As the number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders continues to rise, there has been an emphasis on early diagnosis, intervention, and treatment. However, less attention has gone to children with autism once they reach their teen years and adulthood. Researchers say these young people and their caregivers need more support so the teens…
Remembering Past Events May Happen Quicker Than Believed
Retrieving memories of events from our past may take place quicker than previously thought, and it is possible to interfere with that process, according to recent research published in the Journal of Neuroscience. The process of retrieving episodic memory, personal experiences that require revisiting sensory information received in the past, was believed to be a…
We Have Evolved Subconscious Urges To Over-eat In Winter
People have evolved to have subconscious urges to over-eat and limited ability to avoid becoming obese, especially in winter, a University of Exeter study has found. There is not yet an evolutionary mechanism to help us overcome the lure of sweet, fatty and unhealthy food and avoid becoming overweight for understandable and sensible reasons, according…
Schizophrenia Linked To Loss Of Cells In Hippocampus
Deficits in social memory may be due to a decrease in the number of a particular class of brain cells, called inhibitory neurons, in a little-explored region within the brain’s memory center, scientists at Columbia University’s Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC), and the Université Paris Descartes have found.…
Training The Amygdala To Suppress Adverse Information Reactivity
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…
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…