In brains we trust, or do we? Image via Wikipedia Much has been written about the seductive allure of fMRI brain images accompanying research papers and giving them more credence than is deserved; similarly much has been written about the whole enterprise of fMRI based research that tries to find the neural correlates of X,Y,and Z, as if X/Y or Z being human/animal faculties could have a substrate other than neural.
In both of the above cases, while the neuro babble seemingly provides more authority to the underlying argument, it is not clear what value , if any , one gets by just identifying a brain area responsible for X/Y or Z. While she does treat mirror neuron hyped research with the contempt and dressing that it deserves by trying to explain more than is warranted; her own enthusiasm for Oxytocin as the magical trust molecule or the epitome of moral foundations, deserves similar treatment. Ps: Disclosure of interest. : I received a free copy of Braintrust for review from Princeton university press. Myths about the Future that Could Ruin Your Life. @FunkyJAU.
The Neurology Of Near-Death Experiences. I've never had a patient confess to having had a near-death experience (NDE), but recently I came across a fascinating book called The Spiritual Doorway in the Brain by Kevin Nelson, M.D. that reports as many as 18 million Americans may have had one.
If true, the odds are not only that some of my patients have been among them, but also some of my friends. Which got me wondering: just what does science have to tell us about their cause? That NDEs happen isn't in dispute. The sequence and type of events of which they're composed are similar enough among people who report them that NDEs could be considered a syndrome of sorts akin to a disease lacking a known cause. But just because millions of people have experienced NDEs doesn't mean the most commonly believed explanation for them—that souls leave bodies and encounter God or some other evidence for the afterlife—is correct. The Neuroscience of Self-Esteem, Self-Criticism and Self-Compassion. Slower Nerve Traffic, More Creativity. Neuroscientist Rex Jung notes “Creativity is a complex concept; it’s not a single thing.”
That quote comes from a recent New York Times article, which comments that one of his studies “suggests that creativity prefers to take a slower, more meandering path than intelligence.” “The brain appears to be an efficient superhighway that gets you from Point A to Point B” when it comes to intelligence, Dr. Jung explained. “But in the regions of the brain related to creativity, there appears to be lots of little side roads with interesting detours, and meandering little byways.” The article adds, “Although intelligence and skill are generally associated with the fast and efficient firing of neurons, subjects who tested high in creativity had thinner white matter and connecting axons that have the effect of slowing nerve traffic in the brain. “This slowdown in the left frontal cortex, a region where emotional and cognitive abilities are integrated, Dr.
Behavior & emotion. Some Strange Psychological Findings from Psych Central. In their excellent book, 50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology, Lilienfeld and colleagues (2010) investigate popular psychology myths.
In addition to addressing these prevalent myths, the authors briefly discuss some “difficult to believe” psychological findings. Some of the findings include: Our brains contain approximately 3 million miles of neural connections. What the science of human nature can teach us. After the boom and bust, the mania and the meltdown, the Composure Class rose once again.
Its members didn’t make their money through hedge-fund wizardry or by some big financial score. Theirs was a statelier ascent. They got good grades in school, established solid social connections, joined fine companies, medical practices, and law firms. In the Mind's Eye: Psychology News 紙.
Expert on Mental Illness Reveals Her Own Struggle. Brain & neuroscience. Mind and Brain. Robin S. Cohen, Ph.D. Love & relationships. Osama Bin Laden Has Been Killed. Early Monday morning I heard the news: "Navy Seals have killed Obama.
" Guitarists' Brains Swing Together. ADHD drug helps menopausal women with focus, memory deficits, study shows. May 06, Medications (PhysOrg.com) -- At menopause, many women begin to notice a decline in their attention, organization, and short-term memory.
These cognitive symptoms can lead to professional and personal challenges and unwarranted fears of early-onset dementia. A small study by Penn Medicine and Yale researchers, published in the journal Menopause, found that a drug typically given to children and adults with ADHD improved attention and concentration in menopausal women, providing the first potential treatment for menopause-related cognition deficits.
Researchers believe the cognitive issues may be the result of a menopause-related decline in estrogen input to the prefrontal cortex, which interferes with neurotransmission, causing executive function problems. "Subjective declines in memory, focus and organization are common in mid-life women," said study author C. Before clinical recommendations can be made, a follow-up clinical trial needs to validate results.