Brain Sense

Health

Teens and Psychosomatic Illness

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on December 11, 2012

Researchers in Sweden report that a dance intervention program can improve self-assessments of health among school-age girls.

Researchers in Sweden report that a dance intervention program can improve self-assessments of health among school-age girls.

Autism

Children with Autism Wander into Danger, Part II

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on October 8, 2012

Researchers say we urgently need interventions to address wandering off among children with ASD and to provide support to affected families.

Researchers say we urgently need interventions to address wandering off among children with ASD and to provide support to affected families.

Mindfulness

Growing More Mindful of Mindfulness

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on September 3, 2012

The therapeutic benefits of mindfulness are reviewed in a recent article in the Journal of Psychiatric Practice.

The therapeutic benefits of mindfulness are reviewed in a recent article in the Journal of Psychiatric Practice.

Unconscious

3D Vision and the Brain

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on August 6, 2012

Neuroscientist and 3D filmmaker Dr. Barry Sandrew explains how and why, in his view, the brain perceives 3D images.

Neuroscientist and 3D filmmaker Dr. Barry Sandrew explains how and why, in his view, the brain perceives 3D images.

Neuroscience

Of Spider-Man Movies and Other 3D Thrillers

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on July 24, 2012

3D movies make us wonder how the brain creates a 3D perception from a 2D stimulus.

3D movies make us wonder how the brain creates a 3D perception from a 2D stimulus.

ADHD

New Study Reveals That Levels of a Brain Neurotransmitter May Be Key in ADHD

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on July 8, 2012

Children diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have significantly lower concentrations of an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain compared with typically developing children.

Children diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have significantly lower concentrations of an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain compared with typically developing children.

ADHD

Is It ADHD or Typical Toddler Behavior?

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on July 8, 2012

Dr. Mark Mahone of the Kennedy Krieger Institute recommends looking for ten signs of ADHD in preschool-age children.

Dr. Mark Mahone of the Kennedy Krieger Institute recommends looking for ten signs of ADHD in preschool-age children.

Mild Cognitive Impairment

Diabetes and Cognitive Decline in Later Life

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on June 25, 2012

Can preventing, delaying, or better controlling diabetes reduce the risk of cognitive impairment later in life? A new study says yes.

Can preventing, delaying, or better controlling diabetes reduce the risk of cognitive impairment later in life? A new study says yes.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness for a Mindless Age

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on May 22, 2012

A new book on mindfulness says experiencing life as it comes can go a long way toward relieving pain, stress, and anxiety. I once wrote a science fiction story that illustrates the point.

A new book on mindfulness says experiencing life as it comes can go a long way toward relieving pain, stress, and anxiety. I once wrote a science fiction story that illustrates the point.

Neuroscience

"Best Visual Illusion of the Year" Contest

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on May 14, 2012

Today's "Best Illusion of the Year" competition will welcome over a thousand vision scientists and visual artists. They'll celebrate how the brain's visual-perception system creates something that isn't there.

Today's "Best Illusion of the Year" competition will welcome over a thousand vision scientists and visual artists. They'll celebrate how the brain's visual-perception system creates something that isn't there.

Intelligence

Life Lessons from Teenage "Brains" of the 1960s

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on April 14, 2012

The first Presidential Scholars, who received their award from Lyndon Johnson, are now bouncing their grandchildren on their arthritic knees and filing for their Social Security. They are also asking themselves, What lessons has life taught me? Educational researchers Felice Kaufmann and Dona Matthews asked them that same question.

The first Presidential Scholars, who received their award from Lyndon Johnson, are now bouncing their grandchildren on their arthritic knees and filing for their Social Security. They are also asking themselves, What lessons has life taught me? Educational researchers Felice Kaufmann and Dona Matthews asked them that same question.

Memory

The Molecular Architecture of Memory

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on April 12, 2012

A new model shows how the size, shape, and electrical attractions of an enzyme known to be important in memory formation perfectly matches the "skeletal framework" of nerve cells—the microtubules.This mechanism may help explain how memory proteins are formed and stored in the brain.

A new model shows how the size, shape, and electrical attractions of an enzyme known to be important in memory formation perfectly matches the "skeletal framework" of nerve cells—the microtubules.This mechanism may help explain how memory proteins are formed and stored in the brain.

Bullying

Nearly Two-Thirds of Children With ASD Have Been Bullied

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on March 27, 2012

The results of a survey on bullying among children with autism spectrum disorders will help guide policies and improvements in education, social services, and medical care.

The results of a survey on bullying among children with autism spectrum disorders will help guide policies and improvements in education, social services, and medical care.

Brain mapping studies of rare syndromes can help us understand how genes affect both anatomy and behavior.

Mild Cognitive Impairment

Can Brain Imaging Predict Who Will Suffer Cognitive Impairment?

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on February 14, 2012

Early detection of brain changes in the elderly may lead to better treatments—even prevention—of disorders like Alzheimer's disease.

Early detection of brain changes in the elderly may lead to better treatments—even prevention—of disorders like Alzheimer's disease.

The placebo effect is not deception, fluke, experimenter bias, or statistical anomaly. It is, instead, a product of expectation.

Wisdom

Beautiful Music: It's All in the Brain

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on January 10, 2012

Do old violins produce the best sound? French researchers put Stradivari to the test.

Do old violins produce the best sound? French researchers put Stradivari to the test.

Education

What Nematodes and Sea Slugs Tell Us about Our Brains

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on December 27, 2011

One way to study the human brain is to look at the brains of other animals. Nematodes and sea slugs can tell us a lot about how our senses work and how we learn. What we discover has many practical applications--from smoking cessation to the treatment of learning impairments.

One way to study the human brain is to look at the brains of other animals. Nematodes and sea slugs can tell us a lot about how our senses work and how we learn. What we discover has many practical applications--from smoking cessation to the treatment of learning impairments.

Autism spectrum disorder has attracted intense interest from the public and scientists over recent years. A new web page from Nature sorts fact from fiction with a collection of news and comment articles.

Career

Do the Holidays Give You the Hiccups?

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on December 21, 2011

If too much holiday merriment is giving you the hiccups, you're not alone. Everyone gets the hiccups from time to time, but in exceedingly rare cases, a brain abnormality may induce hiccups that last for months, even years.

If too much holiday merriment is giving you the hiccups, you're not alone. Everyone gets the hiccups from time to time, but in exceedingly rare cases, a brain abnormality may induce hiccups that last for months, even years.