Coke versus Pepsi: who cares?

Coke versus Pepsi: It's all in the head

Well, our brains care apparently, or, at least, our culturally based perception of branding. Marketing folks, take note!

Bandura strikes again

Human see, human do

Seems that modeling is pretty powerful as a learning tool. Which we already knew.

Prenatal alcohol exposure and brain development

Prenatal alcohol exposure can lead to lasting changes in cognitive processing

Seems that alcohol exposure (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) for a fetus affects brain development by slowing down processing.

Just one more reason not to drink when you're pregnant.

Erotic images can blind you

New Scientist Breaking News - Erotic images can turn you blind

I know what you're thinking - but just read the article. It basically is saying that certain types of erotic (or even "exotic") images grab your attention more aggressively and hold it, basically creating a temporary bottleneck of sensory perception. The effect also seems to be greater for some individuals and lesser for others. Thrill seekers (extreme sports enthusiasts) for example don't seem to be affected as much.

Being able to generating that type of bottleneck for less erotic subject matter (read: public education curriculum) would seem to be a fantastic way to generate long-term learning.

Symbolic thinking

Scientific American: Mindful of Symbols
A well presented article that talks about how children are able to think symbolically and the difficulities they encouter in trying to transition to that type of thinking.

In defense of common sense

In the NYTimesIn Defense of Common Sense - a shorter version of John Horgan's book The End of Science.

He makes some very interesting points regarding "brain resesearch" and psychology in general. Worth a read.

Scientists uncover how brain retrieves and stores older memories

Scientists uncover how brain retrieves and stores older memories

Scientists Pinpoint Where Old Memories Are Stored

Scientists Pinpoint Where Old Memories Are Stored

Evidence That Memories are Consolidated During Sleep

Evidence That Memories are Consolidated During Sleep

The (brain) stuff of which dreams are made

The (brain) stuff of which dreams are made

Related stories here and here.

Old habits, both good and bad, are hard to break, suggests study of human memory

Old habits, both good and bad, are hard to break, suggests study of human memory

How the brain creates false memories

How the brain creates false memories

Sleep in - it's good for you

At least...if you're a teenager. High school start times deprive teens of sleep, affect academic performance

Nature determines religiosity?

Some scientists think so.

Violence at a young age

Apparently, some researchers think that humans are at their most violent when they are 2 yrs old.
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Stress and aggression reinforce each other at the biological level

Stress and aggression reinforce each other at the biological level

Our brains aren't computers

While this may not entirely be a "duh" moment, research suggests that our minds don't process the same as computers. Computers work in packets of info, and brains seem to process continually.

The bionic man/monkey

While not technically on topic with my normal posts, I think this technology is totally cool. Apparently they've installed robotic arms on monkeys, and they work just dandy. Now, they want to do the same thing for humans.

Now, while a robotic arm might not be the newest cool thing, the fact that these arms are wired directly to the brain IS new - and that's what makes it so cool.

Nasal spray clears Alzheimer’s brain plaques

Wow, and here I thought it only helped me breathe better when I get sick. Turns out that nasal spray can do so much more: Nasal spray clears Alzheimer’s brain plaques.

Computer brain

Prediction: this little project will teach us nothing except what we think we already know about the brain.

In other words - it will teach us nothing new about the brain, but might serve to teach us some interesting things that happen when you program/build computers in novel ways.

Attention allocation

As practiced by Buddhist monks anyhow.

Subliminal learning

It looks like we may have identified a neurological mechanism for it - so maybe it isn't the bunk some say it is.

Time will tell.

So, this guy walks into this internet class....

Seems that humor used in online classes enhances learning - or so it seems.

Break out the joke book.

Familiar songs act as memory cues

Hmmm - maybe music in the classroom isn't such a bad idea.

APA: First Graders' Behavior Problems Linked to Caffeinated Cola

Well,duh.

Another example of research that seems so completely obvious once you see it, yet nobody did it until now.

His brain...Her brain

An interesting article if there ever was one.

Rising IQ scores

If you ignore the fact that an I.Q. score is an artificial construct of intelligence, then this article is quite interesting.

I'll buy it to some extent. I have no problem with video games and I do think they have a definite positive effect on developing eye-hand coordination and can help in some types of problem solving. They are not, however, a global development tool - a good development tool for very specific areas yes, global, no.

Where the music is...

So, can they locate and remove some of the more annoying songs? Like say "Who let the dogs out"?

Brain of a Blogger

YES!

Interesting thoughts on neuroscience

Rand Simberg (normally a space guru, but also a technophile and science nerd - in the best possible meaning of the term) has some very interesting thoughts on the future of neuroscience.

His comments revolve around ethical concerns with potential future developments like therapies and enhancements.

I neither agree nor disagree with his thoughts, I merely point them out as being worth thinking about.