Let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. —1 John 4:7 read more
Selected by liveonpurpose
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Most Topular Stories
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Other People Matter: From Birth to Death
The Good Life6 Feb 2012 | 5:25 pm -
Quiz: How Fun Is Your Workplace? Your Home?
The Happiness Project8 Feb 2012 | 11:31 amIn The Levity Effect: Why it Pays to Lighten Up, Adrian Gostick and Scott Christopher make an interesting argument that “levity” is an extremely effective tool for helping people to work better. An atmosphere of light-heartedness, it turns out, helps people pay attention, eases tensions, and enhances a feeling of connection. When I read this, I thought, “Well, levity would be tough for me, I’m not particularly funny, and I’m not particularly outgoing.” But what the authors mean by “levity” is really a sense of lightness. It's less about being funny and more about being able to… -
Drinking has the same effect as exercise and laughing
innate-intelligence.com.au13 Jan 2012 | 11:38 amDRINKING alcohol makes people feel better because it produces the same chemicals in the brain as exercising and laughing, a study has proved for the first time. Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/technology/sci-tech/science-proves-alcohol-is-fun-20120112-1pxj7.html#ixzz1jMvpmH81 -
Blog Post » The Long Paths to Breakthroughs
NIMH | Recent Updates7 Feb 2012 | 2:14 pmDr. Insel talks about how basic research can lead to potential treatments. -
Study to determine whether fish oil can help prevent psychiatric disorders
ScienceDaily: Mental Health News8 Feb 2012 | 10:30 amA new study was designed to test whether Omega-3 fatty acids improve clinical symptoms, and help adolescents and young adults (ages 12 to 25) who are at elevated risk for severe psychiatric disorders function better in school, work and other social environments.
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The Good Life
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Other People Matter: From Birth to Death
6 Feb 2012 | 5:25 pmLet us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. —1 John 4:7 read more -
Another Morning With President Obama
28 Jan 2012 | 6:54 amSome while ago, I wrote a blog entry about the 2010 University of Michigan Commencement Address by Barack Obama. At the time, I thought that hearing a standing President speak would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me. I was wrong, because he spoke in Ann Arbor on Friday, January 27, 2012, and I was among the 4000 people in attendance.read more -
On the Virtue of Compromise
25 Jan 2012 | 7:29 amThe word compromise is used in two different senses, one typically positive and the other typically negative. The good sense of compromise is finding a common ground with another person.The bad sense is being untrue to your core values and beliefs.read more -
Are We as Bad as the Worst Thing We’ve Ever Done?
20 Jan 2012 | 6:29 amPoliticians and everyday people are certainly capable of doing bad things, and most of us do a few of these during our lives. The issue I would like to raise is whether it makes sense to judge a person solely on the basis of the worst thing he or she has ever done.read more -
The Face of Leadership
10 Jan 2012 | 6:44 amA "gee whiz" study was recently described by Elaine Wong, Margaret Ormiston, and Michael Haselhun (2011). These researchers were able to predict the financial success of Fortune 500 companies from the facial width-to-height ratio (WHR) of the CEO. That is, how wide was the CEO's face relative to how long it was?read more
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The Happiness Project
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Quiz: How Fun Is Your Workplace? Your Home?
8 Feb 2012 | 11:31 amIn The Levity Effect: Why it Pays to Lighten Up, Adrian Gostick and Scott Christopher make an interesting argument that “levity” is an extremely effective tool for helping people to work better. An atmosphere of light-heartedness, it turns out, helps people pay attention, eases tensions, and enhances a feeling of connection. When I read this, I thought, “Well, levity would be tough for me, I’m not particularly funny, and I’m not particularly outgoing.” But what the authors mean by “levity” is really a sense of lightness. It's less about being funny and more about being able to… -
Do You Have The "Quality Of Keeping People Together"?
6 Feb 2012 | 8:11 amAssay: Recently, when I was rereading Gertrude Stein's The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, I was very struck by this observation about the French poet Guillaume Apollinaire: The death of Guillaume Apollinaire at this time made a very serious difference to all his friends apart from their sorrow at his death. It was the moment just after the war when many things had changed and people naturally fell apart. Guillaume would have been a bond of union, he always had a quality of keeping people together, and now that he was gone everybody ceased to be friends. The "quality of keeping people… -
"Quiet Minds Cannot Be Perplexed Or Frightened."
5 Feb 2012 | 6:40 am“Quiet minds cannot be perplexed or frightened, but go on in fortune or misfortune at their own private pace, like a clock during a thunderstorm.” --Robert Louis Stevenson I love the simile of a "clock in a thunderstorm." It makes me feel calmer, just to imagine that image. * Check out the Happiness Project Toolbox: eight free tools to help you track your own happiness project. -
A Secret To More Happiness And Energy? Give Yourself A Bedtime.
3 Feb 2012 | 11:28 amAs a result of my happiness project, I've become a sleep zealot. It's just so obvious to me—from reading the research and from personal experience—that getting enough sleep is a key to a happier life. I've noticed something, however. I noticed this in myself, before I became such a sleep nut, and I see it in the people around me: most adults don't give themselves a bedtime. Children have a fixed bedtime; we know they need their allotment of sleep, and we pack them off to bed when it's time. But many adults just go to bed whenever they feel like it. The problem with this approach is that… -
"There's Nothing Like The Comfort Of My Bed To Restore Me To My Happiness."
2 Feb 2012 | 7:06 pmHappiness interview: Agapi Stassinopoulos. Through a mutual friend, I e-met Agapi Stassinopoulos. She has a new book that's just hitting the bookstores, Unbinding the Heart. She grapples with the question of how we can "unbind our hearts" better to experience playfulness, connection, self-expression, and joy. Clearly happiness is at the heart of this challenge. Gretchen: What’s a simple activity that consistently makes you happier? Agapi: Getting together with the people I care for and having an intimate time, where we lovingly share and listen to each other in a safe haven, recharges me…
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innate-intelligence.com.au
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Drinking has the same effect as exercise and laughing
13 Jan 2012 | 11:38 amDRINKING alcohol makes people feel better because it produces the same chemicals in the brain as exercising and laughing, a study has proved for the first time. Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/technology/sci-tech/science-proves-alcohol-is-fun-20120112-1pxj7.html#ixzz1jMvpmH81 -
Folic acid reduces memory loss
13 Jan 2012 | 11:30 amAUSTRALIAN researchers have accidentally discovered that taking folic acid and vitamin B12 supplements can prevent memory loss in people over 60. Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/national/folate-b12-prevent-memory-loss-20120112-1pxkb.html#ixzz1jMtcaiDD -
Buddies help with goals
6 Jan 2012 | 10:41 amMany people look forward to the New Year for a new start on old habits. While you are more likely to do something if you plan it in advance, research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), shows that partnering up or planning with someone can really boost the likelihood of sticking to your resolutions. This finding suggests that ‘buddy schemes’ could make a big difference to people following dieting plans, health programmes and could be integrated into government well-being initiatives. -
Low levels of vitamin D linked to depression
6 Jan 2012 | 10:39 amLow levels of vitamin D have been linked to depression, according to UT Southwestern Medical Center psychiatrists working with the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study. It is believed to be the largest such investigation ever undertaken. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/usmc-lvd010512.php -
Love hormone helps with kindness
6 Jan 2012 | 10:38 amOxytocin, the “love hormone” that builds mother-baby bonds and may help us feel more connected toward one another, can also make surly monkeys treat each other a little more kindly. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/du-wo010512.php
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NIMH | Recent Updates
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Blog Post » The Long Paths to Breakthroughs
7 Feb 2012 | 2:14 pmDr. Insel talks about how basic research can lead to potential treatments. -
Science News » Gene Regulator in Brain’s Executive Hub Tracked Across Lifespan – NIH study
7 Feb 2012 | 8:07 amFor the first time, scientists have tracked the activity, across the lifespan, of an environmentally responsive regulatory mechanism that turns genes on and off in the brain’s executive hub. Among key findings of the study by National Institutes of Health scientists: genes implicated in schizophrenia and autism turn out to be members of a select club of genes in which regulatory activity peaks during an environmentally-sensitive critical period in development. -
Science News » Ethnic Disparities Persist in Depression Diagnosis and Treatment Among Older Americans
26 Jan 2012 | 8:33 amOlder racial and ethnic minorities living in the community are less likely to be diagnosed with depression than their white counterparts, but are also less likely to get treated, according to a recent NIMH-funded analysis published online ahead of print December 15, 2011, in the American Journal of Public Health. -
Blog Post » Balancing Immediate Needs with Future Innovation
30 Jan 2012 | 11:23 amDr. Insel responds to discussion from the National Advisory Mental Health Council concerning the need to balance research funding for basic science and mental health services. -
Audio » 2011 Society for Neuroscience Conference Highlights
7 Feb 2012 | 8:07 amThe 2011 Society for Neuroscience Conference was held in Washington, DC.
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ScienceDaily: Mental Health News
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Study to determine whether fish oil can help prevent psychiatric disorders
8 Feb 2012 | 10:30 amA new study was designed to test whether Omega-3 fatty acids improve clinical symptoms, and help adolescents and young adults (ages 12 to 25) who are at elevated risk for severe psychiatric disorders function better in school, work and other social environments. -
Physical activity yields feelings of excitement, enthusiasm
8 Feb 2012 | 10:27 amPeople who are more physically active report greater levels of excitement and enthusiasm than people who are less physically active, according to researchers. People also are more likely to report feelings of excitement and enthusiasm on days when they are more physically active than usual. -
It's not solitaire: Brain activity differs when one plays against others
6 Feb 2012 | 11:39 amResearchers have found a way to study how our brains assess the behavior -- and likely future actions -- of others during competitive social interactions. Their study is the first to use a computational approach to tease out differing patterns of brain activity during these interactions, the researchers report. -
Young children exposed to anesthesia multiple times show elevated rates of ADHD
2 Feb 2012 | 6:22 amResearchers have found that multiple exposures to anesthesia at a young age are associated with higher rates of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). -
Blood test accurately distinguishes depressed patients from healthy controls
1 Feb 2012 | 9:09 amThe initial assessment of a blood test to help diagnose major depressive disorder indicates it may become a useful clinical tool. Researchers report that analyzing levels of nine biomarkers accurately distinguished patients diagnosed with depression from control participants without significant false-positive results.
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New Scientist - Mental Health
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Disrupted body clock may prime you for schizophrenia
19 Jan 2012 | 9:00 amGenetic mutations that interfere with circadian rhythms could also trigger the symptoms of mental illness -
Hijack your own dreams to improve your skills
20 Dec 2011 | 10:00 amIt's like Inception, in real life: lucid dreams offer people the ability to control their dreams and improve not only skills, but also mental health -
Abused children's brains work like soldiers' do
6 Dec 2011 | 8:23 amBrain scans show that children from violent homes detect threats in the same way that soldiers do -
Alzheimer's damage reversed by deep brain stimulation
23 Nov 2011 | 9:30 amBrain shrinkage in people with Alzheimer's disease can be reversed in some cases – by zapping the degenerating tissue with electrical impulses -
Older brains lack quick-fire connections
22 Nov 2011 | 4:00 pmBrain scans show that the striatum, an area of the brain that allows for fast responses, is less well connected in the older brain
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World of Psychology
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Google Pulls the Plug on SuperPoke Pets, Players Sue
9 Feb 2012 | 8:35 amIf you give people the opportunity to leverage their personal social networks online to play a game, you should probably think long and hard before you shut down that game. Of all companies you’d think might be smart enough to “get it,” Google would be at the top of my list. But in a demonstration that apparently some companies don’t really give much thought to such things, Google decided to shut down the popular SuperPoke Pets game, after buying the company that owned it. (Which begs the question — why buy a company only to shutter its popular products?) The… -
Is It Time to Start Dating Your Spouse?
9 Feb 2012 | 4:38 amSmall talk. That smile. You are special. How sweet. Be mine. Love you. I am yours. Only you. Soul mate. True love. Marry me. Live happily ever after. You got together with your life partner for many reasons: shared perspectives and outlooks, physical attraction, shared spirituality, shared professional lives, etc. But you also enjoyed one another’s company because it’s fun! In the beginning, you did not have much but each other, but it was enough. There were sweet words, long phone talks, walks and candlelit dinners. You had meaningful conversations, shared your dreams and goals, planned… -
Video: Recovering from Cheating
8 Feb 2012 | 8:46 amLast week, Drs. Marie and Dan covered the general aspects of cheating in relationships. It’s a common enough problem that as many as 1 in 5 relationships will face a cheating partner. So how does a relationship recover from cheating? How do you make amends with it personally? I’m pleased to introduce the second in a series of interviews and conversations with two of our resident therapists about a wealth of mental health topics. In this installment, Marie Hartwell-Walker, Ed.D. and Daniel J. Tomasulo, Ph.D., TEP, MFA answer the question of how to recover from cheating in this… -
Interview with Margarita Tartakovsky
8 Feb 2012 | 5:34 amRecently I had the chance to ask Margarita Tartakovsky, an associate editor at Psych Central, a few questions about eating behavior. She blogs regularly about eating and self-image issues on her blog Weightless. Q. Why doesn’t the current model of treating obesity — only telling people what and how much to eat — work for most people? A. Great question, because the current model definitely doesn’t work. I can’t remember who said it, but there’s a saying that if you want to gain weight, go on a diet. Diets have a failure rate of about 95 percent. People may lose weight… -
Why Do We Care What Others Think?
7 Feb 2012 | 8:54 amI was recently approached by a frazzled woman at a train station who was on the verge of tears. With an unsteady, quavering voice and a shaky demeanor, she explained that she’d been approaching strangers for several hours, while looking to collect enough fare to purchase an Amtrak ticket. Her wallet was lost, and she needed to get home in order to avoid spending the night in Manhattan’s Penn Station (which houses a couple of tasty smoothie storefronts, but it’s not exactly an atmosphere for a good night’s sleep). I did ultimately give her a little bit of money, but what I was really…
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Psych Central News
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Orthopedic Surgery Outcomes Influenced by Mental Health
9 Feb 2012 | 5:06 amNew research suggests prior mental health conditions can affect the recovery from total joint replacement surgery. Two new studies, presented at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), suggest understanding an individual’s mental health status is an important factor for achieving the best outcome after surgery. The knowledge is meaningful for obtaining improved clinical and generic (patient-satisfaction) outcomes — two measures that will influence future reimbursement schedules for surgeons. One paper, derived from a study of 97 men and women… -
Run, Don’t Walk, to Feel Excited, Enthused
9 Feb 2012 | 4:45 amA new study suggests a non-drug intervention can increase excitement and enthusiasm. Although the research is current, the tonic is ancient — an intervention recognized by civilizations thousands of years ago. Penn State investigators determined people who are more physically active report greater levels of excitement and enthusiasm than people who are less physically active. Researchers determined people also are more likely to report feelings of excitement and enthusiasm on days when they are more physically active than usual. This discovery conceptually dates back to ancient times… -
Smartphones Can Improve Memory
9 Feb 2012 | 4:19 amA new study presents strong evidence that a smart phone training program can result in “robust” improvements in day-to-day functioning, and boost independence and confidence levels among people with memory impairment. Researchers say the study shows that the intervention can be used in a variety of settings as a method to improve memory. “The goal of our study was to demonstrate the generalizability of our training protocol to a larger number of individuals with moderate-to-severe memory impairment,” said Dr. Eva Svoboda, a clinical neuropsychologist and lead author of… -
ADHD Meds Do Not Increase Cardiac Risk
9 Feb 2012 | 4:01 amAmidst concern that stimulant medications used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) could present a cardiac risk, a new study reviews the historic use of the medications and the dangers that have been observed. Investigators discovered short-term stimulant treatment did not substantially increase the risk of cardiovascular events or symptoms in healthy youth. ADHD affects 5-9 percent of youth and is frequently treated with stimulant medications, such as methylphenidate and amphetamine products. A recent safety communication from the US Food and Drug Administration advised… -
Harnessing Smartphones, Apps to Beat Depression
8 Feb 2012 | 6:05 amA new smartphone that can determine when you are depressed and urge you to reach out to friends is in development at Northwestern University. Researchers at the school’s Feinberg School of Medicine are working on a variety of web-based, mobile and virtual technologies to treat depression and other mood disorders. Other projects include a virtual human therapist who will work with teens to prevent depression; a medicine bottle that reminds you to take antidepressant medication and tells your doctor if the dosage needs adjusting; and a web-based social network to help cancer survivors…
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Finding Optimism
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The Connection Between Physical and Mental Health
8 Feb 2012 | 3:16 pmI’m acutely aware of the link between food and mental health. If I eat something that contains preservatives I get a short bout of depression for my efforts. The shortest route to recovery is exercise. I don’t know why these things are linked, but I’ve observed the pattern – over and over again – for the last 7 or 8 years. For me it’s preservatives; for others it may be too much refined sugar, or artificial colors, or a whole array of other additives. Elsewhere I read today: “…an unhealthy diet contains a lot of processed foods and saturated… -
What Really Strengthens Self-Esteem
6 Feb 2012 | 8:56 pmHot on the heals of yesterday’s post I found a helpful article on Psych Central about improving your self-esteem. “Research has found positive links between healthy self-esteem and many desirable outcomes, including happiness, humility, resilience and optimism. Studies show that low self-esteem is related to stress, depression and anxiety.” The article details a range of strategies for boosting your self-esteem: Practice healthy habits Recognize how you’re attacking yourself Identify and challenge self-critical thoughts Find out who you are Learn what lights you up Accept… -
Facebook Is Not Such A Good Thing For Those With Low Self-Esteem
5 Feb 2012 | 5:14 pmMore on the benefits of Facebook, or lack thereof. “In theory, the social networking website Facebook could be great for people with low self-esteem. Sharing is important for improving friendships. But in practice, people with low self-esteem seem to behave counterproductively, bombarding their friends with negative tidbits about their lives and making themselves less likable.” via the Association for Psychological Science. -
Mindfulness Over Mood: The Now Effect
1 Feb 2012 | 11:16 pmI’ve lived almost half my life ruminating about the past, or worrying – rather obsessively – about the future. It’s only in recent years that I’ve been in the present. Dr Elisha Goldstein, author of “The Now Effect”, is a clinical psychologist who specializes in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. He has a blog on Psych Central that addresses these kinds of problems, which I’ve found to be personally very helpful. In his latest post he writes: “Even though we believe our thoughts represent reality, the truth is, our thoughts are not… -
CBT for Exercise
30 Jan 2012 | 8:41 pmIf you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time you’ll know that I struggle with exercise on a daily basis. OK, hands up…who else? There is a yawning big gap in the market for a CBT therapist to specialize in exercise. Or at least overcoming the mental obstacles that prevent exercise. My recent post Psychologists Therapy Treats Mind and Body pointed to one such therapist who combines psychotherapy and fitness sessions. It’s a close match, although he doesn’t necessarily focus on a mind-exercise problem, as much as provide a treatment solution. Despite my…
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ScienceDaily: Depression News
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Physical activity yields feelings of excitement, enthusiasm
8 Feb 2012 | 10:27 amPeople who are more physically active report greater levels of excitement and enthusiasm than people who are less physically active, according to researchers. People also are more likely to report feelings of excitement and enthusiasm on days when they are more physically active than usual. -
Blood test accurately distinguishes depressed patients from healthy controls
1 Feb 2012 | 9:09 amThe initial assessment of a blood test to help diagnose major depressive disorder indicates it may become a useful clinical tool. Researchers report that analyzing levels of nine biomarkers accurately distinguished patients diagnosed with depression from control participants without significant false-positive results. -
Mom's love good for child's brain
30 Jan 2012 | 2:01 pmSchool-age children whose mothers nurtured them early in life have brains with a larger hippocampus, a key structure important to learning, memory and response to stress. The new research, by child psychiatrists and neuroscientists, is the first to show that changes in this critical region of children’s brain anatomy are linked to a mother’s nurturing. -
Hope for those with a depressive disposition
27 Jan 2012 | 11:00 amGood news for the 13 per cent of the population with depressive personality traits: their negative outlook does not have to be permanent, according to new research from Sweden. -
How a parent's education can affect the mental health of their offspring
26 Jan 2012 | 10:39 amCould depression in adulthood be tied to a parent's level of education? A new study by a medical sociologist suggests this is the case.
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Bipolar Disorder News
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Reduced activation in the mirror neuron system during a virtual...
4 Feb 2012 | 7:17 amHowever, there has been a lack of studies identifying neural substrates responsible for social cognitive difficulties in BD patients. -
[Cognitive 'Theory of Mind' processing in bipolar disorder].
4 Feb 2012 | 3:07 amBipolar disorder is associated to persistent functional impairments. Although many researches have shown that bipolar individuals might have cognitive deficits, a small number of studies evaluated the role of problems of social cognitive Theory of Mind processing in the emergence of bipolar disorder's symptoms and its possible social poor outcomes. -
Nick Carter - Leslie Carter Took Mixture Of Prescription Drugs Before Death
2 Feb 2012 | 11:56 amSinger Nick Carter's sister Leslie suffered an overdose after taking a mixture of prescription drugs to treat depression and mental illness, according to an incident report filed by emergency service officials. -
Could You Have a Lithium Deficiency?
29 Jan 2012 | 11:20 amWhen one mentions lithium, most people have a negative reaction. They think of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest , drooling, and lobotomies. -
Yeah TEAM-- Final Score: Correct Diagnosis 1, Bipolar Children Diagnosis 0
27 Jan 2012 | 7:59 pmA long-running NIMH initiative, the Treatment of Early Age Mania study presented its most recent scientific paper on October 21st, 2011, at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Toronto, Canada and published its findings online at the website of the Archives of General Psychiatry ... (more)
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Brains On Purpose™
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Good review of the tome MASTER AND HIS EMISSARY, an antidote to left-brain, right-brain mythology
9 Feb 2012 | 10:17 amIf you go to your local bookstore, you'll see that a lot of junk science about the left and right hemispheres of the brain is still being published. That's why I was so glad to learn a bit over a year ago about a terrific book that gets the science right. I have blogged more than once about this book... -
Valentine's Day news: Love is more than just chemicals in the brain--P.S. So is conflict
7 Feb 2012 | 10:51 amUnderstanding love by taking a look at the brain is a bit like understanding a car's driver by looking under the hood of the car he's driving. Such an attempt at comprehending love would be ultimately futile. It's not cognizant of the human spirit. Not wise. Not accurate. Unfortunately some conflict professionals are now reducing conflict to the brain, too.... -
Wah, wah, wah: Excellent example of why people don't listen, even if you have good information
1 Feb 2012 | 8:42 amThe blog post is titled "Meet Me Halfway" (Scientific American) and its author writes about one kind of two-way communication: The speaker gives information and the listener, well, listens. The blogger then gives us some interesting neuroscience-related information about the way the brains of speakers and listeners can synchronize. And then she writes about scientists having much good information for... -
Are character and personality overrated? Yes, says author of new book SITUATIONS MATTER
31 Jan 2012 | 12:38 pm[T]he people around us are not who we think they are, and we usually fall into the trap of thinking we know their inner workings better than we really do.--From review of Situation Matters According to Professor Sam Sommers, we are not very consistent and predictable. In this review (Tufts Now), you will find a link to a short animation... -
Lecture on metaphor and embodied cognition
31 Jan 2012 | 6:22 amClick to watch a lecture by Professor Raymond Gibbs on metaphor and embodied cognition.
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Search for "neuroscience"
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What Is a Thought?
9 Feb 2012 | 10:30 amIn everyday life it is commonplace to hear someone say, "I just had a thought about X or Y ," or "the thought just occurred to me." For instance, one may have a thought about an event that took place during the last Super Bowl. -
Major trial gives hope to motor neurone disease sufferers
9 Feb 2012 | 10:21 amPatients suffering from a devastating disease are being given fresh hope through an innovative trial being led by the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. -
Nanotube Therapy Takes Aim at Breast Cancer Stem Cells
9 Feb 2012 | 10:16 am9, 2012 - Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center researchers have again proven that injecting multiwalled carbon nanotubes into tumors and heating them with a quick, 30-second laser treatment can kill them. -
Today on New Scientist: 9 February 2012
9 Feb 2012 | 10:11 amA strange feature of high-speed trading could be used to create an early-warning system of future 'flash crashes' in stocks Despite having no new data, the world's largest particle smasher has released fresh analyses shedding some light on this most wanted of particles Priceless lunar samples gifted after the Apollo landings fell into wrong hands - ... (more) -
Scottish Government and PPD Announce Strategic Alliance to Advance Clinical Research in Scotland
9 Feb 2012 | 9:52 am"This initiative will further Scotland's growing reputation as a global center of excellence for clinical research, offering a significant number of world-leading research sites and clinical investigators with expertise across a wide range of disease indications." The alliance between PPD and NHS Research Scotland advances the long-standing ... (more)
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neuroscience - Bing News
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IMPORTANT: Bing News RSS feed has moved!
9 Feb 2012 | 2:53 amGo to the new RSS page and renew your subscription. -
is the new face of warfare
Directed energy weapons that use wave beams to cause pain, and electrical brain stimulation that boosts a soldier's combat ability - it may sound like science fiction warfare, but experts say advances in mean it's on the horizon. -
The Of Search & Conversion
It’s easy to think that our search visitors aren’t coming with any brain at all. How can they possibly decide against what we have to offer? If they weren’t going to take action, why click on the ad? It turns out that they do have brains, and the ... -
UPDATED: AstraZeneca cutting 2,200 R&D jobs, slashing in restructuring
Hit with sliding profits, a weak late-stage pipeline and a troubling track record on clinical trials, AstraZeneca ($AZN) has decided to trigger another round of layoffs, with 2,200 R&D staffers losing their jobs in this round. Part of a broader ... -
Fair to be held Saturday
The MSU Program is holding its second annual Fair at 12:30 p.m. Saturday in the Biomedical and Physical Sciences Building. The event features a Brain Bee competition for high school students testing their knowledge ...
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SharpBrains
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Enhance Metacognition and Problem-Solving by Talking Out Loud to Yourself
9 Feb 2012 | 7:16 amThe MC at the University of Michigan’s reunion dinner encouraged audience members to reveal the most significant take-away from their undergraduate nursing education. The greatest benefit was quickly clear to me — problem-solving thinking. Memory produced a mind video: a short, dark-haired, nursing instructor lecturing a small group of first year students in an empty patient room. “Don’t memorize the steps of sterile technique. Use a problem-solving thinking process.” She described the sequential, cyclical process: define the problem, gather information, develop a solution strategy,… -
Save the Date: 2012 SharpBrains Summit — Optimizing Health Through Neuroplasticity-Driven Innovation
8 Feb 2012 | 11:35 amPlease Save these Dates if you are interested in exploring and discussing the latest on Optimizing Health Through Neuroplasticity-Driven Innovation; the theme for our third annual virtual SharpBrains Summit (“virtual” means everything takes place online; no one has to travel): Pre-Summit workshops: May 31st-June 1st, 2012 Summit: June 7-8th, 2012 Expo Week: June 12-14th, 2012 17 Confirmed Summit Speakers include: Dr. Tracy Alloway, Assistant Professor, University of North Florida; author of AWMA assessment Dr. Robert Bilder, Chief of Medical Psychology-Neuropsychology,… -
Diagnosing early Alzheimer’s and Mild Cognitive Impairment: Emerging Challenges and Implications
7 Feb 2012 | 11:21 amBlurry line in diagnosing early Alzheimer’s: study (Reuters): “The revised definition of a brain condition called mild cognitive impairment means that many people now considered to have mild or early Alzheimer’s disease could easily be given that diagnosis instead, suggests a new study.” “Creighton Phelps, head of the Alzheimer’s Disease Centers Program at the National Institute on Aging, said that to a certain extent, the line between mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer’s is indeed “fuzzy” and depends on a doctor’s individual judgment. But he added that many… -
To Be (Your Connectome), or Not to Be (Your Genome)
6 Feb 2012 | 1:05 pmNO ROAD, NO trail can penetrate this forest. The long and delicate branches of its trees lie everywhere, choking space with their exuberant growth. No sunbeam can fly a path tortuous enough to navigate the narrow spaces between these entangled branches. All the trees of this dark forest grew from 100 billion seeds planted together. And, all in one day, every tree is destined to die. This forest is majestic, but also comic and even tragic. It is all of these things. Indeed, sometimes I think it is everything. Every novel and every symphony, every cruel murder and every act of mercy, every love… -
Brain Awareness Week is Approaching: March 12-18th, 2012
6 Feb 2012 | 7:21 amBrain Awareness Week (BAW) is the global campaign, organized by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives, to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research. Every March, BAW unites the efforts of partner organizations worldwide in a celebration of the brain for people of all ages. Events are limited only by the organizers’ imaginations and include open days at neuroscience labs; exhibitions about the brain; lectures on brain-related topics; displays at libraries and community centers; classroom workshops; and more. SharpBrains.com, as a BAW Outreach Partner, will…
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ScienceDaily: Nutrition News
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New diet: Top off breakfast with -- chocolate cake?
7 Feb 2012 | 10:37 amIn a study of nearly 200 clinically obese, non-diabetic adults, a researcher found that a 600-calorie breakfast that includes dessert as well as proteins and carbohydrates can help dieters lose weight and keep it off over the long term. Her research indicates that such a morning meal staves off cravings and defuses psychological addictions to sweet foods. -
Vitamin D deficiency high among trauma patients
7 Feb 2012 | 10:37 amNew research has found that 77 percent of trauma patients had deficient or insufficient levels of vitamin D. -
Regular use of vitamin and mineral supplements could reduce the risk of colon cancer, study suggests
3 Feb 2012 | 11:15 amCould the use of vitamin and mineral supplements in a regular diet help to reduce the risk of colon cancer and protect against carcinogens? A study published in the Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology found that rats given regular multivitamin and mineral supplements showed a significantly lower risk of developing colon cancer when they were exposed to carcinogens. -
Preference for fatty foods may have genetic roots
3 Feb 2012 | 8:33 amA preference for fatty foods has a genetic basis, according to researchers, who discovered that people with certain forms of the CD36 gene may like high-fat foods more than those who have other forms of this gene. -
Are diet soft drinks bad for you?
31 Jan 2012 | 6:27 amA new study finds a potential link between daily consumption of diet soft drinks and the risk of vascular events.
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Nutrition / Diet News From Medical News Today
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Big Drop In Trans-Fats In US Bloodstream
9 Feb 2012 | 2:00 amA new study published this week shows there has been a big drop in levels of trans-fatty acids in the US bloodstream. From 2000 to 2009 it fell by 58%. This is the first time researchers from the US Centers from Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have been able to measure trans-fats in human blood. They write about their findings in a letter to the Editor of JAMA... -
A High Level Of Vitamin D Deficiency Found Among Trauma Patients
9 Feb 2012 | 1:00 amNew research presented at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) found that 77 percent of trauma patients had deficient or insufficient levels of vitamin D. Researchers have linked a lack of vitamin D with muscle weakness, bone fractures, and the inability of bones to fully heal... -
Drinking Large Amounts Of Soft Drinks Associated With Asthma And COPD
9 Feb 2012 | 1:00 amA new study published in the journal Respirology reveals that a high level of soft drink consumption is associated with asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)... -
A Full Breakfast That Includes A Sweet Dessert Contributes To Weight Loss Success, Say TAU Researchers
9 Feb 2012 | 1:00 amWhen it comes to diets, cookies and cake are off the menu. Now, in a surprising discovery, researchers from Tel Aviv University have found that dessert, as part of a balanced 600-calorie breakfast that also includes proteins and carbohydrates, can help dieters to lose more weight - and keep it off in the long run... -
Respiratory Problems Linked To Soda Intake
8 Feb 2012 | 12:00 pmA recent study by Zumin Shi, Discipline of Medicine at the University of Adelaide and team, published in Respirology, suggests soda intake can raise the risk of respiratory problems, including Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) Between 2008 and 2010, around 16,000 people, over the age of 16 (average age 46...
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In The News
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CDC: 9 out of 10 Americans eat too much salt
9 Feb 2012 | 5:00 amon average Americans consume 3,300 mgs of sodium every day, putting people at risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes -
Top Nutrients in Functional Foods for Health
8 Feb 2012 | 5:00 amWhich functional food nutrients are worth your money? The experts weigh in. -
Raw Milk a Dangerous Raw Deal for Farmers and Consumers
7 Feb 2012 | 5:00 amOn Feb. 2, health officials in Pennsylvania said at least 35 people in four states were struck with a bacterial infection after drinking unpasteurized raw milk, -
Green tea drinkers show less disability with age: study
6 Feb 2012 | 5:00 amElderly adults who regularly drink green tea may stay more agile and independent than their peers over time, according to a Japanese study that covered thousands of people. -
Purple Potatoes Could Help Blood Pressure
5 Feb 2012 | 5:00 amA new study shows that 2 small helpings a day could be beneficial
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Healthy Eating & Nutrition News
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War Against Sugar Begins
2 Feb 2012 | 12:31 pmWar Declared on Sugar Mountain of DeathSugar is as damaging and addictive as alcohol or tobacco and should be regulated, claim US health experts. (BBC)Finally the War against SUGAR , the silent evil killer on our streets, has begun. Governments and polititians, even dieticians have always been wary of pointing their finger at the sugar industry the way they eventually did at the tobacco industry. The sugar industry is so powerful and many of the hereditary richest families in the world have their fingers in the slave trading sugar industry somewhere along the line. People have allegedly… -
Vegans Low Cholesterol High In Triglycerides ?
27 Jan 2012 | 6:11 amFoods High In Triglycerides | ** The guide to triglycerides **Gin - Vegan Mother's Ruin ?Plantarians, Vegetarians who avoid dairy and vegans should all enjoy lower than average cholesterol levels but it seems that vegans are not necessarily immune to high trigyceride levels which can be just as damaging. Alcohol, sugary foods and a diet rich in simple carbohydrates, as well as a lack of sufficient exercise, all contribute to higher tryglyceride levels.London Nutritionist from Foods for Life Health and Nutrition clinic in London's Harley Street and author of The UK Vegetarian Society's V… -
UK children and adults lack Vitamin D
24 Jan 2012 | 6:56 amYvonne Bishop-Weston Nutritionist London: 25% UK toddlers lacking Vitamin DLack of of Vitamin D linked to depression by Bristol University study.Ain't no sunshine? Then she's gone! Vitamin D deficiency rocks Britain's health The Independent - BBC NewsGovernment advice to take supplements? I think you'll find we told you so, many times, but just in case we'll tell you again about the importance of Vitamin D...Back in 2009 we blogged about a study linking vitamin D to increased health risks , and on numerous other occasions including this one about Nutrients Men aren't getting enough of .We… -
Vegetarian / Vegan Omega 3 EPA DHA vs Fish Oil Supplements
11 Dec 2011 | 6:58 amVegetarian / Vegan Omega 3 EPA DHA vs Fish Oil Supplements « NuiqueCompare the Market - Fish OilFish Oil vs omega 3 algaeA look at different long chain Omega 3 essential fatty acids on the market comparing strength per dose of DHA / EPA for popular fish oil brands compared to algae oil omega 3 DHA suitable for vegetarians and vegansComparison showed similar priced products but with Cod liver oil 85mg DHA per dose to Algae oil with 400mg per dose.V PureNutritionists London -
Processed and Unprocessed Red Meat Consumption and Incident Type 2 Diabetes Among French Women
2 Dec 2011 | 2:18 pmProcessed and Unprocessed Red Meat Consumption and Incident Type 2 Diabetes Among French WomenProcessed and Unprocessed Red Meat Consumption and Incident Type 2 Diabetes Among French Women Martin Lajous, DSC12,Laura Tondeur, MS3,Guy Fagherazzi, PHD34,Blandine de Lauzon-Guillain, PHD3, Marie-Christine Boutron-Ruaualt, PHD34 and Françoise Clavel-Chapelon, PHD34+ Author Affiliations 1Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 2Center for Research on Population Health, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Mexico 3INSERM, Center for Research in…
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Health Supreme
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Infoholix on CAM - Complementary and Alternative Therapies
9 Feb 2012 | 9:58 amA recent blog post on the Infoholix site, Euro notes with mint sauce Part 5, lights up the world of alternative medicine with some little known facts. Definitely worth reading... There is also a whole archive - actually a veritable treasure trove - of information on that site you might want to look into. Find it here http://infoholix.net/ "By definition an infoholic is someone who cannot obtain enough information. The world of COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE is an infoholic's paradise. For within this world there is to be discovered a stunning, treasure trove of diversity, yielding wonderous and… -
FDA purposely hid aspartame dangers: open letter to the European Food Safety Authority
3 Feb 2012 | 2:57 amIn June 2011, the European Food Safety Authority has called for submission of relevant scientific data on the safety on aspartame, a contested sweetener made of two amino acids and methanol. Campaigners have pointed out that the Authority (EFSA) is missing important but damning details in its review. The FDA's approval of the substance, says Betty Martini "was a political decision, taken over the objection of the FDA's own scientific panel. Studies used to obtain approval were sanitized, to hide damaging effects the sweetener had on laboratory animals and eventually, Donald Rumsfeld was… -
Does smoking tobacco fulfill a nutritional need?
25 Jan 2012 | 12:44 pmAs counter-intuitive as this question might seem, nicotine is actually a nutrient source. It is one form in which we can obtain a vital nutrient: vitamin B3, also called niacin or nicotinic acid. I have never seen this angle to smoking discussed in a clear form until I came across, through some friends on facebook, a very informative but kind of hidden away write-up by a parent who refused to just accept as fact what "everybody knows" - that kids start to smoke because of tobacco company propaganda. Ironically, the article was languishing in a place called the CyberCemetery, an… -
Supplements: The Real Story - Natural or Synthetic? Foods or Tablets?
18 Jan 2012 | 3:04 pmThanks for this article go to Andrew Saul, editor of the Orthomolecular Medicine News Service which you can subscribe to at http://orthomolecular.org/subscribe.html. You can also see other articles at the orthomolecular.org site. (OMNS, Jan 17, 2012) It's a nutritional "Catch 22": The public is told, confusingly: "Vitamins are good, but vitamin supplements are not. Only vitamins from food will help you. So just eat a good diet. Do not take supplements! But by the way, there is no difference between natural and synthetic vitamins." Wait a minute. What's the real story here? -
Despite safety of supplements, FDA insists on regulation - Health Supreme NewsGrabs 15 January 2012
15 Jan 2012 | 10:40 amAmerica's Largest Database Confirms: No Deaths from Vitamins The new 203-page annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers, published online here, shows zero deaths from multiple vitamins; zero deaths from any of the B vitamins; zero deaths from vitamins A, C, D, or E; and zero deaths from any other vitamin. Additionally, there were no deaths whatsoever from any amino acid or dietary mineral supplement. Three people died from non-supplement mineral poisoning: two from medical use of sodium and one from non-supplemental iron. On page 131, the AAPCC report specifically…
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Healthy Food & Healthy Living by Dr. Ayala
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Valentine’s Day Recipe: The Most Chocolaty Cookies Ever
8 Feb 2012 | 3:53 amIf you’re looking for a homemade gift for Valentine’s Day (reminder: it’s this coming Tuesday)these cookies are perfect – textbook for the serious chocolate lover and great for cookie fans too. I’ve received a recipe request from every recipient of this cookie gift who dares to bake. Chocolate's my favorite treat. Chocolate is, to me, pure pleasure. These cookies are as close as it comes to eating pure chocolate while still serving a dessert. They’re rich, chunky, delicious and decadent and hit the chocolate craving spot right on. Ingredients: 500 grams/17.6 ounces 72%… -
Does The Biggest Loser Fuel Weight Stigma?
1 Feb 2012 | 3:50 amOverweight people are the majority in the US; a third of Americans are obese, so obese people can hardly be viewed as a small minority. Nevertheless, overweight people face bias and discrimination every day. Does the portrayal of obese people in the media reinforce weight bias? Is the swelling roster of popular weight-loss reality TV shows supporting anti-fat attitudes? Or do these shows actually introduce viewers to the trials and tribulations of obese people, thus promoting sympathy and reducing prejudice? NBC’s The Biggest Loser is now in its 13th season and is a huge hit,… -
Study shows liquid calories trick body and mind to overeat
25 Jan 2012 | 3:57 amA calorie’s a calorie, isn't it? Well, accumulating evidence shows that our body has a hard time registering calories from beverages in the tally towards satiety; unfortunately, these beverage's calories still count in our energy balance. That’s why the extra calories in beverages are just extra—much like items that didn’t go into the budget, but will nevertheless have to be paid for. There are numerous studies to prove this point; here are just a few: Nutritionist Barbara Rolls from Penn State served women water, diet soda, regular soda, orange juice, milk or no drink before… -
Study suggests kids prefer more color and variety in their plate
18 Jan 2012 | 4:55 amBrian Wansink is famous for his work on the psychology of eating and for popularizing terms such as "mindless eating" and "health halos." His research has unveiled some of the many occasions in which environmental cues such as packaging, label claims and plate size influence our eating. There’s something particularly encouraging about Wansink’s findings. If so much of our eating, overeating and unhealthy eating is driven by nothing more than unconscious, mindless habits, a targeted environmental change can improve our eating without much sacrifice, indeed, almost without individuals… -
Does soda add belly fat?
11 Jan 2012 | 3:30 amDo sweet drinks cause belly fat? Fat around abdominal organs is much more active metabolically than the fat under our skin, and poses additional risk for diabetes, heart disease and stroke above and beyond the risk seen with being overweight. And while fat distribution is influenced by age and genetics a growing body of evidence suggests dietary choices, and especially sugary drinks increase fat accumulation in the worst possible locations of our anatomy. A study from the University of California at Davis showed that drinking 25 percent of daily calories (which is quite a lot) in fructose for…
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Natural Health Blog
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The Two Meal Plan
9 Feb 2012 | 5:29 amI going to try to stick to this plan for 2 to 3 weeks to see if it helps me shed any pounds. By the way thanks for showing this to me. I'll talk about -
Your Natural Health Questions... Answered
7 Feb 2012 | 3:07 pmThis is the place to ask and get answers to your natural health questions. -
January Tooth Soap Sale Alert!!!
18 Jan 2012 | 2:43 pmJust heard about this sale on Tooth Soap that's going on for the month of January. Shop now at Toothsoap.com and get one of your favorite types of Tooth Soap in any flavor absolutely FREE when you purchase another Tooth Soap! Choose from Tooth Soap Whip, Gel, Liquid, Shreds, or Liqui-Gel in ANY FLAVOR you like! How's that for a deal? Please read the following instructions before ordering for the easiest shopping experience! Use coupon code: JAN Once you've typed in the coupon code, click "APPLY" so that the discount will be taken before you check out! This is super important! Click here to… -
Healing Cancer World Summit - Starts Tonight!!!
21 Oct 2011 | 4:06 amThere's only a few hours left until the start of the Healing Cancer World Summit. It starts tonight at 8 PM EST. Don't miss it! The summit is a FREE online event where you'll get some amazing, life changing, eye-opening information about cancer prevention from experienced experts in the field. This is something you don't want to miss. Here's where you can learn more and sign up for this informative event: http://www.renegadehealth.com/cancer/ If you have other commitments and can't make the meetings, not a problem! The archives be available online for a limited time after the initial… -
Grandma's Molasses
20 Oct 2011 | 5:51 amI just purchased Grandma's Molasses a few days ago and me and my boyfriend have been taking 2 TBS a day. We are wondering if this still have the same benefits
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Food Renegade
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Should You Go Grain-Free? An Interview With Ann Marie Michaels
6 Feb 2012 | 11:42 amIn light of Ann Marie's upcoming e-course in how to prepare Healthy, Whole Grains, I thought I'd ask her a few burning questions that I know many of you share with me. It's no secret that I eat a mostly grain-free diet. I've never avoided grains for health or digestive reasons. I've avoided them because I value my kitchen time too much to waste it experimenting with sprouting, drying, grinding, soaking, kneading, waiting, baking, waiting, and baking. I had a season of doing all that, but I never hit upon a system to make it any less work. Ann Marie has. [[This is a summary only. Keep reading… -
Are You Too Lazy To Properly Prepare Grains?
6 Feb 2012 | 11:12 amNothing has had me more flabbergasted in my Real Food journey than my relationship with grains. Nothing. I've tried sourdough. And it flopped. Big time. I had a season of sprouting and grinding my own flour to make homemade bread, but within a few months I was over all the kneading and mixing and waiting. I called it laziness, but really it was just me having to decide just how much energy and time I could invest into feeding my family well. I had a season of being completely grain-free, then a season of re-introducing non-gluten containing grains like rice back into our meal rotation. When… -
Enroll In A Free Webinar About How To Prepare Grains
4 Feb 2012 | 10:16 amAre you familiar with webinars? They're live online classes where the teacher and students can interact together. As a student, you'll log on to the webinar's website and see a live feed of your teacher and her desktop. She'll probably have a presentation up and walk you through the slides, videos, and other visuals to teach you the class materials. You'll also be signed into a chat room where you can ask the teacher questions as she presents. It's basically like attending a seminar, but on the web (hence webinar). This Thursday, February 9th at 7PM EST, Ann Marie of Cheeseslave is hosting a… -
Superbowl Sunday Snacks
3 Feb 2012 | 3:10 pmAre you looking for Real Food snack ideas to feed your family & friends this weekend? Here's a list of some of my most favorite snack food recipes. You'll find everything from grain-free crackers to a creamy homemade queso made without velveeta. I even topped off the list with a few mouthwatering appetizers and desserts. Hope you enjoy! [[This is a summary only. Keep reading by clicking on the Title above.]] -
Fight Back Friday February 3rd
3 Feb 2012 | 8:31 amWelcome to another Fight Back Friday! Today we are bringing together another collection of recipes, tips, anecdotes, and testimonies from members of the Real Food Revolution. Who are they? Why, they’re the Food Renegades. You know who you are — lovers of SOLE (Sustainable, Organic, Local, and Ethical) food, traditional food, primal food, REAL food,... [[This is a summary only. Keep reading by clicking on the Title above.]]
