A simple, computer-training task can change the brain’s wiring to regulate emotional reactions, according to a recent study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers. Says Dr. Noga Cohen, who conducted the study as part of her Ph.D. research at BGU’s Cognitive Neuropsychology Lab: “These findings are the first to demonstrate that non-emotional training…
Author: D.C.Demetre
Congenital Nystagmus Linked To Defect In Retinal Computation
The eyes of children with idiopathic congenital nystagmus involuntarily move from left to right and back again. Due to this back and forth movement, their vision is severely impaired, some of them are legally blind. In these children, the horizontal optokinetic reflex that usually helps us to hold our gaze steady is lost. In about…
Adult Children’s Problems and Mothers’ Well-Being
When older parents become frail or disabled, it can place a heavy burden on adult children. But the parent-child relationship appears to be a two-way street. Adult children also have a profound effect on their parents’ psychological well-being. New research suggests that older mothers are more prone to depression if their adult children struggle with…
Self-esteem Gender Gap Larger In Western Countries
People worldwide tend to gain self-esteem as they grow older, and men generally have higher levels of self-esteem than women, but this self-esteem gender gap is more pronounced in Western industrialized countries, according to new research by the American Psychological Association. Said lead author Wiebke Bleidorn, PhD, of the University of California, Davis: “During the…
What Is The Best Time Of Day To Exercise?
Most people are aware of the importance of being active and exercising daily. Unfortunately, due to busy schedules, most people are forced to exercise around other numerous commitments. However, the timing of exercise can have profound effects on performance. All the functions and systems of the human body are moderated by a pattern called circadian…
Brain Generalizes Fear Associations In Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Brain scans of soldiers show people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can start to generalize their fear, turning everyday moments into triggers. Says Rajendra A. Morey, associate professor in the psychiatry and behavioral sciences department at Duke University: “We know that PTSD patients tend to generalize their fear in response to cues that merely resemble…
Emotional Intent Modulates The Neural Substrates Of Creativity
The workings of neural circuits associated with creativity are significantly altered when artists are actively attempting to express emotions, according to a new brain-scanning study of jazz pianists. Over the past decade, a collection of neuroimaging studies has begun to identify components of a neural circuit that operates across various domains of creativity. But the…
Mitochondria A New Target For Anxiety Disorder Treatment
One third of patients with anxiety disorders do not respond to currently available antianxiety treatments. Now, a new study, scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry have discovered that manipulation of mitochondria exerts anxiolytic effects. This improved understanding of how mitochondrial changes affect anxiety may provide the key to novel treatments. One out of…
Being Anxious Could Be Beneficial In A Crisis
The brain devotes more processing resources to social situations that signal threat than those that are benign, new findings from French researchers show. The results may help explain the apparent “sixth sense” we have for danger. This is the first time that specific regions of the brain have been identified to be involved in the…