Brain Sense

Intelligence

50 Years of United States Presidential Scholars

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on July 3, 2014

A long-term study of the lives of U.S. Scholars from the 1960s offers important lessons for parents and teachers of gifted and talented children and teens. Educational researcher Felice Kaufman recently challenged some currently popular educational assumptions and practices when she spoke to a gathering of past Scholars, who were honored from 1964 through 2013.

A long-term study of the lives of U.S. Scholars from the 1960s offers important lessons for parents and teachers of gifted and talented children and teens. Educational researcher Felice Kaufman recently challenged some currently popular educational assumptions and practices when she spoke to a gathering of past Scholars, who were honored from 1964 through 2013.

Dreaming

Does Success Breed Success?

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on May 9, 2014

Suppose two individuals are equally motivated, equally talented, and equally well-positioned. If one of them gets a fortunate head start over the other, can a cascade of success ensue? Or are "lucky breaks" nothing more than pipe dreams and wishful thinking?

Suppose two individuals are equally motivated, equally talented, and equally well-positioned. If one of them gets a fortunate head start over the other, can a cascade of success ensue? Or are "lucky breaks" nothing more than pipe dreams and wishful thinking?

Scent

Why We Smell Much Better Than We Thought

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on March 20, 2014

Different odorants activate different combinations of receptors in the olfactory epithelium of the nose. Each individual combination acts as a sort of code that the brain deciphers to discriminate a scent. How many such codes can the brain crack? It turns out that the number is far larger than once thought.

Different odorants activate different combinations of receptors in the olfactory epithelium of the nose. Each individual combination acts as a sort of code that the brain deciphers to discriminate a scent. How many such codes can the brain crack? It turns out that the number is far larger than once thought.

Teamwork

How to Build a Better Batter

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on February 18, 2014

What happens when vision-research scientists set their sights to the baseball field? In a new study, vision training for some college sluggers improved their vision and won them some games. What’s more, the training may help all of us, whatever we demand of our eyes.

What happens when vision-research scientists set their sights to the baseball field? In a new study, vision training for some college sluggers improved their vision and won them some games. What’s more, the training may help all of us, whatever we demand of our eyes.

Memory

Can Coffee Improve Your Memory?

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on January 15, 2014

A new study shows that caffeine enhances memory—independent from its effects on alertness and attention.

A new study shows that caffeine enhances memory—independent from its effects on alertness and attention.

Memory

Researchers and Practitioners Disagree on Repressed Memory

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on December 13, 2013

Roughly 60-80 percent of clinicians, psychoanalysts, and therapists surveyed agreed to some extent that traumatic memories are often repressed and can be retrieved in therapy, compared to less than 30 percent of research-oriented psychologists.

Roughly 60-80 percent of clinicians, psychoanalysts, and therapists surveyed agreed to some extent that traumatic memories are often repressed and can be retrieved in therapy, compared to less than 30 percent of research-oriented psychologists.

Memory

False Memories in People With Superior Memory Abilities

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on November 18, 2013

Susceptibility to memory distortions is a fundamental part of having a human brain, say University of California-Irvine researchers. Even people with extraordinary memory capacities store—and report—false memories.

Susceptibility to memory distortions is a fundamental part of having a human brain, say University of California-Irvine researchers. Even people with extraordinary memory capacities store—and report—false memories.

Pregnancy

Exercise During Pregnancy Aids Infant's Brain Development

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on November 12, 2013

A new study reveals that pregnant women can boost their baby's brain development with as little as 20 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise three times a week. Nothing strenuous needed. Simply walking in the third trimester can do the trick.

A new study reveals that pregnant women can boost their baby's brain development with as little as 20 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise three times a week. Nothing strenuous needed. Simply walking in the third trimester can do the trick.

A new study casts light on how negative events in childhood may alter brain circuitry and lead to symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Career

How Does the Brain Assemble New Ideas from Old?

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on September 25, 2013

How does the human brain allow us to generalize things we have never seen before? Perhaps through a system that integrates the power of biology into a computer-like system.

How does the human brain allow us to generalize things we have never seen before? Perhaps through a system that integrates the power of biology into a computer-like system.

Dopamine

Food and the Brain's Reward System

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on August 15, 2013

Why is fatty food so pleasant to one person and a real gut-wrencher to another? The answer lies in the fact that fatty foods change how the gut and brain communicate.

Why is fatty food so pleasant to one person and a real gut-wrencher to another? The answer lies in the fact that fatty foods change how the gut and brain communicate.

Memories can be induced by artificial means. A new experiment with mice provides a model for studying the mechanisms of false memory formation in humans.

Illusions reveal much about how the brain's visual system works. They are exciting art, too. Let the winning illusions from this year's contest trick and thrill your brain.

Memory

What Sea Slugs Forget, Scientists Can Help Them Remember

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on April 21, 2013

From the humble sea snail, University of Texas scientists are learning a lot about how memory works...and what to do when nerve cells forget.

From the humble sea snail, University of Texas scientists are learning a lot about how memory works...and what to do when nerve cells forget.

Loneliness

Lonely? Socially Isolated?

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on March 29, 2013

A new study suggests that social isolation threatens health and long life, even among the elderly who don't perceive themselves as lonely.

A new study suggests that social isolation threatens health and long life, even among the elderly who don't perceive themselves as lonely.

Diet

Children with Epilepsy

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on March 26, 2013

Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a rare and severe form of epilepsy, accounting for up to 4 percent of all childhood epilepsy cases. Drugs and a low-carb diet are sometimes helpful treatments. A new video explores the challenges families face in caring for a child with LGS.

Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a rare and severe form of epilepsy, accounting for up to 4 percent of all childhood epilepsy cases. Drugs and a low-carb diet are sometimes helpful treatments. A new video explores the challenges families face in caring for a child with LGS.

Neuroscience

Arts and Sciences Challenge Promotes Brain Awareness

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on March 13, 2013

Enter your design in the Greenstein Institute's new contest, and you might see your icon for the brain age exhibited nationwide--in blown glass, no less!

Enter your design in the Greenstein Institute's new contest, and you might see your icon for the brain age exhibited nationwide--in blown glass, no less!

Career

Let's Take a Break!

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on January 24, 2013

The accumulation of a particular signal in the brain may trigger the decision to stop working. Its loss or dissipation may trigger resumed work. It's all a matter of perceived gains and losses.

The accumulation of a particular signal in the brain may trigger the decision to stop working. Its loss or dissipation may trigger resumed work. It's all a matter of perceived gains and losses.

Bullying

Brain Cancer and Environmental Toxins

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on December 22, 2012

"Cancer attacks the mental well-being of not only the host, but also the family of the host. And with the incidence of childhood cancer increasing by over 20% from 1975-2007, the issues resulting from a diagnosis of cancer are becoming more common," says Trevor Schaefer. The new book "The Boy on the Lake" by Susan Rosser tells his story.

"Cancer attacks the mental well-being of not only the host, but also the family of the host. And with the incidence of childhood cancer increasing by over 20% from 1975-2007, the issues resulting from a diagnosis of cancer are becoming more common," says Trevor Schaefer. The new book "The Boy on the Lake" by Susan Rosser tells his story.

Education

Will Neuroscience Change Education?

Faith Brynie Ph.D. on December 11, 2012

The science of neuroplasticity is changing the way we think about our brain’s learning potential. Incorporating spatial memory activated by music, art, and dance at an early age can grow our brains by using more of the hippocampus, resulting in stronger development of cognitive and social problem-solving skills.

The science of neuroplasticity is changing the way we think about our brain’s learning potential. Incorporating spatial memory activated by music, art, and dance at an early age can grow our brains by using more of the hippocampus, resulting in stronger development of cognitive and social problem-solving skills.