment Videos on YouTube: BLOG: SciAm Observations

A review of cognitive enhancement technologies « Neurophilosophy

A review of cognitive enhancement technologies « Neurophilosophy

ScienCentral Video News: Baby Music

ScienCentral Video News: Baby Music

A web guide for psychology students

BPS RESEARCH DIGEST: A web guide for psychology students

Download coffee (or at least its effect) - Download Squad

Download coffee (or at least its effect) - Download Squad

BrainWave Generator - Download Squad

BrainWave Generator - Download Squad

Mixing Memory : People Prefer Curves

Mixing Memory : People Prefer Curves

Logic+Emotion: Macro Design

Logic+Emotion: Macro Design

Cognitive Daily: Brains can tell the difference between metaphor and irony

Cognitive Daily: Brains can tell the difference between metaphor and irony

What does it mean to have a mind? Maybe more than you think

What does it mean to have a mind? Maybe more than you think

Scientists bridging the spirituality gap - Science - MSNBC.com

Scientists bridging the spirituality gap - Science - MSNBC.com

Mixing Memory : Perceiving the Mind

Mixing Memory : Perceiving the Mind

Mixing Memory : Thinking Faster Makes You Feel Happy and Brilliant

Mixing Memory : Thinking Faster Makes You Feel Happy and Brilliant

The Mouse Trap: Moral Intuitions: Musings continued.

The Mouse Trap: Moral Intuitions: Musings continued.

A reason why video games are hard to give up

A reason why video games are hard to give up

The Frontal Cortex : The Neuroscience of Music

The Frontal Cortex : The Neuroscience of Music

TCS Daily - Two Strategies for Avoiding Truth

TCS Daily - Two Strategies for Avoiding Truth

New study challenges 'critical period' in childhood vision development

New study challenges 'critical period' in childhood vision development

Language center of the brain is not under the control of subjects who 'speak in tongues'

Language center of the brain is not under the control of subjects who 'speak in tongues'

Fathers influence child language development more than mothers

Fathers influence child language development more than mothers

Whipping therapy cures depression and suicide crises - Pravda.Ru

Whipping therapy cures depression and suicide crises - Pravda.Ru

Good information? It's not all about the brain

Good information? It's not all about the brain

Feelings of self-worth impacted by advertisements

Feelings of self-worth impacted by advertisements

study links emotions in play and memories

Case Western Reserve University study links emotions in play and memories

The brain can't ignore angry voices

BPS RESEARCH DIGEST: The brain can't ignore angry voices

Cognitive Daily: What we hear, and how it affects what we see

Cognitive Daily: What we hear, and how it affects what we see

Canadian study shows bilingualism has protective effect in delaying onset of dementia by four years

Canadian study shows bilingualism has protective effect in delaying onset of dementia by four years

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Mixing Memory : A Comprehensive Theory of Religious Cognition

Mixing Memory : A Comprehensive Theory of Religious Cognition

Does game violence make teens aggressive? - On the Level - MSNBC.com

Does game violence make teens aggressive? - On the Level - MSNBC.com

Why teens do stupid things

Why teens do stupid things

The Mouse Trap: Abstract vs Concrete: the two genders?( the catogorization debate)

The Mouse Trap: Abstract vs Concrete: the two genders?( the catogorization debate)

The Frontal Cortex : Creativity and Neuroscience

The Frontal Cortex : Creativity and Neuroscience

NeuroInterests » Blog Archive » Lack of sleep causes memory damage in hippocampus?

NeuroInterests » Blog Archive » Lack of sleep causes memory damage in hippocampus?

collision detection: Study: Languages change the way we perceive rhythm

collision detection: Study: Languages change the way we perceive rhythm

The message in advertising is irrelevant, new research shows

The message in advertising is irrelevant, new research shows

Efforts for whites to appear colorblind may backfire

Efforts for whites to appear colorblind may backfire

Virtual reality can improve memory -- perhaps too much

Virtual reality can improve memory -- perhaps too much

Learning during sleep?

Learning during sleep?

UGA researchers to study link between teacher professional development, student achievement

UGA researchers to study link between teacher professional development, student achievement

MRI shows brains respond better to name brands

MRI shows brains respond better to name brands

How to stop academics from drinking coffee - AlphaPsy

How to stop academics from drinking coffee - AlphaPsy

Cognitive Daily: Caffeine and concentration

Cognitive Daily: Caffeine and concentration

The Mouse Trap: Belief about Intelligence : how it affects performance and how it is formed

The Mouse Trap: Belief about Intelligence : how it affects performance and how it is formed

The Mouse Trap: Gender bias in Math skills : a case of Traits Vs. Environment/Effort feedback?

The Mouse Trap: Gender bias in Math skills : a case of Traits Vs. Environment/Effort feedback?

Enriching education throughout childhood pays big dividends for disadvanted

Enriching education throughout childhood pays big dividends for disadvanted

Watching TV can improve parenting and child behavior

Watching TV can improve parenting and child behavior

The Frontal Cortex : Visions of God

The Frontal Cortex : Visions of God

Mixing Memory : Gender Differences In Planning?

Mixing Memory : Gender Differences In Planning?

Study of language use in children suggests sex influences how brain processes words

Study of language use in children suggests sex influences how brain processes words

Why do black and Latino boys lag behind in math?

Why do black and Latino boys lag behind in math?

A stunning new look at déjà vu

A stunning new look at déjà vu

The Mouse Trap: Belief about Intelligence : how it affects performance and how it is formed

The Mouse Trap: Belief about Intelligence : how it affects performance and how it is formed

The Mouse Trap: Incongruence perception and linguistic specificity: a case for a non-verbal stroop test

The Mouse Trap: Incongruence perception and linguistic specificity: a case for a non-verbal stroop test

Starfall.com - teaching reading comprehension and phonics - Download Squad

Starfall.com - teaching reading comprehension and phonics - Download Squad

Speak, memory: Research challenges theory of memory storage

Speak, memory: Research challenges theory of memory storage

Children's sleep difficulties: Reports differ from children to parents

Children's sleep difficulties: Reports differ from children to parents

Adolescents, risks and the pitfalls of rationality

Adolescents, risks and the pitfalls of rationality

Mysterious 'neural noise' actually primes brain for peak performance

Mysterious 'neural noise' actually primes brain for peak performance

The Mouse Trap: Gender bias in Math skills : a case of Traits Vs. Environment/Effort feedback?

The Mouse Trap: Gender bias in Math skills : a case of Traits Vs. Environment/Effort feedback?

Mixing Memory : Color Memory Changes Color Perception

Mixing Memory : Color Memory Changes Color Perception

Mixing Memory : Color Memory Changes Color Perception

Mixing Memory : Color Memory Changes Color Perception

Mixing Memory : Motivated Seeing? Motivation Affects Visual Perception

Mixing Memory : Motivated Seeing? Motivation Affects Visual Perception

Creating Passionate Users: Why does engineering/math/science education in the US suck?

Creating Passionate Users: Why does engineering/math/science education in the US suck?

Sex Differences in Cognition: a primer - AlphaPsy

Sex Differences in Cognition: a primer - AlphaPsy

Math animations illustrate research, herald new era in visualization

Math animations illustrate research, herald new era in visualization

Fusing psychology and neuroscience

BPS RESEARCH DIGEST: Fusing psychology and neuroscience

Retrospectacle: A Neuroscience Blog

Retrospectacle: A Neuroscience Blog

Mail Tribune - Sleep: it's required - October 24, 2006

Mail Tribune - Sleep: it's required - October 24, 2006

Poor readers have higher risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior

Poor readers have higher risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior

Fathers influence child language development more than mothers

Fathers influence child language development more than mothers

Toddlers learn complex actions from picture-book reading, says new research

Toddlers learn complex actions from picture-book reading, says new research

Brain Scans While Speaking In Tongues

FuturePundit: Brain Scans While Speaking In Tongues

Scientists use gene therapy to improve memory and learning in animals

Scientists use gene therapy to improve memory and learning in animals

Why do we stick to our bad habits?

Why do we stick to our bad habits?

Risk in social science

Risk in social science

Visual skills could hold key to boosting people's work confidence

BPS RESEARCH DIGEST: Visual skills could hold key to boosting people's work confidence

FuturePundit: Electric Current Deepens Sleep And Improves Memory

FuturePundit: Electric Current Deepens Sleep And Improves Memory

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Heavy, chronic drinking can cause significant hippocampal tissue loss

Heavy, chronic drinking can cause significant hippocampal tissue loss: " * The hippocampus, a brain structure vital to learning and memory, is likely vulnerable to damage from heavy and chronic alcohol consumption.
* A new study has found a reduction in total hippocampus volume among alcoholics.
* This suggests that heavy drinking can cause significant hippocampal tissue loss.

The hippocampus is a brain structure vital to learning and memory. It also appears vulnerable to damage from chronic, heavy alcohol consumption. An examination of alcohol's effects on the hippocampus has found that heavy drinking can reduce total hippocampus volume, which likely reflects a loss of hippocampal tissue substance.

Results are published in the November issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research."

Behavioral and emotional problems common among children with developmental disabilities

Behavioral and emotional problems common among children with developmental disabilities: "Children and adolescents with developmental disabilities often have emotional and behavioral problems, and these problems can persist as the person grows older, according to a study in the October 25 issue of JAMA."

Alcoholism may cause decreased density of neurons in the orbitofrontal cortex

Alcoholism may cause decreased density of neurons in the orbitofrontal cortex: "Researchers do not, however, find a link to death by suicide among alcoholics

* The orbitofrontal cortex (ORB) may play an important role in risky decision making, impulsive behaviors, and disturbances in reward processing that tend to accompany addiction.
* Researchers examine if functional alterations in the ORB may be linked to suicide among alcoholics.
* Alcoholism appears to cause a decrease in the overall density of neurons in the ORB, but this does not appear to be related to death by suicide among alcoholics."

Friday, January 05, 2007

Adolescent brains are insensitive to alcohol for a short time, but at great cost

Adolescent brains are insensitive to alcohol for a short time, but at great cost: "The adolescent ability to quickly develop alcohol tolerance allows for greater abuse of alcohol

* Adolescent brains can compensate for some of alcohol’s effects, including intoxication and hangover.
* New findings indicate they are also less impaired by alcohol’s effects on social inhibition. Adolescent brains can compensate for some of alcohol’s effects, including intoxication and hangover.
* New findings indicate they are also less impaired by alcohol’s effects on social inhibition.
* However, this ability to have more drinks per occasion will also likely lead to alcohol abuse."

Electronic chip, interacting with the brain, modifies pathways for controlling movement

Electronic chip, interacting with the brain, modifies pathways for controlling movement: "Researchers at the University of Washington (UW) are working on an implantable electronic chip that may help establish new nerve connections in the part of the brain that controls movement. Their most recent study, to be published in the Nov. 2, 2006, edition of Nature, showed such a device can induce brain changes in monkeys lasting more than a week. Strengthening of weak connections through this mechanism may have potential in the rehabilitation of patients with brain injuries, stroke, or paralysis."

Catching Up Time

Just a warning - I will be shortcutting and posting a WHOLE BUNCH of posts that have been sitting in my box waiting for me to do something with them.

Nothing pretty, just an info dump for a while here.

Brace yourself.