A hormone that seems to promote monogamy and parenting in people may also make us more likely to cooperate with others, even in risky situations. Research in rodents shows while the hormone, called AVP (arginine vasopressin), promotes bonding, it also boosts aggression in males. Says Colin Camerer, a professor of behavioural economics at Caltech; “Part…
Meditation Plus Aerobic Exercise Helps Reduce Depression
A new study has found that the mind-body combination of meditation and aerobic exercise, done twice a week for only two months, reduced the depression symptoms for a group of students by 40 percent. Says Brandon Alderman, lead author of the research study: “We are excited by the findings because we saw such a meaningful…
Persistent ADHD Associated With Overly Critical Parents
For many children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, symptoms appear to decrease as they age, but for some they do not and one reason may be persistent parental criticism, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. Erica Musser, PhD, assistant professor of psychology at Florida International University and lead author of the study,…
Origin Of Sighing Reflex In The Brain Pinpointed
Contrary to the words immortalized by the piano singer in “Casablanca,” a sigh is far more than a sigh. Heaving an unconscious sigh is a life-sustaining reflex that helps preserve lung function. A new study by researchers from UCLA and Stanford has pinpointed two tiny clusters of neurons in the brain stem that are responsible…
Can Medical Marijuana Calm Kids’ Epileptic Seizures?
Desperate for relief, parents are taking unusual steps to help children plagued with seizures. The relief, however, comes in a most unlikely form: marijuana. As many as 30 percent of people with epilepsy— or about one million Americans— still have seizures while on Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatments. It’s left many who suffer from…
What Is The Gut Microbiota And How Does It Affect Mind And Body?
The human gastrointestinal tract harbours trillions of microorganisms, consisting of up to 1,000 or so different bacterial species. These bacteria, known collectively as the gut microbiota, perform a number of vital functions in our body. They defend against pathogens, aid in digestion and nutrient absorption, produce vitamins (K and B), and boost our immune system.…
Sustained Aerobic Exercise Increases Adult Neurogenesis In The Brain
It may be possible to increase the neuron reserve of the hippocampus – and thus improve preconditions for learning – by promoting neurogenesis via sustained aerobic exercise such as running. Aerobic exercise, such as running, has positive effects on brain structure and function, for example, the generation of neurons (neurogenesis) in the hippocampus, a brain…
The Nerve Cells That Detect Motion By Light Changes
The ability to see the direction in which something is moving is vital for survival. Only in this way is it possible to avoid predators, capture prey or, as humans in a modern world, cross a road safely. However, the direction of motion is not explicitly represented at the level of the photoreceptors but rather…
Goal-Directed Decision Making With Spiking Neurons
Our decisions may provide immediate gratification, but they can also have far-reaching consequences, which in turn depend on several other actions we have already made or will make in the future. The trouble that most of us have is how to take the potential long-term effects of a particular decision into account, so that we…