Archive for April, 2009
You wear me out: Thinking of others causes lapses in our self-control
Wednesday, April 8th, 2009
pa href="http://feedads.googleadservices.com/~a/CsX5LAUAcdC1ZD59UNt__hsCu1Y/a"img src="http://feedads.googleadservices.com/~a/CsX5LAUAcdC1ZD59UNt__hsCu1Y/i" border="0" ismap="true"/img/a/pExerting self-control is exhausting. In fact, using self-control in one situation impairs our ability to use self-control in subsequent, even unrelated, situations. What about thinking of other people exerting self-control? A new study in Psychological Science suggests that our own self-control can be worn out simply by mentally simulating another person acting with self-control.img src="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~r/BrainMysteries/~4/5xo7HLMWSdE" height="1" width="1"/
Researchers identify personality traits
Tuesday, April 7th, 2009
pa href="http://feedads.googleadservices.com/~a/3c2hNo_qtSXAoT671NPTZRVFe5Q/a"img src="http://feedads.googleadservices.com/~a/3c2hNo_qtSXAoT671NPTZRVFe5Q/i" border="0" ismap="true"/img/a/pResearchers from Boston University School of Medicine's New England Centenarian Study have noted specific personality traits associated with healthy aging and longevity amongst the children of centenarians. The work was conducted in collaboration with scientists from the National Institute on Aging. These findings currently appear on-line in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.img src="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~r/BrainMysteries/~4/iI1aEWvWfCU" height="1" width="1"/
Hollow mask illusion fails to fool schizophrenia patients
Tuesday, April 7th, 2009
pa href="http://feedads.googleadservices.com/~a/bqbAHOwZfhDiMpmQbTvQakmNcGQ/a"img src="http://feedads.googleadservices.com/~a/bqbAHOwZfhDiMpmQbTvQakmNcGQ/i" border="0" ismap="true"/img/a/pPatients with schizophrenia are able to correctly see through an illusion known as the "hollow mask" illusion, probably because their brain disconnects "what the eyes see" from what "the brain thinks it is seeing," according to a joint UK and German study published in the journal NeuroImage. The findings shed light on why cannabis users may also be less deceived by the illusion whilst on the drug.img src="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~r/BrainMysteries/~4/n7RJaDvBTdE" height="1" width="1"/
Dealing With Manipulation
Monday, April 6th, 2009
BRBRRecently, I read an article about psychological manipulation and how to protect oneself from the effects of being manipulated by others.nbsp; Many families and relationships are plagued bynbsp;behavior that falls into the category of manipulation.nbsp; According to dictionary.com, manipulate means to manage or influence skillfully, especially in an unfair manner: to manipulate people's feelings.nbsp;nbsp;Psychological manipulation doesn't justnbsp;happen in movies and interrogation rooms.nbsp; It's something that cannbsp;happen in anyone's life.nbsp; It's also something that can increase your depression and anxiety.nbsp; BRBRPeople tend to use manipulation on others when they, themselves, feel inadequate and incompetent.nbsp; They try tonbsp;make up for their feelings of powerlessness by gaining power over others.nbsp; They don't care which way the car is going as long as they are in the driver's seat.nbsp;nbsp; Some manipulators have distorted thinking and believe they are superior to others.nbsp;nbsp; Whatever the cause of manipulation, it is based on weakness.nbsp; Manipulators attempt to make you feel guilty.nbsp;BRBRBe aware ofnbsp;any manipulative people around you.nbsp;nbsp;Awarenessnbsp;will help you to take action and protect yourself from situations that could lead to harmful effects on your mental, emotional or physical health.nbsp;nbsp; If you have a lot of insecurity, other people may try to use your lack of self-confidence to control you.nbsp; In order to prevent yourself from being a victim of manipulation, look for all your good points and be grateful for all thenbsp;positive things in your life.nbsp; Believe in yourself and have faith in your own ability to make decisions.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;BRBR
Scientists show how a neuron gets its shape
Monday, April 6th, 2009
pa href="http://feedads.googleadservices.com/~a/8W1bLmApDuZvQl50_gfIeuuKcDU/a"img src="http://feedads.googleadservices.com/~a/8W1bLmApDuZvQl50_gfIeuuKcDU/i" border="0" ismap="true"/img/a/pDendrites in the roundworm don't steer toward their synaptic targets -- they start thereimg src="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~r/BrainMysteries/~4/2rvsmaAlWdU" height="1" width="1"/
Neuroscientists demonstrate link between brainwave activity and visual perception
Monday, April 6th, 2009
pa href="http://feedads.googleadservices.com/~a/9yvjylF9D8jZ0O-D1QvzwBymHQw/a"img src="http://feedads.googleadservices.com/~a/9yvjylF9D8jZ0O-D1QvzwBymHQw/i" border="0" ismap="true"/img/a/pCan we always see what is in front of us? According to Dr. Tony Ro, a professor of psychology and cognitive neuroscience at the City College of New York, the answer is "no." New research published in the Journal of Neuroscience by Professor Ro and colleagues from the University of Illinois demonstrates that the brain cannot detect images when brainwave activity is in a trough.img src="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~r/BrainMysteries/~4/43azYMi0IcY" height="1" width="1"/
Well-timed timeout effective in wiping out fear memory response
Monday, April 6th, 2009
pa href="http://feedads.googleadservices.com/~a/q4wUSjfbwCULdPxc0xwTetp45nc/a"img src="http://feedads.googleadservices.com/~a/q4wUSjfbwCULdPxc0xwTetp45nc/i" border="0" ismap="true"/img/a/pResearchers target a key time when memories are ripe for change to substantially modify memories of fear into benign memories and to keep them that way.img src="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~r/BrainMysteries/~4/5G6CyEM0a44" height="1" width="1"/
Time For Yourself
Sunday, April 5th, 2009
BRBRMy therapist used to tell me, "make time for yourself".nbsp; It was good advice, especially since I had four kids between the ages of 2 and 16.nbsp; Actually, I think it's good advice for everyone.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;It's often difficult to make time for yourself when you have to consider the needs of other family members.nbsp; Sometimes our relationships make it difficult to have time alone.nbsp;nbsp; BRBRMy husband and I arenbsp;senior citizensnbsp;and probably spend way too much time together.nbsp; It was very difficult for me to adjust to his retirement several years ago because he spends most of his time at home.nbsp;nbsp; I was usually a stay at home mom and wasnbsp;accustomed to having lots of time to myself after the kids were grown.nbsp; Now, if I want time alone, I have to leave the house.nbsp;nbsp; It still doesn't feelnbsp;EMright...../EMbut I've accepted it.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; BRBRI think our relationships sometimes depend on our ability to accept change.nbsp; Change has often been difficult for me because it causes me a great deal of anxiety.nbsp; I still feel anxiety on a daily basis because I still crave time for myself and time at home alone.nbsp; You can't really ask someone you love toEM just go away for a while/EM. nbsp; I thinknbsp;we can encourage others to take time for themselves and if they will do that,nbsp;we might just end up with a bit of time alone.nbsp;nbsp; I hope so!nbsp;
Phasic firing of dopamine neurons is key to brain’s prediction of rewards
Sunday, April 5th, 2009
pa href="http://feedads.googleadservices.com/~a/B8t7yrGJi5r2UIFDLe5kxrVhHc0/a"img src="http://feedads.googleadservices.com/~a/B8t7yrGJi5r2UIFDLe5kxrVhHc0/i" border="0" ismap="true"/img/a/pDopamine neuron firing helps brain distinguish between rewarding and aversive eventsimg src="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~r/BrainMysteries/~4/6uA81JkQzcQ" height="1" width="1"/
Researchers reveal how the brain processes important information
Saturday, April 4th, 2009
pa href="http://feedads.googleadservices.com/~a/vmIG0tuSpD4DvGJ-4n9pgnDI8lo/a"img src="http://feedads.googleadservices.com/~a/vmIG0tuSpD4DvGJ-4n9pgnDI8lo/i" border="0" ismap="true"/img/a/pResearchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have shed light on how the neurotransmitter dopamine helps brain cells process important information.img src="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~r/BrainMysteries/~4/Rk2GyjXhMCw" height="1" width="1"/